Start Planning NOW

If you Google "being a Cub Scout Leader" you will get hundreds of hits on how to plan things out.  You will find schedules, charts, diagrams, and even hour by hour guides, what are all of these tools telling you?  Plan your meetings now! 

If you go into the first meeting with no game plan not only will you lose control of the boys (and very quickly) but you will lose respect from the parents and any hope of asking for help flies out the window.  I have found it best to plan out at least the first month of meetings and to have a handout letting the parents know what to expect and what help you are going to need.

By planning your meetings I don't mean that you need to have an hour by hour breakdown, I mean have an idea of what you are going to work on and when.  This is especially helpful if you are going to need supplies.  Telling parents that in two weeks I need six 2 litter to make bird feeders is way better then chugging down 12 liters of pop the hour before the meeting (trust me).

So how do you plan the meeting?  Everything on-line tells you that there are several parts to a basic den meeting. The BSA way is . . .

- Before the meeting
- Gathering
- Opening
- Business
- Activities
- Closing
- After the meeting

This is alot!  BSA also uses "KISMIF - Keep It Simple, Make It Fun" . . . so why all the steps??

I cut it down and make it easy. . .
- Before the meeting - set it up, have it ready
- Opening - pledge and promise
- Activities - try to alternate crafts, sports, and "paperwork" to help all kids have fun
- After the meeting - clean it up and answer any questions

So you noticed I took out the gathering activity . . . boys are boys, they are super excited to see their friends outside of school and they are not going to sit an do a worksheet.  Let them run it out and have some fun, if you are lucky enough they will get out all the wiggles before you start (I said if you are lucky).

I also took out business . . . that's what email and parent handouts are for.  Odds are that 75% of what you tell the boys will not make it back to their parents anyway so why waste your time.  Give the parents a hand out or remind them to check email for upcoming events.

And finally I took out closing . . . kids finish projects at different times, some parents are at the meeting ready and others will pick them up late, and some days . . . you will just be wore out and ready to go!  I don't feel the need for a "closing ceremony" and never seem to have time anyway.

As for what goes in your meeting, try to double up on things.  Look at your requirements and see if maybe you can get a belt loop while doing these.  If one requirement is all paperwork and talking, partner it up with a physical up and running requirement.  Remember these are little boys and they are not going to sit still for an hour a listen to a history lesson, they get enough of that in school!

And when in doubt . . . ask!  You can Google, Bing, and Ask.com all you want but sometimes another leader is the best resource.  Feel free to email you fellow pack leaders for help, especially those ahead of you - they have been there and done that! 

The council also offers help, monthly Round Tables are held the First Tuesday of the Month at Bellevue East.