The Den Leaders and Assistant Den Leaders (or "leaders of the month" if you're rotating duties) are responsible for making sure all needed game or activity materials are there for the meeting. Plan on up to 8 boys per den.
Meeting Plan
The den meeting is broken up into the following segments:
Tiger Cubs
- Gathering - Tigers/Parents play a game (e.g. "Clothespins in a Bottle")
- Opening - Teach Cubs and Adult Partners the Salute, say the Pledge of Allegiance
- Share - Have Cubs introduce Adult Partner, explain relationship, and share a fun thing they do together.
- Discover - Make a leaf rubbing with crayon, paper, and a leaf
- Search - Plan a Go See It for the 12/8 (or 12/1) meeting
- Closing - Teach Cubs the Motto ("Do your best!"). Follow with a Tiger cub roar!
Wolf and Bear Cubs
- Gathering - Have boys do the "It can't be done" trick or another game
- Opening - Show sign and recite Promise. Show Salute and recite Pledge of Allegiance. Introduce Den Leaders and members
- Business - Discuss and establish a simple Code of Conduct for the den (basic "rules of the den")
- Activity - Play a game, like Newspaper Softball
- Closing - Remind boys of next meeting (11/17) and to work on Bobcat requirements at home. Make Living Circle.
Webelos
- Gathering - Have boys do the "It can't be done" trick or another game
- Opening - Show sign and recite Promise. Show Salute and recite Pledge of Allegience. Introduce Den Leaders and members
- Business - Discuss and establish a simple Code of Conduct for the den (basic "rules of the den")
- Activity Badge - Sportsman: Discuss good sportsmanship and teamwork. Review Sportsman Badge requirements. Play Forehead Squeeze Relay
- Preparation - Develop Code of Conduct for Den, Talk about what to do / show / demonstrate at the Pack meeting.
- Closing - Remind boys of next meeting (11/17) and to work on Bobcat requirements at home. Make Living Circle.
All dens should leave the meeting space neater than they found it after the closing.
Note that I'm not sure whether there's a US flag on display in the cafeteria. If not, we'll need to improvise on the Pledge until we can buy a Pack flag. The boys should form a line or square or half circle or something and stand at attention during the Pledge. In the absence of the flag, they should face the Leader.
Activity Descriptions
Den Code of Conduct and Conduct Candle:
The Den Code of Conduct is a basic set of ground rules for behavior during Den Meetings. It is unique to each den, and should be developed with the input of the boys. Rules like "no teasing" or "no horseplay" are examples. The rules should be short, easy to remember and follow, and fair. The Code should also spell out what happens when a rule is broken (including "boy gets to call mommy and go home immediately", but not including any form of hazing). Having the boys help develop the rules will encourage them to follow them.
The Conduct Candle is a candle that is lit at the beginning of the meeting and stays lit until either (a) the closing ceremony, where it is ceremoniously blown out with praise, or (b) someone breaks a Code rule. The Candle helps visually encourage the boys to stay on task. When the candle finally burns out completely (needs to be replaced), the boys should be rewarded with a special party or trip.
Living Circle:
The Living Circle symbolically ties the boys in the Den together and helps remind them of the bond of friendship they are forming. The boys make a close circle facing each other. Each boy makes the Cub Scout Sign with his right hand, turns slightly to the right, and extends his left hand straight out to the center of the circle. Each boy should make a fist with his left hand, extending his thumb out to the right and grabbing the thumb of the boy on his left in his closed fist. So the closed fists make a joined circle in the center. The boys then recite the Promise, Law or Motto (leader's discretion). Optionally, the boys can chant "A-ke-la! We'll do our best!", pumping their left-hand-ring rhythmically up and down on the syllables, then breaking the ring and snapping salutes on the word "best!".
Clothespins in a Bottle:
Materials: 10 clothespins and a narrow-mouthed jar.
Place a narrow-mouthed jar upright on the floor. Give each boy, in turn, 10 clothespins. The boy stands over the bottle and, holding each clothespin at eye level, tries to drop them into the bottle. The boy with the most "hits" wins.
Newspaper Softball:
Materials: 1 rolled up newspaper, two tin cans, and three designated "bases".
Divide the den into two teams. Place a can on either side of "home plate" and balance a rolled newspaper across the tops of the cans. The first "batter" stands behind the newspaper and kicks it with his instep, and the game is on. All the rules of softball are followed except for the method of putting the "ball" into play.
It Can't Be Done:
Say that you can jump backward farther than they boys can jump forward, if they do exactly as you do. Then grasp your toes and hop backward a few inches. When the boys assume the same position, they'll find they can't budge when they try to jump forward. This is good for gathering time, as each boy who arrives can try to catch the next boy to arrive, in sequence.
Forehead Squeeze Relay:
Materials: one tennis ball or orange for every two boys
Split the den into teams with an even number of boys in each team, and give each team a ball. Two boys from each team hold their team ball between their foreheads and race across the room and back. On return to the start, they hand off the ball to the next pair of boys on the team. First team to complete the relay wins. If the ball is dropped, the dropping pair starts over.
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