Things that make the Pack go!

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The New Tiger Cub Den Leader

Although being a Tiger Cub den leader is pretty easy, your continued commitment and involvement with the Tiger Cub den is the key to success.

Getting Started

• Organize and provide orientation for Tiger Cub dens.
• Register Tiger Cubs and adult partners and collect fees.
• Organize shared leadership of adult partners
• Plan and conduct the first den meeting

Throughout the year

• Offer ongoing leadership to the Tiger Cub den.
• Coordinate Tiger Cub participation in pack meetings and pack activities.
• Meet with pack leaders to keep informed of pack plans and activities.
• Be sure that every Tiger Cub joins a Wolf Cub Scout den.

Organizing the Tiger Cub Den

The organization of Tiger Cub dens starts with the beginning of the school year. We recruit Tiger Cubs in September and October.

The new Tiger Cub dens are formed of teams of five to nine first-grade boys and their adult partners.

A suggested format for the orientation meeting is in the Cub Scout Leader Book and the Tiger Cub Handbook, which are important resources for a Tiger Cub den leader.

Tiger Cub Orientation

As Tiger Cubs join the pack, the Tiger Cub den leader will

• Help the adult partners complete the Cub Scout application and collect registration fees.
• Make sure the den chooses a time and location for its first meeting.

The First Den Meeting

The first meeting is the time for everyone in the den to get acquainted and begin making plans for the den's monthly activities. The Tiger Cub den leader leads this meeting.

More ideas can be found in the Tiger Cub Handbook and the Cub Scout Leader Book.

Den meetings

Tiger Cub dens meet once or twice each month and are led by the boy-adult partner team of the month. They  den meetings are typically a "Go See It" activity.

Tiger Cubs also attend the monthly pack meeting with their adult partners.

Using shared leadership, each boy-adult partner team will have the chance to lead meetings and activities for a month.

The Tiger Cub Den meeting has eight parts:

• Before the Meeting: den leader and host adult partner get ready.
• Gathering: an activity to keep the Tiger Cubs busy.
• Opening: This should be short, such as the den reciting the Tiger Cub motto and the Cub Scout Promise.
• Share: This provides an opportunity for each boy to tell about a family activity.
• Search: Plan the "Go See it" activity for the month
• Discover: A group activity during which den members see or do something together.
• Closing: The closing should be short, such as the den repeating the Tiger Cub motto.
• After the Meeting: den leader and adult partner review meeting and finalize plans for the next one.

Remember that these are first-graders; keep the program geared to their age and development level.

Ongoing Support

Once you have conducted the den's first meeting, allow the den to operate under its own shared leadership.

You will continue to serve as a leader for the den, but adult partners will conduct the program.

Contact each adult partner well in advance of his/her first meeting to ensure that plans are in order for the month's meetings and activities.

Becoming a Wolf Cub Scout den

You should work with the Cubmaster to plan a formal graduation ceremony at the June pack meeting. A suggested ceremony is found in Cub Scout Ceremonies for Dens and Packs

Steps to Success

• Read the Tiger Cub Handbook and Cub Scout Leader Book. These resources describe your role and provide helpful information.
• Get to know the boys and adult partners in your Tiger Cub den.
• Participate in Basic Leader Training. This will expand on and add to the information in this Fast Start training.
• Attend the monthly Cub Scout roundtable for suggestions on theme-related ideas for great den meetings.
• Attend the monthly pack leader meetings. You are a member of the pack leadership and represent your Tiger Cub den.