Your First Five Meetings

It can be a little unnerving for a parent to realize that they've signed up to be a Den Leader - suddenly they're expected to have a Den meeting planned (maybe in less than a week) and they may not have any previous experience with Scouting.

We want to thank you for taking that step! Scouting is the best youth program around and volunteer leaders like you are what make it happen.

We also want you to know that there are a lot of resources available to assist you. This CD describes many of them. The important thing right now is that you sign up for training at the earliest opportunity. Begin with Fast Start training and follow it up with a full day of basic leader training (your Cubmaster or Pack Trainer will help you locate an appropriate course).

Recognizing that you may have some Den meetings before you have a chance to attend any of the training that's available for your position, we offer here 5 fully planned meetings that you may choose to use or modify.

Another source of pre-planned meetings is the 'Program Helps' booklet that BSA publishes. (In fact, it is a better source of meeting ideas than the CD that you're reading right now, because it is updated every year and the activities that are suggested all fit in with a monthly theme that your Pack is likely to be using.) Ask your Cubmaster, Pack Committee Chair, or Pack Trainer to get a copy of the Program Helps for you as soon as possible.

The meeting plans presented here can be used in a number of different ways:

• You can use them 'as is' as your first few meetings.
• You can save some of them to use as an 'emergency plan' if another activity falls through at the last minute.
• You can cannibalize the meeting plans, using parts that you like and substituting other openings, closings, and activities as you see fit.