Around this time of year there are a lot of new Den Leaders wondering to themselves “Exactly what did I just volunteer for?” Welcome!
You might have enthusiastically volunteered for the position. Or maybe you found yourself talked into it because you want to help out and nobody else step forward. With my first den, I actually volunteered to be Assistant Den Leader, which seemed safe enough. But suddenly the Den Leader resigned and I was on the spot.
Whatever your story, I want to welcome you to the world of Scouting. If you haven’t been offered a mentor by your Pack, find one! Hopefully there is an experienced Den Leader there who will take you under her wing and show you the ropes.
If you are not familiar with the program, some things might seem a little confusing at first, so it is important to have somebody you can ask questions. Don’t worry about sounding silly. Any Den Leader who has been around a few years has probably asked plenty of unusual questions himself.
Your Council offers training sessions for adult leaders. Find out when the next training session is and attend. I have attended training for all of the positions I have filled in the Cub Scout Pack, Scouts BSA Troop, and Venturing Crew and I have learned valuable information every time.
Hopefully you will find a few things on the website to help. There are helps for Lion, Bobcat, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos. Feel free to contact me if you are looking for a particular resource. And the Facebook page is a great place to get feedback from other experienced Scouters.
The service you are providing to our children will help develop the “thinkers and movers” of the next generation. Thank you very much for your generosity!
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