Wolf Cub Den Leader

My dad was a leader for Indian Guides, back when they were around, It was a lot of work, but lots of fun as well. So long as you are able to delegate (like asking parents to bring snacks and such) then it should go easier.

There are manuals and lots on online aids to help if you need.

http://www.usscouts.org/cubscouts/cslg.asp
http://www.scripps-mesa.org/CubZone/help_for_new_wolf_lea...
http://www.boyscouttrail.com/cub-scouts/wolf-scouts.asp

The nice thing about Cub Scouts is that you can put as much or as little time into it as you want to. It really is a good program and a lot of fun. The boys can beneift so much from the interaction and team building skills. Another nice thing is all the free training available. Start by checking with your local Boy Scout Council - they should have free training sessions for each level of leadership. These really are beneficial and help you understand the big picture of scouting better. They should also have monthly Roundtable meetings where you can go meet with other leaders and get ideas and handouts to help in your meetings. There are lots of resources for the leaders in books and Program Helps that pretty much outline each meeting for you. All you really have to do it gather supplies and prepare what they need to earn their badges. You'll get hooked once you get involved and see how much they really enjoy scouts. Good luck!

My husband and I were called as Wolf Den Leaders (through the LDS church) and we didn't even have kids at the time. We both worked full time (I commuted 1 1/2 hours each way on the bus too) and we still found time to do scouts. We had a blast! The boys were funny & fun to be around. It took commitment, but anything in life that is worthwhile takes commitment! We'd have our weekly den meetings (about 1 hr each), and monthly pack meetings (about 1 hr each). We'd have our committee meeting, usually bi-monthly (about 30 min each). Also, if you go to Roundtable, once a month, you can get EVERYTHING you'll need for planning your Den meetings. Get trained. You can do it ALL online. Contact your local Scout office. They'll be able to direct you to where you can get started. You won't have campouts as Wolf Leaders, but you will have a day camp (once a year for a whole Saturday). You'll also have a Pinewood Derby, Raingutter Regata, etc., but those are held as your Pack Meetings. My husband and I LOVED doing it. We were leaders for 1 1/2 years and that was 10 years ago. Back in May, we ran into one of our old "Wolf Cubs." He was just about to graduate from High School. He was so excited to tell us that he still had the stilts that he made at our house when he was a Wolf. He said that because we were such great leaders and so fun to be around, WE were a big part of the reason that he stuck with scouts and ended up getting his Eagle! We were so honored! Being in scouts is A LOT of fun, but it does take some effort. How much more fun would it be if you were able to do it right along with your son!? How many more fabulous memories will he have because you were his leader!? Good luck in your decision.

-Shellie

PS. The only thing I didn't LOVE about scouts were the silly skits that you have to do at the pack meetings. But, the boys LOVE them, and to see them laugh hysterically at those stupid things makes up for it!

My son just moved up to being a wolf cub also. Our den leader is also an elementary asst principal, so she has limited time as well. Typically wolves meet for an hour once a week, but we have decided as a Den to meet every other Sunday afternoon for 1 1/2 hrs. That way parents aren't stuck having to get the kids there every week and it doesn't interfere much with other activites such as baseball, football, soccer, etc. Also the boys have more time together for the activities they are doing. Our den leader is assisted by one of the dad's in our den who does games and stuff with the boys. Sometimes us other parents volunteer to help out when they need extra hands. We have been meeting all summer every other Sunday and it has worked really well! Our leader was worried about the time commitment when she stepped up as a our Tiger leader, but we have a pretty good group of parents who work well together. We have more trouble finding time for all the PACK events.

I do know that this year cub scouts has developed a book that COMPLETELY plans every single one of your meetings so that the scouts can get make rank by February. There really is no planning...it is all done for you. NOT to say that getting the materials won't take you time. And there are the committee meetings, and the pack meetings. I truly don't think it has to be overwhelming...but it does more add more to your plate. But it is worth it. Think of it as more special time with your child.

We are in the same situation. Our round up is next week and we are going in telling parents that their child cannot join our pack without some parents stepping up and becoming leaders. We do not have room for any other scouts in our dens. We hate doing it...but there is no way around it. I sure hope we have some great moms and dads like you to at least consider it.

My thoughts....if anyone wants to put their child in a group like this they should volunteer to do something...no matter how small. However, that is not your question...just my up on my soapbox...sorry.

I was wolf den leader in our church for a few years. We would meet once a week with the boys for an hour, so you would need a little time to prepare the activity before hand. I would say most activities could be ready in under an hour, some would require supplies from the craft or hardware store. There are program helps books sold at the scout stores that give you all the activity ideas for each month. They had a theme for the year and month so it was easy to pick the activities out of the book and adapt them to your den. We also had a pack meeting once a month where all the groups met together so sometimes we had meetings to help plan the pack meeting. I think the most overwhelming thing is that 8 year old boys are a little hyper so if you are not good at dealing with a whole group of boys together that could make you crazy. I also would go crazy cleaning my house every week since meetings were at my house and I am not a great house keeper. I actually enjoyed my time as Den leader but probably would not have volunteered if it hadn't been a church thing.

Anyway good luck with your decision.

My Mom was a girl scout leader and there is more involved if you are having the kids do alot.......like camping, who makes all the arrangements, you do....food, ect.......if it's just meetings and not doing much, then the time is not that much............

I would look at what it takes to put your family together for things and then multiple it by however members you may have.........my Mom was a great leader and she worked it a lot........especially during the cookie season....had boxes and boxes from floor to ceiling in our living room..........but she enjoyed it.........so it's up to you......

Good Luck.....

My husband and I got "tricked" into becoming leaders when our 2 boys were Cub Scouts... and never regretted it. My husband went on to become the Boy Scout Scoutmaster, and I went on to become a Girl Scout leader, trainer, and paid employee! You can put in as much or as little effort as possible, but you generally will have weekly meetings with one Pack meeting a month for all of the levels to get together and either just receive awards or do more together as a Pack. Each level book has a zillion things to do to fill your meetings with a little preparation... maybe an hour prep more or less depending on what you are going to do. Your Pack Leader should have information for you on adult trainings and other resources to help you. It was a truly rewarding experience for both of us, and we now have a grandson who is a Webelo and is sooo looking forward to becoming a full fledged Boy Scout! Hope you do this! ...and good luck!

It takes a lot more time than they let on. I think it is a standard line to say it only takes a few hours a month. My husband is a Den Leader and it takes a lot of time! You have the weekly or biweekly den meetings, the monthly pack meeting and the monthly committee meeting. Then there are the campouts, the Pinweood Derby, the Raingutter Regatta and any other events the pack has. Plus all of the preparation that goes with all of it. You will need to have a spreadsheet with all of the scouts accomplishments/merit badges/pins etc.

If you want to be involved and have the time to commit than I say go for it. Scouts are a great program both of my sons are involved in and I have seen great strides and skills learned thru scouts that they would have not had if they did not join scouts.

If your pack is anything like ours, the parents really don't seem to help that much, so delegating is not always an option.

I think it depends on how involved the other parents are. I am stepping up this year and will be a den mother for my son's bear den. We have wonderful hands on parents that will help out a lot. One dad has already offered to help the boys with their whittling. This year it seems much more organized. Our head scout leader has given a calendar w/ what should be done at each meeting to make sure the boys earn their rank. My problem last year was it was very unorganized and the den leader did not do very much w/ boys and they all ran around wild.

I have and the time commitment depends on the Pack and the individual Den. We had monthly Pack meetings and weekly den meetings (you could always do longer biweekly meetings). You may have a little prep time before your meetings but otherwise I would guess about 10 hours a month...some months may be more or less depending on what you and the pack are working on.

It does take a commitment but if you want the best for your 2nd grader then step up. I have led Wolves, Bears and Tigers all twice. Daisies, Brownies, and Juniors. Get the book, decide on the patches you want them to earn and where you want to go for any of the fieldtrips.
You will probably have to take over a committee, I have done the Blue and Gold twice, my hubby has done the Pinewood Derby three times.
It takes a couple hours a week.