Cub Scout parents will serve as Den Chiefs for at least one month annually (September through April). Consistent with the Two-deep leadership policy, each month requires two parents to sign up. The following are guidelines for den meetings:

A MINIMUM of two meetings (in addition to the Pack meeting) should be held each month (or one meeting and one field trip). Den meetings should be 2 hours or less. It is the responsibility of each monthly Den Leader to distribute a written note at the pack meeting that denotes activities planned for the month. (This note may be an email, or you may print and fill out the sample activity sheet on this website: INSERT LINK.) The note should specify which achievements or electives will be completed at the Den Meetings. The Pack meeting date, and any special activities that are upcoming for the Pack, should also be communicated in this monthly note (such as the Fall Leaf Raking Service Project, “The Shrimp Boil”, Scout Sunday, etc.) Please review the Pack Calendar (login to see link in Main Menu) and also include all Pack activity dates in the monthly den newsletter to serve as a helpful reminder to families. Meetings are scheduled at the convenience of the den leader (after school, evenings, or weekends). Meetings can be held in the den leader's home or in the Scout Room located in the basement of the Parish Ministry Center (PMC). Contact Barb King for availability (361-4176). Seton Hall cannot be requested for den meetings. Den leaders are provided $15 for their assigned month to be spent on meeting supplies, refreshments, etc. It is recommended that some type of snack be provided at the meetings. Before purchasing Den meeting snacks or supplies, contact Steve Sulzer, Pack Treasurer, for a copy of Tax Exempt Letter.

NOTE: Monthly expenses over $15 cannot be reimbursed by the Pack. Den leaders may request that the Cubs bring additional money for field trips, etc.

Scouts should be reminded to wear their field uniform and bring their books to Den meetings. The Den Leader will keep books after the second Den meeting of each month and return the books to the Scouts at each month's pack meeting. It is the den leader's responsibility to sign books for activities that have been completed at the Den Meetings. Books should be collected after the second den meeting and given to the den recorder. (If a scout fails to bring his book, the month's Den Leader notes, on a separate piece of paper, who was at the meeting and exactly what achievements were completed. Give this sheet to the den recorder.) Remember that the Den Recorder must communicate awards to Awards Coordinator by Wednesday, the week prior to Pack Meeting. Den Recorders are present at all Pack Meetings to answer questions regarding achievement to the Badge. Den Leaders/Recorders should return all books to the Scouts at the Pack Meeting, or before the Pack meeting.

Field Trips 

All Scouts must be secured in individual seat belts when transported on Field trips or returned home after Den meetings. NO DOUBLE BUCKLING and NO CHILDREN IN FRONT SEATS WITH AIR BAGS!

For all Field Trips, FOSE Permission Forms (obtained from previous month’s den leader) must be in the possession of the Den Leader at all times and then passed to the next month’s Den Leader. The FOSE Permission Form should be completed for each scout at registration time. Den Leaders should obtain copies of completed forms from the Pack. Blank forms are also available on this site (INSERT LINK).

Discipline

Cleanup 

Dens using the Scout Room must clean and vacuum the room at the end of each meeting, as there is no janitor for the scout room and all St. Elizabeth's scouting organizations (Cubs/Brownies, Girl/Boy Scouts) share the room. Guidelines for use of Seton Hall (INSERT LINK) also apply to the Scout Room, when it is used for den meetings. The den leader is responsible for leaving the room in good condition and taking all trash to the dumpster.

PLEASE DO NOT REMOVE THE SCOUT VACUUM CLEANER FROM THE SCOUT ROOM!