The Dens are the most important unit in the Cub Scouting program, and Den Leaders and parents set the tempo for the entire experience. This guidebook is the BSA doctrine for Den Leaders and Parents on how to run a Cub Scout Den. It contains:
How to make a den schedule
How to run a meeting
Requirements for each adventure/badge
Activity ideas and suggestions
Required Adventure #1: Games Tigers Play (about team-building) complete #1 - 4
Play 2 team-building games, follow directions, talk about what you learned.
Bring nutritious snack to meeting, talk about why you picked it.
Make up a game, play it with den members and/or family (optional).
Attend a sporting event, talk with an athlete/coach about why they play sports (optional).
Required Adventure #2: My Jungle Tiger (about nature) complete #1 and 2 others
Go for a walk outside, find 2 sights & sounds of nature around you
Take a 1-foot hike, make a list of living things (optional)
Find 2 different types of birds in your area, research more about them (optional)
Plant a plant/tree/shrub, learn how to take care of it (optional)
Build and hang a bird house (optional)
Arlignton Fire Station #2, Ballston
Required Adventure #3: Team Tiger (about responsibility and being part of a team) complete #1-2 and 2 others
Discuss some of the teams you're on (sports, Scouts, family, class), and what it means to be part of a team, and how you can help each one
Make a chart showing all the ways team members can help the den (such as leading the Pledge), volunteer to take a turn doing at least 2 jobs.
Complete a service project as a den or family or team in our community (optional).
Talk with your family about how each member has a role in the family; pick a job, and do it for at least 3 weeks (optional).
Make a chart showing how each team member makes the den stronger because we are similar in some ways, and different in others (optional).
Westover Market
Required Adventure #4: Tiger Bites (about nutrition & health) complete #1-2 and 2 others
Identify 3 good food choices, and 3 bad food choices
Explain the importance of good hand-washing, and demonstrate
Explain the difference between fruits and vegetables; each 1 of each (optional)
Pick a job to help your family at mealtime; do it for at least 4 meals (optional)
Discuss what foods we can each with our fingers, practice manners while eating them (optional).
Help your parents prepare a good, nutritious snack choice for the den (optional).
Potomac Overlook Park
Required Adventure #5: Tigers in the Wild (about hiking & preparation) complete #1-3 and 1 other
Assemble the Essential 6 (water, snacks, flashlight, 1st aid kit, whistle, sunscreen), plus rain gear
Go on a hike; prepare and carry your own gear
Listen to the Outdoor Code and the Leave No Trace Principles. Describe how you can be clean in your outdoor manners, why you should trash your trash, and how you used these principles on the hike.
Participate in a Pack campfire or hike, participate in a skit with your den (optional).
Find 3 types of plants or animals on your hiking trail, describe and write their names (optional).
Find 2 types of trees and 2 plants that grow in your area, describe and write their names (optional).
Visit a nature center or zoo with your family or den, write 2 facts about 2 animals you saw (optional).
National Children's Museum, DC
Elective Adventure #6: Magical Mysteries (about performance and decryption) complete #1-3 and 1 other
Learn a magic trick; practice it so you can perform it.
Create an invitation and put on a magic show.
Spell your name using sign language, and spell your name in Braille.
Create a secret code; share with your family or den (optional).
Crack a code that you did not create, with your den or family (optional).
Conduct a science demonstration that shows how magic works and share what you learned with your parents or den (optional).
Washington & Old Dominion Trail
Ben. Bannaker Park to Sweet Frog
Elective Adventure #7: Rolling Tigers (about bike-riding and safety) complete #1-3 and 2 others
How how to wear your bike safety gear properly.
Learn and demonstrate safety tips to follow when riding a bike.
Learn and demonstrate hand signals.
Do a safety check on a bicycle.
Go on a bicycle hike wearing your safety equipment; follow safety and traffic laws (optional).
Discuss two different types of bikes and their uses (optional).
Learn about a famous bicycle race or famous cyclist (optional)
Visit your local police department to learn about bicycle riding laws (optional).
Identify two jobs that use bicycles and discuss how they are used (optional).
Turner Farm Observatory, McLean
Elective Adventure #8: Sky is the Limit (about astronomy) complete #1-3 and 1 other
Go outside to observe the night sky. Talk about objects you see or might see.
Look at a distant object with a telescope or binoculars. Show how to focus the device.
Learn about 2 astronauts who were Scouts when they were younger. Share what you learned.
Observe in the sky - or in a book, chart, computer - 2 constellations in the night sky (optional).
Find out the names of stars that make up the constellation and how it got its name (optional).
Draw and name your own constellation (optional).
Create a homemade model of a constellation (optional).
Learn about 2 jobs related to astronomy, and share with your den (optional).
Visit a planetarium, observatory, science museum, astronomy club, or college or high school astronomy teacher. Write down some questions, and share what you learned (optional).