Den Chief age

[shemgren]

The statement that den chiefs must be 14 years of age applys to Cub Scout and Webelos Scout Resident Camps and Day Camps only, since those are staff postitions! Camp standards are higher for the protection of the Scouts attending the camp. National Camp School Standards state that youth staff must be 14 or older.

 

In normal pack operations, a den chief should be at least 1 year older than the Cubs he is working with.

 

 

[bt01]

Age requirement for a Den Chief??? The hardest thing is to find one. If you have one try to hold onto to him.

[acco40]

I am lucky, I have two den chiefs for my Webelos den. Both just recently completed den chief training (February) and in June received their Star rank. They are 11 and 12 years old, just completing sixth grade (about two years older than the Cubs). Being a ASM and a Webelos Den leader I have access both Troops, Dens and Packs. With two den chiefs, I was initially going to have each boy come every other week to the den meetings. What I found out is that they like each other's company and would rather come every week and work together! If you can get two boys, this is great! Sometimes they organize games and one leads team 1, the other team 2.

 

Another bit of advice, never have a den chief try to lead his younger sibling!! Another advantage of having two den chiefs.

[yarrow]

My boy is going to continue as Den Chief. Seems there isn't a hard fast rule on age. He is not terrifically mature but he NEVER causes trouble or acts up. He just doesn't have the leadership qualities that you see more often in older boys yet. I will switch the cord. Forgot about that. The Den is doing some summer activities which he helps with. I have noticed that the adult leader is a little unaware of a Den Chief's responsibilities and gives him a little too much of the work; however, he is growing by leading the meetings too. One advantage to having a younger boy is that he well remembers his Cub Scout experience. My boy has signed up to plan and run the requirements for the Scientist pin because he remembers that it was fun. I find so far that being Den Chief is MUCH more work than almost any other POR. No wonder it's hard to get Den Chiefs.

[acco40]

You mentioned "switching the cord." Not only would he switch from the Blue & Gold of a Cub Scout den chief and go to a Red, Yellow, Green of a Webelos den chief he can wear a Red ,White & Blue(?) cord (not more than one at a time I believe) if he served as a den chief for one full year.

[shemgren]

In the Insigina Guide, 2002-2004, page 7, the Den Chief Service Award is to be worn on the left shoulder, on the inside of the Cub Scout or Webelos Scout Den Chief Cord while the Scout is an active Den Chief.

[yarrow]

Holy maccarole..........two cords. He won't finish his service award until October so he won't get the cord until then, but he finds them very confining and in the way. I have safety pinned them to the seam under the arm to keep them from catching on his elbow, but still he doesn't like the cords. After you are done with being a Den Chief do you still wear the service award cord?

[shemgren]

Yes, the Scout may wear the service award after he is done being a Den Cheif. However, as you pointed out yarrow, most boys don't like wearing it.

[Quixote]

Our council is presently doing it's yearly Cub Scout Day Camp - my wife is volunteering (2nd year) again this year.

 

She requested that our older boy (1st year scout) be able to come (otherwise she couldn't volunteer) as well as our 4.5 year old who is in the "tag along" den. The camp director had no problem with accepting him, so my wife asked all the other new scouts in the troop (most of which were in the day camp program as cubs in previous years) if they would like to come as well and be den chiefs. My wife thought that since her new scout son was acceptable as a den chief that his buddies would be as well - WRONG.

 

The first indication of a problem was in May / June and eventually they worked out that the boy scout den chiefs that weren't kids of the staff would have to pay $50 to be den chiefs!!! Granted, they were there using the (free) facilities and taking up some of the (volunteer) staff time and using some of the (oriental trading company) crafts, but for the life of me i couldn't understand why a boy scout who is volunteering his time to be a den chief would have to pay...was told it was an insurance thing (our district must be run by an insurance salesman:)) quote from council "den chiefs must be 1st class or 14 years old"

 

So now is the week of camp and all of a sudden the den chiefs who according to staff two months ago needed to be 1st class or 14 years old are "great" at working with the cubs and a "big help" in putting on the program.

 

In addition to learning a valuable lesson in volunteerism, the new scouts are getting time to work with some older scouts on some of the advancement stuff they missed out on at camp last week and are earning another merit badge! 3 eleven year old scouts who didn't meet the requirements are now an asset to the program, have learned numerous positive lessons and have a positive attitude about helping others and have asked about being full time den chiefs after camp!!!

 

There shouldn't be an age limit or rank limit, just a maturity check by the SM and a desire to help in the prospective den chief.

 

Quixote

[acco40]

Quixote, to quote an ex-president, "I feel your pain." Last summer, my younger son (at the time just turned 9, finished Bear) attended Cub Scout day camp. As you already know, one of the requirements to attend is to have a parent serve as a volunteer for at least a day. My older son, (1st Class Scout), volunteered to help out too and it did not work out well at all. He did not use any craft supplies and we are required to bring our own lunch so by volunteering he created no cost to the council. However, as he helped escort the boys from activity to activity he was reprimanded by adult volunteers and staff at every stage telling him he should not be there, can't partake in the activities (he had no intention to) etc. Granted, many of the "Cub Scout" gang who are not at all involved in boy scouts don't understand the concept of trying to teach the older boys leadership, responsibility, etc. But he was treated very discourteously in my book. And yes, we checked with council months ahead, he was officially registered, etc. He didn't just tag along at the last minute. All this happened at the same time the council was threatening to close down the day camps because of a lack of volunteers! It seems to me the official message was that they were welcome but the actual message was that they are not.

 

Now later this summer I'll be taking my 2nd year Webelos den to Webelos Residence camp (five days, four nights) and will be taking my two den chiefs along too. The den chiefs pay the same $50 fee (advance fee, $60 normal fee) that the adult leaders do, primarily for food. That is something I have no problem with at all. The boys pay $110 (advance fee, $120 normal fee) and I'm guessing the increased cost is due to craft supplies primarily. One thing I lobbied our pack committee to do is to give a 10% "scholarship" for summer camp (day or residence, not both) of the money the boys earned selling popcorn. For example, if your son sold $500 worth of popcorn, he would be eligible to a $50 "scholarship" towards his camping fee. This encourages camping and popcorn sales. For our den chiefs, I had a special spring time Trails End store sale to raise money to cover their fee.

 

So after a week of Boy Scout summer camp in June, July weekend camp (Boy Scout), August Webelos Residence camp (5 days), August weekend Boy Scout camp, August weekend (3 day) Wood Badge Camp, my wife wants to go camping for a week with the family this summer! I think I've spent more time in my sleeping bag than my bed at home.

[NJCubScouter]

So, Acco, what you are saying is that after spending half the summer away from your wife, she would like you to spend a week camping with her and your children. My personal advice based on almost 21 years of marriage, is that you start making those camping arrangements right now.