mom of tiger cub & senior patrol leader

[seaky53]

i have 2 sons in scouting. I ask my older son to be a den chief to my younger son's den. the next month they moved all the older den chiefs to different dens. how long are they supposed to stay with one group of kids?

[rlculver415]

To be succinct - one calendar year, to maintain continuity for the den. Also, the den chief award requires working with a den for a year, among other things.

[acco40]

Who exactly is "they?" I am a Webelos den leader and a Scoutmaster. There always seems to be a confusion of who does the den chief work for, the troop or the den.

 

In practicality, the den chief works for the den or den leader. A troop can't force a den chief onto a den, but conversely, a den leader can only ask for a den chief which is ultimately a Boy Scout position. My experience is that a boy who decides that he wants to become a den chief makes himself available to a pack or den and then works very closely with the den leader. It is important for the den leader to realize that the den chief position is an opportunity for the den chief to learn and hone his leadership skills. Unfortunately, too many young Boy Scouts see PL and SPL as prestige positions and may not look as highly at the den chief position. I think the position provides an excellent training ground for future leaders especially if the den leader empowers the den chief to do his role.