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- A MEETING PRIMER -
When Do Tiger Cubs Meet?
To experience the fun, excitement, and other benefits of Cub Scouting, you and your Tiger Cub will do the following things each month:
- Go to two one-hour den meetings at the host adult partner's home or other location.
Leaders will try to hold the meetings at a time that is convenient for all adult partners and is appropriate for boys of Tiger Cub age. Some dens meet at a school, a place of worship, or the location of their chartered organization. But meetings can be held almost anywhere-in a basement, recreation room, backyard, or park - as long as the meeting location is safe for boys and their families.
- Take a field trip, or Go See It, with the entire den.
The Go See It is a planned field trip to a place that is interesting to boys. It may be associated with the monthly theme
- Attend the Cub Scout pack meeting.
Planning the Tiger Cub Den Meeting
With shared leadership, each month a different boy-adult partner works with the Tiger Cub den leader to plan the two monthly den meetings and the Go See It. Together, they also organize the participation of the den at the monthly pack meeting. It is important that each boy-adult partner team has a turn at planning and conducting the den activities.
The Tiger Cub Den Meeting Program
form, found in the Cub Scout Leader
Book, helps leaders and boy - adult
partner teams plan weekly Tiger Cub
meetings.
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The den meetings will be based on the theme of the month (see "Using the Monthly Theme in the Den Meeting" below) or on one of the den activity parts of an achievement. (You'll read more about the three parts of achievements below.)
The Tiger Cub den leader and the host adult partner can also use the resources of other families in the den for den activities. Let the boys give their ideas, too. See "Tiger Cub Den Resources" on page 17 for creative program ideas.
Remember: A well-planned den meeting will hold the boys' interest, and they will be excited to return.
Using the Monthly Theme
In the Den Meeting
Each year, Cub Scout Program Helps (No. 34304) suggests 12 monthly themes suitable for Tiger Cubs and Cub Scouts. This annual publication includes songs, skits, games, crafts, and ideas for Go See It activities that complement the theme. Boys' Life magazine also features ideas and articles each month on the recommended theme, and the monthly adult leader roundtable meetings provide program ideas and instruction for these same themes. (You'll read more about roundtable below.)
Packs aren't required to use the recommended theme each month, but they are chosen and planned to appeal to boys and to offer opportunities for them, and you, to achieve the purposes of Cub Scouting (see page 24 for more about the purposes of Cub Scouting). By following the themes, den leaders and the Cubmaster have a lot of support material available to them.
Tiger Cub den leaders and host adult partners introduce the theme at the first den meeting of the month. The activities for the second den meeting and the pack meeting also use the monthly theme. Therefore, the theme provides continuity among the two den meetings, the Go See It, and the pack meeting. The theme is different each month, which helps provide variety and hold the boys' interest.
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Possible Monthly Themes
All Aboard: All about trains
Blast Off: Rocket ships, space program
Circus Fun: Three-ring circus with animals and acts
Exciting Explorers: Famous adventurers and their accomplishments
Hometown Heroes: Recognize people who make a difference in your community
Land Before Time: Dinosaurs
Magic: Secrets of the magicians' art, amazing feats
Rodeo: A look at the Wild West
Treasure Chest: Pirates
Visiting Other Lands: Cultures from around the world
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Parts of a Tiger Cub Den Meeting
The focus of every den meeting plan should be based on the Cub Scout motto: Do your best. The Tiger Cub den meeting plan in Cub Scout Program Helps divides the meeting into eight parts. Each part has a purpose, so the den meeting will be better for the boys if you follow this pattern. It will make planning and running the den meetings easier.
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Parts of a Tiger Cub
Den Meeting
- Before the Meeting
- Gathering
- Opening
- Share
- Discover
- Search
- Closing
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- Before the meeting.
The purpose of this part of the meeting is to give the den leader and the host adult partner time to make preparations, gather supplies, set out the U.S. flag, and take care of any last-minute details before the boys and their adult partners arrive.
- The Gatherig
is an activity or game that keeps the boys interested and busy while everybody else arrives. Planning activities for when Tiger Cubs arrive will help avoid some of the behavior problems that can happen when boys don't have enough to do. The gathering time also gives the den leader time to take attendance, collect dues, and keep track of the achievements each boy has completed while the host adult partner is with the boys.
- The Opening
is the official start of the den meeting. Whereas the gathering time is an informal time, the opening is an organized activity that signals the beginning of the meeting. Here are some ideas:
Most den meetings begin with a flag ceremony. At this time, the boys can practice saying the Tiger Cub motto and the Cub Scout Promise. (See here for the Cub Scout Promise.)
- A brief prayer may be included, but always be sensitive to the diverse religious beliefs that may be repre sented in the den.
- The opening may also include boisterous action or a song.
- A roll call isn't necessary, but boys like to hear their names being said. if the meeting relates to a monthly theme, such as jungle animals, each boy could respond with the name of a jungle animal.
- The Share part
of the den meeting gives each boy an opportunity to share something that he has done since the last meeting. This activity gives boys time to share family experiences.
- For the Discover time
, the den leader may introduce the monthly theme and talk about what the den will be doing for the pack meeting. Then, the boys will play games, work on craft projects and puzzles, take part in outdoor activities, or work on advancement requirements. The den leader can initial requirements in each boy's handbook as the boy completes them. (You, the adult partner, also sign in the handbook; see more about advancement here.)
Den activities that boys and their adult partners can do together are the best. They are a team, so they should participate and have fun as a team.
Boys love to play games, so each meeting should include at least one game. It can be indoors or outdoors, quiet or active. The host Tiger Cub could lead the game. Once again, adult partners should be included.
Sometimes, boys will do a craft project during a den meeting. For instance, around the holidays, boys could do holiday-related crafts or make something that is needed for the pack meeting. Some projects can be completed during one or two den meetings, but others might require that you and your Tiger Cub work together at home The den leader and host adult partner can explain the project and help the boys do it. (You and other adult partners can be very helpful during craft time.)
- During the Search time
of the meeting, the leaders will talk about plans for the Go See It. Boys love to get out and see new things. This activity could fulfill one of the achievement requirements or one of the elective requirements, and/or it could relate to the monthly theme.
- The Closing period
draws the meeting to an end and is usually more serious and quiet. Den leaders might present a thought for the day, have the boys say the Tiger Cub motto or the Cub Scout Promise together, and/or give everyone last-minute reminders about upcoming events. Leaders can also use this time to reinforce the 12 core values of Cub Scouting (you'll read about the 12 core values on page 26 tin the Tiger Cub Handbook).
- After the Meeting
, the den leader and host adult partner review the events of the meeting and finalize plans for the next meeting and the upcoming pack meeting. If this is the second den meeting of the month, the den leader may meet with the host adult partner for the next month to plan and/or preview that month's den activities.
The Tiger Cub Den Meeting Program form helps the den leader and host adult partner plan a den meeting. A few days before the den meeting, they fill in the details for each portion of the den meeting, including the plan and the supplies and equipment needed.
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