What’s a Den Chief? The Most Important Youth Leadership Position!

A Den Chief is a youth position in a Troop that is helping the Den Leader in a Cub Scout Pack. Often this position is dismissed as unimportant and trivial. However, it’s one of the most important in the life of a Scout Troop and a Cub Scout Den. ScouterStan explores this little know youth position and how important it is. The new Den Chief training is outlined in 3 modules;

  1. The Den Chief’s role and understanding Cub Scouts
  2. The Den Meeting
  3. How to lead activities

The Den Leader and the Den Chief Scout should attend this training together. Techanaly, the Den Chief can be of any rank, but only First Class Scout or higher can count their service for rank advancement. Scoutmasters should only select responsible scouts for this position. As the Den Leader doesn’t need an older Cub Scout… They need a real youth leader. Scoutmasters should also consider the many commitments on this youth leader. Troop meetings ever week, Den meeting 3 times a month and Pack meeting or Pack activity once a month. Plus Troop camping and OA commitments and more… A Den Chief is a natural recruiter for your Troop. Encourage the Den Chief to work in the older Den’s and have them cross over into the Troop. Then the former Den Chief can become a Troop Guide to the first year patrol.

🌎 Den Chief Website: https://www.scouting.org/training/youth/den-chief-training
📄 Instructors Syllabus PDF: https://i9peu1ikn3a16vg4e45rqi17-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Den-Chief-Syllabus-v4.pdf
🎓 Online Den Cheif Training: https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/training/den-chief-training

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