No matter what anybody tells you, being a Cub Scout leader is intimidating. You need to learn new terms and phrases, you need to understand what an “adventure” is, and you need to realize that a bunch of 6 to 10 year-olds are not going to eat you alive. It’s not for the faint of heart. But for those who step up and volunteer as a Cub Scout leader, it is a wonderful experience!
One of the problems of being a Cub Scout leader is you are often unprepared to lead the meetings. You might be given a handbook and told “Good luck!” If you are more fortunate, the Cubmaster, or some other experienced leader, will spend some time with you to explain how the program works. But even when you understand it there are still a lot of things to figure out, such as, “Where do I come up with ideas for the meetings?”
The list below are links to resources that I have compiled over the years of being a Cub Scout leader. Some are downloads you can reference, some are links to publications sold by BSA, and some are unofficial sites with a lot of good information.
If you know of a resource that has been helpful to you, please post information about it in the comments below.
DOWNLOADS (click each title to download PDF)
- Guide to Safe Scouting (updated quarterly) – All leaders need to be familiar with this Guide
- Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities – All leaders need to be familiar with these guidelines
- Trained Leader Requirements
BSA PUBLICATIONS
- Cub Scout Leader How-To Book
- Cub Scout Den & Pack Meeting Resource Guide
- Ceremonies for Dens & Packs
- Cub Scout Leader Book
- Tiger Den Leader Guide
- Wolf Den Leader Guide
- Bear Den Leader Guide
- Webelos Den Leader Guide
*** NOTE *** Some of these publications were written for the old program (pre-2015) and might reference things like beads and arrow points (both are no longer part of the program), but most of the ideas can still be utilized with minor modifications to fit the current program.
OFFICIAL BSA RESOURCES
- My.Scouting https://my.scouting.org
- Online training modules, including Youth Protection Training
- Unit tools for Key 3 members
- CubScouts.org Learning Library https://cubscouts.org/learning-library/
- Information geared toward den leaders & running a meeting
- BSA Program Updates https://www.scouting.org/resources/program-updates/
- Updates on all program transitions
- Updates to handbook (e.g. addendums, Wolf slime recipe for Germs Alive adventure)
- Family Scouting https://www.scouting.org/familyscouting/
- The single point of information about Family Scouting (boys & girls)
- Scouting Resources https://www.scouting.org/resources
- Compilation of information for various positions
- Some information is older
- CubCast https://podcast.scouting.org/
- Monthly podcast on a single topic
- Archives going back several years
- Can add to your favorite podcast app
- Scouting Wire https://scoutingwire.org/newsletter/
- Sign up for weekly email from BSA National
- Scouting Magazine https://scoutingmagazine.org
- Online version of magazine
- Archives going back decades (fee required)
- Bryan on Scouting blog https://blog.scoutingmagazine.org/
- A Blog for the BSA’s Adult Leaders
- Boys’ Life Magazine https://boyslife.org
- Online version of magazine
- Archives going back decades
OTHER RESOURCES (lines in “quotes” are the descriptions from the web sites)
- “New Cub Scout Leader Survival Guide” https://mikecooney.net/new-cub-scout-leader-survival-guide/
- Useful tips from a volunteer leader
- Cub Scout Volunteers Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/343949075776127/
- Request to join the group
- Baloo’s Bugle http://usscouts.org/bbugle.asp
- “Welcome to Baloo’s Bugle, your online Cub Scout Roundtable featuring monthly program hints for Cub Scouters.”
- Monthly ideas for running den & pack program, usually over 100 pages per month
- Archives going back to 1996
- Can subscribe to blog RSS feed to be notified when new issue published
- Cub Scout Ideas https://cubscoutideas.com
- “Fun, Creative and Easy Ideas You Can Use Immediately”
- Boy Scout Trail http://boyscouttrail.com
- “Resources for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts”
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boyscouttrail/
- MeritBadge.org http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page
- “Helping Scouts Advance”
- Primarily information about program requirements, and resources (such as worksheets) for completing the requirements
- US Scouting Service Project http://usscouts.org
- “A Scouting Portal Website created by Scouters for Scouters”
- Scouter Mom http://scoutermom.com
- “A resource for adults and youth involved in Scouting”
- Insane Scouter http://insanescouter.org
- “Ideas and resources that will help you put on a better program.”
- Scout Songs http://www.scoutsongs.com
- “Lyrics for Boy Scouts Songs, Girl Scouts Songs, and American Patriotic Songs”
- Camp Songs https://campsongs.wordpress.com
- “All the summer camp favourites and more . . .”
- Scoutbook forums https://www.scoutbook.com/mobile/forums/
- Message forums with other Scouting volunteers
- Suggest the “Cub Scouting” forum for ideas and program information
- (Official BSA site, but content is user submitted and therefore not always authoritative)
- CubTrax Spreadsheets http://trax.boy-scouts.net/cubtrax.htm
- “FREE TOOLS By Scouters For Scouters”
*** NOTE *** When accessing any information about requirements, the Handbook or Addendum is the authoritative source. Some sites may still have information about the old program (pre-2015), so always double-check.
AWARDS
- Den Leader Training Award – To recognize den leaders who have completed training, tenure, and performance requirements. Available for Tiger Cub den leaders, Cub Scout den leaders, and Webelos den leaders. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-052_WB.pdf
- Scouter’s Training Award for Cub Scouting – To encourage training, tenure in a position, participation, and performance of adult leaders. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-057_WB.pdf
- Cubmaster’s Key – To encourage training, performance, and tenure. https://filestore.scouting.org/filestore/training/pdf/511-053_WB.pdf
Last updated: March 29, 2018
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