RE when is a den not a den?
Kenneth De Vilbiss (K_E_DeVilbiss@MSN.COM)
Thu, 29 Feb 1996 06:52:37 UT
Once again, I'm calling on the combined wisdom of this esteemed group. When
our den started last August we had 6 boys. A month ago another boy moved to
Tennessee which leaves us with only four boys. Just
recently I was informed that another boy will be moving to North Carolina
soon. Bringing the den down to only 3 boys.
I'm not sure if there is another small den in our pack but if there is,
maybe I should consider combining dens? The other option of course is to
just ride it out for the next 3 months and possibly enlarge the den with
next year's newly arrived Bears?
TIA
YiS
From: John E. Campbell
John,
I've been in your shoes. I've served as Den Leader Coach for 2 Packs
he
re in
CO. You are right, dens with only 3-4 boys don't function well. You don't
say how big your Pack is, but if there is another den of Wolves in your Pack,
combining would be the best solution. Check with your Cubmaster and
Committee. They are technically in charge of forming dens. Even if this
makes a large den (8-9 boys), if you stay active as a leader and so do 2 other
leaders, you should work well.
The option of hanging on till Sept. and adding new boys is second best
a
nd
trailing by a mile. You run the risk of losing the other boys before summer
is over. Why not recruit now if you can't combine? No one says School Night
for Scouting is the only time you can add boys. I'd bet that the lure of the
recruiter patch would get the boys currently in your den to asking their
friends who aren't Cubs to join them. The new boys might not be able to
finish Wolf but they can earn their Bobcat and be ready to earn Bear when your
den graduates.
In any event, hang on to the boys you have, maybe invite another den
to
join
you for games and trips. Our Webelos held a Webelos Ultimate and Marbles Day
with all the dens competing. (We had 3 Webelos dens at that time.) Hope this
helps.
YIS,
Ellen De Vilbiss, Den Leader, Tiger Coach, Roundtable Commissioner
Louisville, CO W-CS-35 I used to be an Owl, but I'm married to a
Bear
. I
don't know what that makes me now, but I'm grumpy when awakened!
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
