Cub Scout Denner Leadership Role

A denner is a member of your Cub Scout den who is either elected or appointed to be an official “helper” for the den.  The position gives the Cub Scouts an opportunity to serve in a leadership role.

Denners can be selected through a variety of methods, but you should to include the Scouts in the decision so that they have some ownership in the process.

The kids can vote (by secret ballot or show of hands) to select the denner.  Another option is give the Cub Scouts a list of months and have them fill out who will be the denner for each month.

For our den, we have a ceremony that we do when a new person takes over the role.  They lights a candle, and we use this script:

_________, will you please step forward and light our candle? This candle represents the spirit of scouting. It takes team effort to keep the spirit alive, to keep the candle burning. You have just been chosen a member of that team. As Denner, your duties are to assist the den and leader, arrive 15 early and leave 15 minutes late. During the week, you will set a good example for the other members in our den by being honest and fair, and showing true scouting spirit. Do you accept these responsibilities?

The denner then has the denner cord pinned to their left shoulder.  The cord goes underneath their arm.

Some of the responsibilities of the denner in our den are:

• Arrive a few minutes early to help set up
• Stay a few minutes late to help clean up
• Pass out any materials needed (paper handouts, pencils, scissors, etc.)
• Bring a snack
• Choose a helper and pass out the snack (probably the most popular responsibility!)

Here are more suggestions for denner responsibilities:

• Take attendance
• Call the den meeting to order using the Cub Scout sign
• Welcome scouts to the meeting
• Lead the den in the opening flag ceremony
• Prepare a joke or story to tell
• Prepare a game to play
• Lead a song
• Keep the den in order by using the Cub Scout Sign when necessary
• Help with uniform inspections
• Choose leader and last man for any hikes
• Select teams or groups for activities and games.

They can serve for any length of time–typically 1 to 3 months.  Our denner serves one month so that everyone can have a turn being the denner. After their service as a denner, the Cub Scout passes the cord on to the next denner and is given a tab to wear to show that they are a former denner.

Using a denner allows your Cubs to practice their leadership skills.  Do you have a denner in your den?  How has that worked for you?

Yours in Scouting,
Sherry

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