Spicing Up Den Meetings

By Tracy SmithPack 677

Ask the boys for ideas Look in the Den Book Ask other Leaders Ask Parents Look at Parent/Guardian Talent Surveys

How to Start

Your local Library Craft Stores like Jo-Anns Hobby Stores Blogs Pinterest.com Online Search Engines

Where to Look

Have the boys create a show

Puppets Skit Play

The boys design the props The boys write the script The boys do set design as well

Put on a show

Gather age appropriate puzzles Have each boy pick out a puzzle Do a count down to start The first boy to complete his puzzle wins Then as the boys complete their puzzle they

can then go and help another boy who could use some help

Puzzle Battle

Games Party

Board Games Card Games Dominos

Show & Tell

Bring in something that is outside of Scouts and School

History of Scouting History of the American Flag Community Service Scouting in other Countries

Research Project

Design Contest Distance Contest Precision Contest

Paper Airplanes

Leather Necklaces Leather Bracelets Leather Key Chains Other ideas

Leather Working

Knot Tying

Create useful projects with different types of knots

Have a knot tying station that the boys can reuse

Nature

Create paper bag books to display items found in nature

Make Scrapbooks about animals in the local area

Nature continued

Go to the Pfeiffer Nature Center

Make Nature Impressions

Duct Tape

Birds

Discuss what are local birds

What they eat Have a bird watcher

come in to talk to the boys

Make birdfeeders

Science

Do an experiment Have someone from

a Crime Lab come in to talk about what they do

Let the boys see their fingerprints

Bobcat Fun

Time/Direction

Show the boys how to use a compass correctly

Explain how time is different in other parts of the world

Communication

Have someone who knows sign language give a small demonstration

Create secret codes

Useful Projects

Parachute Cord

Pegboard Bead Projects Paint Wooden Magnets Origami Paper Mache Yarn Pictures Whittling Project

Crafts

Let the boys create a project to help out their

community Make useful gifts for area shut-ins Do something for your Chartered Organization

Community Service

Life Skills

Teach them to sew a button/patches

How to tie a Tie How to use basic

tools properly How to fix a hole in a

wall

How to plan for an outing

How to be thrifty Basic First Aid For Bears & above

pocket knife safety

Camping

Set up a tent as a den

Explain types of equipment

Discuss gear needed for different type of camping (winter/summer)

Camping continued

Make Camp Gear Storage containers

Make first aid kits Survival kits

Field Trip