How to earn the National Den Award

For delivering an outstanding, year-round Cub Scouting experience for your boys, you deserve an award.

You deserve the National Den Award.

The National Den Award recognizes dens that run a great program. You can earn it once in a 12-month period; your pack committee decides whether that’s the charter year or the calendar year. You earn it as a den — not as individual Scouts.

Once it’s earned, you get a nice-looking ribbon for your den flag.

But how and why does a den earn the National Den Award? For that, let’s turn to Cub Scouting Committee member Justin Dettman, who joined the June 2016 CubCast with his thoughts.

Why earn it

In dens that earn the National Den Award, you’ll find a program with service projects, field trips, character development and Cub Scout camping.

“By setting their sights on earning the award and using the requirements as a guide, the Scouts will benefit as they receive a great Cub Scouting experience,” Dettman says.

So, sure, you get the ribbon. But really you get the satisfaction in knowing that your den is maximizing the value that Cub Scouting brings to boys. It’s kind of like a mini-Journey to Excellence — but at the den level instead of the pack level.

OK, so there’s the why. What about the how?

How to earn it

Use this application (PDF) as your guide.

The first part is active participation in meetings or other activities with 50 percent of the den attending two den meetings and one pack meeting or other pack
activity each month.

The second part is about a well-rounded program. You must meet six of nine requirements, including things like using the denner system, completing service projects, taking field trips, participating in patriotic activities, camping and more.

Here are the full requirements:

Requirements

A. Have at least 50 percent of the den’s Tigers, Cub Scouts, or Webelos Scouts attend two den meetings and one pack meeting or activity each month of the year.

B. Complete six of the following during the year:

1. Use the denner system within the den.

2. In a Tiger den, use shared leadership and rotate the boy/adult host team.

3. Have 50 percent of the den go on three field trips per year. A field trip may be used in place of a den meeting.

4. As a den, attend a Cub Scout day camp, Cub Scout or Webelos Scout resident camp, or a council family camping event with at least 50 percent of the den membership.

5. Conduct three den projects or activities leading to a discussion of the Scout Law.

6. Have 50 percent of the den earn at least three elective adventure loops or adventure pins.

7. Have 50 percent of the den participate in a patriotic ceremony or parade.

8. Have 50 percent of the den participate in a den conservation/resource project.

9. Have 50 percent of the den participate in at least one den service project.

Where to hear more

For the full conversation about the National Den Award, click here.