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Mayflower Council is working with the Providence Bruins to provide our Scouts with discounted tickets to some of there great games.  Fun for the whole family.

Please see the attached flyers for more information and to reserve your tickets.

Due to the current weather forecast, the Marlborough and Canton Service Centers will be closed on Monday, March 4th.

In an abundance of caution, the Mayflower Council has postponed the Merit Badge University and the adult training classes being offered at the Southeastern Regional Vocational Technical High School on Saturday, March 2, 2019 due to weather conditions. While we share our participants’ obvious disappointment, the safety of our participants and staff is most important. Weather tracking has indicated there is an elevated risk for significant snowfall in the area of the event. In addition, driving conditions are expected to deteriorate with the snowfall. Both of these factors have influenced this difficult decision.   Saturday, March 9th will follow our Day 1 schedule and Saturday, March 23rd will follow our Day 2 schedule.

Chris Lamie, Mayflower Council’s Training Chair, and a lot great volunteers put on an in-depth seminar for Cranberry Harbor’s District Committee on Saturday, January 12th.

Topics included:

• Chairs/Vice Chairs
• Activities and Civic Service
• New Unit Organizers
• Training
• Advancement
• Fund Development
• Camping/Outdoor Program
• Membership

We hope some of you were able to attend, and more will be able to attend this type of training in the future.

For more information, please visit https://www.mayflowerbsa.org/program/adult/training

You’ve probably heard about the Mayflower Council’s district realignment plan in some way or another over the past few months. We are excited to report that on January 24, 2018, the Council’s Voting Members unanimously approved the plan set forth by the District Operations Committee. The new realignment structure will allow the council to serve more youth within our communities and help us create the best possible Scouting experience for our families and volunteers. The new district realignment structure will permit the more effective assignment of Scouting professionals to support volunteers in the delivery of the Scouting program. To learn more, please visit our Council Districts page.

We are excited to announce that our online store opened it’s doors today. You can now shop for Mayflower Council items online. To celebrate our store’s launch all orders will be shipped for free. New items will continually be added.

Our online store is the only place to get the new Mayflower Council Shoulder patches. These patches will not be available from any Scout Shop until after April 1, so stop by our online store and order yours today!

Click here to visit our online store

Just a reminder…
Each member of the Mayflower Council will be receiving a free silver bordered first edition council shoulder patch when the unit’s charter has been completed. Your district executive will arrange a time to present the patches to your unit.

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr, the Marlborough and Canton Service Centers will be closed on Monday, January 15th.

Basic Information

What is a Den Chief?

A Den Chief is a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer assisting a Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, or Webelos Scout den. The Den Chief assists the den leader with meetings; helps lead activities, games, and ceremonies; helps Cub Scouts learn to be leaders; sets a good example; and encourages Cub Scouts to become Webelos Scouts and Webelos to become Boy Scouts.

The Den Chief has the following responsibilities:

• Know the purposes of Cub Scouting.
• Help Cub Scouts achieve the purposes of Cub Scouting.
• Be the activities assistant at den meetings.
• Set a good example in your attitude and uniform.
• Take part in weekly den meetings.
• Assist the den in its part of the monthly pack meeting program.
• Be a friend to the boys in the den.
• Know the importance of the monthly theme.
• Meet as needed with the adult leaders of the den, pack, and troop.

Who can be a Den Chief?

Basic requirements:

• Be a Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer.
• Be mature enough to handle the job (for Boy Scouts, usually at least First Class rank).

Why are Den Chiefs such a great idea?

Because everybody wins!

• The Pack and Den get a helping hand. Den Chiefs can help teach the Scouting skills they’ve learned, and they can bring great enthusiasm and spirit to the job.
• The Cub Scouts get a role model who can teach them skills and inspire them to keep following the Scouting trail.
• The Den Chief can use this position for Boy Scout advancement or Crew recognition. More importantly, the Den Chief gains leadership experience, gains teaching skills, and builds confidence.
• The Troop or Crew gets the perfect opportunity to recruit future members from the Cub Scout program.

How does the Den Chief program work?

• The Pack and Troop/Crew work together to recruit Den Chiefs.
• A Den Chief is selected by the Senior Patrol Leader and Scoutmaster or by the Crew President and Advisor.
• A Den Chief should be approved by the Cubmaster and Pack Committee, after which the Cubmaster will help match each Den Chief with a den.
• Every Den Chief should get trained!
• The Den Chief attends den and pack meetings and other den/pack activities. The Den Leader should give the Den Chief meaningful assignments to help run activities.
• A Den Chief is recognized right away with the Den Chief patch and cord.
• After a year of service, the Den Chief can earn the Den Chief Service Award.

Training Courses

Online Version

Every Den Chief should start by taking the BSA’s online training. It covers the roles and responsibilities of a Den Chief, and it takes about 30 minutes to complete.

Live Training

It’s a lot more fun to take Den Chief training in person! This half-day course is a great chance to meet fellow Den Chiefs, share ideas, and “learn by doing.” Here’s what it covers:

• The roles and responsibilities of a Den Chief
• Tips for working with Cub Scouts
• Games, songs, and other fun activities that you can bring back to your den

Adult leaders are also welcome to sit in and learn how a Den Chief can help your den or pack.

We have four courses on the calendar, all on Saturday mornings. Registration is open for three of them:

• October 14 in Northborough
• October 21 in Hanson/Halifax area TBD (register online)
• November 4 in Weymouth (register online)
• December 2 in Foxboro (register online)

Other Resources

• The Den Chief Handbook is available for purchase at the Scout Store (call ahead first to make sure it’s in stock). It’s also available whenever we offer a live Den Chief training course.
• The Tiger Cub Handbook, Wolf Handbook, Bear Handbook, and Webelos Handbook are also useful tools.
• Requirements for the Den Chief Service Award
• Boy Scout Trail is one of many websites loaded with songs, skits, games, and other activities to do with Cub Scouts.
• Macscouter.com has a useful guide for Den Leaders to help them work effectively with Den Chiefs.

The Den Chief Pledge

I promise to help the boys in my den to the best of my ability; to encourage, guide, and protect them in all den and pack activities; and to show them by my example what Boy Scouts of America stands for.

I will strive to be prompt and dependable, and to cooperate with the leaders in carrying out the den program.

As each boy becomes eligible to move along the Cub Scouting trail, I will encourage him and do all in my power to interest him in someday becoming a Boy Scout.

Purposes of Cub Scouting

• Character development
• Spiritual growth
• Good citizenship
• Sportsmanship and fitness
• Family understanding
• Respectful relationships
• Personal achievement
• Friendly service
• Fun and adventure
• Preparation for Boy Scouts

Den Chief’s Uniform

• Troop or crew uniform
• Den Chief patch on left sleeve
• Cub Scout den chief cord or Webelos den chief cord on left shoulder
• If you’ve taken Den Chief training, you can wear the Trained patch on the left sleeve below the Den Chief patch