Den Doodles

On Thursday's, I tend to look at ideas that have worked in the past.  Den doodles have been around as long as there has been the organization of the dens in Cub Scouts. It is the one tool, besides the back of their book, which the scouts are able to measure up their progress.  This great visual aid sometimes creates a desire within the scout to complete more achievements to build up his own cord on the doodle.  Also, in some circumstances, it may create some competition between the scouts to see who’s cord has more bling on the doodle (didn’t someone important once say that scouting is a game with a purpose… oh yah, Baden Powell said that).  When creating your den doodle, do not do all the work. This is for the boys, so naturally it should be them who designs the doodle.  You as the leaders are the ones who keep it updated and you may be surprised at how proud your Cub Scouts are as they slip something as little as a pony bead onto their own cord of accomplishments.   

Cubmaster’s Packbook, 1973 printing Pg 329

A den doodle can proudly take its place beside the den flag at the pack meeting. If it’s a good den doodle, it’s distinctive. No two doodles should look alike, but every doodle should have the dens number and totem, a place for each member’s name, and a cord or thong for each Cub Scouts string of achievements. Spools, bottle tops, and Popsicle sticks are a few of the usual trophies used to show the completion of an achievement. Whatever the den chooses from then on, all members use the same trophy to mark their triumphs – each one should be marked with the achievement number and date.