In my years of scouting, a common question I hear from new-comers is this:

What’s the difference between a Pack and a Den, and their each respective meetings?

Pack and Pack Meetings

A Pack is the parent organization of the local scouting unit.  It’s the title for the collective group, together of all the dens.  A Pack is comprised of all the dens, therefore during a Pack Meeting, all the Dens would be in attendance.

Think of a Pack as all the Sunday school classes, of all ages, combined.

Typically Pack Meetings will occur about once a month and are necessary for everyone to come together and meet as a whole body.

Den and Den Meetings

Dens are the separate, smaller groups that are typically age-specific.  Following is a list of Dens found in a Boy Scout of America Cub Scout Pack:

• Wolfs – 8 yrs old
• Bears – 9 yrs old
• Webelos – 10 yrs old

Den meetings will typically happen weekly and will have separate Den Leaders.

Think of this like individual Sunday school classes.