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Re: Losing Webelos
Sherri Priest (spriest@AHS-I.COM)
Tue, 8 Dec 1998 08:53:00 -0600
I have a 4th grade webelos den and am committee chairperson. We just did a
campout with the 5th grade webelos. They did 2 night as required. We did
one night. But we got there and had all afternoon Saturday to do
activities. We planned it where they worked on Traveler, Athlete,
Outdoorsman and Naturalist. You could really work on any of the badges
including citizen. Just the fact that you are out of doors and they are
together as a group makes them more interested in participating. We only
had half of our den there but they accomplished something and had fun. I
suggest you don't give up on Arrow of Light. Those who work on it and get
it, will get it. The others don't. You can't do it for them. Let them
know what they have to do to earn it and then let the chips fall where they
may.
We are working on citizen this year and it's not going to great for us
either. Some will not get it. Same goes for scholar. One interesting
idea for Citizen that we may do is go to a naturalization ceremony in our
town. Usually once a month, they have the ceremony to induct the people to
become citizens. That would be great. Other idea is to sit in on city
council board meeting. Good luck.
Sherri Priest
Pack 359
Whitehouse, Texas
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> From: Jan Mussler <mussler@SPOT.COLORADO.EDU>
> To: SCOUTS-L@LISTSERV.TCU.EDU
> Subject: Losing Webelos
> Date: Monday, December 07, 1998 3:54 PM
>
> I'm having trouble retaining Scouts, after 3 years of Cubs gravitating to
> my den. I'm asking questions of parents and scouts, but get things like
-
> it isn't as fun as it was last year. Nothing specific.
>
> Here's what's different from last year.
>
> New location - meeting not at my home, but at the new "Scout Room" at the
> commnunity center. Better location for dropping off and picking up.
Less
> convenient for me and my husband.
>
> Same number of Scouts but different Scouts. Lost 4 scouts over the
> summer. One moved and 3 dropped out (those who had had marginal
> attendnance all along and were lagging in advancement). Picked up 4
> Scouts, 2 from a den that nearly died from extinction. One is very
> disruptive, the other can be but has settled into the group. The
> dissatisfied ones are from my original group.
>
> More male involvement - particularly from mu husband and one other dad.
I
> have been gradually backing off and letting them run the show more and
> more. My husband has been frustrated about some Scouts not working on
> Citizen at home. My take has been that the real supportive parents keep
> their sons on track at home, the less supportive parents (all my parents
> are supportive or the boys wouldn't be here at all) don't work at home
and
> I just expect to work with these boys in den. My husband believes that
we
> can't make it all happen in den; I've tried to set things up so that
with
> good attendnance, it can happen in den. We disagree on how this Program
> happens, in that respect.
>
> AOL focus in this second year - We really acoomplished a lot in the first
> year and did cover the "fun" stuff and, as is printed in Program Helps,
> left Citizen and Readyman for the second year. I'm beginning to question
> the wisdom of that. Should I, with my first year WEbelos den, work in a
> little Citizen as we go, rather than do it in the month or two at the
> beginning of the second year?
>
> The guys have been "off task" (off the wall) behavior-wise this entire
> school year. We've lost our temper a couple time, timed out a kid or
two,
> and gritted our teeth a lot. Is this developmental? A symptom?
>
> Our meeting with the Troop was -so I heard - the best meeting all year.
> Good commentary on the troop, not so good for us.
>
> I'd like to have more fun also, but want to accomplish the goals of the
> program. We're about to call it quits on AOL stuff and let the chips
fall
> where they may. What should we do "for fun" in the last month before we
> cross over to Boy Scouts?
>
> Thanks for any light you can shed.
>
> YIS,
>
> Jan Mussler, Webelos Den Leader, Pack 170
> Nederland, CO - Long's Peak Council
> Arapahoe District
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