Why we lose Webelos
EC92@AOL.COM
Fri, 11 Dec 1998 17:37:00 EST
>1. They were bored to death with Cub Scouts, but had to get their AOL
>because of parental pressure to complete what was started.
You can stop with bored. They are bored, too many Webelos leaders were den
leaders before and they can't get the idea of the change in program. Too many
Webelos are still doing crafts when they should be wiring lamps or building
rockets or making larger wood products.
>2. They had been camping for 2 or more years with all the fun and now >on
entering Boy Scouts found out they would also have to do the work
The best ones do the work and don't care, they're STILL having fun.
>3. In our area, middle school home work expectations are nearly
>unreasonable
My father, in 41 years of teaching, called homework "the stuff the teacher
should've done during the day but didn't because they were either snowed under
by the administration or overrun by the kids". They overload ours here, too.
>4.They miss ...their first year opportunity to go to summer camp
I don;t know about the catching up bit, but I always tried to get the web 2
parents to realize we're booked for camp and if they want to see their kids
move on and stay in BS they need to reserve that time now and not schedule
other things then. First year first class is good, but first year summer camp
is even better.
>5.They are afraid of the woods.
Or the dark, or being in a tent with a kid they hardly know, or something that
makes them feel they are being singled out. Or even just because they can hear
the Scoutmaster snoring across the campsite. Or perhaps just "snuffling".
>6.They can finally participate in organized, school sports in middle
>school and that is more supported by mom, dad and friends than Scouting.
Lord, this is our backbreaker! I can't even get a Web2 on a campout until
after Basketball ends and by then in Northern Illinois its cold and snowy.
In 1968 my first campout was in local woods, no tents, in February. Everything
went fine. Try to tell a modern mom thats what you plan to do to her 11-year-
old (heck, you had to explain to MY mom I'd be safe).
>7.They make a bad connection with the SM, SPL, PL or another leader.
>Conflicts of personality do exist and if there is a lack of >communication
the Scout can feel that Troop is his only option and he >drops out totally
rather than looking for another unit.
You would not believe the number of kids who drop just because some adult
leader thinks they HAVE TO GO to the local troop. Its embarassing when you
find one of those people and explain the facts of life to them, especially if
their first kid dropped because of it and the second kid got the chance to
look around and find a place that works for him.
Tom Petrik
