Re: Blue and Gold and Advancement
Jim Peterson (kupete@KUHUB.CC.UKANS.EDU)
Tue, 7 Sep 1999 11:53:45 -0600
Michael Golrick wrote:
>The short answer is: WEBELOS is designed as an 18 month program. The boys
>should be done in Feb. *THEY SHOULD BE JOINING BOY SCOUTS THEN!* [I did
>raise my voice for emphasis.] This timing allows boys to become comfortable
>with the Boy Scout way, camping as a patrol, and generally be ready for a
>summer of fun as a Boy Scout.
>
>Thanks for listening....good luck. Keep the B&G in Feb to celebrate the
>founding of scouts, and get those WEBELOS to Boys Scouts then.
Boy, do I ever agree with Michael! Having been ASM for new scouts for a
number of years, we have the Webelos to Scouting transition pretty well
worked out in our troop. We start Webelos visitations in November, start
accepting applications in December (acceptance is prioritized:1st,
siblings, 2nd, our brother pack, 3rd, all others until we're full). The
new scout's first meeting is the third meeting in February. In March we do
basic camping training in the cabin and in April we have the New Scout
Campout. THis is a round-robin type of camping program that teaches basic
skills in practicum. In May, they attend their first campout with the full
troop. They have the May and June campouts to get adjusted before going to
summer camp. I wouldn't care to take a scout who joined in June on a
10-day summer camp session when it might be the first time he's been away
from home. Doesn't seem prudent.
Most of the Webelos Leaders I talk to express that they simply "run out of
program" by February. That was my exprience when I was a WDL....the
temptation, then, if you must continue, is to do more camping.....exactly
what the Boy Scout Program is supposed to offer, thus, the transition to
Boy Scouts becomes less attractive if they don't have the "camping carrot"
hanging out there.
BLUE SKIES!, Any day above ground is a good day!
Jim Peterson
BS RT Comm, Pelathe Dist
Heart of America Council Eagle Class of 1963
ASM, T-55, Lawrence, Kansas Brotherhood, Tamegonit Lodge
email: kupete@kuhub.cc.ukans.edu Mic-O-Say: HW "Shieldmaker"
