Re: age or grade requirements-AOL

Replying to Nancy Smith's question about when to award the Arrow of Light.

Nancy, as a Cubmaster too, I always try to give the awards to the boys as
soon as they have earned them. If this means I have to do the ceremonies
two months in a row then I do it. Part of Cubbing is the instant
recognition. Remember too that this boy is eligible to join a Troop at age
11 or 10.5 if he has earned the Arrow of Light. Don't try and hold him
back or you risk dampening his enthusiasm for Scouting. That's the worst
thing you could do. Most Troops will gladly accept boys at anytime,
especially if they have Arrow of Light since it gives them a bit of a head
start on their Scout Badge. Don't do what is convenient for you, do what
you think is in the boy's best interest. If he is ready to move into a
Troop as soon as he earns the AOL, then award it to him. However, if he is
not going to join a Troop until the remainder of his Den does then perhaps
he can wait.

Remember also, there are a couple of AOL requirements he has to complete
with his Den:

"With your Webelos Den, visit one Troop meeting and one Boy Scout related
outdoor activity."

He can't do these on his own but only as part of his Den. The Webelos Den
Leader and NOT the parent has to initial this requirement as having been
completed. Depending upon when the Den does these requirements will
influence when this boy completes his AOL.

Consider this case from my own Pack. I have a 9 soon to be 10 year old
first year Webelos. He attended the week long Webelos Camp this past
summer after graduating from his Bear Den. While there he earned 6
activity pins and completed nearly all of his Webelos requirements. He
only needs to have his parents certify that he has done the religious
requirements to complete Webelos. During Den meetings and on his own since
camp, he has also completed everything for AOL except Readyman, the above
requirement I cited and fill out the application to become a Boy Scout. I
suspect he will complete these about the same time as the 2nd year Webelos
Scouts. Do I hold him back and not award him the AOL? He won't be
eligible to join the Troop until September when he turns 10.5 so he will be
going to Webelos Camp this summer but is it fair to keep him in Cubs with
little or nothing to do just so he can graduate with his peers? I don't
think so and will award the AOL when he earns it and arrange a crossing
over ceremony in September when he reaches 10.5.

Just my opinions.

YiS,
Mike, Eagle '70, CM Pack 1071, MC Troop 1071, Olde Mill Distric, NCAC

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