Re: "Ownership" of Scouts
Marc Solomon (msolomon@TEK1.TEKNIQ.COM)
Fri, 29 Mar 1996 12:53:05 -0600
HENRY S. HEINE wrote:
> This also hits hard in my district and it has been painful and
> controversial on the Boy scout side here. For some reason the Boy scout
> side takes Webelos and Cubs for granted and except for bridgeing time
> Cubs don't otherwise exist. We have spent the last year trying to change
> this attitude from the District level on down with some success but
> attitudes still do exist and constant reminders that Cubs/Webelos are
> where Boy Scouts come from is important. Also I try to remind Scout
> Leaders and parents that the national statistics show that we lose 50%
> of ur Scouts in the Webelos to Scout transition. We can perhaps better
> those odds if the Webelos are exposed to several Troops and "they choose"
> the one they want to join.
Hank -
In our district, we request all the troops invite the Webelos from a local
pack to join them at our Fall Camporee. This is early enough so that the
Webelos have time to aquaint themselves with the troop and they can also
visit with the other troops at the camporee. We have had mild success with
this program. The most difficult part is creating activities that the
Webelos can participate in as well as the Scouts. OTOH, we have found that
doing this also provides more dicerse activities at the camporee so that no
matter what experience each troop has there are activities to occupy them at
the camporee.
We are still working hard at selling this idea to all the troops in the
district. Some consider themselves too busy to be hassled with this extra
work. I try to explain to them that along with recruiting new Scouts for
the troop, they are also recruiting new Scouters for the troop! That would
make it easier for them in the future so it is worth the effort now. Even
if each troop invited the Webelos from a pack to join them, some Webelos
would still not get an invitation since there are more packs then troops.
--
YiS,
Marc W. Solomon Unit Commissioner
msolomon@tekniq.com Sycamore District
marcsol@aol.com Blackhawk Council, IL
I use to be a wise old owl . . . Now I am just old
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City | 
