Re: Cub Rank Advancement

Hi Dave!

It depends on the Leader(s) and the kid(s). Our Pack graduates in May
of each year. If the Scout goes to Day Camp (mine did), and if the Den
meets over the summer (we had two meetings a month), and if the Pack has
Summertime activities (ours does), then by September the Scout can
conceivably have garnered lots of requirements, arrowpoint achievements
and beltloops. And if the boys do _anything_ with their family, that
only adds to what's been accomplished.

At our first Pack Meeting next month (had a "Back to the Pack" Party
this month) my son will have earned 6 Webelos pins and if we had
_really_ worked hard would probably be eligible for his Webelos badge.
Last year after Summer Camp, Summertime activities & summer den meetings
we had 4 kids get their Bear Badge and arrowpoints at the first Pack
meeting. My den is the only one though because none of the other dens
have summer meetings or attend summertime activities or attend summer
camp. It usually takes some of them till Blue & Gold to catch up.

It takes about the same amount of time either way. We work from May to
September, those that don't have summer meetings are likely to work from
September to February. Less than a month difference and I would bet
that a lot of "summer breakers" earn their rank badges before B&G.

As for the "ideal", everything I've ever read says that the book work is
for the family and the den time is mainly supposed to be for playing
games, doing skits, singing songs and taking trips. Of course we all
know that if this was the case nothing would get achieved and the boys
MIGHT make rank by graduation.

How can you "push for the long term advancement program"? What _is_ the
"long term advancement program"? Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I
don't remember reading or being told that Pack Leadership could tell me
when my boys could earn their badges and awards. I must have missed
something.

Bobbie Beatson
CM & Webelos Leader
Pack 732 - Palm Bay, FL



Dave Rockabrand wrote:
>
> I am curious to get the groups opinion on timing of Cub Scout rank
> advancement (Bobcat, Wolf, Bear). As I understand the "ideal" the kids
> work on advancement in Den meetings (and at home) with the goal of
> advancing up to, say, Wolf at the Blue and Gold. After that they focus
> more on arrow points. Contrast this with our Committee Chair/CoR bragging
> how his son who crossed over from Tigers to Cubs in May, got his Bobcat,
> then the following September (same year) at the first Pack meeting got
> his Wolf and an arrow point. Am I the only one this bothers? It seems
> that we negate one of the main reasons for weekly Den meetings. If that
> is the case why even take my son to the meetings? Our CC/CoR is trained
> and is also our Unit Commish. When I asked one of our District trainers
> (our DE was standing there) they were agast and said he should know
> better (not that helps me any).
> My question is should I push for the long term advancement program (I
> am the Pack Training Chair) or just let it go. There is a point to let
> the kids get the award when they earn it, but the slow trickle of Wolf and
> Bears every Pack meeting does not allow for any real emphasis or ceremony.
>
> Thanks for listening,
> YiS,
> Dave Rockabrand
> I used to be an Owl.... C-CS-13

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