Help Den Patrols for Webelos?

My Webelos den hasn't pick a den patrol and I was wondering how some of you did that with your dens. I have also heard that they need a chant, yell and flag. Any suggestions on how you got your den to decide without any fights. My boys are great and I'm not expecting fights but you never know since this will follow them to Boy Scouts.

Thanks for any information!

Tracy

What is a den patrol?

Webelos are still considered Cub scouts, and when they have earned their Arrow of Light they may go into a Boy Scout Troop. The troop will, depending on their organization, put all the boys into a Patrol, or divide them into the other existing Patrols. A Patrol is the boy scout equivalent of a Den, except Boy scouts are boy run instead of adult run in most Patrol method troops). Each Patrol should have (depending on the scout troop and its organization and policies) some guidance from an older scout in the troop and a new Patrol adult.

Some Patrols do then determine a yell, their flag, and a chant. This is for the boys led by a Patrol Leader to decide. If they are fighting, then they need to understand how scouting works. The SPL ans ASPL, and the Scoutmaster are there to assist.

You, Tracy should back away as much as possible - except for safety reasons...stay out of it!!!

LFL,

I know what you are referring to. Here's what we did:

Printed out (in color) the patrol badges that are available for purchase from the scout shop (of course you can have custom ones made up if you choose through BSA Supply). I handed this to the den, with the instruction to pick one that they think will best represent their collective personality. I left the room (just outside the door) to wait 10 minutes. After two minutes or so...they were finished and let me in...the choose was easy...the Ravens.

Homework was assigned for the next meeting that each boy would think of a patrol cheer and then present it for vote at the next den meeting. It was pretty obvious that some of the parents helped them along and there were several good ones to choose from. What we ended up with was 2-3 different cheers that we would change up on different occasions.

Again homework was assigned for the next meeting that each boy would try designing a flag - I handed them each a couple pieces of construction paper. At the next meeting, I brought the flag materials (cloth, pole, rope, fabric paints, markers, etc). They all compared their different versions and came up with a basic focal point symbol which was applied. Then each could add one additional symbol and their name to the flag.

Make it fun, keep it positive, and I bet they will surprise you with how well they work together.

Avidfan - Webelos can choose patrol emblems and names too...its not just a boy scout thing. As Den Leader she should be involved and not back away.

(This message has been edited by SemperParatus)

Our Webelos den all earned their Webelos rank badges in January of 4th grade. At that time, they chose a patrol emblem, name, and yell since they could then put the emblem on their new tan uniforms.

Our process was similar to Semper's and they were very democratic about it.

I think you should make it clear to the scouts that the patrol they create in Webelos should NOT continue on into Boy Scouts. When they join a troop, they will create a new patrol or join an existing one, depending on the troop.

At http://www.boyscouttrail.com/OurProgress.asp you can see the flag that the scouts created for the Caterpillar Crushing Cobras patrol.

At http://www.boyscouttrail.com/webelos/w2/mascots.htm you can see the BSA patrol patches as well as some custom ones, Australian, and joke patches.

Thank you so much for the information mn_scout! The flag looks great!

Tracy