Austinole

and Congratulations!

I got my beading at a round table. I've seen others at CoHs. Make sure someone is there to snap a few pictures.

We'll take ya in our pack.

We got the ranger to give us a clean up job at the State Park we camped at.

Like you said, it's happening everywhere. If you are invested in keeping this pack going, recruit. Not just boys but parents. I think getting parents to step up, CONSISTENTLY, is the tough part. When den meetings are infrequent and boys aren't advancing they will quit. We've been going through this as well.

J2E is about the only way for National to help. It's more of a blue print of a successful pack. If you use it as a tool it can be of help.

Welcome. My daughter, 9, is just like you. She's been through the program along with her brother. Now, she's waiting (not so patiently) to be old enough for venturing.

No singing with our pack. Kids usually are playing man hunter and will come up with a skit or two.

Agreed, shadow Box is the way to go.

I wish I had a good answer. I feel your pain.

We have had CS camps cancelled due to lack of sign ups. Nothing cancelled this summer yet. Our council has paired down the offerings due to lack of interest.

Unless it's something that had to be prepaid (tickets for something) we fit them in.

Congratulations! My son is crossing over this Saturday.

I'm with you on this. I get about 1/2 attendance lately. Scouts isn't a priority for hardly anyone. Seems like school is putting more pressure on the kids too. I know my son has missed a meeting or two because he didn't get his homework done. What I have done is put on the best program possible and those that show up get to do the things planned. Of course, my wife (also a Den Leader) gets to hear me grumble about it. Best thing is to communicate as much as possible and get confirmation on assigned tasks. As far as rank goes, again communicate. Let them know what you are working on and what is left to earn rank. We usually make up missed assignments at camping.

It's tough but it's the world we live in today.

You know your son better than anyone. Make your decision. If it's going to a troop, find the best one and don't look back. I will say that Webelos, done right is a fun transition to boy scouts and you definitely want to stick around to earn Arrow of Light. If you don't feel the current Webelos program is challenging enough for your son step up and offer to plan some events. Last chance for Pinewood Derby.

I think he'll do great. Find a troop that he is comfortable in. Explain the situation to the troop and patrol and the SPL. Monitor from a distance.

We have a large Wolf den with 24 boys. We are lucky to have a very organized Den Leader with a clear plan, who has the support of 3 ADL's. I'm one of them. We also have a bunch of really helpful moms or dads. We require parent participation. "Drop offs" are rare.

 

We split the 24 boys into two sub-dens/"patrols" and meet at school in two separate nearby group areas on the same day/time. The programs in each 12 boy sub-den are the same. Most of the boys show up most of the time. Usually, we have at least 10 show up in each sub-den. Sometimes we get together for announcements or group games- that way the boys who are split up can reconnect with each other.

 

Honestly I think 3 sub dens might be optimal for us to be able to manage the activities better for a group our size. I think roughly 8 boys per sub-den would be the best proportion. But we'd really need another one or two more ADL's.

 

In August, the DL and the 3 ADL's met to plan most of the meetings leading up to earning the Wolf rank at Blue & Gold. We planned it so that parents could choose (or be assigned) a specific den meeting to be the "Adult Coordinator". Each meeting has a pair of Adult Coordinators (two for each sub-den) When it's the Adult Coordinator's turn, they carry out the DL's overall plan, with the support of the ADL's. And that's the meeting where their son is the Denner and/or flag ceremony leader.

 

With as many Wolves as we have, we require active 1-on-1 parent participation. With boys that age, that's the only way it works for us.

 

You may want to implement something like this next year. It requires prior planning and buy-in from the parents. I don't see why you couldn't start introducing the concept now, of breaking your large group into multiple smaller groups with parent help. Just make it official next year.

 

 

 

We use scoutlander as well. Google looks to have some good templates to get started.

Good to have you aboard

You could check other councils for Webelos Camps. We have Webelos Woods in the summer when we can get enough people signed up.

My boys wanted to wear their CS uniforms over their BS uniforms and when they went across the bridge they would rip off the CS uniform like superman. I told them that was a "no". I honestly don't care what uniform they wear, as long as it is tucked in. I don't even think we will swap out shoulder loops at the crossover. Takes up too much time with an already packed agenda.

Our boys typically wear the blue shirt for all of cubs. (3 years- buy it big to make it last and then buy the tan shirt big so it'll last a few years.) My son does not have the webelos things that go with the tan shirt because he's been wearing the blue. I was told that the boys here don't wear neckers in boy scouts. I did get him the proper loops. I will need to talk to the leader about this ceremony. For the last, he was the guy on the one side and I don't know who the guy was on the other side. Our current 11 year old leader was recently in webelos, so maybe that's why. I think that I should be the leader on the cubs side and him on the other.

What we do is wear the webelos uniform with webelos necker and epaulets. They start the crossover with their Cub Leader and then come over to their Scout Leader. Scouts replace their necker and epaulets with scout versions. Check with your local Order of the Arrow to see if they can come help.

Sounds like fun. I'd bring extra snacks/drinks. Don't rush it, enjoy the time at camp with your son. You will be doing this at least once a year. Check to see if they will be doing skits at Saturday fire you can get a few skits ready for your scouts to do. Bring sports equipment for the free times.

Welcome! Enjoy the ride.

Delegate.