msnowman

I can second or third or fourth the fact that 1 shirt won't last all the way thru Boy Scouts. Nephew's tan shirt as a Webelos was a Men's Small. He just moved out to a Men's XXL "because at least that stays tucked in".

YiS

Michelle

Wow - I'm chasing fgoodwin all over the place today. He's right - blue versus tan is a family choice and can be made anytime. In our Pack the new Webelos are usually thrilled to leave the blue shirt behind - they want to be The Big Guys, so most of them change shirts before they head off to Resident camp. However, we have had a boy or two stay in blue until he outgrew it.

If a parent asks what I would recommend (many do ask) I tell them that "unless it matters to Johnny, I wouldn't change his shirt and his patches until he outgrows his blue shirt". Some boys want the same color shirt as the rest of their den...other's like being unique but properly uniformed.

YiS

Michelle

Our boys liked picking their den emblem - it made them feel important and helped w/ the mental transition from Cubs to Boy Scouts. As fgoodwin says - some groups limit it to second year Webelos, though I'm not sure why. Also - as he did, we limit them to standard patrol patches - otherwise they had free reign.

At the first Webelos meeting of the year (for us that is September) the Webelos worked w/ their den chief to pick a den emblem and den name. Then they set about making their den flag (sort of like a Boy Scout Patrol would do) to take with them to Webeloree. At each event the Webelos Den attended a patch (or ribbon) would be added to their flag. When they bridge over to Boy Scouts they "retire" their den flag so future Webelos can use them as an example to build on.

YMMV

YiS

Michelle

When Nephew was looking for service hours this winter it was amazing the number of places that turned him down - including the local library. Apparently the library only wants your money, not your time. I hope you have far better luck at your local library.

Ultimately he did some time at a larger library in a neighboring town (in the children's room). He also volunteered for the school's BEAR night (Be Enthusiastic About Reading) that ended up being postponed. He also cleaned dog kennels for the local animal control officer. Now that it is spring there are always parks to be cleaned up, roadside trash gathered, etc.

Good luck, have fun and be safe

YiS

Michelle

If RR is that close to BSA, then the boy shouldn't have any problem going up thru the ranks and earning his Eagle the right way. The skills should already be in place, so then he just has his time to put in - just like every other boy.

Good for him for earning Royal Rangers highest award - he probably worked very hard for it. If he wants to earn Boy Scouting's highest award he should work equally hard for it.

YiS

Michelle

Sorry Gold Winger - I was just shooting for a change in mindset....how about "boys THINK a mother will pick up after them"?

YiS

Michelle(This message has been edited by msnowman)

AFAIK it is First Grade or 7 years old.

It seems that (at least around here) most first graders are 6 years old...or turn 7 sometime during the school year. Heck, with my birthday I didn't turn 7 until a week after I started second grade.

Age versus grade based would seem to me to be a local choice. We go grade based - probably out of habit, but it does at least seem that with grade based the dens would be a bit more stable, less in and out during the course of a program year. Also, since many Packs run a school year program, grade based seems to fit that style program better than age based.

LDS groups are, of course, an exception.

YiS

Michelle

Welcome gagnier65 to the boards.

Our Webelos work with their Den Chief to come up with a short list of things they would like (usually everybody has a favorite). From there they simply use a straightforward vote, with the Den Chief empowered to break ties if the boys ultimately can't settle upon one on their own. "Do you really want to be the Grunting Gophers or would you rather be the Radioactive Dragons of Fate?" Sometimes its a cool name that makes the decision.

Oh yea - remember - you aren't a den mother (that name went out a while ago). You are a Den Leader - mothers clean up after messy boys - leaders show them how to clean up after themselves.

Have great fun in Webelos - I've been thru it twice and it was the best.

YiS

Michelle

Well, after being unable to find the wool-lite I ran Nephew's sash thru the laundry, in cold, with the rest of his camp clothes. The red didn't run...but fortunately the mud did come out...so his sash is clean, albeit a bit stained. Perhaps that is the compromise for the Clean vs Dirty - Clean, but with well earned stained...no need to leave caked on mud and...aroma

ps - he is the one that asked to have his sashed washed, not the laundress.

YiS

Michelle

Glad I came here before I started laundry from the weekend Camporee. Nephew was on the call out team, so his sash went camping and came home....less than pristine. I'll take it out of the general laundry and do it w/ woolite, in case the red would like to run.

Perfect timing

Michelle

This post has been very helpful. Nephew is sitting his Life BOR this weekend at camporee and has a few ideas for potential projects.

Now I know things I can do to help him towards a successful presentation - Plenty of ink and paper for the printer, load Word onto his computer for his workbook (he uses notepad for school work) and lots of support.

This also gives me a heads up to the frustrations and headaches he will probably run in to - at which time I can have asprin and an encouraging word for.

Thanks all

YiS

Michelle

Something I forgot that is hugely popular (though it may be a regional thing) is our Christmas Cookie Walk.

Our December activity is usually "show based" - this past year the Webelos I & II put on a "slightly twisted version of Twas the Night Before Christmas". But one of the things we do afterwards is a cookie walk.

If you are unfamiliar with a cookie walk it is pretty fun. First you ask each family in the Pack to bake/buy/otherwise provide a couple of dozen cookies (type is unimportant). You give each child a decorated coffee cans (usually wrapped in holiday paper) and a baggie or two. Using the baggie as their "plastic gloves", they walk down the line of cookies and fill their can as they desire.

At lot of churches use that idea as a fundraiser at their Christmas sales - with the cans being $5.00 each. We do it just because its fun. After the cans are filled the children (we include siblings in this) visit with each other and with Santa while enjoying some punch.

YiS

Michelle

Meetings are boring, you sure have that right. One thing we've started doing (since I read it on a helpful message board) is to stop calling our Pack Meetings "meetings". If you start thinking of them in a fun way, eventually you will plan them in a fun way. For example - our March Pack meeting was focused on getting the parents to sign their little darlings up for camp. So, on the Pack calendar it became "March Camping Madness" - I set up a "campsite" complete w/ tent, campfire (electric), chairs, camping gear, etc. It got the boys excited and asking questions. They all wanted to see the inside of the tent, etc.

I know changing the name doesn't sound like a big deal, but it will force you to think about the event differently. May is our "Pack Magic and Talent Show" - what things do you get at a show? Well we will probably have popcorn, maybe tickets, etc. Meetings are dull even for adults - but shows? Those are fun and entertaining.

To answer your other questions:

Our Pack gets together once a month for the (activity formerly known as) Pack Meeting. I'm not a big fan of rigidly sticking to the theme of the month, but I use them as they fit for us. We meet regularly from September to June.

However, we do also conduct 1 or 2 Pack wide activities in July and August for National Summertime Pack Award. Those are usually quite well attended. Things we have done include Summer resident camp as a Pack, appearing in local parades and (the biggest hit) a Fishing Derby. Towards the end of August, just before they go back to school we usually have a "Goodbye Summer" Ice cream social (bring a friend and a topping to share).

During the winter we usually go sledding, although this year instead of sledding at the church we went to a local tubing hill for 3 hours of tubing. That was a great hit.

Other things we do include Council Spooktacular, Scouting for Food, a New Years Eve Family Pizza/Movie night (5pm-8pm, no midnights for us). The Webelos groups usually attend Webeloree in September, and spring camporee in May. In June we do our bridging over/graduation/whatever you choose to call it. For 3 years this has been a big cookout activity. This year it is going to be an early evening campfire event.

Hope this helps and good luck with your planning.

YiS

Michelle

There are lots of interesting posts here. Lots of different views.

Just thought I'd add - the next generation of Uniform Police are coming along nicely. At the Scout show 2 weeks ago Nephew says to me "I can't believe how much bad uniforming there is here....there's a Bear in a tan shirt, a Webelos with red loops. Can i go say something?"

Ah, they grow up so fast.

YiS

Michelle

Wow - that ESLP uniform thread got...lively I guess it what I'll go with.

So? When (outside of Den/Pack/Troop meetings) is it okay to wear the uniform?

Someone on the ESLP uniform thread asked is it okay to let Cubs wear their uniform to school on the day they have a den meeting. How about on the day someone from the Pack will be going in to visit the classrooms as part of spring or fall recruiting?

How about while performing the service hours needed to get from Star to Life? Do they always wear their uniform? Or should it fit the service? Nephew wore his uniform for his service at the library, but not while bleaching dog kennels. Should the SM not counted his dog kennel service?

I'll jump in with my thoughts first, just to kick things off.

1 - Scouts + Uniforms + School = the best advertising your unit can get. How many recruiting drive ideas try to urge you to get the boys to wear their uniforms to school? At least Cubs still want to.

2 - Uniforms for service - It should fit the project. Food Drive = Yes. Library service = Yes. Cleaning kennels = No. Removing fire/smoke damaged items from the church basement = No. (But, ultimatly, counting those hours will be at the SM's discretion)

On your marks - get set - opine away.

YiS

Michelle

Congratulations to your son. He perservered when many may have quit, good for him.

YiS

Michelle

We're lucky - our Pack meetings are on Sunday afternoons so we don't conflict with most youth sports. During wrestling we have a boy or two miss here or there for a tournament, but routine practices don't effect us much.

Sure would hate be a Tuesday evening group - you must get decimated. Best wishes to all of you out there keeping things running even when the boys are elsewhere running bases or laps.

YiS

Michelle

Fscouter - Nobody has been telling him horror stories. We talked about BORs a bit at our Den meetings so he would have an idea of what was coming up on his Scouting trail. He knows that its mostly a matter of answering questions from adults who care about him and his progress in Scouting (and by extension - life, school, church, etc). Its just that this particular boy is so...shy/nervous/afraid that he can become almost uncommunicative. He knows he isn;t going to get raked over the coals - but you know kids (heck, adults too) can build up the unknown into a frothing monster.

Like I said in a post after my original - he has come a long ways by simply being willing to come up to get his awards. We nearly lost him over the requirement of Plan/Lead a flag ceremony (the compromise was that Planning and Leading didn't mean one had to do the reading, part of leadership is ability to delegate). We practiced the AoL ceremony that we were going to have so he was comfortable and familiar with it.

I appreciate the feedback - it helps me to check it out from other sides.

YiS

Michelle

pack - you hit it right on the head.

I think as he progresses it will become less and less of an issue. In Cubs he went from refusing to get out of his seat for any award to hiding behind mom or dad but at least standing up front to standing beside his Den Chief to quietly get his awards....all big steps in his self-confidence.

My original feeling was that a friendly face at Tenderfoot (to get the scary unknown out of the way) would be a better set up for future successes than throwing up on his shoes and quitting because he is afraid of the unknown.

Ages and Stages - one of a number of things that I think BSA does a dang decent job of.

YiS

Michelle(This message has been edited by msnowman)

Thanks for the replies.

This would be his first BOR and we have talked about BORs before, when he was a Web II, so I know he is a little nervous. If asked, I will sit his BOR with a clear conscience and an open mind - just like I would for any other boy.

Thanks again.

Michelle

Since BORs seem to be the topic d'jour both here and in Nephew's troop, I thought I'd bring my question up.

1 - I'm a committee member for Nephew's troop and as such, I have sat on several BORs from T to Star (my first Life BOR is coming up next month).

2 - I'm also CM and was DL & WDL for 1 of the new scouts in this Troop.

3 - This new Scout is PAINFULLY shy, especially with people he is uncomfortable with...often reverting to mumbling or whispering if he is extremly nervous.

I'm reasonably certain I will be asked to sit on this boy's BOR. I'm torn on whether I should or not.

A pro for doing so is that he will be quite comfortable with at least one of the people on the BOR and will less likely give in to the shyness. However, this same thing is also a con - does it really do any favors for the boy?

He "sorta" knows most of the potential board members, its just that I was his DL for the 3 years he was with the Pack, so there is a little greater comfort level for him there.

I only want what is best for this Scout, and indeed, all of the Scouts in the Troop. I'm just torn on which of the two scenarios would be the best for this Scout.

Thoughts? Comments? I promise not to hold my breath and whine if I don't like the answers I get. /SMILE

TIA

YiS

Michelle

PS - why am I asking now? Because I am a compulsive planner and the Pack newsletter is all done.(This message has been edited by msnowman)

So does this mean I could have held Santa Claus liable for the Christmas tree I ran over w/ my Camero? Yes, its true - I ran over a Christmas tree...it was in the middle of the road and its awfully dark at 6:30 in the morning in January in Maine.

Michelle

Its a non-issue here - our kids on school vacation this week and since April 25th is Friday I don't foresee them going to school just to not talk.

FWIW

Michelle

JeffD - I apologize for misunderstanding what she wanted.

In that case, IMHO, if she (or anybody) wants to do the fun stuff they have to be willing to do the hard stuff too. Cub Scout camping should be for and about Cub Scout families...which can include leaders w/o current Cub aged boys....but it shouldn't be "general public" camping...

Again - I apologize for misunderstanding.

YiS

Michelle

Our Pack currently has 3 registered and active adults who's boys have been out of the Pack for a number of years. Our current Webelos I leader plans on staying at the Pack level next year when her son moves over to the Troop. Great, wonderful for us...maybe now we can get someone training to the Pack Trainer position, as well has having an experienced Cub Scouter to mentor new leaders/parents as they join the Pack.

Why do these people (myself included) stay at the Pack level when their boys are long gone? I can only speak for myself when I say it is just for the boys. That's it, no other big secret. I am currently back to being "just" the CM, after having been Wolf/Bear combo den leader, Webelos I DL and Webelos II DL. My only Scout is now a 14 Life Scout and former DC. I enjoy working with the elementary school aged boys, but I don't necessarily have the temperment to take on a bigger role at the Troop level (though I am a fully trained Troop Committee Member and enjoy that role) and I also don't believe I should be a Direct Boy Contact leader at the troop level (I'm a woman who believes Boy Scouts should have primarily male leaders in the direct contact positions).

To the OP - sometimes its nice to have a person who is willing to keep working with the Pack instead of forgetting that the Pack ever existed once their child is out of it. You say she is a Webelos Leader - that might make her a great resource for the Pack's Webelos to Scout transition team. Use her but make sure to include her and welcome her too.

YiS

Michelle