Basementdweller

have you bought two webelos books yet??? One for you and the other for your scout??????? Read the parent section. The book is critical for your planning the next year. Well, my bear is really excited about graduation to the Webelos. His biggest thrill is the new uniform. He says the cub uniform is too hot, makes sense, we were at summer camp 3 weeks last summer and he was hot in the Dark Blue in the sun. I would probably would replace one of the camp outs with a hike or outing with the boy scouts. Irregardless of what you hear on this forum, Camping with a Troop can be one of the best motivators. I don't see any resident camp. I have 100% signed up and 80% paid. waiting on word from council about a couple of camperships, well it is irrelevant, if council says no I have a couple retired scouters who said they will take care of it. No scout should be denied camp because of money. If your group cannot afford resident camp, Camperships or You could find a free or cheap place to camp with a lake and conduct it there. Right now it looks like the Webelos I will have the choice of crossing over, they will all have the importunity to earn the AOL by May.

The Face book, My space thing is separation, much as Beavah has mentioned. I have hunting, Car club and motorcycle friends, as well as family on facebook. Some of them Adult Scouters. Youth scouts do not need access to that part of my life. Exibar, you may be over stepping your bounds by setting up email accounts for all the scouts. I would speak with the CC, and COR and see what they have to say. Plus, I would wager most of the boys already have email accounts and probably don't need another. The approach I would take would be to bring a laptop with a aircard to a troop meeting and setup gmail or yahoomail or one of the other million free email services. I agree with the cc the parents.

It is my opinion and I bet a large number of SM will probably agree that W2's need to cross over early March at the latest. This is to begin their basic training before the Summer Camp. If you cross the W2's over in May I believe that it is a recipe for failure, How many times have you had a New Scout go to summer camp with a troop, get home sick, call mom go home to never be seen again. The graduation is a picnic sort of affair, fishing, belt loops and a ceremony.

Such is how urban legends are created. It is not currently or specifically prohibited. And BTW I looked all over the forum over there and could no locate the thread mentioned above. I will use my soda can stove. But I will say that it is probably safe and fine for a 17 year old to use.. but no way for a 12 year old. What is everyone complaining about most troops are to cityfied to backpack for more than a couple of days anyhow. The active scouts we backpack with have dads that c 3\401/+*- 3333333

Geomate Jr. looks nice, it is fairly new. 69 bucks No experience with it. I have a garmin Dakota 400 bucks and a couple of etrex. 69 bucks new or keep an eye on craigs list and ebay. For my Den outings I use a couple of etrex that I bought off of craigs list for 25 and 40 bucks each.

I don't know of a national policy stating that it is a rule, Maybe a troop, district or council thing. I assume you are a scout. Scouting is having a bit of a time adapting to the new ways people communicate. Texting, emailing, tweeting, facebook, my space. Here is my take on the email. If the Troop communicates through a parents email account then the likely hood of problems drops. I do not request to be a friend of a scout on my space, nor to I accept the request. It is nothing personal, just keeping the needed distance a Leader needs. I had pondered the possibility of creating a Scoutmaster Bob my space identity for connecting with the scouts and scouters in the Troop, Pack and Area. I am just not sure about it. I just don't want any problems.

Excuses excuses. I run geocaching outings with Packs in our districts. I purchased a couple of inexpesive GPS units and hand the boys cards with the pages printed off of geocache.com. In our town there is several clusters in large parks. So we met at the park hand out the sheet, so a brief show and tell about how it works and cut the dens loose. I also give the Den Leader a two way. We usually burn some hot dogs while they are out. It is fantastic fun.

The biggest advantage of these stoves are Cost and Weight. Cost because for the cost of 2 soda's you can have a stove and the fuel is very reasonable too. Depending on actual design they maybe too dangerous to be considered for Troop or patrol usage. The flame is difficult to see in daylight and several designs use open alcohol reservoirs leading to a potential accident. I have used alcohol stoves in non scouting backpacking outings, but not my first choice. 3 season stove I carry a jetboil, the son carry's a coleman apex, I think, it is another canister stove. For late fall and early spring I use MSR EXG or whisper light. Back to your question here is where I got the design I used on mine. http://zenstoves.net/

Our Pack stops completely during the summer. This summer I have already scheduled Pack Activities for once a month that way we can earn the summer time pack award. I am not sure about your CO's schedule, but you could move your den meeting to another night of the week if you have a conflict on Mondays. I would shy away from too many weekends beyond the campout. But with that said, Two saturdays a month instead of a monday meeting might be more productive. i don't know. You will just have to see what works for your group. Every group is different.

Our current Webelos dens are terrible. One AOL out of 8 boys in the Web II's, sad. None of the Web I's have earned the Webelos Badge, sad. A quick quality check not one could tie a square knot. A contrast, the bear den can all tie overhand, square, bowline, tauntline, two halfhitches and the truckers hitch. In my opinion, the problem is the current leaders did not have any interest in the outdoors or a scouting background. On the overnight with the troop, only one boy, my son and I attended. Sad. They have never been to day camp or resident camp. My plan 1.Resident Camp for the den, Camperships have already been submitted those who cannot afford it. 2.Webelos Woods in October for the Den. They earn or get the majority of requirements finished for a number of activity pins. 3. Meet twice a month thru the summer 4. 4 Den camp outs in addition to the resident camp and Webelo woods. Each with a theme and activity badge, I already have the subject matter experts scheduled 5. Our Park system has several hiking programs, we have participated and will continue 6. I have a list of AB's from each event and plan on filling in the others at den meetings. 7. I expect that the Web I den will have their Webelos Badge by the December Pack meeting. 8. I also expect that they will be very close to earning the AOL by Graduation next year at this time. 9. The visits to the BS troops have been scheduled. 10. We have already been invited to two Troop camp outs, in addition to the four campouts. Needs 1. Recruit a Den Chief. most of the Troops met on the same night as us. 2. Assistant Den Leader. Lots of help none of it official. 3. More $$$$$ for Camping and activities. 4. Bigger room at the CO and more storage, I have two trailers for day camp and one full of troop gear 5. more daylight I do not expect this den to see a Web II year. But that is up to each the boy and his parent. I am probably the extreme example of planning. But planning makes the program easier, I am recruiting parents to run some of the activity pins.

As mentioned the sky is the limit. If your a city kinda troop. A large number of cities offer urban hikes, Pro Baseball games, museums, ethnic centers, historic sites. Heck you could go fishing for a week if you like.

I forgot the absolute first step. Buy or Borrow the Webelos book. Read the parent intro section in the front of the book. This will provide you more guidance than that Stupid Webelo Leader guide. Worthless 24 boys in a den is impossible. There is no possible way for you to give each scout the attention they deserve. We visited a Pack that had 15 boys in a den. The night we visited they were sharing their collections.......It took 1.2 hours. Den Camping for 48 people is a problem, den camping for 16 is much easier.

I am conflicted by this young man and his life situation. While I would hope he earns his eagle, I am concerned about the example. But we have Eagle scouts who are convicted murders, child molesters and common criminals. People are people irregardless what they have earned.

May I suggest visiting a Scout troop in the area. I would suggest taking your Boy Scout leader training now. It will give you an idea on how things should run by the book. Now, it won't always happen. It is your den, but as a courtesy I would have a sit down with the CM, CC and COR and let them know what you have in mind. I am planning the exact same thing with our bears den once they graduate. They are working on a Patrol name....none have past the scout spirit test yet. Barking Spiders, rabid chiwawas, stepped on ducks, Flaming pancakes, some others I am embarrassed to post. they had a blast but haven't found it yet. This year we had a small Bear flag they carried. I will say that one camp out or outing a month is more than enough. You don't want to burn them out before they reach Boy Scouts.

Scout nut has it nailed. I like spagetti for 50 but not with spagetti noodles but with Penne pasta holds the sauce better, preventing a mess especially with cubs.

You are all assuming they actually file for a tour permit I also question why the committee is taking the boys out.

Wow scoutfish, relax. Switch to decaf or somethin It isn't that big a deal, only a patrol name. The PLC and SM are responsible for quality control on the names. We have had to reject a few based on body functions, innuendo and Scouting spirit. The boys usually giggle about it and pick something else.

Scoutfish relax as you said your experience is only 6 months or so. Not intended as anything other than a statement. Open your mind and consider the possibilities. Crossover was initially a Webelos event only. Mine was and every Pack I have been involved with as an adult. Webelos were crossing over to boy scouts and leaving Cub Scouts. It was an exciting and sad time all at once. Adding the boys who were remaining Cubs lessened or diluted the emotion and ceremony. In my opinion and experience. The problem stems from the poor organization of this Pack. Instead of crossing the Webelos over in February or early March they wait till May. Next year we will Cross the Webelos over in February and then Graduate the rest of the Pack in May. Problem solved. BTW the SM is loving it. You need to understand that every single rank advancement, pin and belt loop is special. Our rank advancements went from a ziploc bag hand shake to me dressing up in native american regalia and spinning stories of clever wolves and brave bears around a fake campfire in the gym. The boys earning their advancements eyes were wide and they were excited as they were called down to share the campfire and the story. The point of that is if every single Cub walks that bridge before the webelos, then how is it special for the Webelos?? Crossover is their Special night/event. Scoutfish your enthusiasm will take you far as a scouting volunteer, Have you found a scouting mentor in your area yet????? Have you attended your districts roundtable? I think you would find it enlightening, it is great being around fellow scouters. As you have guessed there is no one way to run a Scouting Program. My experience is Traditional scouting with Derbies, regattas and all. But there is nontraditional units around that are successful too. Don't do the outdoors no pinewood and no church. I think that makes the scouts experience less than it could have been. My philosophy is offer it all and let them chose. We offer Saturday activity's two or three times a month, all are optional. Summing up that mess, I believe there should be two separate ceremonies. The first in February for the webelos crossover and the second in May to graduate the rest of the Cubs.

One course does not constitute a knot, Scout university is ADULT training no merit badges are usually offered. here is a link that explains scout university http://meritbadge.org/wiki/index.php/Scouting_University

Long story about the webelos crossover..........This Pack ignores most of Cub and scouting traditions, But we are working on it. They did scout sunday and the blue and gold for the first time in years. Pinewood derby.......this weekend....... Eating that elepant one bite at a time.

I really dislike the current term that is being used in our Pack. They call it Crossover. Graduation ceremony is more appropriate. I agree that it diminishes the importance and accomplishments of the Webelos 2.

One of the Packs I am involved with has scheduled a cross over for every rank in the Pack. I have never seen or heard of this. I have some thoughts about this but will refrain from posting them till we get some discussion. Any thoughts?

We have a neighboring troop that simply has too many adults on the camp outs in my opinion. the adults have out numbered the scouts by as much as 5 people. I have proposed that we institute a 6 adult limit on any of our troop outings. So it doesn't become the Adult club. If the adults want a leadership camp out, we can do it. We already have a rule that no scouts in parents tents. Scouts must sleep with scouts. We had one family of 4 boys who would bring a garage sized tent and the crew would sleep together. The SM thought it interfered with the Patrol method and had the committee vote on it. The PLC didn't like it, but it made the group more cohesive. We do had a scout that had a parent die and has some separation issues, Mom comes on the campouts but he sleeps with his patrol. I agree with the idea of organizing an adult patrol.

JM My son will cross over well before his 11th birthday. We are attending Day camp, I am the Den Walker and Webelos Resident camp this summer. I expect him to come home with most of his activity badges earned. Plus in September we have a webelos woods event in our Council. I would think that would finish the badges. He has been camping with the BS troop, with me, for a couple of years now. I expect him to get his AOL at the B&G of his Webelos I year. He will be 10.5 at that time. I will let him chose as to whether he would like to cross over or not at that time. I imagine he will cross over, but again not my choice. I get a kick at the troop meeting he stands up and does the law and oath with the BS's. He still has problem with the outdoor code.

not sure what your talking about Belt Loop Complete these three requirements: 1. Explain the hiking safety rules to your den leader or adult partner. Practice these rules while on a hike. 2. Demonstrate proper hiking attire and equipment. 3. Hike at least 30 minutes with your adult partner, family, or den. What you are refering to is part of the sports pin. You can chose another requirement, you need to complete 5 of 11 requirements. Try these trail signs, a lot of Seton and Beards signs involve cutting blazes in the trees, a no no currently. http://guidezone.e-guiding.com/bgtrail.htm