WDL Mom

Hi Barry, I am working with troops to set up a campout... thus the October event. All of these "changes" came out of nowhere, and there has been no discussion or communication on how to get these things together. It is frustrating. I am planning a winter cabin campout for the Webelos, but, not with any particular Troop. Also hope to visit Klondike with the boys, I am assuming the Webelos aren't supposed to participate, though I haven't heard one way or the other. I am glad to hear that Webelos attending your campouts happens regularly and without major hassle. Unfortuna

Hi, We are kind of in the same boat with Webelos camping this year. I guess our council has been doing things "wrong".... Camporee was for Boy Scouts and Webelos, it was the primary outdoor "recruiting" event for most Troops in the area. Klondike also allowed our Webelos II to participate in the teams that competed. This year, Camporee is only for Boy Scouts. Not sure what they plan on doing with Klondike. They did bring back Webelos Woods for a overnighter just for the Webelos, but, no Boy Scouts attended. We have a Halloween event which is a Pack overnighter. Our sister

Webelos love playing tag, here is one of their favorites: Circle Tag: Each boy needs a partner. They hold hands. The entire group makes a circle with partners standing together. One boy is "it" and chases another boy around and through the circle. The boy being chased may link up with any of the pairs, so now they are a group of 3. The boy that linked up is "safe" and so is the middle boy... the outside boy now is being chased! If the boy who is "it" tags then the game reverses and he is chased. Cup Stack: This is a gathering activity. Equipment: paper o

Hi, We just got back from Webelos Woods. The guys actually enjoyed the first aid. They got to bandage each others arms and heads. They wore the stuff all day and one boy wore it all the way home! We had a games station with the giant skis... 7 boys on two boards, with 7 ropes. They have to come up with a way to move the group without stepping off the skis. Another popular station was leather working where the guys made a wallet. They had to stamp the leather, put it together and stitch it up. They had a blast. Plus, it counts for Craftsman pin! Foil dinners were great

Just returned from Webelos Woods this past weekend. The kids had a good time. They got to do a little first aid, some cooking, a little orientering and a leather project. I thought it was well run and age appropriate. When I spoke to another Webelos leader afterwards he was a bit disappointed. He agreed that the program was fine, but, he wanted his boys to see "what boy scouts do". He wanted the Webelos to see the COPE course, the rifle range, the canoes etc. With Boy Scouts engaged in activities that the Webelos are too young to do. Not necessarily to participate, but to see what is c

Hi All, Our Webelos I den just finished their Citizen pin, and it is a bit on the dry side... even though we did play pin the name on the politician... Anyway at Webelos Woods last weekend, one of my shy Webelos I's (yes, some of them are shy) informed me that the flag at camp was being displayed incorrectly... it wasn't being lit at night. I asked what should we do? His response was to march up to one of the adult leaders of the camp and promptly inform him of the situation! I am not sure the camp leader appreciated it, but, I was grinning from ear to ear! Now, how to g

Hi Sue, That is sort of the route I have chosen... I am serving on the committee, mainly on BOR and helping out at events if they need additional adults. I would like to go ahead and start taking some of the ASM training this year, I think it would be very useful in trying to help my Webelos transition to Boy Scouts. I am one of those that wants the training prior to actually being in the position!

I would suggest splitting the large group into smaller groups of 3-4 kids. Have each group brainstorm how a flag retirement ceremony should be conducted. Each group should have a reporter to write down the groups ideas. Bring the large group together after a set period of time and have each group report out. Record common themes and then take the opportunity to expand on include others of merit. This encourages participation and hopefully it will stay on topic. Could be done in patrols, but it works better with fewer kids. Another suggestion: Do a skit of a flag retire

What if they didn't want the kid with behavior issues to attend? What about the obnoxious ASM? Dealing with differences is part of life and scouting. I think this would be a perfect opportunity for the adult leadership to model how adult relationships should operate! As far as violating a policy... I don't know. I think I read on this site that women have been in scouting for 20 years. Seems like it would be violation in spirit if not in fact. I always wonder if this is actually the boys having an "issue" or the boys reflecting the "issues" that other adults may be expressing.

Our dens always meet at the elementary school for den and pack meetings. We are sponsored by the PTA of the school. We have to submit date requests and sign a contract, but, there is no fee involved. It is nice to have the space to do large group activities.

I think that our Klondike and Camporee have always let the Webelos participate. That would be tough, invite kids to come out and not let them play. Like going to a buffet and not being allowed to eat. I have at least one Webelo, where the parent is physically unable to camp due to a bad back. If they can't find another relative to step in, I would take the kid. Probably assign him to another parent to keep track of. Though, that would mean that the boys would be tenting together, because that lone scout couldn't tent with any other adult in camp. Opinions on boys this age tentin

ScoutnDad, Thanks for your opinion. I agree that it is a balance, how much are you involved along with giving them space to grow. As far as adult fulfilment... absolutely! People wouldn't be scouters or teachers without the fulfilment that you get working with kids. I know for sure it isn't the paycheck! I wonder if anyone has tried a "waiting period" before adult scouters can become involved? Curious how that would go over. Anyone ever try it? Why is it though that we have so many adults "helping" at the Troop level and not at the Pack? It is like pulling teeth to g

Scoutndad, I think I am about to hijack my own thread here... You said: The first year is critical for the scout to know that his parent(s) support his involvement, but pushing the program and requirements is typically contrary to the mentality of young men, as is the social impact of the parent joining in a leadership role when the scout needs his space to grow. Do you feel that new parents should NOT take a part in the leadership of the program - such as ASM? Our troop has an excellent SM and probably 3 primary ASM and assorted additional tan shirts that take a lesser

Sounds like my council and Funscout's are falling in with the National Policy then. We got very little notice on the change as well. Our prior Camporee the Webelos participated with the Boy Scouts as well. Though the activites were geared for the Webelos. I believe our "new" Webleos Woods will be staffed with Boy Scouts, but, not necessarily those from our area. I have already discussed getting a camp out together with a troop. Should be fun. I agree that waiting for Klondike is a little tight with crossovers. For those who have done Webelos Woods.... do you let the boys tent

Cubmaster Randy, Your Webelos Woods sounds like what Camporee used to be in our council. Webelos and a parent camp with a troop to get a taste of the patrol method in Boy Scouts. From what I understand, (and it is possible that I may have some of this wrong) our Webelos Woods will NOT have any Boy Scout Troops in attendance... only Webelos and parents. Camporee which had the interaction between Webelos and Troops has changed to Boy Scout ONLY. I would like to have my boys have the opportunity to see a Troop in action! Have already discussed setting up an additional ca

Thanks. I was counting myself as the den leader in the 5-1 ratio. That makes more sense that I am not directly responsible to a group of kids. I like the idea of setting it up like the buddy system... with one adult as the buddy for a couple of kids. Good reinforcement for what we used at Day Camp.

Hi, Our council has just reinstitued Webelos Woods as the main fall campout for Webelos, instead of camping with Boy Scouts at Camporee. My understanding is Webelos Woods is Webelo den camping, not family camping. They changed Camporee as well. Anyway the information I have received lists a 5 - 1 ratio of boys to adults. Not 1-1 like Camporee used to be. My den has done some family camping as Wolf and Bear, and they are familiar with the camp. Opinions... ok to go with the 5-1 ratio, or should I require a parent? Or leave it up to the parents? The days when I could pull an

Hunt, I agree and I am going to try and back off and just cheer him on! Signed up with him to do some cycling trips... hope I can keep up! I mentioned to him last night coming back from the Troop meeting that I wasn't going to "nag" about scouts, but that if he needed any help to let me know. His response was... "you are totally right to stay on my case, otherwise I won't get stuff done" I probably could continue to nag and he would put up with it. But, I don't know that that will help him gain any independence. Much better to let other adults nag for me. I might need the cat

Thanks for your thoughtful replies. I realize that number one son is into sports. I want some balance in his life also. Something that isn't "competitive" in nature. Heaven forbid at some point he gets cut from a team. I see the potential that scouting has to offer him! It annoys the heck out of me that he doesn't move on things. I have enjoyed being a den leader and am currently on the Troop Committee until second son crosses over. Might become ASM if the boys are ok with it. It seems that I have an easier time with 12 nine year olds than I do with 1 6th grader!

Hi, Oldest son crossed over last spring. He is involved in traveling baseball team which is a major time committment. We did manage to get him to summer camp with many logistical accomodations. Basketball will be starting this winter, same type of time issues. My problem is that right now he has time to put into Scouts and he resists! I have tried explaining that when he has the time, he needs to make the most of it. He agrees and says that he understands, but, I see little response. He says he enjoys scouts and doesn't want to quit. Dad thinks he should quit, because of

You may have heard of this before..... A group of our boys were working on this badge. They divided the group up into 4 different countries. Each country had a president, ambassadors to the other countries and a representative to the UN. Then a video clip was played where a "world crisis" occurred. Each country had to determine their national interest and decide what their UN representative would do. The video clip appeared to be scout produced, though I am not sure where it came from. The kids had an absolute blast.

Here are some things our boys seem to like: 1. Boy skits 2. Gray squirrel song 3. If I were not a Cub scout ... sung by the leaders 4. Decorating the Cubmaster with splints, bandages, sunscreen etc. for an upcoming campout 5. Shooting paper stomp rockets - siblings love it too

Hi, I am looking for ideas to spice up Pack meetings so they are less like "meetings", and more FUN! What are your favorite things you have done? How do you hand out awards so that the other dens don't fall asleep? How do you get the parents involved in the fun and not just spectating? Lets see how many ideas we can get before the start of the school year!

Hi All, I have a question regarding the Webelo Sportsman Pin. Requirement 2 states that the scout must earn two belt loops for individual sports. Then it goes on to list the sport loops. However Archery and BB guns are NOT listed. At our Day Camp this summer about 7 boys from my Webelo I den earned both archery and bb gun loops. (Approved Council run ranges) Wouldn't these loops count towards Sportsman even though they aren't specifically listed? If not, why not? I know I will be needing to explain this one this fall Thanks for your help.