Thunderbird

I don't know how many t-shirts you are planning to order, but for around 30 t-shirts (regular short sleeve, cotton, only 1 ink color), you can get them for around $10-$11 each from ClassB.  That's a fair price, especially when they don't charge for artwork, a setup fee, and free shipping for orders over $50.  Of course, their prices depend on the total number of shirts that you order, so more shirts = cheaper price per shirt.

@The Latin Scot I agree.  This immediate recognition for ranks can also serve to motivate some of the other Cubs to earn their rank, too.

@Pack1_Axel They might have gotten the patch designed by ClassB.com.  (I'm not affiliated with ClassB, but they are licensed with the BSA and do more than just t-shirts.)  If they weren't the ones who created it, they could help you design your own.

For ClassB.com, their prices go down the more shirts you buy.  Plus, they do not charge for artwork or a setup fee.

But it's best to shop around.  As long as you aren't using anything that's trademarked by the BSA, then you can get your shirts from pretty much anywhere you want.

33 minutes ago, NJCubScouter said:

Some of you are talking about boys joining Cubs for the first time at the beginning of fifth grade.  How often does that actually happen?  In my five-year involvement with Cub Scouts as an adult, I don't think I ever saw that happen.  In fact I doubt any kids joined the pack after the third grade. Of course that was awhile ago - my son crossed over in 2003.  And maybe the recruiting in our area focused mainly on kids going into Tigers and not on older boys.

This was the purpose behind getting rid of the requirement to earn the Webelos rank before being able to earn AOL rank when they revamped the Cub Scout program in 2015.  The idea was the 5th graders were discouraged from joining Cub Scouts in the 5th grade, because there wasn't enough time to do everything to earn Bobcat, Webelos, and AOL ranks - it was pretty overwhelming to try to do all of that under the old program when you are brand new to Cub Scouting.  At the same time, many 5th graders are not 11 at the beginning of the school year, so they aren't old enough to join a troop yet, either.

In theory, packs should be seeing more Cubs join at the beginning of the 5th grade now, so that they aren't "lost" to sports and other extracurricular activities.  I have seen lots of new Cubs join in 3rd and 4th grade.  5th grade, too, but it is more rare.

24 minutes ago, Hawkwin said:

Why? They can crossover too.

 

If they completed AOL, then they can crossover at 10.

 

If they just joined in the fall, then I would assume the Pack will make helping them get AOL a priority so that they could crossover with their Den.

 

Because they can't complete AOL until they complete the 6 months active tenure with their Webelos den requirement.  If they join at the beginning of the 5th grade in August-September, they won't meet the 6 months active tenure until February-March. 

53 minutes ago, Hawkwin said:

Many of our Packs crossover in the fall prior to the Troop recharter. Works out well for both the Pack and the Troop.

I guess there aren't very many 5th graders joining the packs?  And what about Scouts with late birthdays?  My Scout would not have been able to join until late December because he has an August birthday and school gets out late here (late June).

22 minutes ago, WRW_57 said:

There is no "trained" patch just "paper trained."

Not sure what you mean?  There is a "Trained" patch.  It's available at Scout Shops, and there are requirements for being able to wear the trained patch based on position.

I dunno.  I have only seen dens crossover to Boy Scouts in February-March.  Haven't seen any dens completely ready to crossover in December in my area, although some individual Scouts might be ready.

At a minimum, you could ask him to wear the uniform correctly (take off the spoof / silly patches) so that he sets a good example for the Cub Scouts.  If he isn't currently a registered leader in the unit, then he shouldn't be wearing a badge of office patch or the "trained" patch.  (You could tell him that a Scout is obedient and should follow the BSA Guide to Awards and Insignia as an example to the Cubs).

His training at my.scouting.org might not be accurate.  Some Scouters have not linked their profile to their BSA ID #, and sometimes there are duplicate BSA ID #s.  But if he isn't a current registered leader with your pack, then what position is he "trained" for?

38 minutes ago, Eagle94-A1 said:

From talking to pros,  my impression is that National doesn' t have a clue. I mentioned how AOL dens can Cross Over December 1st 2018, and they need a plan and prepared to be ready. Comment I heard was that if the program is not ready for January 1st, everyone can stay in and earn more activity badges until the program is. If my pack decides to withhold my youngest son's AOL and Cross Over ceremonies until a girls program was established, Scouting WILL lose my son. He is starting to get bored waiting for folks to catch up as it is.

The girls are in separate dens in family packs, correct?  If your son's den is ready to crossover to a troop in December, why should they be held back if the girl's program (whatever it's going to be called) isn't ready by then?  Just let the boy's den crossover when it's ready, and the girl's den might crossover later.

A lot of girl's dens will probably need more time anyway, especially if most 5th grade girls don't join until August-September.  They wouldn't meet the 6-month tenure requirement until February-March.

There are several things you have to look at:

Note under Scout rank requirements: The requirements for the Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class ranks may be worked on simultaneously;
however, these ranks must be earned in sequence.

Tenderfoot: 7b. Participate in a total of one hour of service in one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. Explain how your service to others relates to the Scout slogan and Scout motto.

Second Class: 8e. Participate in two hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. Tell how your service to others relates to the Scout Oath.

First Class: 9d. Participate in three hours of service through one or more service projects approved by your Scoutmaster. The project(s) must not be the same service project(s) used for Tenderfoot requirement 7b and Second Class requirement 8e. Explain how your service to others relates to the Scout Law.

So, 2 hours could be applied towards his Second Class rank requirement, but the remaining hour cannot be applied to the First Class rank requirement.  Depending on the type of service, that hour could potentially be applied towards something else (for example: the Boy Scout World Conservation Award).

2 hours ago, perdidochas said:

Well, as I said, it depends on the individual.  It worked to hold my son back, but a friend of his did just fine by staying with his age cohort.  

I am glad that the Guide to Advancement gives parents the option to do either one based on what is best for their Cub Scout.  Individuals are different, and what is best for one is not necessarily best for another.

1 hour ago, ItsBrian said:

Webelo 2s are most commonly called AOLs now.

OK.  That is unofficial, because they are still Webelos Scouts in Webelos dens working out of the Webelos Handbook.  They are just in the 5th grade.  Webelos II (or Webelos 2) was unofficial, too.

It appears to be defaulting to Boy Pack.  I wonder if this is something that the packs change themselves?  Or does the council change it for them after they are approved as a Girl Pack or a Family Pack?

22 hours ago, ItsBrian said:

I’ve never put two and two together when the names were changed.

That’s a good observation. I had to put effort into my AOL, (4 years ago???) while it was still called Webelo 2s. I like AOL better as a name, but it does degrade the AOL award.

@ItsBrian  What names changed?

I could see it going either way:

Does the Scout have established friendships with the other Cub Scouts in his current den?  Does he go to school with the kids in his new den?  If so, would holding him back a year in Cub Scouts be a good way for him to help make friends in his new grade?  Would he be bored if he had to repeat a year of Cub Scouts?

Thank you! 

For what it's worth, here is what the Guide to Advancement says in section 4.1.0.4 "Do Your Best":