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Webelos and Scouts Camping Together


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Hello All:

 

Quite simply: What is Irving's policy about Webelos camping overnight? Our Troop is going on a "Snow Camp" in a couple of weeks and would like to take the Webelos II's with us.

 

The G2SS is somewhat abigious on this. The terms "parent approved adult", "expected" and "adult" are never used as a definitive statement. Can we assign three ASM's to three Webelos and have the Den Leader for the fourth?

 

Also, if your troop or pack has tried this, how did it work out. The Scouts are kind of hot on the idea, so I think any problems would be the Webelos being uncomfortable camping without their parents. The potential crossovers seem to be enthusiastic about the idea.

 

The name "Snow Camp" is misleading since we are in a Lodge. The Webelos' parents just can't work out staying that night.

 

Thanks for your help on this.

 

 

 

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From the boldfaced (policy) guidance:

 

A Webelos Scout may participate in overnight den camping when supervised by an adult. In most cases, the Webelos Scout will be under the supervision of his parent or guardian. It is essential that each Webelos Scout be under the supervision of a parent-approved adult. Joint Webelos den-troop campouts including the parents of the Webelos Scouts are encouraged to strengthen ties between the pack and troop. Den leaders, pack leaders, and parents are expected to accompany the boys on approved trips.

 

It's pretty clear to me:

In most cases, the Webelos Scout will be under the supervision of his parent or guardian.

 

1/1, parental supervision. In my Council, if a Cub is under another parents' direct supervision (this is not the adults go off 300 feet from the kids, the adults are expected to be close at hand), then there must be a permission slip authorizing the adult by name.

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We have had Webelos II scouts camp with the troop on numerous occasions at district camporees. That seems to be the best in that they are pretty busy and are getting introduced to some basic Scout skills in a concentrated setting. The ones who attended without the parent but under the "parent-approved adult" scenario have always done just fine. At the camporee, the Troop will go on Fri. night. The Webelos join us the next morning for the Saturday activities and stay just that one night.

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We have the Webelos join us every year on a fall campout. We insist on a parent/guardian be with each scout. No parent/guardian, they don't go. This hasn't been a problem, as we have always had probably 90% participation.

 

 

 

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We have an annual April camping trip with both Webelos I & II at a nearby park. This happens just before the Crossover (end of April). It's a great way for the Webelos and families to get to know the Troop and visit with the Adult Leaders.

 

We do a service project on Saturday morning, lunch for all back at the campsite, then an afternoon of Scout games and skill building for the Webelos. Each Patrol in the Scout Troop sets up a station of activities, and the Webelos and parents break up into small groups and rotate around the stations.

 

The first year Webelos get a idea of what the Troop is like and have a great time. They usually do not spend the night and head home with their parents late in the afternoon. They get a good taste of the Troop and are usually very excited about joining next year.

 

The second year Webelos camp out with their parents. They do their own cooking as a Webelos Den, but join in with the Boy Scouts later for the campfire program. Unless there's some scheduling conflict, we usually have 100% CrossOver, and the new Scouts then join us on our May and June camping trips and summer camp in July.

 

After several trials & errors, this seems to work very well. April weather is usually very nice, and the proximity allows both parents and Webelos to feel comfortable about camping out. We've found the camping trip followed very closely by the CrossOver works very well. For years we did a joint fall camping trip, but by the time the springtime Crossover happened (sometimes in February at B&G, sometimes in March) many of the boys had moved on to other activities and did not end up crossing over.

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