WEBELOS Transition Introduction.

For several years, I've been adding to a collection of information about transitioning boys from Cub Scouts (4th and 5th graders are WEBELOS -- for WE'll BE LOyal Scouts) until they complete their Arrow of Light or turn 11 years old or complete 5th grade.  When one of those conditions is met, they can join a Boy Scout Troop.

Some background is in order -- for those who don't know, I was a Cub Scout starting in 2nd grade (1976) until I turned 11 in 1980.  My Pack was having some difficulties at the time, and I didn't earn the Arrow of Light (nor did anyone else).  I was the only member of my pack to join the troop I joined in January 1980 (someone fudged the requirements a little, and I attended a camp out as a "Scout" about 3 weeks before I was eligible to join).   In January 1981, after a move, I joined a troop where I spent the next 6 years and earned my Eagle Scout Award.

I was very lucky as an 18 year old college freshman, and another student observed that I was wearing a National Scout Jamboree T-shirt my first day of classes at college.  Long story short, he gave me a ride to a meeting that night at a local troop and I served through the next 3 years as their Assistant Scoutmaster working with the first year scouts.  (Wisely, our Scoutmaster didn't want an 18 year old working with the 16 and 17 year old junior leaders).

After finishing college, I served a year as an Assistant Scoutmaster at Troop 3 in Springfield IL, and then 5 years as their Scoutmaster before moving to Bloomington IL and serving 6 years as Scoutmaster of Troop 18.

Troop 3 was notably successful in recruiting and integrating WEBELOS into the troop and Troop 18 was not.  As a result, Troop 3 grew from 4 scouts in the fall of 1990 to 45 scouts when I left in December 1995 (and my successor grew the troop to nearly 70 scouts at one point).  Troop 18 wavered between 10 and 14 scouts the whole time I was involved.

After my involvement with Troop 18 ended due to professional commitments, I wasn't directly involved with Scouting until my older son became a Tiger Cub in 2011.

Our Pack does not have a co-sponsored troop, so we continually have to evaluate where our WEBELOS will go when they leave the pack.  Since 2011, we've had boys join (or commit to join next month) four separate troops, and there are two others in the running for future scouts.

I've been advising parents informally since the fall of 2012 regarding troops to visit and how to choose.   The following items are the current results of that work.  (By the way, for those who are deeply involved with Scouting -- this collection of information is being organized into a "WEBELOS Parent's Orientation" as part of my Wood Badge Ticket)

First -- general information from a course in the topic that I took in January 2015 at a University of Scouting event hosted by the Lewis and Clark Council of the Boy Scouts of America.  (Note that anything in parenthesis with my initials "prp" is my addition or editorial comment rather than course material as given)

From Lewis and Clark Council University of Scouting, January 31, 2015

The importance of the WEBELOS Leader

·         Must provide a good outdoor program

·         Should enjoy a good relationship with a Boy Scout Troop (or two – prp)

·         Should have completed Scoutmaster Position Specific training if possible

WEBELOS Den Leader’s Job

·         Have the den function like a Boy Scout Patrol

·         Offer multiple opportunities for WEBELOS to camp

·         Ensure necessary scoutcraft skills are taught

·         Become familiar with local troops (through roundtable or other adult training opportunities)

·         Recruit a Den Chief

·         Plan bridging ceremony (or ceremonies)

·         Verify transfer of records to the troop after crossover

Receiving Scoutmaster’s role

·         Include WEBELOS den in summer camp reservations and promotions (less of an issue with winter crossovers – prp)

·         Discuss camp, troop activities and costs with WEBELOS parents

·         Invite the WEBELOS and parents to troop meetings and some outings – AND BE WELCOMING (emphasis added – prp)

·         Become part of the pack graduation ceremony

·         Assist in finding Den Chiefs for the WEBELOS Dens

·         Ensure all forms are completed

·         Must understand the good in having WEBELOS observe the troop

·         Invite the WEBELOS Den Leader to become part of the troop (preferably observing older scouts at first – prp)

·         Hold a pre-summer camp orientation for Scout skills to make sure new scouts are ready for long term camp (Again, this is less of a problem with early crossover – prp)

Assistant Scoutmaster’s role

·         Help to form the new scout patrol (or patrols – prp)

·         Make sure WEBELOS Feel welcome and that they are part of the troop

·         Advise the Troop Guide in planning instruction of Scout Skills and patrol learning

·         Assist with advancement through First Class (Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class)

·         Verify and reinforce good Scout Skills – be a role model

The Den Chief’s role

·         Resource for Scout Skills (Across all dens, not just WEBELOS –prp)

·         Help form WEBELOS Den into a patrol and instill patrol spirit

·         Help WEBELOS Patrol operate with Patrol Method

·         Assist at Ceremonies

·         Be a good role model

Cubmaster’s Role

·         Fall and Winter – Develop a point of contact with local troops, examine membership levels and schedules (can be delegated to others, but CM should have this knowledge in the long term – prp)

·         Summer – Confirm WEBELOS on target for outdoor program (especially with the 2015 WEBELOS Requirements – prp)

·         September – Confirm potential crossover dates with WEBELOS Den and Troops, encourage visits to troops (for BOTH 4^th and 5^th Graders – prp) and confirm 5^th Graders have made at least tentative decisions about where to transfer.

·         September-April – Ensure Arrow of Light is completed, AOL is recorded and all records are transferred to the troop.

Suggested Transition Plan

·         Plan should be finalized in November or December (read this as “60 days before crossover” – prp)

·         Pack shares roster (address, phone, email) with troop

·         Troop provides camp plan and fees (and troop calendar! – prp) to the pack before crossover

·         Within the last 60 days before crossover, set a date for the Scoutmaster(s) to meet with WEBELOS Parents (familiarization, camp promotion, general orientation)

·         The FOLLOWING year’s WEBELOS (4^th graders) should visit the troop within 30-45 days of crossover (this was not in the original notes, but developed from a post-course discussion with the instructor – prp)

“Graduation Briefing”

·         Remind the WEBELOS that Merit Badges are similar to their activity badges

o   Accuracy is important

o   Neatness is important

o   Timeliness is important

·         Provide a copy of the “Scout” rank requirements (especially important for 2016 crossovers, as the requirement changed 1/1/2016 – prp)

·         Remind them that this is the continuation of a journey, not something new.

·         Remind them that the Scoutmaster and Junior Leaders have been recruiting them for a year or more – they ARE wanted in the troop.

Recommended timeline

·         Fall 4^th grade, visit first troop.  WEBELOS should visit at least two troops.  Troops being considered should be visited more than once – the first time by prior arrangement and the second visit by “surprise” (less than a week’s notice – so the troop can’t plan something special, but with enough warning that you’re not showing up on a night they aren’t meeting or are conducting an election or something like that)

·         Fall 4^th grade, den should have an overnight (WEBELOS Resident camp or WEBELOS Woods both count for this – prp).  Den should act as a patrol, plan menus with the help of Den Leaders, Troop Guides, etc.)

·         Winter 4^th grade, den should choose a name, make a flag, create a yell and start wearing their patrol emblem on the right sleeve (optional, for Tan uniforms).   Especially recommended that the den begin using a rotating Denner as “Patrol Leader” (note that when this class was given, the requirement to do this for “Scouting Adventure” was not known yet – prp)

·         Spring 4^th grade, visit second troop, and have 2^nd (surprise visit) to the troop visited last fall.

·         Spring 4^th grade, additional overnight den outings, as needed to complete requirements (course materials mention “Outdoorsman” from 2003 requirements, but apply now to Cast Iron Chef, WEBELOS Walkabout, Camper and Scouting Adventure – prp)

·         Spring 4^th grade, joint camp with one of the troops visited.  If possible, camp as an extra patrol in their troop.

·         Summer after 4^th grade, resident camp

·         Fall 5^th grade, second (surprise) visit to second troop.   Visit additional troops as needed.

·         Fall 5^th grade, joint camp with second troop visited.  (Additional camp outs beyond this one are good, unless they interfere with the troop or pack schedule)

·         Late fall 5^th grade, final visit to troop chosen to join.

·         Winter 5^th grade, crossover

·         Spring 5^th grade, Pack adult leadership follows up with troop