Webelos to Boy Scout Transition

Wood Badge C-44-09

Antelope Patrol

Purposes of Session

To examine what scout leaders can and should do to encourage Webelos II Scouts to transition from the Cub Scout program to Boy Scouts.

The Big Picture

Cub Scouts Boy Scouts Venturing

Elementary

School

Jr. High

School

High

School

College

Few boys join Tiger Cubs with the intent of remaining in Scouting

until their 21st birthday as a Venturer. However, Scouting offers a

continuous program that becomes progressively more

challenging as the boy moves from dependence to independence.

Cub & Boy Scouts ComparisonParent/Guardian Role

CUB SCOUTS

Signs Off Book

Provides Direction

May Share Lead

BOY SCOUTS

May be MB Counselor

Provides Guidance

Allows Boys to Lead

Boy Scout Transition Challenges

Competition from other youth activities

Boys “burn out” after 5 years in Cub Scouting

View of scouting as a “little kids” program

Boys’ fear of the unknown

Boy Scout Transition Challenges

Parents increasing work commitments and decreasing time for youth activities

Pack-Troop disconnect and loss of continuity

Negative views of scouting in certain circles

Scout Transition Opportunities

Appeal of high adventure & outdoor program

Boys’ desire for exciting, challenging activities

Boys’ opportunity for leadership

Boys’ desire for activities with peer group

The “grown up” scouting program

Scout Transition Opportunities

Desire of many for meaningful experiences that offer positive life values

Traditionally positive view of Scouting

Strong, well-designed, and structured program

The Players (Pack) Cubmaster

Webelos Den Leader

Pack Trainer

Den Leader Coach

Duties of all Pack Leaders Get Trained and Attend Monthly District

Roundtables

Promote Scouting as a Continuing Program

Rather than Pack Program

Review Troop Leader List and Contact Troop

Leader(s) in Fall

Invite Troop Leaders to Key Den Activities

Duties of all Pack Leaders

Visit Troop Meetings

Attend Troop Event(s)

Before the Transfer to Boys Scouts, see that all of

the advancement has been processed (Scoutnet)

for that individual cub scout.

Pack Leader's Goal

It should be the goal of the pack adult leaders to graduate every Webelos Scout into a Boy Scout troop. The key to accomplishing this is to begin promoting Boy Scouting when Cub Scouts are still in their Tiger, Wolf, and Bear dens, and to sell the sizzle of the great outdoors. Scouting should be viewed as an ongoing adventure, and the progression should be as normal as moving from elementary school to middle school.

Cubmaster Duties

Sit down with your unit commissioner, Scoutmaster and Webelos den leader to determine what needs to be done to improve Webelos graduations.

Assist in planning and conducting stimulating

graduation ceremonies, involving parents, the

Scoutmaster, the den chief, the Webelos den leader and

boy leaders from the troop.

Conduct Webelos den induction ceremonies and Arrow

of Light Award ceremonies.

Cubmaster Duties

Support the Webelos den leader in pack/troop activities.

Help establish and maintain strong pack/troop

relationships.

Encourage high advancement standards for the

Webelos Scouts.

Cubmaster DutiesInclude Webelos den participation in pack meeting activities.

Attend roundtables on a regular basis. Attend any

Webelos and Scout leader's roundtables with the

Webelos den leader.

Recognize the den chiefs at the pack meetings.

Cubmaster Duties

Support the year-round Webelos den program.

Help to recruit activity badge counselors from the pack

and troops in the area. (Get troop leaders to do

Outdoorsman)

Webelos Den Leader Duties Use the parent-talent survey sheets to identify potential activity

badge counselors.

Train the Webelos den chief and help him to register for and

attend den chief's training.

Recognize the Webelos den chief in front of the pack or Webelos

den.

Complete Webelos den leader training as soon as possible.

Work with the Webelos resource person and Cubmaster to

conduct effective graduation ceremonies at the pack meeting.

Attend roundtables on a regular basis, especially any joint

Webelos and Scout leaders' roundtables.

Pack Trainer Duties Conducts orientation for new families and pack

leaders to understand purposes, policies, and procedures of Cub Scouting.

Works with the district training committee in

scheduling Fast Start training for all leaders,

committee members, and families of the pack.

Den Leader Coach Duties Make sure there are stable, active and enthusiastic den

leaders for all Cub Scout and Webelos dens.

Make sure that leaders complete Fast Start and Cub Scout

Leader Basic Training and attend the monthly

roundtables.

Conduct a Den Leader Coach Seminar for the leaders.

Provide help to new den leaders.

Make sure Cub Scout leader recognition awards are

available to the leaders.

Den Leader Coach Duties

Have monthly coach-den leader meetings to help plan den activities and programs.

Pass on information about the current and up to date

program also, pass on literature and material den

leaders.

Den Leader Coach Duties Make sure no den is ever without a leader and

assistant.

Help recruit new den leaders.

Ensure that there is a communications link (usually

the den leader coach) between the Cubmaster and the

den leaders.

The Players (Troop) Scoutmaster

Den Chief(s)

Assistant Scoutmaster(s)

Troop Committee Member(s)

A Special Player (Troop) New Scout Chair

Boy Scout troops should assign an assistant Scoutmaster or a

troop committee member to be responsible for new Scouts,

which would include developing a relationship with the

Cubmaster and the Webelos den leaders. This person serves as

a resource during Webelos overnight activities and builds

enthusiasm among boys and their parents for the exciting

challenges that await them in Boy Scouting.

New Scout Chair Duties

Select Scouts to serve as den chiefs for each Webelos Scout den and Cub Scout den. Arrange for Den Chief Training. Den Chief should be an older, experienced Boy Scout, Varsity Scout, or Venturer who has been a Boy Scout. Selected by the senior patrol leader and Scoutmaster, Varsity Scout Coach, or Venturing Advisor at the request of the Cubmaster or Webelos den leader. Preferably a former Cub Scout; ideally at least First Class rank.

New Scout Chair Duties

Serve as a resource for overnight activities. The troop can be of service to provide equipment, leadership, and logistics for Webelos parent-son campouts.

New Scout Chair Duties

Contact Webelos II Den Leaders from Feeder Packs in Fall

Invite Webelos Dens to Troop Meetings

Invite Webelos Dens to Troop Activities

Plan Joint Webelos/Troop Activities

Attend Key Pack Events (e.g., B&G Banquet, AOL

Ceremony, Webelos Campout, Pinewood Derby)

Troop Leader Duties Conduct an orientation in the Bear Cub Scout dens

to explain the changing role as boys become Webelos Scouts and then again as they become Boy Scouts. Explain how being a Webelos Scout will help prepare them for Boy Scouting.

Webelos den/Scout troop campouts should show

Webelos Scouts and their parents what to expect

when they move into the troop. The troop should

cook and camp by patrol, and use skills that the

Webelos Scouts can participate in.

Den Chief Duties

Know the purposes of Cub Scouting.

Help Cub Scouts achieve the purposes of Cub

Scouting.

Serve as the activities assistant at den meetings.

Set a good example through attitude and uniforming.

Be a friend to the boys in the den.

Help lead weekly den meetings.

Den Chief Duties

Assist in planning and conducting stimulating graduation ceremonies, involving parents, the Scoutmaster, the den chief, the Webelos den leader and boy leaders from the troop.

Know the importance of the monthly theme and pack

meeting plans.

Meet regularly with the den leader to review den and pack

meeting plans. Meet as needed with adult members of the

den, pack, and troop.

Den Chief Duties

Receive training from the den leader (and Cubmaster or assistant Cubmaster) and attend Den Chief Training.

Encourage Cub Scouts to become Webelos Scouts when

they are eligible.

Help the denner and assistant denner to be leaders.

The Players (District) Unit Commissioner

Webelos Transition Chair

Unit Commissioner Duties

Be a catalyst in developing good relationships between troop and pack leaders.

Promote communication by scheduling a meeting of key

volunteers.

Help plan a Webelos den visit to a troop meeting and other

joint activities.

Keep the pack and troop on schedule as plans develop for

the crossover ceremony at the blue and gold banquet.

Unit Commissioner Duties Attend the crossover ceremony.

Be sure new Scouts have completed a Boy Scout

application, that they have a copy of the troop's

activities, and that they know when and where the

troop meets.

Work with the pack and troop in their charter

renewal process to help ensure Webelos Scouts are

moved from pack rosters to troop rosters.

Unit Commissioner Duties

Work with the Webelos transition chair to follow up on boys who have not yet joined a troop. Make sure they are invited to join a troop.

Be sure Webelos Scouts join a troop in time to

prepare for Boy Scout summer camp.

Webelos Transition Chair Duties

Contact all packs in early fall to update a list of all fifth-grade Webelos Scouts.

Coach Cubmasters and Webelos den leaders in the

transition process at roundtables, training courses, and

through personal contact.

Report to the membership committee chair, and keep the

district committee informed.

Webelos Transition Chair Duties

Track and maintain records of Webelos graduation by using a wall chart that lists the transition record of each pack.

Work with unit commissioners to follow up on

Webelos Scouts who have not joined a troop.

Work toward 100 percent Webelos transition.

Resolved

Every Webelos II Scout should be

sufficiently exposed to Boy Scouts to

make an informed yes/no decision.

No boy should be “lost in the shuffle” at

any stage in Scouting.

The Bottom Line

Program

Communication

Webelos II Transition Survey

Encourages Webelos Scouts to Plan for Boys Scout Transition

Provides Information for Troop and District

Leaders

Helps with District Scout Projections

Makes Sure No Boy is Overlooked

Completed with the Boys

Due in November

First Name Last Name (Yes or No) (Yes or No) Troop # Troop #s

Stephen Jones

Nickolas Smith

Douglas Wilson

Joseph Roe

Ethan Holmes

Jae Lee

Joseph Jackson

Tim Doe

Mike Tompkins

Dan Stallings

What is the date of your Pack's Graduation/Arrow of Light ceremony for Webelos II Scouts?

Have you invited any Troop(s) to come to your Pack Arrow of Light ceremony? If so, which Troop(s)? If not, would you like a Troop to attend?

Does your Webelos II Den plan to participate in the Wauhawk District AOL ceremony in Kalona on February 26?

Name and scouting position (e.g., Webelos Den leader) of the person completing this form:

Has your Webelos II Den(s) visited any Troop meetings? If so, which Troop(s)?

Other Troops of Interest

* Reasons Boys Gave for Uncertain , Probably Not , and

Definitely Not Transition Responses

Comments (If Applicable)

Webelos II ScoutCurrently Active in

Pack/Den?

Will Scout Earn AOL Badge?

This form is due by the January Roundtable (January 6, 2005). Return to Andy Zahn (fax: 862-0544).

2004-2005 Wauhawk District Webelos to Scout Transition Survey - Pack 1000

Listed below are the Webelos II Scouts from your Pack that we have on record in ScoutNET. For each Webelos Scout listed, please provide the appropriate information as directed in the accompanying sheet of instructions. Complete this form with the help of the individual boys. If we failed to list any of your Webelos II Scouts, please

list them in the blank lines at the bottom. Thanks for your help!!

Primary Troop of Interest

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Planning Transition to Boy Scouts? Check One.

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Webelos to Boy Scout Transition

Questions and Suggestions