Welcome to Webelos I!

 

We hope your scout is excited to begin the last rank of cub scouting!  It is a two-part rank in which they begin as Webelos I and finish as Webelos II.

 

Below is an important guide to the beginning of our Webelos journey.  You will see several blue underlined areas in this document which link out to the Internet for further information.

 

Pease carefully read through the entire document so you will understand what you will need to do and the timeframe in which our scouts will need to complete certain phases of their Webelos journey.

 Welcome to WEBELOS  - We’ll Be Loyal Scouts 

The Webelos program is preparation for boys to leave Cub Scouting and move on to Boy Scouting.   

Parent involvement and their ability to lend their expertise to this program in their area of interest is extremely encouraged.  There are many activity badges in this program that we don’t know anything about and it would be a shame that the boys can’t achieve the most out of this program because of our unfamiliarity.  This is an invitation to participate and use your skills. 

The Webelos program will be a time when the boys begin to learn leadership and can contribute with their own ideas.  At Pack Meetings, we will be looked up to by the younger ranks.  This will be a great opportunity to develop leadership skills.  It is our plan to have our scouts demonstrate activity badge crafts and projects they have completed in front of the Pack. 

Our Goal and Timeline 

Our first step as a Webelos 1 is to earn our Webelos badge.  The Webelos badge needs to be earned by the end of January 2010 which will be awarded at the Blue & Gold dinner in February.  At the June 2010 graduation, they will officially be Webelos 2 Cub Scouts! 

Next, the Compass Points emblem and Arrow of Light Award needs to be earned by the end of January 2011.   

Lastly, the February 2011 Blue & Gold dinner will be when our boys cross over into Boy Scouts, if they wish! 

·         When a boy earns the Webelos badge, he learns many of the requirements for the Boy Scout badge. 

·         When he has completed the Arrow of Light requirements, he will have completed most of the joining requirements to become a Boy Scout. 

The requirements for the Webelos badge and the Arrow of Light Award are related - one building on the other.  Both require earning activity badges.

There are 20 activity badges.  Some are required.  It would be great for the boys to experience and earn as many as possible.  It is imperative for you to read through the requirements of these activity badges and see how you can help!  See page 74 of the Webelos Handbook for an outline of these badges and then read the detailed descriptions on the appropriate pages.   

The Fitness and Citizen activity badges are required for the Webelos Badge.  The Outdoorsman and Readyman badges are required for the Arrow of Light Award.  Please see how you can assist with these required badges.  Some boys may want to complete all 20 which is a great accomplishment!  Some of the activity badges, however, will be the responsibility of the scout’s family as the requirements are family-driven only.

Belt Loops that were earned in the lower ranks can not be used again when completing the Webelos Activity Badges.  The belt loops will have to be earned again as a Webelos. 

This summer we plan to accomplish one or more activity badges.  One we definitely plan on doing is the Aquanaut badge at the town pool.

Our ultimate goal is to have all of our scouts earn the Arrow of Light Award – the highest rank in Cub Scouting!

Items you’ll need to purchase at the- Scout Store:

It is best to ask the store employee what you will need as a Webelos scout as far as the uniform goes.  We require that you purchase:

The Webelos Handbook

Webelos hat & slide

Optional items: tan scouting shirt, olive green pants, & shoulder loops.  The tan scouting shirt and olive green pants is also the uniform of the Boy Scout.  You may want to buy a size up to make them last longer!

The Webelos neckerchief was handed out by the pack so you do not need to get one at the store.  We will get you one if your scout wasn’t at the June graduation.

It is very important to have each scout be in uniform to all den/pack meetings and activities. 

The Webelos Handbook contains a Webelos Parent Guide designed to help parents understand Cub Scouting and another guide for parents titled “How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse”.  It is part of the Webelos badge requirements for you to read it!

Dues and den meeting/snack schedule will be discussed in the near future.  We are looking to have 2 meetings a month.  One will be after school and the other will be in the evening.  The evening meeting was decided to allow parents the ability to participate with their scout’s activity badges.

Thank you and we look forward to working with you and your scouts for the last part of their Cub Scouting experience!

Christina & Lauren