scouterjack

jmcquillan, It sounds like we agree on most points. I think you're right that only time will tell how these changes will affect us. Of course, by that time we'll probably have other changes to deal with. I also agree 100% that opening WB up to all scouters is the best thing. I also feel that reaching out to scouters earlier in their "scouting careers" is a good way to spread what is learned through WB to benefit the entire program. As I said before, I'm looking forward to it.

Just an opinion here but I agree that beading ceremony would hold little sway with the boys and after all, the pack meetings and COHs are for them and not us. I had mine at a joint Cub and BS RT. Even there I noticed a larger number of people than I expected just got up and walked out because they saw it as an interruption of their program and not what they came to RT for. The best ones that I have been to were held at WB reunions, a good choice if you have them in your area and if the timing is right. At least there, you know that everyone knows what it's all about and can appreciate the effort involved. A short announcement about it can be made at the pack meeting and the COH perhaps. I do remember my son's SM having his beading at the troops COH. When the staffers showed up in December in their shorts and knee socks and proceeded to talk about Gilwell and the Boer Wars, many went away with either a quizzical expression or just shaking their heads! It is, of course, your decision; I would suggest that you carefully consider the audience and the impression of WB'ers and WB in general that the ceremony might leave before you come to a decision about the best place to have it. Id like to know your final choice though.

As far as new vs. old WB goes, I think that although WB has evolved, most of the fears that the good stuff is being left out will prove untrue. The fact that BSA is attempting to emphasize the continuum of scouting is a positive thing. How many have complained that the Boy Scouts treat the Cubbers like alien creatures or how many boys that new Venture Crew will take away from "our troop"? The way the old WB was, outdoor skills were only covered as a tool for teaching the 11 leadership skills anyway. When you had to have two years experience as a troop leader to even qualify to go to WB, you were expected to be fairly competent in your outdoor skills before you graced Gilwell field with your presence. Oh, let's not forget about Cub Trainer WB. To even be invited to that one you had to be fairly committed to at least two years of serving as a trainer at the district or council level. Inclusive? I think not. I loved my WB experience as much as the next scouter but I must say that I have run into many who have resented those of us who wear the beads. Why was that? I don't know, could it be things like singing "Back To Gilwell" at the drop of a hat and forgetting to consider that not everyone there had even the slightest clue about what the heck we were doing? Or how about those WB reunions some of us love to talk about? It's no wonder that we were viewed as elitist and exclusionary even though most of us never meant to be. The 21st Century WB course seems to strive to tear down some of these unintentional barriers between the phases of the BSA program that we are all a part of. Yes, although the final version of the syllabus has not reached me, I have had the opportunity to view the newest available syllabus and not many of our beloved traditions are being eliminated. In fact, some are just being replaced with others. I, for one , am very much looking forward to my council's next WB course this fall where I will be happily serving on staff for 21st Century Wood Badge.