CubScoutJo

As a third Grader, he should be working towards the Bear Badge. "The Bear Badge can be earned by boys who have completed second grade, or who are nine years old." The Webelos Badge is for boys who have COMPLETED third grade, or who are ten years old. So this summer,after he FINISHES third grade, he could start working towards the Webelos Badge. Webelos is really an 18 month or so program. Packs usually divide them into Webelos I and Webelos II, but it doesn't have to be that way. He could work with the Webelos II after completing third grade if you really want him too. But why not keep him with his agemates if that is the way your pack does it? Or is it that he is the ONLY 3rd grader in the pack right now? Jo

Quote: ---------------- One told me that the thought of once a week for a whole year is tiresome whereas in sport ... it's once a week for three months until next season which is 3 to 6 months away. ------------- Around here sport are more like 2, 3 and 4 nights per week depending on which sport it is. I have boys in my den who are doing football right now and it is two nights a week practice plus a game on the weekend. Jo

Is this something you order, or did it just get sent to Scoutmasters? Jo

I realize that one doesn't have to earn all 20 activity badges for Arrow of Light. I was suggesting that having them work on additional activity badges might encourage them to stick with the pack for a little while longer....and have fun in the process. Jo

When did the boys complete 4th grade? If it was May or June then they wouldn't have at least ONE Arrow of Light Requirement completed (unless they are all ten and a half years old): "Be active in your Webelos den for at least six months since completing the fourth grade (or for at least six months since becoming 10 years old), and earn the Webelos badge. " Maybe that will buy you a couple more months. Not sure what the rush was to finish Arrow of Light that quickly. Are they also finished with all 20 activity pins? Maybe they could be encouraged to earn more of those. Jo

When did the boys complete 4th grade? If it was May or June then they wouldn't have at least ONE Arrow of Light Requirement completed (unless they are all ten and a half years old): "Be active in your Webelos den for at least six months since completing the fourth grade (or for at least six months since becoming 10 years old), and earn the Webelos badge. " Maybe that will buy you a couple more months. Not sure what the rush was to finish Arrow of Light that quickly. Are they also finished with all 20 activity pins? Maybe they could be encouraged to earn more of those. Jo

When did the boys complete 4th grade? If it was May or June then they wouldn't have at least ONE Arrow of Light Requirement completed (unless they are all ten and a half years old): "Be active in your Webelos den for at least six months since completing the fourth grade (or for at least six months since becoming 10 years old), and earn the Webelos badge. " Maybe that will buy you a couple more months. Not sure what the rush was to finish Arrow of Light that quickly. Are they also finished with all 20 activity pins? Maybe they could be encouraged to earn more of those.

A local park near us gives this program with the video. I had my Cub Scout Den go. Here's the website with the contact information. If you hit the link there that says "Junior Ranger Program" you will get the contact information for the ranger that runs the program. http://www.nnparks.com/calendar/week.php?cid=9 Maybe if you can't find the information anywhere else, you could give the ranger a call and she could let you know where they got their program. Jo

Wow. I talked with a scout while in Gettysburg last week (they were on their way to Jamboree), and I was impressed that he called me ma'am. Now I wonder if that was just something he's forced to do in his troop for fear of pushups! Is it common for troops to require scouts to call adults "Sir" and "Ma'am"? Just wondering. Jo

Our CO is starting a new troop. I'd like some opinions. Is it better to have troop meetings on the same night as a "sister" pack, or on a different night. Some conflicts I see in having Troop meetings on the same night are that the facility is already overcrowded on "scout night" and that Boy Scouts would not be able to serve as Den Chiefs without missing their own Troop meetings. The main "pro" that has been mentioned is that it will be easier for parents who have sons in both programs to have them on the same night. However, to me even that "pro" has a corresponding "con" in that parents (like myself) who like to be involved with both organizations wouldn't be able to due to them meeting the same night. Also, does anyone have experience with their meeting night being on a Friday. With sports and dates, is it a bad idea? Jo

I am a Webelos Leader (starting second year). I also have a son who crossed over March of 2004 to Boy Scouts. He is just shy of first class now. Our pack did not have a Troop associated with it. Boys from our pack join one of two troops in the town. This year, their is an effort being made to start a Troop with the same CO as the pack. A scoutmaster has been recruited and the ball is rolling. As the Webelos II leader, I'm thinking that I will be expected to move the Webelos in my den right over to the new troop (though I know boys can join whatever troop they choose to). I am conflicted. Since I have one son already in a troop, I'd like both my sons in the same troop. However, our family has been having some issues with the current troop (mainly it is scoutmaster/committee-run and not boy-led). So, I am not totally adverse to having my younger son join the new troop. In fact, I'd love to be involved in the ground-floor decisions that may help it become a truly boy-led troop. My concern is for my older son. If he decides to go to the new troop with his brother in March of next year, he will likely be the only 7th grader in the troop with a group of just crossed over 5th graders. Has anyone ever had this situation where their son was the oldest with no real peers? Would you steer clear of a situation like this? Has anyone had success recruiting older boys into a brand new troop? I'm thinking that it would be quite hard. I might mention that my son has no real friends in his current troop, so that is not really an issue. CubScoutJo

We are in a small town, too. Our town has 3 cub packs. We have done recruiting together and it does work out fine. I don't think anyone should be able to force families into boundries. Jo

I agree with you. Much easier to day it altogether without "inserting your name here". In fact, in my pack, that is the way we teach the cubs to recite it. Jo

I like your script, OldGreyEagle. I think *I* want to join that troop! Jo

Why do you say scout accounts are not supposed to happen at any level? The "Ideal Year of Scouting" materials that many councils are promoting specifically mention having scout accounts. Jo