Ideas to Encourage Advancement

[Cubby's Cubmaster]

I'm presenting at our council's University of Scouting. The topic is Cub Scout Advancement.

 

I'm interested in ideas to encourage advancement for cub scouts and akelas. I'll gather these ideas and include them in my presentation.

 

Thanks in advance for you help!

 

Cubby's Cubmaster

[AlFansome]

 

- Absolute number one thing is trained, enthusiastic den leaders who make things fun and meet on a very regular basis with their dens.

 

- Communication with parents as much as possible to set expectations early and often that in Tiger and Wolf and Bear years, that this is a Family advancement program and they are expected to crack the books and work with their boys. Lay out the expectation for badges being awarded (no boy likes to be left out when the other get theirs), and emphasize slow-and-steady progress throughout the year. If you set a schedule where parents should get achievement X done by such and such, that sometimes works well, but avoid assigning "homework" if possible.

 

- Using the immediate recognition beads can motivate some boys to get a fire lit under mom and dad, as well.

 

- You are always going to have parents who will not lift a finger for anything (even their sons) with regards to advancement. We had one where the dad worked all the time and the mom said that it was "dad's job" to work with the boy. Not too much you can do in this case especially if it's one boy out of the whole den.

If this is a cultural thing with the den (i.e. very busy parents, single-parent households or whatever) and you see this as common for whatever reason, then FastTracks (http://www.scouting.org/CubScouts/FastTracks.aspx) is a possibility where the den leader basically takes over most advancement in the den meetings. Not preferred, of course.

 

- At the Webelos level, there are a few badges (i.e. Fitness) that have components that are supposed to be done at home and for those, assign "Homework" or worksheets or check-offs that the boy needs to return as he works through those parts of the badges with his family.

 

- Take advantage of any "free" requirement completions that can be done on hikes, campouts, or that happen coincidentally through normal school activities. If a Den Leader's son comes home with some project from school that counts for a requirement, then make sure all the other parents know as well and that things get signed off in the books.

 

[SctDad]

I know that competition is not always called for, but here is an idea.

 

Make large cutouts of each rank for the dens. About 18" each. Make or buy small discs and paint them according to the rank series. Let the boys add a disc each time a boy earns a bead. I know that this can cause a long string of discs, but that should be some pride for some of the boys.

 

Or look in the HOW TO book and make an advancement rack. Many different types of examples.

 

Or if you have the financial assets your self, tell all the boys in your den that when they ALL earn their rank you will hahve a pizza party for the den. Only works if your dens meet in different places.

 

Hope this helps.

[infoscouter]

The parent education issue is important. The Cub Scout Leader book has plans for Den Adults meetings, which too few leaders hold. These and a new parent orientation conducted by the Pack trainer or Cubmaster and important opportunities to introduce parents to their role in advancement.

 

Parents need to be encouraged to actually *read* their son's handbook. They will be surprised to find, that in many cases they don't have to "work with their son" to complete advancement requirements. Many requirements are things with occur as a matter of course in family life, or could be incorporated with very little effort. I.e. - the Wolf requirement to watch TV with your family and talk about what you say. If parents are just _aware_ what the requirements are they can help their son pretty easily.

 

This year, for the first time, the inside front cover of Program Helps includes a chart showing which requirements are covered by PH each month, and which ones should be assigned to parents to do at home that month. Leaders can use this chart as a guide to show parents that advancement is a partnership between all of the Akelas in their son's lives.

 

Frankly, some parents are only motivated when they see another Scout getting a bead or a badge or a patch, and then wonder why their son didn't receive one. At that point the Den Leader or Cubmaster has to be really frank, and reinforce the parental role in making advancement happen.

 

IMO, we don't do a good enough job of selling the program or educating parents about the fact that Cub Scouting is designed to help them raise their sons. It is a unique opportunity to use the structure we provide to interact with their son in fashion their family life may not have previously provided. We give them the tools -- they have to do the job.

[Eamonn]

" It is a unique opportunity to use the structure we provide to interact with their son in fashion their family life may not have previously provided. We give them the tools -- they have to do the job"

Wow -What truly wise and wonderful words!!

I agree wholeheartedly.

Eamonn