Arrow Of Light Scout And Webelos Required Pins

[Chisos]

In the new Webelos/AoL program, can 5th graders working on their Arrow of Light go back and earn the "required" pins from Webelos?  For example, the Webelos Walkabout, First Responder, etc.?  I don't think such a scout could go back and get the Webelos Award, but could they count the pins associated with it as electives for AoL (assuming of course they were *not* being used toward the Webelos Award)?  This question came to me as I was looking at the transition from the old program to the new one, but I could see it being asked if a boy were to start Cub Scouts in 5th grade in the new program.

 

For this year the big issue I see is with first aid--in the old program, first aid was covered in Readyman, which was one of the AoL required pins.  Now, it's in First Responder, for Webelos.  So, in effect the boys may "miss" that (of course we can just always cover the material anyway).  The same thing is reverse is seen with Citizenship stuff--it was required as the Citizen pin for Webelos, but is now in the Build a Better World pin for AoL.  So the boys see it twice.

 

[Mom2a]

Is your pack using the old program for Webelos 2 for 5th grade boys or are they using the new program for the 5th grade boys.

[Chisos]

Is your pack using the old program for Webelos 2 for 5th grade boys or are they using the new program for the 5th grade boys.

 

I think we're planning to do a mix.  A lot of the material is the same, just organized different.  Some boys have a lot of the old pins from last year, so it is easier to just have them finish out with the old program...others did not finish many, so they may use the new program, especially those that went to Day Camp and already have a few of the new Adventures completed.  It'll be a bit of book-keeping, for sure.

[christineka]

Is your pack using the old program for Webelos 2 for 5th grade boys or are they using the new program for the 5th grade boys.

 

Our local scout shop (Run out of someone's house) has been ordered to send all old awards to Salt Lake September 1st, so the only option for doing the old program is to have the parent purchase their kid's awards.  The leaders, understandably, do not want to drive to Salt Lake for awards.

[Mom2a]

Pins can be ordered through the scoutstuff.org website. I would not combine old and new programs. Our pack is having the 5th grade boys continue on with the old program. 4th grade boys will work the new program.

[christineka]

Pins can be ordered through the scoutstuff.org website. I would not combine old and new programs. Our pack is having the 5th grade boys continue on with the old program. 4th grade boys will work the new program.

 

The instructions for LDS units is different for traditional scouts.  We have been instructed to just bring in the new program and as long as the boys are actively participating during the year, they earn their badge on the birthday.  We also have very limited funds (which have become even more limited with this more expensive program), so paying shipping is not possible.

[Eagle94-A1]

The way it is suppose to work is the following:

 

If they had not earned their Webelos Badge by May 31, 2015, then they are suppose to use the new program to earn the AOL. New Cubs, heck even old Cubs who didn't meet the deadline, do NOT (emphasis) need to earn Webelos Badge in order to eaqrn the AOL.

 

Me personally, if they started under the old program, even if they didn't earn the Webelos Badge by the May 31st deadline, I'd still have them finish it under the old requirements, and keep them working on AOL under the old ones. Why buy a new book they will use for only 5 - 8 Months?

 

Also as my son pointed out, since the Webelos Badge is no longer needed to get AOL, if you got a 10 year old 4th grader, and I will, then he can go directly to working on the AOL badge. My middle son plans on doing that, and I cannot think of a rational reason why to hold him back.