When Scouts become Bears, it is time to start thinking about their transition from Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting. The transition is not easy -- it is easy to cross over, but not so easy to to get your son to stay with Scouting or to thrive in this new, challenging environment. The likelihood of success is higher if the Webelos II picks a good troop, prepares well during his time in Webelos, and has hints about how to be successful in his first year in Boy Scouts.

 

KEYS TO A SUCCESSFUL TRANSITION 

 

Some keys to a successful transition include:

 COMPARING CUB SCOUTS AND BOY SCOUTS

 

Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts are different. Boy Scout troops are outdoor focused, and ideally, boy run. Adults in Boy Scouts guide and mentor, but do not lead, a group of *mixed* age boys. Boys, increasing becoming young men, lead in Boy Scouts. To advance, Boy Scouts work with multiple adults on merit badges. They demonstrate their skills and talk about their development as people before a Board of Review (adults from the Troop Committee) and receive their ranks at a quarterly Court of Honor. Cub Scout Packs camp twice a year -- most Troops camp at least monthly.

 

A "GOOD" WEBELOS I PROCESS

 

During the first year of Webelos, get a Boy Scout and a Boy Scout Leader in to talk about Boy Scouting. Help the Webelos develop an understanding of the BSA program. Use the BSA handbook as a reference and training aid. Take the Webelos camping, then take them camping some more. Get them out camping during the summer between the first and second year of Webelos. Do a summer service project too. Transition from Blue to Khaki uniforms at the end of the first year of Webelos, about the time the Webelos IIs cross over. Then camp some more.

 

 

WHAT TO EXPECT AS A WEBELOS II

 

Plan on having most of the activity badges done by the end of the summer before your Web II year. Webelos II year is all about visiting Troops, going to Webelos Woods, camping out with troops, and attending Troop Court of Honors. In his spare time, the Webelos II should learn everything he can about (and plan to attend) summer camp with his new Troop (the summer after Blue and Gold._ A troop that wants your Webelos IIs should contribute a Den Chief to your den, or at least your Pack. The same Boy Scout will ideally be their Troop Guide the first few months in the BSA.

 

Webelos IIs should make their decision on what troop to join in December or January, and cross over in February March. Consider transitioning the boys to Boy Scouts immediately once they've finished the requirements for Arrow of Light... don't wait for the party to get involved. Once in a troop, they should focus on Scout Skills, and receive a Scout Skills Orientation, for Summer Camp. The troop should have a Spring Campout that emphasizes basic skills. Pick a Patrol name, have your Scoutmaster conference to get your SCOUT rank, and get on the road to T21 (Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class)!

 

LOCAL TROOPS

 

The five troops that are geographically closest to Pack 166 are:

 

Maps showing the locations of Troops in the North Shore and Chisholm Trail Districts are on their web sites.

 

THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN A TROOP

 

When visiting, look for troops with a New Scout Program and a New Scout Advisor. Troops should have a one year "Trail to 1st Class" program that gets the boys through the first three ranks before their second summer camp. Good troops will have a Troop Guide for every New Scout Patrol, and an Assistant Scoutmaster focused on every new Scout patrol.

 

Go to a Troop meeting, and go on a Troop campout. How do the older and younger Scouts interact? Are the older Scouts involved? Is the troop Boy or Adult led? Pay special attention to who is doing the planning, organizing outings, and teaching rank advancement classes.

 

Think about how big you'd like your new troop to be. Think about what style of troop you'd like to be in. (Yes, they are different: some stress advancement, others activities or service.) How involved is this troop with its district and Council? (Involved is not in itself good or bad -- it just tells you something about the leadership.) How comfortable are you with the adult leaders? How involved are the parents? Are they leaders, merit badge counselors, quartermasters? Do they support the activities the Scouts are leading? Finally, is the troop convenient to get to? Does your son have friends in the troop?

 

 HOW TO PREPARE FOR BOY SCOUTS

 

Take Webelos Is and Webelos IIs camping at every opportunity. Get the boys to take responsibility. Let them set up the tents, the sleeping bags, and their sleeping pads. Ideally, they should put them up in the wind, in the rain, and in the dark. Let them build the cooking fires, cook as a team, and be responsible for sanitation. Let them set up the duty roster, and make sure they carry (or backpack) their own stuff to and from the car. Observe, praise in public, and counsel in private. You too are learning the ways of Boy Scouting.

 

Coach and test the Webelos on what will be their Tenderfoot knowledge: the Scout Oath, Scout Law, and Scout Promise. Test them on their knots. Start them down the road towards their Whittlin' Chip. Get started on their Tenderfoot physical fitness requirements.

 

HOW TO BE SUCCESSFUL THE FIRST YEAR IN A TROOP

 

This one is easy. Four things: Help Out, Commit, Focus, and Camp, Camp, Camp. Pitch in: sign up for all service projects, especially the Eagle Projects. Commit to staying a year, and during that year, focus on the requirements for T21 (Tenderfoot, 2nd Class, 1st class.) Go on every camping trip you can. Above all, go to summer camp!

 

HOW PARENTS CAN HELP

 

Buy a Scout Handbook, leave it around the house. Get involved in your son's troop visits and work with him to help him make a good, well rounded decision. Seek out the Scoutmaster of the troops he is seriously considering to discuss roles you might take on, and the time and dollars involved in your son being in his (or her) troop. Take the Scoutmaster Leader Specific Training and Outdoor Leadership Skills courss.

 

HOW TROOPS CAN HELP (AND YOU CAN TELL IF THEY CARE)

 

Good troops provide Den Chiefs to nearby Packs. Den Chiefs are a role model, friend, and scout skills instructor to a Webelos II den, and the boys future Troop Guide in the BSA. Good troops participate in Webelos Woods (they don't just mail in their participation, either.) Good troops will organize a Webelos / Troop camp out. They'll pull boys in, organizing Troop meeting visits, and attendance at a fall Court of Honor. Good troops will invite nearby Webelos IIs to participate in service projects and hikes. A good troop will also be trying to attract the Webelos den leader to join as a Committee Member or Assistant Scoutmaster. 

 

YOU DON'T CARE -- HE'S STILL A TIGER, OR STILL A WOLF

 

Hang on tight -- they grow up really fast. If he stays in Scouts, and is committed to it, it still goes quickly, but it's easier and a lot more fun. If they stay in, come back and read this. 8^) On that note, Brian is still a Webelos I -- all of this would be theoretical if I hadn't been through all of this myself forty years ago, and spent a lot of time thinking about scouting in the time in between.

 

       -- John Coombs           

was - Webelos II Den Leader, Pack 166

am - Assistant Scoutmaster for New Scouts, Troop 146