Cub Scout Pack 141

The Webelos program is a family-centered program for boys who have completed the third grade (or are age 10) that encourages the development ethical decision making skills while motivating the Scout to achieve his full physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual potentials as an individual, as a responsible citizen, and as a member of his local, national, and international communities. Pronounced either “Weeb los” or “We bah los,” the program emphasizes shared leadership, learning about the community, and family understanding. According to the BSA’s public relations and media relations guides, “WEBELOS” is an acronym, which stands for “We’ll Be Loyal Scouts” and is often written in all caps. According to the Bear Cub Scout Book of 1954, the name originally came from the initial letters of “wolf, bear, lion, Scout” but would become obsolete soon afterwards. In 1966, the Lion Cub Scout program would be replaced by the Webelos Cub Scout program and become a part of the Cub Scout Program in 1967. The Webelos program emphasizes leadership, learning about the community, and family understanding. The program also provides the Scout with an opportunity to try new things, provide service to others, build self-confidence, and reinforce ethical standards. Unlike like the Tiger, Wolf and Bear dens, an adult partner is not required to participate with the Scout in all den meetings and activities. The forth set of steps along the Boy Scout Trail are provided here as each set of steps continues to build on the basic categories of adventures done in previous ranks.

The Webelos program has two major milestones; the Webelos Badge and the Arrow Of Light Badge. The Webelos program is a two-year transition aimed at preparing the Webelos scout for his eventual graduation from the Cub Scout program into the Boy Scout program while learning outdoors skills and participating in many adventures. The adventures that he must complete are somewhat more difficult and challenging than those for the Bear, Wolf, or Tiger rank. These age appropriate adventures emphasize character development, citizenship training, and personal fitness. As the Webelos scout completes the adventures found in the Webelos handbook, he will work on activity badges, attend meetings led by adults, and become familiar with the Boy Scout requirements; all leading to the Arrow Of Light award. Like our entire our Scouting program, the Webelos program follows a school-year cycle where boys remain in the Webelos program until they complete forth grade, at which time, they graduate into a Arrow Of Light den and will have the opportunity to participate in Webelos summer activities, including Webelos Resident Camp. webelos_handbook

During the year, the Webelos scout will work to complete five core Webelos adventures and two of the eighteen Webelos elective adventures. Much of the work on these adventures will take place in the den rather than at home. The Webelos program focuses on more challenging and independent activities and begins the transition to Boy Scouts. The Webelos scouts have the chance to learn about first aid, build fires and cook their own meals, develop physical fitness skills, and take on different leadership roles within the patrol. As they work on the Arrow of Light rank, scouts can learn about citizenship, connect with scouts around the world, go on a campout they helped plan, and try geocaching. Elective adventures can include anything from making movies to working with tools to trying a new sport or using a telescope to study the night sky, and much, much more! After completing an adventure each scout will receive an immediate recognition award in the form of a adventure pin that he can wear on his Webelos colors or his Webelos cap. Each boy joining the Cub Scout program for the first time must earn a Bobcat badge before he can proceed to earn any other badge. Most important, Webelos scouts develop skills and share experiences that prepare them for their next exciting adventure, Boy Scouting!

Boys like to belong to a group and the den is the place where boys learn new skills and develop interests in new things. The goal of a well-run Webelos den is to gradually change from being an adult-run den to being a scout-run patrol ready to fit right into an adventurous Boy Scout troop by the second year. This migration will eventually require the parents and den leaders to give the scouts more and more control, decision-making power, and responsibility as they progress in skills, abilities, and maturity. The ultimate goal of the Webelos scout is to bridge over into a Boy Scout troop selected individually by him. Once the goals of Webelos scout are understood, the methods of the program will make a lot of sense! But until then, the dens will continue to focus on den-wide completion of activity badges, where each boy completes the requirements as part of a den activity.

Webelos Den

Fourth Grader or 10 years of age

Under the leadership of a Webelos den leader, the Webelos scout will spend his first year working on a series of seven adventures described in his Webelos handbook that advances him towards the Webelos rank. By completing these seven adventures, the Webelos badge, the fifth diamond-shaped rank badge is earned.

A knowledgeable, well-trained den leader is critical to the success of a den. All leaders have certain responsibilities to the boys in Cub Scouts. Each leader should respect boys’ rights as individuals and treat them as such; see that boys find the excitement, fun, and adventure that they expected when they joined the program; provide enthusiasm, encouragement, and praise for boys’ efforts and achievements; develop among the boys a feeling of togetherness and team spirit that gives them security and pride; and provide opportunities for boys to experience new dimensions in their world.

The den leader plans the program of activities for the scouting year, carries out that program, and makes that plan available to all den parents. The den leader should enjoy being outside and be comfortable exploring the environment in a safe manner. The den leader also makes advancement opportunities available to each scout and tracks his advancements. The Webelos den leader can also recruit other adults to plan and organize individual adventure outings. One of the main roles of the Webelos den leader is to be encouraging, organized, and supportive as he or she gives each scout opportunities to lead and make decisions, both individually and for the den.

The Webelos den leader is a registered volunteer BSA position. Every Webelos den is required to have a registered den leader whose responsibilities include, but are not limited to: working directly with other den and pack leaders to ensure that the den is an active and successful part of the pack; planning, preparing for, and conducting den meetings; attending Pack Committee meetings; leading the den at Pack meetings and activities; keeping accurate records, helping the den earn the National Den Award; and preparing the Webelos scout for the future transition to Boy Scout at the end of the year.

The Cub Scout motto Do Your Best is a key part of the Cub Scouting program. There is no level of competence or skill required to complete adventures. Success is achieved by putting forth one’s best personal effort and having fun with fellow scouts.

WEBELOS DEN LEADERSHIP
Brandon Hedrick	George Evans

Our Webelos den meets the second and fourth Mondays of each month at 7:00 p.m. in the Scout Room. (The Scout Room is in the basement of the Literacy Volunteers Of America building across the street from the Dollar General Market in downtown Christiansburg at the corner of West Main and Dunkley Streets.)

Blue Ridge Mountains Council

CUB SCOUT PACK 141

Webelos Den

Fourth Grader or 10 years of age