CS02 – Wide World of Webelos

1. CS02 – Wide World of Webelos Mike Farnsworth

2. About Me • Active leader in both Boy Scouting and Cub Scouting since 1996 • 4 Years of Webelo Den Leader Experience • Currently the Scoutmaster for Troop 202 • I have held most positions Cub Scouting and Boy Scouting at the Pack and Troop level

3. How Do You Teach Webelos • Provide a goal and a reward • Activity Badge is the goal • Exercise is the reward • Outside • Tag, Basketball, Touch Football, Soccer, Nerf Dodge Ball • Inside • Steal the bacon, Nerf Crab Soccer, Silent Tag, Board Game Night. • Any Fun and Easy • Let the Webelos decide

4. If they do not buckle down and complete the goal then do not give them the reward. – You must tell them why. They will learn fast! • “If you are a pushover, they will!” • You have about 20 minutes of attention span for 1st year Webelos, 30 minutes for second year. • Plan Wisely

5. Never try to teach your own kid! Push them off on another parent or leader as they will do better than you. • Webelos are in the process of changing their learning behavior. • Young kids learn by trying by without applying reason. This is why they do so well with computers and computer games. A failure to a young child is just something normal and they will consistently try again and again. • Older people apply reason and expect an outcome. Older people become frustrated if the outcome does not meet their expectations and will give up stating that “it does not work”.

6. Young kids do not have the outcome expectation and will just instinctively try again in a different way. • Your Webelos will be flip flopping between these techinques. • Snack as a reward tend to be non-productive and will just wind them up and out of control • Try to tailor the awards order to keep them interested. Try not to do two not-so-fun Activity Badges in a row.

7. How do Control Webelos? • Wear the Uniform. The uniform commands respect. Change your own attitude when wearing the uniform. The Webelos will respond to you differently. They might even listen better. • Webelos are changing. Their behavoir changes markedly from the first year to the second. Expect more for the second year.

8. Sometimes you just can’t control them. • Let them know that things are not going well and that they will not be able to play later. • Don’t be afraid to just stop everything, sit them down in a different location, talk about the behavior with the group and what you expect. • Expect good behavior and you will get it. Never back down from your standards. • For many, this will the first time away from their parents while not in a school setting. Be sure to maintain two deep leadership at all times. Webelos will naturally test your resolve.

9. How Do You Advance Webelos? • Webelos are organized into patrols vice dens. They will be learning about and transitioning to Boy Scouting. • The Webelos curriculum is spread over two years. • Buy and use an Advancement chart. Put it in a conspicuous place where it can been seen by the Webelos and their parents.

10. The curriculum contains Activities and Activity Badges. • Grouped into 5 groups. – Physical, Mental, Community, Technology, and Outdoors. • Religious Duty must be earned prior to the Webelos badge. • Try to get the Webelos badge done for the Blue and Gold banquet during the first year. • Second year activities require working with a Scout Troop • Not all activity bages are required.

11. A good 20 to 30% of the Activity Badge requirements are already being done in school. Try to keep up with the signoffs. • National Schedule for progress. The activity badge of the month can be found in the Program Helps. The purpose is to keep all Webelos “in sync” should they move to a different area. • Some activities require the help of a local Boy Scout troop. Plan a head. • Your second year will be short! Plan to crossover in March at the latest. • Pick a goal for Activity Badges for the year and let the Webelos pick some activities for the end of the year. • Missed attendance is problematic and can affect advancement.

12. Resources • Program Helps contains many ideas and games • Webelos Den Leader guide – see Ernie • Parents are the most important resource. Know their interests and capabilities and ask them to help. • Assign parents to teach Activity Badges at the beginning of the year. This will give them plenty of time to prepare.

13. Wood working projects require skill, tools, and a place. Local contractors are usually more than willing to provide all three. Home Depot and Lowes may also have a program already in place. • The PTC Scout Shop, PTC personnel are all great resources. Ask your Cubmaster as well. • The internet is great • www.macscouter.com • www.usscouts.org • Many links from these two sites.

14. Activity Ideas • Base your activities off of the requirements in the Webelos book. • Attend your district Roudtable. • There are many activities listed in websites on the internet. • Webelos Den Leader Book

15. Cross Over • Each Webelo must visit and pick the Troop that they wish to attend well in advance of the crossover. • The Blue and Gold banquet is a good crossover target. You will need to coordinate it with the Adult Committee. • Crossover may be done coincidently with the presentation of the Arrow of Light Award. • The selected troop may have a ceremony. Each will be different if two or more troops are present. • Present the AOL before the crossover. At the completion of the crossover they are no longer Webelos. The Troop may elect to take them to a separate room or even to the troop meeting. • Buy or make an AOL plaque to mount a career arrow. • Scoutarrows.com • Acornawards.com • Prevents them from being used as arrows.

16. You should plan to crossover your Webelos as early as possible • Gives them more time as a Boy Scout. • Extra time allows the boys to become accustomized before the first camp out. • Scouts who make First Class within a year are much more apt to earn the rank of Eagle.