WEBELOS

Baltimore Area Council

Although Webelos Scouts are still part of Cub Scouting, with the same purposes, it is a transitional program. It is moving the boys from a family based program in which the parents approve work. to a unit leader led program where the Webelos Den leader must approve advancement. It is a transition from the simpler Cub Scouting program and ideals to the more challenging program of Boy Scouting and the more complex ideals of the Scout Oath and Law

Webelos Den Leaders have two objectives:

ü      Provide every Webelos Scout the opportunity to earn his Arrow of Light

ü      Successfully lead the boys to a positive Boy Scouting experience

Keep in mind that you do not have to do it all yourself. There are plenty of Scouters who are willing to help. In addition, there is a wealth of community resources, publications and teaching aides to help you succeed despite your limited time and lack of background in some areas. Using these people and materials will not only enrich the program for the boys, but increase your enjoyment of it as well.

Understanding Webelos Scouts

As a Webelos leader, this may be your first exposure to dealing with several boys in this age group. You may feel intimidated or even frightened. If you are in either of these groups you are not alone. Many new leaders feel the same way. As nine and ten year olds, a group of boys can be a challenge, but they are also a lot of fun. The Webelos program allows boys of this age group to stretch themselves, be challenged and have fun.

Nine year old boys are very inquisitive by nature and want to be challenged. The program you pro­vide should fill their needs, yet not be so difficult as to discourage them. Exposure to skills does not necessarily mean mastery of skills, just a challenge, a learning experience and fun. Some boys this age have a terrible time with skills. The desire is there, but ability may not be. Remember, any real effort on their part is the challenge and even the reward. At this age a boy needs a compliment for a job done to the best of his ability.

At nine. boys can be unpredictable. One week they love the current activity. The next week the same activity bores them. The key is to keep them busy, and to keep all the boys involved. Have the bored boy show the others or you how he is doing his project or skill. Two-deep leadership is an important factor here. Two adults helping and guiding works well.

The ten year old is generally more mature than he was in his first year in your Den. His self-control is greater. His willingness and ability to lead is better. His strength and self-confidence are higher. The poking, teasing and silliness generally decreases. The unit becomes stronger as a result. As this happens you as their leader should hand over more of the Den responsibilities to the boys. 'Faking roll, collecting dues, deciding which activity pins to work on, Den activities planning. etc. that may have been done with you in their first year should now become the responsibility of the boys.

As you reflect back on the Webelos years, you will find that the boys have undergone a change much greater than you ever imagined possible.

Training Available

Webelos Den leaders and assistants should complete their district's New Leader Essentials, if they haven't already taken it, and the Leader Specific Training for Webelos Leaders. An outdoor skills training, sometimes known as WLOT or OWL training. would also be helpful. They should also attend their district's monthly Roundtables and Council Pow Wow. By participating in these activities you as a leader will be better prepared to offer a quality program to the boys.

Fifth grade Webelos leaders and assistants are encouraged to attend the Boy Scout Leader Training before they start the second year. In this way, the leaders will better understand the Boy Scout program and will be able to adapt their meeting and activities in the final stages of this transitional program.

Program Planning

The Webelos Den does not operate with the recommended monthly themes. Instead, it uses a monthly activity badge focus. Part of each month's activity badge program should include something to do at the Pack meeting. The Webelos Den remains an integral part of the Pack and should have a part in each Pack meeting.

The mission of the Webelos program is to provide activities, which are fun for boys and meet their needs, interests, desires, and contribute to their growth. The goal of the Webelos Den is to hold a boy in the Cub Scout Pack and to graduate him into a troop. That is why the quality of the program is so important.

involve the boys in program planning. They need to learn leadership, and will surprise you with their ideas. Get them involved in setting a code of discipline for the group.

Leadership is learned and developed. You can become an effective Webelos Leader if you will prepare yourself and take the time to learn. Remember to be flexible in your planning. There is a great deal of satisfaction in helping boys along the way to manhood.

The Two-Year Webelos Program

The Webelos program is structured as a two-year program for 4th and 5th grade boys (Actually. with the second year Webelos bridging into Boy Scouts in the Spring, it's more of a 18-20 month program). While the two-year program is not optional, the way it is administered can be varied to accommodate the circumstances for each Pack. There will be two main ways of running the program. The first is having separate first and second year Dens. The second is to have a Den with a mixture of first and second year boys.

The activity badges are broken down into recommended 4th and 5th grade levels. Checkout the Cub Scout Program Helps or your Webelos Leader Book to see which badges are recommended for each month of each Webelos year

In general, Dens should work to allow first year boys to concentrate on the Webelos rank and the activity badges necessary to achieve it, while the second year Den should concentrate on the Arrow of Light and moving into Boy Scouting. The Fitness and Citizen activity badges are required for the Webelos rank and Outdoorsman and Readyman are required for Arrow of Light.

Parent Involvement

Parent involvement is key to a good program and makes your job as a Webelos Den leader more manageable. Take advantage of the special skills and interests that your parents have. Some parents like to camp, some are good at woodworking, some are familiar with nature, or maybe they are engineers or geologists. All of these are important activities within the Webelos program. Ask a parent for help other than transportation or snacks.

Communication is the key to getting parents involved and keeping them there. Provide them with a monthly calendar. Hold an annual or bi-annual parent meeting. They need to be told how the Webelos program is different from the Cub program and how they can be involved. Give them support and encouragement.

Remember to use your Resources and KISMIF!

CITIZEN

COMMUNITY GROUP

Baltimore Area Council

This is a good badge to start the boy on when he joins the Den. The written requirements and readings may be done at home with parents. This continues the importance of parents involvement in the Webelos Den.

This badge is also of interest to the leader, because he can learn much about his boys from their writings on what is meant by "all men are created equal" and on the Star Spangled Banner. The leader should keep in mind that all boys are different, so they will have different ideas and opinions on this badge. Each boy's "BEST" should be judged individually.

A lot will depend on how well informed and enthusiastic the Webelos leader is, and how he presents the badge to the boys. This badge can be fun, or it can be just '`another piece of paper to write." It's up to you.

Den Activities

·         Discuss requirements of badge with boys. Decide on a good turn for school, church or community and plan how to carry it out.  Boys make logbooks to record their work on the badge.

·         Plan a special good turn for the next Pack meeting; such as setting up chairs, ushering, clean-up, etc.

·         Visit a local government agency. Find out how it works, what service it provides, how it affects boys and their families.

·         A campaign against litter is a "must" for good citizenship. Discuss how your Den can carry on such a campaign.. and do it. This could include making posters for display. litter clean-up, making litter bags, etc.

·         Discuss the various organizations in your community, which help people. How are they financed and run? Do they use volunteer help? Visit one of these organizations. 

·         Discuss ways boys can be good citizens. Let them make lists of things they will try to do regularly.

Your Duties as a Citizen

If you are going to have rights as a citizen and you want to keep them, then you also have certain duties to uphold. Your duties as a citizen are:

ü       Obey the laws

ü       Respect the rights of others

ü       Keep informed on issues of National and local government

ü       To vote in elections

ü       To assist the agencies of law enforcement

ü       To practice and teach good citizenship in your home Some qualities of a good citizen: •               Obeys the laws wherever he is

ü       Respects the rights of others

ü       Is fair and honest

ü       Tries to make community a better place to live

ü       Learns about leaders of nation, state, community

ü       Practices rules of health and safety

ü       Is honest and dependable

ü       Is patriotic and loyal

ü       Practices thrift

ü       Respects authority

Great Documents Quiz

How much do you know about two of the greatest documents ever written: the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States?

1)       The first words of the Declaration of Independence are:

a)       "We hold these truths to be self evident..."'

b)       "We, the People of the United States..."

c)       "When in the course of human events..."

d)       "Four score and seven years ago...""

2)       The first draft of the Declaration of Independence was written by:

a)       John Hancock

b)       Button Gwinnett

c)       George Washington

d)       Thomas Jefferson

3)       The Constitution of the United States was signed in What year?

a)       1776

b)       1492

c)       1787

d)       1620

4)       What is the minimum age for a President of the United States, and in what document is this stated'?

5)       Which amendment to the Constitution provided for the abolition of slavery'?

a)       Tenth Amendment

b)       Thirteenth Amendment

c)       Third Amendment

d)       Sixteenth Amendment

6)       A Senator serves a term of:

a)       Six years

b)       Four years

c)       Two years

d)       Light years

7)       What is the maximum number of years a President may serve?

8)       Which amendment to the Constitution guarantees freedom of speech:

a)       Fourteenth Amendment

b)       First Amendment

c)       Twenty-ninth Amendment

d)       Fifth Amendment

9)       What legislative body has the sole power to impeach a President?

Answers:

1-c, 2-d, 3-c, 4-Age 35. as stated in the Constitution, 5-b, 6-a, 7-Ten years (two terms plus the remainder of  a predecessor's term if 2 years or less), 8-b, 9-House of Representatives

On Your Mark

Mark the best ending for each sentence.

1.   If you meet the president, you call him:

a) your highness

b) your Excellency

c) Mr. President

2.          The president and his family live in:

a) Blair House

b) the White House

c) the suburbs

3.          The first president to live in the White House was:

a) John Adams

b) George Washington

c) "Thomas Jefferson

4.       We celebrate the birthdays of two presidents in February they are:

a) Washington and Lincoln

b) Jefferson and Adams

c) T. Roosevelt and F. D. Roosevelt

5.       During the War of 1812, when Madison was President, a famous song was written. It is called:

a)The Battle Hymn of the Republic

b) God Bless America

c) The Star Spangled Banner

6.          The only man to be elected president four times was:

a) Abraham Lincoln

b) Franklin Delano Roosevelt

c) Ulysses S. Grant

7.     The two big political parties today are called:

a) the Republicans and the Democrats

b) the Federalists and Whigs

c) the Conservatives and the Liberals

8.          The law says Presidential elections must be held on:

a) the first Monday in  October

b) the first Tuesday in November

c) Halloween             .

9.          The parties pick their presidential candidates in:

a) presidential primaries

b) national nominating convention

c) by secret vote

10.       If a president dies in office the next president is:

a) the vice president

b) elected by the people

c) the oldest senator

11.       Presidential elections are held every:

a) two years

b) four years

c) six years

12.       If you want to run for president you should:

a) go jogging

b) take a nap

c) make speeches

13.       The United States is made up of:

a) 50 states

b) 48 states

c) 46 states

14.       Twenty-seven presidents have studied:

a) flying

b} the stars

c) the law

15.       The presidents wife is called:

a) the queen

b) the first lady

c) Mrs. President

Answers:

1-c, 2-b, 3-a, 4-a, 5-c, 6-b, 7-a, 8-b, 9-b, 10-a, 11-b, 12-c, 13-a, 14-c, 15-b

Newspaper Study

Equipment: One current newspaper per team. Put teams in corners, each with the same day's issue of a newspaper. On signal, teams begin a search for news items that definitely illustrate the Scout Law. Items are cut out and numbered according to the point of the Law.  Team with most clippings wins. (Team leaders distribute pages among his team members)

Patriotic Wall Plaque

Using a copy of the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights or the Gettysburg Address; make a wall plaque by mounting one of these on 1/4" plywood shaped into the design of a scroll. Make your scroll slightly larger than your copy. Finish plywood by sanding, staining a natural color and varnishing or leave the wood grain and color show through by eliminating stain and just varnish.

Circle Ten Council

One of the purposes of Cub Scouting is "Developing habits and attitudes of good citizenship". A Scout promises to do his duty to his country. The Citizen Activity Badge helps the WEBELOS understand what a good citizen is and teaches him the history of our flag. Citizen Activity Badge is in the Community group.

OBJECTIVES

To foster citizenship in WEBELOS Scouts. To teach boys to recognize the qualities of a good citizen. To introduce boys to the structure of the U.S. government. To familiarize boys with basics of American history. To convince boys that laws are beneficial. To encourage WEBELOS Scouts to become community volunteers.

Where to go and what to do

·         Invite a guest speaker from a local board to explain his duties and tell the WEBELOS Scouts why he volunteers his time.

·         Buy a packet of used U.S. commemorative stamps. Distribute several to the WEBELOS Scouts and challenge them to discover the "story behind the stamp". At the following meeting allow each boy ample time to describe his stamps and their significance.

·         Attend a local city council meeting.

·         Do a Good Turn by conducting a litter pickup campaign

·         Have each WEBELOS Scout write a letter to his Senator or Congressman to express an opinion on an issue. It would be especially interesting if two WEBELOS Scouts wrote an opinion about opposite sides of the same issue. See what responses you receive.

·         Encourage WEBELOS Scouts to fly a flag at home particularly on appropriate flag holidays.

·         Arrange for the WEBELOS den to do a community service project.

Good turn ideas

·         Give some of the toys the WEBELOS Scouts may have made as part of the Craftsman badge to needy children. Use Craftsman skills to repair and refurbish toys for the same purpose.

·         Give a holiday party for children or adults in a residential situation. Plan games, songs, small gifts, party favors, and treats

·         Participate in the Food Drive in the fall to stock good pantries for needy families

·         Collect toilet articles and used clothing for the homeless

·         Salvage used books to be sold at the public library or to be used to set up libraries for children or adults in a residential situation

·         Read to someone who cannot see.

·         Provide snow shoveling, yard care, errand service, or other aid to an elderly person or couple in your neighborhood.

NEWSPAPER STUDY GAME

for dens or small groups

Equipment: One current newspaper per den

Teams gather in groups, each with the same day's issue of a newspaper. On signal, teams start a search for news items that definitely illustrate the 12 points of the Scout Law. Items are cut out and numbered according to the point of the law. Team with the most clippings in a given time wins.

Strategy Tip: Team leaders should distribute pages among his team members instead of everyone grabbing for papers.

CITIZEN SCAVENGER HUNT

By Barb Stephens

Most government buildings offer a tour of some sort and you might be able to combine the tour with the following scavenger hunt. Divide the den into two or three teams and give the boys a reasonable time limit. Have them locate answers to questions like these:

1.       What is the mayor's middle initial and what does the initial stand for?

2.       Bring back a piece of stationery showing our town's logo or crest.

3.       Draw a picture of our state flag.

4.       On what floor of City Hall can you find _______________?

5.       Who runs the Water Works Department and what does that department do?

6.       Where does the City Council meet?

7.       What's on the top floor of the City Hall building?

8.       What is the full name of the governor of the state?

9.       Get a brochure about trash pick up service.

10.    Who takes care of snow removal/tree removal from city streets and what is their budget?

DO YOU KNOW YOUR FLAG?

When the Stars and Stripes first became our national flag, no one was sure just what the design of the flag should be. Since the time of that first flag, official descriptions of the national colors have been very careful and clear. Not only is the design of the flag carefully described today, but there are many special rules for displaying it. The following questions are based on the universal flag code of the United States. See how many you and your WEBELOS den can answer correctly. Some of these questions are tricky.

1.       The flag is raised (a) slowly; (b) briskly; (c) at any speed that is comfortable.

2.       If you carry the flag in a parade and passed before the President of the United States, you would dip the flag slightly in salute to the President as you walked past him. True or False?

3.       The flag must never be lowered no matter how bad the weather conditions. True or False?

4.       The flag is never allowed to fly after daylight hours anywhere in the world. True or False?

5.       When the flag is carried in a procession or on other occasions, it is escorted by an honor guard. True or False?

6.       The flag's honor guard walks (a) on the flag's right; (b) just behind the flag; (c) on both sides of the flag.

7.       If you are a Cub Scout, WEBELOS Scout, Boy Scout, or Explorer, you always give the Cub Scout, or Explorer salute to the flag even when you are not in uniform. True or False?

8.       When you carry the flag in a parade with other flags, the U. S. flag must go on the left of and in line with the other flags. True or False?

Answers:

1.       (b) briskly - it's a happy occasion!

2.       False. The flag is never dipped to anyone..

3.       False. The flag is not flown in bad weather.

4.       False. Although it is the custom to display the flag only from sunrise to sunset, there is no law prohibiting its being flown both day and night.

5.       True.

6.       (c) on both sides of the flag.

7.       False. When you are in civilian clothes, you remove your hat and place your hand over your heart when the flag passes

8.       False. It is carried at the right of the other flags or at the front and center of a line of other flags.