Transitioning from Webelos to Boy Scouts

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Transitioning from Webelosto Boy Scouts

• What you need to know !!
• What questions you need to ask !!

2
Target Group

• This course is ideal for
• 1st Year Webelos Leaders,
• Parents and 1st Year Webelos,
• Assistant Scoutmasters and Scoutmasters,
• Pack Committee Chair, and Cubmasters

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Assumptions

• A well executed Webelos program will prepare any
  Webelos to join any Troop.
• The Webelos Scout and Parent have already made a
  decision to join Scouts.
• A Boy Scout Troop cant continue to exist without
  Webelos (new Scouts).

4
Joining Requirements

• Arrow of Light, or
• 11 years old, or
• Graduated 5th Grade

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Shift in Program Emphasis

• Cub Scouts Adult lead/run
• Boy Scouts Boy lead/run
• Note With guidance from trained adults

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More than just Camping

• Increase in Self-confidence
• Life long skills and interests
• Ability to make moral decisions
• Strong ethical standards
• Leadership Communication skills

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Course Objective

• To provide an overview of the Boy Scout Program.
• To enable you to ask the right questions when
  visiting / evaluating a Troop.
• To match you and your son up with the right
  Troop.

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The Boy Scout Programan overview

• Aims and Methods of Scouting
• Outdoor Program / Activities
• Leadership
• Advancement / Retention
• Patrols / Meetings
• Training
• Adult Involvement / Support Direction

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Aims of the Scouting Program

• Building Strong Moral Character- the boys growth
  in moral decision making
• Encouraging Participating Citizenship the boys
  relationship to others, society, and government
• Helping boys grow in physical, mental,
  emotional, and spiritual fitness

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Methods of the Scouting Program

• Ideals- Scout Oath, Law, Motto, Slogan
• Patrols- Group living and Participating
  Citizenship
• Outdoors- Is where it all happens
• Advancement- A series of surmountable challenges,
  support by training
• Leadership Development- Learn, practice, make
  mistakes, learn
• Adult Association- Learning by example
• Personal Growth- Personal goal setting
• Uniform- Creates a positive image/identity

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Ideals of Scouting

• Scout Law a scout is trustworthy
• Scout Oath on my honor, do my best to god and
  my country
• Scout Motto be prepared

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Patrols how many and what type?

• Patrols
• Size (6-8 ideal, may be up to 10)
• New Scout Patrols (benefits and issues)
• Mixed Age Patrols (benefits and issues)
• Troop Size (small, medium, large) (benefits and
  issues)
• Troop Demographics (age makeup)

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Patrols participating citizenship

• Patrol flag, yell and name
• Patrol Leaders are elected (by patrol members)
• Boy lead (Patrol Leader,Troop Guide and ASM
  roles)
• Representation on the Patrol Leaders Council
  (plans annual/monthly troop program)
• Patrol Leaders responsibilities (representation,
  communication, leadership)

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Outdoor Program / Activities- how many, what
kind ?

• Monthly Campouts- variety (tailgate vs non
  tailgate, number per month/year)
• Summer Camp- (same camp each year or do they
  vary, a must for all new scouts)
• Balanced Program- (based on age of Scouts)
• High Adventure- (older Scouts)
• Family involvement- (family campouts)
• Scoutmasters in Charge- (adult leader delegation)
• (a well planned year long balanced program for
  all age groups)

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Leadership- is the Troop boy lead ?

• Types of Leadership Positions- (Patrol Leader,
  Quartermasters, Instructors, Scribe, Historian,
  Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, and Senior Patrol
  Leader, Den Chiefs)
• Position Descriptions- (How do the Scouts know
  what their duties are, have they been trained)
• Contracts / Expectations- (How are they evaluated
  and by whom)

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Advancement- is it integrated into the program
or does it just happen ?

• Scout Ranks
• (Scout, Tenderfoot, 2nd 1st Class, Star, Life,
  Eagle, (palms)
• (Look at roster by patrol, is rank appropriate by
  age?)
• Scout Skills to 1st Class
• Who teaches skills (older boys vs adults) ?,
• who signs off ?
• Last years Webelos should be 1st Class after 1
  year
• Merit Badges
• (, 2 deep, troop adult lead, council lead,
  forms) by rank, 12 eagle required)

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Advancement- continued

• Leadership Positions- satisfactory performance?
• Community Service hours by rank
• Scoutmasters Conferences and Boards of Review
  how often ?, are they
• done right ?
• Eagle Scouts- average age, number per year, are
  any still active ?

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Retention

• What is the Troop retention rate what of last
  years Webelos are still active? Scouts ?
• Are there enough older scouts to provide
  leadership - if not , ask why not ?

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Meetings who runs them?

• Patrol Meetings - Patrol meetings can occur any
  time any where with adult supervision, based on
  events/activities
• Troop Meetings- Remember Boy Run
• time, location, duration, and frequency
• type of meetings (advancement, campout prep,
  program meetings, training, elections, Court of
  Honor, annual planning meeting, Patrol Leader
  Council (PLC) meeting
• run by Senior Patrol Leader ?
• Committee Meetings Are parents invited ?

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Leadership Development- what is the Troops
policies for training ?

• Junior Leadership Training troop level, - it is
  the job of the Scoutmaster to train/coach boy in
  leadership skills, how often are they held ?
• Bighorn participation a one week advanced
  leadership training at the Council level
• Adult Training- does the troop encourage or
  require adult training as part of their program ?

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Adult Association- are the adults good examples
for the boys?

• Scoutmaster do the Scouts relate well/respect
  the Scoutmaster ?
• Number of ASMs- are they assigned to patrols? do
  most of them were uniforms? What
  responsibilities/roles do they have?
• Are they other Adults present- what roles do
  parents have at meeting?
• Committee member jobs- transportation,
  reservations, merit badge counselors, is the
  committee active

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Adult Association

• Monthly meetings is parent participation
  encouraged, consider visiting a Committee meeting
  before joining.
• Organized how well are the adult meeting run?
• Policies does the Troop Committee have
  established polices, how well do they conform to
  BSA policies?

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Uniform

• Types of Uniforms
• Do most of the boys/adults were uniforms,
• Does the Troop have uniform rules/policies

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Outside View- if you need more information who
can you call ?

• Call your District Executive
• Call your Unit Commissioner
• Call the Scoutmaster
• Call a few parents ask for a Troop roster

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Timing- When should you start looking ?

• Identify potential troops- make 1st contact in
  April - May of 1st Year, find a Troop list
• Obtain their annual calendar- Contact troops and
  ask for calendars to identify opportunities to
  visit, get copies of the Troop newsletters /
  websites
• Visit more than one Troop -more than once
  (campout/meetings)

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What are you looking for ?-joining a Troop is an
individual decision

• What do you want out of Scouting for your son ?
  (values, skills, leadership, child care) (who
  makes decisions about your sons future ?)
• (the importance of keeping you son in Scouting)
• What level of commitment are you willing to make
  to keep him in Scouting ? (parent involvement,
  belief in values, and support has a big influence
  on keeping your son in Scouts)

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What is your Webelos looking for ?

• Fun
• Does he need a lot of attention or is he a self
  motativated
• Does he have a goal ( grandfather, dad, brother
  was an Eagle)
• Does he like only one types of outdoor activities

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Bottom line !- usually boils down to just a few
things

• Night of Troop Meetings,
• Conflicts with other activities,
• Parents schedule and driving distances,
• Troop Activities/Programs
• Where the majority of the Den is going

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• THANK YOU
• Remember a Scout can transfer to another troop at
  anytime for any reason

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Questions you need to ask !

• How many scouts are registered in the Troop ?
• How many registered adults are there in the Troop
  ?
• What night of the week does the Troop meet ?
• What time do the meetings start ?
• What time do the meetings end ?
• How many Troop meetings are there a month ?
• Are the boys kept busy ?
• Are the meeting FUN ?
• Is there discipline during the meetings ?

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Questions you need to ask !

• What are the Troop dues, fees, etc ?
• What is the average Troop Campout fees ?
• How are finances handled within the Troop ?
• What equipment does the Troop provide ?
• What equipment does the Scout need?
• How are patrols organized, are they even-aged or
  mixed aged patrols ?
• How many new scouts is the Troop expecting this
  year ?
• What is the Troops average 1st year Scout
  retention rate ?
• Does the Troop annual calendar represent a
  balanced yearlong program ?

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Questions you need to ask !

• What is the average percent of Scouts attending
  regular meetings ?
• What is the average percent of Scouts attending
  monthly campouts ?
• What is the average percent of Scouts attending
  summer camp / high adventure ?
• Are the activities the kind you/your son would
  enjoy ?
• Who plans the annual program in this Troop ?
• Does the plan allow for adult/parent input ?
• Does the Troop Committee review and approve the
  annual program ?

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Questions you need to ask !

• Is the Troop boy run/lead ?
• Are there enough older boys to provide leadership
  ?
• How active are the older Scouts ?
• How do the Scouts interact with each other ?
• How do the older Scouts interact with the younger
  Scouts ?
• Does the Troop have a uniform policy ?
• Does it match your thoughts about wearing
  uniforms ?
• Do the adult leaders were uniforms ?
• Does the Troop demonstrate Scout Spirit ?

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Questions you need to ask !

• How many years in the last 5 years has the Troop
  earned Quality Unit ?
• How is the Advancement Program integrated within
  the Troop meetings and campouts ?
• How are the Scouts trained in leadership skills ?
• How are the Scouts evaluated on their leadership
  skills ?
• Are the adult leadership trained ?
• How long has the Scoutmaster been the Scoutmaster
  ?
• Are you comfortable with the adult leaders ?

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Questions you need to ask !- In summary

• Overall, how well does the Troop deliver the Aims
  of Scouting ?
• Overall, does this Troop provide what you want
  out of Scouting for your son ?
• Overall, does this Troop provide what your son
  wants out of Scouting ?