We don't have transition plans for other phases within the program, so why do we need a transition plan from Webelos to Boy Scouts?
Even though we all think of Cub Scouts, Webelos, and Boy Scouts as Scouting, the fact remains that most Scouters view Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts as separate programs. Statistics show us that every year approximately 35% of all Webelos Scouts do not move on to a Boy Scout Troop. There are many factors that contribute to this:
Increased competition from other activities
When boys are in the first grade and ready for Tiger Cubs, there are not many activities to compete with Scouting for a boy's time and attention. As he gets older, more activities become available to him and compete for his time. When a boy is ready to move on from Cub Scouts, he is faced with many choices. We need to make sure that he has as much exposure to what's ahead in Scouting as he has to other activities, such as baseball, soccer, basketball, football, etc.
Misunderstandings between parents and troop leaders
The Cub Scout and Boy Scout programs are fundamentally different in that Cub Scouting is a program put on by and run by the adult volunteers. Boy Scouting on the other hand, is designed to be a boy planned and run program with guidance and supervision from the adult volunteers. Due mostly to poor communication, enthusiastic parents of Webelos sometimes feel shut out by Boy Scout Troop leaders. Once the parent is disillusioned with their worth or involvement in a new unit, the child soon follows. Webelos parents needs to be educated on the differences between the programs and led toward an understanding of the Boy Scout program.
Program Differences
Cub Scouting is an adult led, activity based program whereas Boy Scouting is a boy led, outdoor oriented program. The change in program activities can be intimidating to some boys. Sometimes, those that haven't had outdoor experiences need to be eased into the program and their parents, particularly mothers, need to have assurance that their little boy (because that is still what he is) is going to be okay.
Improper assimilation into a troop
When the boys were cubs, they were all pretty much on an equal level, in terms of maturity. A Scout troop contains a much wider and diverse spectrum of levels of maturity. You have the young new scouts, and you also have the mature scouts, who, in reality, are not boys anymore but are young men ready for transitions of their own. A young Webelos thrust into a troop of much older boys will many times be intimidated and may be easily lost if not properly handled.
Lack of Interest from Troops
Sadly, many troops do not actively recruit Cub Scouts. If a troop doesn't take an active role in the Webelos program, many boys will move on to other activities that have shown interest in them (For the most part, they won't come looking for you). Boy Scout leaders can't assume that everyone will automatically look to move on to Scouting. You are getting those that do already, we want the ones who don't. In addition, boys will almost always follow their friends. If the troop is not actively pursuing these boys, a single boy will be very reluctant to go where he doesn't know anyone.
Where do we go from here?
The key to success in any activity in Scouting is preparation and planning
"Be Prepared"
We must therefore prepare and plan for the transition well before it occurs. This means that we must start our plan when a boy "becomes" a Webelos, not when he is ready to crossover. In essence, the Webelos' transition will begin long before he realizes or recognizes it.
Everyone has a role to play
- Webelos Den Leader
- Webelos Den Chief
- Parents
- Boy
Webelos Den Leader's Role
- Most influential in the Boy's preparation
- Should have the Webelos function as a patrol
- Should insure that the boys attend summer camp
- Should verify the presence of the necessary Scout skills
- Should attend Roundtables and get to know the Scoutmasters
- Attend a Troop meeting and recruit a Den Chief
- Plan the graduation/bridging ceremony and promote Troop summer activities
- Verify the transfer of documents (the boy's records)
WEBELOS > TO > Scout Transition 5TH Grade (Second Year) WEBELOS Leader's Role
| TARGET DATE |
TASK |
| Sept./Oct |
Have your den select a Scout patrol name, get patrol patches to wear, make a patrol Flag, and elect a patrol leader. (Check the Scout Handbook for ideas). |
| October |
Complete and return your Webelos roster (tracking sheet) to your Unit Commissioner or pack committee chairman by October 30th. This is very important so that troops can send you Webelos information and invite them to orientation and camp promotion meetings. |
| |
Meet with the local Scoutmaster(s) for transition planning |
| Oct./Nov |
Take your Webelos and their parents to visit a troop meeting. A new Scout- Parent informational meeting at the troop should include summer camp plans. |
| |
Ask the Troop to appoint a Webelos Den Chief. This will aid the new Scouts with their transition into the Troop. |
| December |
Encourage your Webelos to make the final decision on joining a Troop |
| |
Assist the Cubmaster in planning a top-notch, personalized graduation for the February pack meeting. |
| February |
Graduate your Webelos into Boy Scouts. Have them complete a Scout application and register with the Troop. New Scouts should have the Scout Handbook at this time. |
| |
Webelos should attend Winter Camporee/Klondike Derby with their new troop. |
| Feb./Mar. |
Be sure the new Scouts have a schedule and begin attending Troop activities.
Encourage parents to get involved with the Troop Committee. |
| |
Talk to the Scoutmaster about continuing to work with the new Scouts as a patrol advisor. This will help boys become comfortable in the new troop. |
| |
Help as needed with any final details for summer camp preparedness. |
| |
Follow up with any of your Webelos as to why they did not yet join a Troop. |
Note: Get the name of the nearest Scoutmaster(s) from your Unit Commissioner or District Executive.
Webelos Den Chief's Role
- Act as a resource for scout skills
- Help for the patrol and scout spirit
- Help operate the patrol
- Assist in the Arrow of Light and Cross Over ceremonies
- This fulfills a requirement for leadership
Scoutmaster's Role
- Include the Webelos in summer camp reservations
- Discuss program differences with Webelos' parents
- Discuss camp and Troop activity costs with Webelos' parents
- Have Webelos and their parents attend Troop meetings
- Become a part of the Pack graduation ceremony
- Assist in finding Den Chiefs for Webelos Dens
- Ensure all forms are completed
- Invite the Webelos Den Leader to become a part of the Troop
- Hold a pre-summer camp orientation for Scout skills
How the Transition Plan Helps the Boy
Many Webelos Scouts will go on into Scouting with no help at all. But at least half of them need to know more about their opportunities for fun and adventure in the Scout troop.
That's really the purpose of the Webelos-to-Scout transition plan: to give the Webelos Scout a sampling of the troop program, troop leadership, personal advancement, a training and learning experience and an appreciation of troop organization and relationships.
It will be the boy's (and his family's) decision so we owe it to them to demonstrate some of the fun experiences and to let him know that he is wanted. Certain key Scout Leaders are better able to show the Webelos Scouts the various elements of Scouting. So we need to include everyone, starting with the Webelos Scouts themselves. That makes the transition plan an unlimited opportunity.
The boy's Webelos badge and Arrow of Light Award reach into the requirements bordering on Scouting skills, giving him a view of Scouting advancement. He sees boy leadership at work and senses his own potential as a junior leader. He becomes more confident and enthusiastic about the patrol method, a district camporee, summer camp, and maybe even a national jamboree.
In short, the boy's desire for troop membership is the result of this gradual change in appetite for troop-oriented activities.
How the Transition Plan Helps the Leaders
For the Scoutmaster, it means more boys - boys already versed in Boy Scout and Tenderfoot requirements and boys whose families have been supporting them in pack activities.
For the Webelos den leader, it means fulfillment. It means direct help with advancement requirements, father/son overnighters, as well as a pleasant association with the troop. The time spent with a boy is productive as seen in the boy's desire to continue.
To the Cubmaster, it means assurance of a stable Webelos den, more graduations and better ceremonies, the ready access to den chiefs and pack meetings that feature a lively Webelos den and Boy Scout troop guests.
We can only instill the values of Boy Scouting into the lives of Boys who become Boy Scouts.
The Transition Plan
Every graduating Webelos Scout deserves the opportunity to continue his Scouting experience as member of Boy Scout troop. Your help can make a difference.
Here's a plan that bridges the gap between Webelos Scouting and Boy Scouting. It results in better prepared and more enthusiastic new members for the troop, a strong feeling of success for the pack, and-most important of all - an outstanding new Scouting experience for the boys.
Many Webelos Scouts go on to Boy Scouting with no help at all, but a lot of them need to know more about their opportunities for fun and adventure in the troop.
That's the purpose of the Webelos-to-Scout transition plan: to give every Webelos Scout a sampling of the troop program, troop leadership, advancement opportunities, and the fun and excitement of Boy Scouting. We also must let him know that he is wanted.
The boy's progress toward the Webelos badge and the Arrow of Light Award introduces him to some of the basic elements of Boy Scouting, and gives him an early taste of Scouting skills and the Boy Scout advancement program. He learns more about the troop through joint den/troop activities, which let him see boy leadership at work and sense his own potential as a leader. He becomes more confident and enthusiastic about his Scouting future as he becomes more familiar with the boys and adult leaders of the troop he will be joining.
Here's How It Works
The Webelos-to-Scout transition plan offers a clear path into Boy Scouting for every Webelos Scout, beginning early in his fifth grade year. By linking his Webelos den and a Boy Scout troop in a transition partnership, he is provided an opportunity, through joint activities, to sample the fun of Boy Scouting. As his Webelos advancement plan helps him prepare for Boy Scout advancement, he might also learn more about Boy Scouting through council and district activities designed to support the transition plan.
In the early spring, after he has earned the Arrow of Light, he graduates with the other members of his den into the troop.
The Den/Troop Partnership
The key factor in the transition process is the establishment of a working partnership between the Webelos den and the Boy Scout troop that most of the Webelos Scouts will join. This partnership should be firmly in place by the start of the Webelos Scouts' fifth grade year. Every fifth grade Webelos den should be linked to a troop, and every troop should have one or more Webelos dens as partners.
Of course, in many cases these partnerships already exist, and have been effective for many years. But some Webelos dens are not linked to troops, and need help from their district in establishing a partnership. Similarly, troops with no "feeder' Webelos dens might need help.
No Webelos Scout should start his fifth grade year without a clear path ahead of him that leads to a Boy Scout troop.
Joint Activities
The partner troop may provide Webelos den chiefs for the pack, as well as assistance in Planning and conducting outdoor activities, but the most important result of the den/troop partnership is the experience of joint activities.
The fifth-grade Webelos den and the troop should hold several activities together, including one or two joint campouts. The den could also join the troop in a court of honor, campfire program, day hike, field trip, or joint Good Turn for the chartered organization or community. Visiting a camporee or other district or council Boy Scout event as guests of the troop might also be included.
Through these joint activities, Webelos Scouts not only learn of the fun of Boy Scouting, they also get acquainted with the individual Scouts in the troop. When the time comes to move into Boy Scouting, it is no longer a leap into the unknown, but a step into an already familiar and friendly situation.
Webelos Scout Advancement
The Webelos Scout advancement pattern has been developed to lead naturally to earning the Webelos badge in the fourth grade year and the Arrow of Light Award in the fifth grade year, but still allows boys who join the Webelos den as fifth-graders (or 10-year-olds) to earn both ranks. By following the pattern detailed in the Webelos Scout Program Helps (Webelos Activity Badge Schedule - BSA Recommendations), the Webelos den leader will ensure that most Webelos Scouts will earn the Webelos badge in January of their fourth-grade year and the Arrow of Light Award in January or February of the fifth-grade year.
Early Spring Graduation
Summer camp is a vital part of the Boy Scout experience, particularly for the new Scout. The expanded Webelos Scout program gives us a great opportunity to guarantee that graduating Webelos Scouts participate in summer camp by getting them into the troop in time to prepare for Boy Scout camp.
Webelos Scouts may become Boy Scouts as soon as they have earned the Arrow of Light Award. For most Webelos Scouts, this happens in January or February of their fifth-grade year.
From Den to Patrol
Webelos Scouting and Boy Scouting have been designed to neatly dovetail together, and the Webelos den can move right into the troop as a new Scout patrol. When the whole den moves into Boy Scouting together, they continue to provide friendship and support to each other, which allows each boy to make a smooth transition with his friends into the troop.
In Summary
The Webelos-to-Scout transition plan links fifth-grade Webelos dens and Boy Scout troops together, encourages joint activities, introduces Webelos Scouts to Boy Scouting and ensures the graduation of the Webelos den into the troop in early spring. Our goal: Every Webelos Scout continues his Scouting experience as a Boy Scout.