One of the purposes of the Cub Scout Program is to Help
them to become Boy Scouts. This is the primary focus of the Webelos to Scout
Transition plan.
Recruitment of Cub Scouts for Boy Scouts starts at School Night with
the new Tigers. Boy Scouts should do the opening (Flags). It is the Boy Scout program that
is the Flagship program. Without Boy Scouts there would not have been Cub Scouting, but it
is also true that without Cub Scouts there would be little Boy Scouting.
Boy Scout troops should be highly visible at Cub and Webelos Scouting
events. Troops and Packs should be having joint activities, doing service projects
together, fund raisers, or even a joint Blue and Gold/Court of Honor. Making the
transition from the Webelos Program to Boy Scouting should be no different than going from
Wolf to Bear.
Many times the new scout parents simply do not understand how the Boy
Scout program functions because of the way Cub Scouting is run (Cub Scouts – Hands On
Parents. Boy Scouts – Boys Leading Boys). So even with a Den Chief in the Webelos den
working with the boys, parents also need help to transition into Boy Scouts. The best way
for Webelos Scouts, leaders, and parents to learn about Boy Scouting is to spend time with
Boy Scouts (and their leaders.)
Have the 5th grade Webelos den meet at the same time and place as the
troop. Have joint openings and closings. The Webelos parents will have an opportunity to
see the Boy Scout program functioning (Boys leading Boys). It also gives the parents a
chance to talk to the troop adult leadership.
As the months go by, include the Webelos in more and more of the troop
meeting. By the time they get close to graduation the den would be meeting just like any
of the Boy Scout patrols. They would no longer move to their own room, just go into a
corner like the Boy Scouts do. At this same time the Webelos den leader could be
transitioning into the position of Assistant Scoutmaster.
The troops need to invite those 5th grade Webelos on every Boy Scout
campout. The Webelos den must still function under the rules of Webelos camping, but they
are out with the troop. With the Webelos rules of camping in place, more Webelos parents
get to see the Boy Scout program functioning in the outdoors.
After you have done all the recruiting, graduation should be a special
time for everyone: Webelos Scouts, Boy Scouts, Den Chiefs, Parents, Webelos Den Leader,
Scoutmaster staff...everyone. Graduate everyone. As a Webelos Scout crosses over the
bridge, so too do his parents (remember, Scouting is a Family program...DON’T leave
those parents on the other side of the bridge!!!) Graduate that newly recruited Webelos
Den Leader as a new Assistant Scoutmaster for New Scouts. Also graduate the Den
Chief...he’ll be that patrol’s new Troop Guide. Now as the newest patrol in the
troop, the Boy Scout program starts with old friends. This makes being in the troop a lot
easier. Then with other joint functions, the younger Cub Scouts will see their old friends
functioning in the Boy Scout program. Again recruitment is happening.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW – There is no such thing as a
"feeder pack". A troop does not "own" the Webelos Scouts in a
particular pack, even if they share the same unit number or Chartering Organization.
Webelos Scouts should be encouraged to take a look a two or three troops in their area and
join the one that will best meet their needs.
Remember, Webelos Transition and Recruitment is a year-round function.
Troops that do not see this, see fewer and fewer new scouts. The goal is to give every Cub
Scout a chance at being a Boy Scout. The loss of one Cub Scout is a loss of one Boy Scout.
Keeping a boy in Scouting, even for one more year, can make a world of difference.
It is your responsibility to do everything you can to keep everyone in the Scouting
program. Total youth in Scouting should not have a big drop from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts.
The average troop size is about 20 boys. The average pack is 40 boys. Where did the other
20 boys go? They are lost. We most likely will never see them again in the Scouting
program. They are lost from having the greatest adventure of their life…,Scouting.
-excerpted from the archives of Scouts-L
