Lion Cubs

[MDEagle]

Parents get burned out too and I suspect many look forward to their sons saying. "I don't want to go into Scouts."

My experience was slightly different. The Web IIs were so excited about crossing over to "Real Scouts" that they didn't care about doing "lame" activities any more.

(Sidenote: You know you work with boys a lot when "lame" and "Dude!" become part of your everyday vocabulary)

For at least some boys that have been in Cubs since Tigers (and have had opportunity to periodically interact with Boy Scouts) the chance to transition can't come quick enough. If they've got an older brother or friend already in Scouts, it gets worse.

Who wants to work on the "Showmanship" pin when Boy Scouts are camping or rock climbing or doing stuff like that.

As long as we're all dreaming about how we'd structure the Program, I'll chime in: Cut the Webelo's Program to a year.

[RMM]

As long as we're all dreaming about how we'd structure the Program, I'll chime in: Cut the Webelos' Program to a year.

When would they bridge to Boy Scouts? Which year are we cutting out , the first or second?

[wagionvigil]

they would bridge at the start of grade 6

[Hubert]

NO to Lions. I loved Tigers back when I was in first grade. (Wow, Im in 11th now, I feel old. lol)

[Nuts4Scouts]

How does bridging Webelos at the start of 6th grade shorten the Webelos program?

[jhawk]

My son and I were both about done with Webelos by the end of the fourth grade. I was ready for a new challenge after Wolf, Bear, and Webelos. We didn't do Tigers. I can imagine that I would have been even more tired if we had. (Don't get me wrong. Cub Scouting is great, it's just that after so many years that "been there, done that" feeling sets in.) I think Cubs should go from first grade through 4th and boys should cross over to Boy Scouts at the beginning of 5th grade. Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and Webelos, then Boy Scouts. They have nine months to advance and learn how a boy-run troop functions before camp.
Personally, I think Webelos should still have to wear the cub scout blue and not the khaki, but that's another post....

[Hubert]

Personally, I think Webelos should still have to wear the cub scout blue and not the khaki, but that's another post....

I agree with this, but I also liked wearing the khakis, it made me feel different, older, and prepared me just a little more for Boy Scouting. I like the idea of being able to choose, because I wore my blue uniform, for my first year, and then a khaki for my second. Personally, I liked that better, blue for year one, then khakis for year two. That way, you are getting the finial prep. for Boy Scouts.

When I was in my second year, we learned the Scout Law, Motto, Slogan, and Oath. I think while learning those, wearing the khakis made it better.

[jr56]

Too young. Forget about Lions.

[riverwalk]

Too bad we couldn't have kept the Lions rank like we once had? But that's a different kettle of fish, I mean lions.

[9009scoutmaster]

they would bridge at the start of grade 6

We cross over in Feb when unit recharters. When the youth(grade 5) walk's out the door the last day of school if they passed they are NOW a 6th grader. If you look on the youth application.

Webelos Scout - Must have completed third grade but not completed fifth grade, or be age 10 but not yet 11 1/2.
Boy Scout Troop - 11 years old (or has earned the Arrow of Light Award and is at least 10 years old, or has completed the fifth grade and is at least 10 years old) but has not reached age 18.

It doesnot say started 6th grade it says completed 5th grade.

[lifescoutforlife]

Any feedback on Lion scouts now that they are finishing up there 1st year?

[MDEagle]

As long as we're all dreaming about how we'd structure the Program, I'll chime in: Cut the Webelos' Program to a year.

When would they bridge to Boy Scouts? Which year are we cutting out , the first or second?

Sorry, I must have missed your question to me earlier, and just saw it when the thread has been resurrected.

My answer is "I don't know... it was just a spur of the moment response based on my belief that the Webelos program is too long."

As I mentioned earlier, my experience has been that once a boy sees the extra cool stuff their older brothers and friends are doing, there is little enthusiasm for the tamer Cub/Webelos program.

While I acknowledge that every Pack/Troop/Scout is different, for us the last year of Webelos resembled a Death March, where the boys were just too antsy to get the whole thing over with so they could go to Boy Scouts.

For example, none of the six second-year Webelos in my son's patrol participated in the Pinewood Derby the last year. They just absolutely refused to do it. No amount of prodding from adult leadership or parents could generate any excitement about doing something they had done every year since Tigers.

In retrospect, I wish that we, as parents/leaders, had done more to make the program more exciting... but hey, we were doing the best we could based on our experience at the time and the Cub rules in effect.

I know there's a big difference between a first year Scout and an 18 year old Eagle. But there's also a big difference between a fifth grade Webelos and a first grade Tiger (and now a Kindergarten-age Lion).

[Nuts4Scouts]

From information I have seen from folks who attended the National meeting, the various council pilot programs are still ongoing. There is no plan to implement any changes this year.

[Craft Lady]

So this is legit that there is a pilot program? I had someone tell a person on a non scout releated email list that she could enroll her son in Lions in Kindergarten and I thought "WHAT".

Of course if she is in an area with a pilot program she was still mistaken because this other lady was in a different area.

I am against Kindergarten Cubs. I have been for a long time. I remeber how entertaining it was working with Tigers.

I also had the pleasure of working with a Daisy troop that was mixed. There were 2 Preschool Dasies that got in under the pilot program they had and 2 that were in Kindergarten. I was THRILLED when GSA decided to adandon the PRE-K Daisy idea. However even saying that, I would rather take another preschool daisy troop then a Kindergarten Lion Den.

I know I hear the complaint that "Well the Girl Scouts lets girls join scouting at Kindergarten, Boy Scouts should be the same way." To be honest I had questioned that in the past myself. However from experince I can say there is a big difference between boys and girls at that age.

Don't get me wrong I love the tiger program. I like the Daisy program. However I think they are both good starting points.

Just my 2 cents.

Jennifer

[Nuts4Scouts]

Yes, K-Cubs is a legit pilot program. There are, I believe, 3 councils in the NE area that are participating. It is being implemented thru Learning for Life. I have heard that at least 1 council is doing it co-ed, although I do not know if they have had any girls actually sign up.

[wagionvigil]

Yes it is co-ed that is why it is through LFL