Completely New to Scoutleading

[DaveR]

Hi,

I am Dave and I have just became a Weblos den leader, can someone directly me to a link or thread to help me get started. We have just completed the citizenship requirements for the activity badge, but I am not sure what to do next? And i just recieved a copy of the weblos leader booklet (which I am reading now). I am knida out on my own as our troop has very few leaders so i wanted to help the boys(including mine) reach the level one weblos badge in preperation for the arrow of light next year. I was a boyscout many moons ago but i don't remember earning badges etc. I hope this is the right place to post this, oops lunch is over got to run. Thanks in advance for any and all help.

Dave

[Mrw]

Been many moons since I was a Webelos leader, (My "baby" is 24!) but I will take a stab at this.

If I remember correctly, the fitness activity pin is a big one for the Webelos badge, so get started on that one. You can use the first part of each of the next few meetings to test on the skills they are supposed to be working on so they can show an improvement over the course of a month or two and finish this pin as well.

Once an advancement is completed and the boys are ready to receive their pin or badge, this should be ordered from the scout shop through the pack. Ask your Cubmaster how this is done in your Pack. Most places, the boys receive their advancements at the next Pack meeting.

As far as training and how to do things, if you are a registered leader, you have found the online training to take Youth Protection Training. There are some "Fast start" and other basic training modules there to take as well. Your District or Council should also have some in person Cub leader training you can take. It is not rocket science, but it helps to have the classes.

For planning meetings, pick a pin to work on and have some activity related to that theme each week. For some, like the wood-working stuff, they will probably be happy to spend the whole meeting focused on their project. For the Readyman stuff, I found it better to do a little each week and then a craft or game or something else more fun so it does not seem like more school.

Outside of the specific pins required for the Webelos and Arrow of light, see which ones the boys have the most interest in. A motivated group may want to earn them all. Some other groups may not. I organized their two years in Webelos so if they wanted they could earn them all without tons of out of den meeting work. 2 of the 7 in each of my dens did. The others did not and did not much care.

Post back when you come up with more questions, as you most certainly will, and we can help out some more.

Most of all, HAVE FUN!

[tonkatim]

Below is the resource material that will lead you through the Webelos Program. It has plans and materials needed for each meeting. I think this is what you are looking for. Although, I would suggest that you take this as a suggestion, rather than a rule to go by. My Cubs would MUCH rather play activities and games than do crafts. I tailor my meetings with that in mind. Use the activity to suit your Cubs as they reach their own goals. Try knot tying with a tug of war rope if they cannot or until they can sit still for traditional knot tying activities. That sort of change is easy if thought through ahead of time.

http://www.scoutstuff.org/bsa/literatur ... guide.html

Use the internet for ideas. There are many good websites out there. Just type in Webelos.
Ask questions and share ideas at your District Roundtable.

Mrw said it best. HAVE FUN! If the leader is not having fun; then no one has fun.

[DadScout]

A few years ago the BSA actually came up with full meeting plans based on the work some Cub Scout leader did in a mid-west Council. In the past much of the advancement stuff was done in the home and this leader had found that it wasn't getting done so she developed a plan. When first launched it was called "Fast Tracks". It's now been refined and is available on-line - http://www.scouting.org/sitecore/conten ... Plans.aspx

You can also buy it I think but's it free to download one meeting at a time. I didn't follow it verbatum but used major parts of it for our meetings and it worked very well.

[Mrw]

Crafts - boy crafts to be sure.

We did things like cut out and color cardboard boomarangs and then went outside to use them. Wood model helicopters that they could paint how they wanted. that sort of stuff mostly. They even used black paper to make the helipads!

Mothers Day we stenciled tile coasters with pink roses. They were all about making that for their mom, but not so much that sort of stuff other times.

[Quailman]

Boy crafts indeed!

Craftsman #3

Make a display stand, or box to be used to display a model or an award. Or make a frame for a photo or painting. Use suitable material.

If your pack has a Space Derby the boys can put together really easy displays from scratch.

Get an 8 ft. 1x4 least expensive board (we used white pine), enough for 1 foot per boy, and 1/4 inch wood dowels. Bring a saw, safety glasses, a power drill with a 1/4 in. Bit, some glue and cotton balls.

Precut the dowels into 1ft. Lengths. Have each boy measure, mark and cut a 1 foot section of the board. Then they make a mark two inches from one end in the middle of the board. You operate the power drill to make a hole at a 45 degree angle (leaning back over the long end of the board) on the mark. The boys glue the dowel in the hole and place their rocket over the dowel. Glue the cotton balls on the exposed part of the dowel. It looks just like puffy exhaust.

We used a wood burner to further decorate them, but you can use markers or paint, or just leave them.

[FieldSports]

Find your local council website. Find the training page and get trained. They will provide resources, locations, other leaders, and support. Training will be key to success. Have fun, you will enjoy these years.

[jr56]

While on your council website, find out where and when your district roundtables are held. It is great to get together with other leaders once a month to ask questions, and share experiences. There are usually lots of experienced scout leaders there to ask any questions you might have. Welcome, and enjoy the journey.

[RMM]

Volunteer for an adult position - serve on a District Committee - and have fun!