AoL has Degraded Status?

[pipestone1991]

I know the Eagle is INCREDIBLY important and all......but...it seems the Arrow of Light is treated like it's nothing, discuss.


EDIT: Let me rephrase, while the Eagle is highly regarded in the Boy Scout program (as it well should be), it seems that the AoL (being cub scouting's highest award) doesn't have much glory.....NOW discuss.

[FrankJ]

AOL is an age appropriate accomplishment, but you can generally earned it by being active in your den. Most of the cubs who cross over to our troop have earned it. If not the skills that are learned for AOL are learned by first class. Eagle requires much more of an individual effort.

This is not a criticism of AOL it is quite an accomplishment the age group for which is intended.

[WVBeaver05]

It shouldn't be. As a Scoutmaster I consider one of my duties to be to provide the resources neccesary for the Webelos to earn their AOL. And we recognize those who earn it.

However, even as the highest Cub/Webelos award/rank it is not near as involved as the Eagle rank. Nor, should it be as we emphasis different things in Cubs and Boy Scouts. None the less, it should be recognized as a high achievement for those who earn it.

YiS

[jr56]

I have percieved the AOL to be just as highly spoken of in the Cub Scout program as the Eagle is in the Boy Scout program.
I have often felt that the AOL is given such priority in Cub Scouts that the boys don't realize that Boy Scouting is a different program, and think it's not worth continuing because they've already reached the "top of the hill" so to speak.

[MDEagle]

Generally speaking, AoL can be earned by a boy who consistently shows up to Den/Patrol meetings. At least in my son's old Pack, it was expected that all the active boys would earn AoL, and we adults made sure that happened by reviewing the requirements and making sure we planned our meetings to cover the required activities to earn the required pins.

As previously stated, it is still quite an accomplishment for a boy of that age.

Eagle requires a much more focused effort and great initiative on the part of the individual Scout. In theory, there is no adult planning everything and scheduling everything for the boy. While adults are there to help where we can, it's really up to the boy to manage his advancement.

There's another thread around here about the different ages that boys make Eagle... some younger, some just before 18... so we won't get into that... other than to say that it's indicative of individual focus, effort, and drive. Well, also a function of how many other things a boy is doing, IMO.

Anyway, that generally doesn't happen with AoL. The boys are covering all the requirements in a mass.

[evmori]

The Arrow of Light is not the Cub equivalent of the Eagle. There is no Cub equivalent.

[scoutaholic]

I know the Eagle is INCREDIBLY important and all......but...it seems the Arrow of Light is treated like it's nothing, discuss.

AOL is the highest rank/award that can be earned in Cub Scouting.
Eagle is the highest rank that can be earned in Boy Scouting.
The Denali Award is the highest rank/award that can be earned in Varsity Scouting.
The Silver Award is the highest that can be earned in Venturing.

In the sense that all of these are the highest available in their scouting families, they can be compared, although they are not suposed to be equals.

AOL is a great acomplishment for a cub-aged boy, just like Eagle is a great accomplishment for Boy Scouts. I can't think or a reason that it should be counted any less important.

As stated by others, AOL can be earned by most boys who simply show-up and participate in their Webelos dens. However, can't the same be said of the Eagle. Is the boy really participating in his troop if he is not doing those things required to earn Eagle? Yes, it is true that the boy scout program is 'boy run', but as adult leaders, it is still our job to make sure the oportunities are provided for the boys to do their advancements. As a boy matures, he will have to take more of the focus on his advancement, but that doesn't mean we as adults are 'off the hook.'

If you want to talk about degraded status, I can't recall the last time I heard about a boy in our area earning the Denali or Silver awards. What happened to their status?

[Lynda J]

Also remember that AOL is the only Cub award that can be worn on a Boy Scout Uniform. This shows that this boy put forth a little extra effort.

[WeeWillie]

The prestigue associated with Eagle Scout is based in part by the number of Scouts who earn it, Currently that is about 4%. In contrast, most Cubs who complete WB-II also earn AOL.

[Hubert]

I do not think that the AoL is on the same area as the Eagle, the Eagle is the HIGHEST you can go, and shows major effort, and shows that you have stuck to it. The AoL is yes, the highest aword in Cubs, I do however think that the AoL should be held a little higher. It is a high honor, for the Cubbies. If its presented to them in high fassion, that will be motive to go on and make Eagle, to be presented that, with high fassion.

[ICanCanoeCanU]

Although earning the AOL is grand, I agree with WeeWillie, that most cubs do earn this award. It's pretty natural for boys this age to be excited about what Cubscouts are all about. Most boys do Cubs with friends, or make new friends within the Pack/Dens. It is age appropraite and has lots of parent involvement.

The Eagle however truely is another ball game. Partly because of the age boys are in Boy Scouts and the dedication it takes (as apposed to Cubs). Eagle Scouts impress me also because of all the other distractions - options available to older boys. Especially with High School sports, which are very demanding on time and energy. Then there's jobs, girlfriends, driving, and the teenage change in attitude.

I don't remember my 2 boys having to work very hard to earn AOL but I do remember the Life to Eagle timeframe and the amount of work. The Eagle Project alone is a huge accomplishment. I also don't remember having to organize or run things like the time involved with Cubscouts.

[ronin718]

Let's keep in mind that the AoL is for boys who are 9-10 y/o. This is a very big thing for them, and while we may see the requirements as simple, it takes a lot of work from the perspective of the boys.

There is a similarity between AoL and Eagle when you put it into the corresponding perspective. The skills our young men learn as they work on their Eagle help them as they progress into the next phase of life... adulthood. The skills the boys learn as they work on their AoL help them as they progress into their next phase of life... Boy Scouts. We also make a big thing of pointing out that the AoL is the only CS award they can take with them to the next level, just as we make a big thing of pointing out how earning Eagle carries over into different aspects of life (i.e. college, job interviews, etc).

Yes, there are probably a greater percentage of boys who earn their AoL than Eagle. But much of earning Eagle falls on the boy himself. Can the same be said for AoL?

[RedFox]

My Webelos Den just graduated into Boy Scouts in Februrary, except for two, after the Spring Camporee and the completion of Outdoorsman and Readyman (and a meeting with the Scoutmaster) the last two will finish their Arrow of Light as well.

At least for my den, from my perspective, they earned their Arrow of Light through working with each other and helping each other. As a result of their earning the Arrow of Light, they will be better prepared for Boy Scouts and their own trail to Eagle Scout (*my hope as their former Den Leader anyway*)

Eagle Scout requires a high amount of individual effort, and those who earn it deserve much respect. However, the Arrow of Light is very important to the 10 and 11 year olds who earn them. As older scouts/leaders, we should make an effort to not minimize the Arrow of Light as it means a LOT to these Cubs.

Need proof? Go to a crossover ceremony and look in the eyes of the boys who are receiving it.

[ICanCanoeCanU]

Maybe it's just me in this thread, but other than only 2 posts, everyone else seems to be saying about the same thing. Which is in full agreement that the AOL is a big deal for CUBS. The Eagle is also a big deal and most folks point out why the Eagle is thought of in a higher regard. This is not saying that the AOL is not a big deal, but rather that the Eagle is a bigger deal.

btw - our Pack also puts on quite a ceremony for AOL and the boys always feel like it's a big deal. And the younger dens look up to those that have earned the AOL much like a younger scout views and Eagle in the troop.

[Hubert]

The Eagle is a WAY bigger deal, but also if we want more boys to make Eagle, we need to make them feel proud of what they have done.

When I got my AoL, my pack put on a huge crossover with candles! I was pleased and proud to have done so.

[RedFox]

It was not my intent to suggest that it was being minimized - i'm sorry if it came off that way.

That was just a proud Den Leader who was glad to see all of the boys in his den get their Arrow of Light talking.

[Hubert]

It was not my intent to suggest that it was being minimized - i'm sorry if it came off that way.

That was just a proud Den Leader who was glad to see all of the boys in his den get their Arrow of Light talking.

Thats a very good thing to be proud of! I was the only one to get my AoL at the time, also seeing how I was the only 2nd year Webelos scout.

[RWSmith]

<Snip>

[Reasonable Rascal]

Not to bring up an otherwise abandoned thread but I didn't see anyone mention the fact that the AoL is the only Cub award that can be worn as a adult, i.e. as a Scouter Knot. Yes, a Scout may wear the AoL on his Scout uniform, but to my eyes at least when I see the AoL knot on a Scouter's uniform in addition to the Eagle I know he came up through the ranks as it were.

RR

[PaulSWolf]

Not to bring up an otherwise abandoned thread but I didn't see anyone mention the fact that the AoL is the only Cub award that can be worn as a adult, i.e. as a Scouter Knot.

AoL is not the only award earned as a Cub Scout that can be worn as an adult. The Youth Religious Award knot, and knots earned for heroism earned by Cub Scouts also qualify.