The Cub Scout Handshake
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This is my Webelos Handbook Name _________________________________________ Webelos den number ___________________________ Pack number _________________________________ Webelos den leader _______________________________ Webelos den leader’s phone number: ___________________________________________________ Bobcat badge earned on _________________________ Webelos badge earned on _______________________ Arrow of Light Award earned on ____________________ YOU SHOULD USE THIS BOOK IF: You are a boy who has completed the third grade or you are 10 years old. Webelos Handbook 33452 ISBN 978-0-8395-3452-5 ©2003 Boy Scouts of America 2010 Printing Contents Webelos Scout Parent Guide ..............1 Welcome to Your Webelos Scout Den!......23 Rank Advancement and Special Awards ....39 Activity Badges ........................81 Physical Skills Activity Badge Group Aquanaut 83 Athlete 123 Fitness 245 Sportsman 455 Mental Skills Activity Badge Group Artist 101 Scholar 391 Showman 429 Traveler 461 Community Activity Badge Group Citizen 143 Communicator 165 Family Member 227 Readyman 365 Technology Activity Badge Group Craftsman 197 Engineer 211 Handyman 299 Scientist 401 Outdoor Activity Badge Group Forester 259 Geologist 279 Naturalist 317 Outdoorsman 343 Index and Credits.....................475 Webelos Scout Parent Guide Parents, Guardians, or Other Adult Family Members: This is your part of the Webelos Handbook. It tells what this part of Cub Scouting for older boys is all about, how it oper- ates, and how you can help your son as he joins the exciting, challenging Webelos Scout den. Note: In the front of this book there is a tear-out section for you on youth protection. Please do tear it out (that makes the book easier to handle), read it carefully, and keep it at hand for easy reference. Webelos Scout Parent Guide 3 Welcome to the Webelos Den The Webelos den will open a new world of adventure for your son: a way to learn new skills, to enjoy lots of outdoor activities, and most of all, to have fun. This guide will give you a head start on understanding how the program works, and you’ll find out how you can help your son and his Webelos den. After you’ve read this guide, be sure to sign your name beside Webelos badge requirement 1 on page 49 (under “Approved by”). This will help him earn the Webelos badge. What Is a Webelos Scout? Your son has joined the part of the Cub Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America that is for fourth- and fifth-grade boys. Webelos Scouts are older than boys in the Tiger Cub, Wolf Cub Scout, and Bear Cub Scout levels of Cub Scouting. If a boy has completed third grade, or if he has not completed third grade but is 10 years old, he’s the right age for this den. Most Webelos Scouts are in this program for about 18 months. This is a transitional program that shifts the emphasis from the home-centered activities of Tiger Cub and Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts to group-centered activities. This is preparation for his later participation in the great adventure of Boy Scouting. The program will provide your boy with a variety of new experiences that will help him assume responsibilities and gain maturity, knowledge, and skills. After your son’s Webelos Scout experience, and after he has completed the fifth grade and is at least 10 years old, or is age 11, or has earned the Arrow of Light Award and is at least 10 years old, he’ll be ready for more independence and adventure in a Boy Scout troop. 4 Webelos Scout Parent Guide The Webelos Den Can Help You As a parent or guardian, you want the best for your son. You want a close relationship with him, and you want to help him grow physically, mentally, and morally. This part of Cub Scouting is designed to assist you. The program is geared to your son’s developing abilities and chang- ing interests. You’ll find yourself growing closer to him as you encourage him in his advancement and when you take a turn assisting with Webelos den activities. Join him in this adventure! The name Webelos comes Advancement from “WE’ll BE Much of your son’s progress will take LOyal Scouts.” place through activities centered around his advancement. He’ll advance by earn- Pronounce it ing activity badges and other awards. WEE-buh-lows. Each of the 20 activity badges focuses on a different subject in the areas of physical skills, mental skills, community, technology, and the outdoors. Athlete, Scholar, Citizen, Craftsman, Sportsman— these are just a few of the activity badges. The entire den works on one activity badge each month, mostly in their meetings. Your son may learn the backstroke for the Aquanaut activity badge, practice first aid skills for the Readyman activity badge, or learn about the minerals that make up the earth’s crust for the Geologist activity badge. Each activity badge presents an array of hands-on activities and fascinating information that will enrich his life. He will also earn the Webelos badge, which has its own set of requirements. Later, he’ll be eligible to work on Cub Scouting’s highest award, the Arrow of Light. Your son will keep track of his activity badges on a chart (see pages 75–78 of this book). Webelos Scout Parent Guide 5 If Your Son Is New in Scouting If your son joined Cub Scouting as a Webelos Scout, he must earn the Bobcat badge before receiving any other award or rank. The Bobcat badge requirements are on page 42. He will need your help to fully understand the Cub Scout Promise, Law of the Pack, and Character Connections. When he has completed the Bobcat requirements to your satisfaction, he’ll receive his Bobcat badge at a pack meeting. Then he’ll be ready to start on his adventures in Webelos Scouting. Purposes of Cub Scouting While the Webelos den’s activities are tailored to your son’s age group, its main purposes are the same as those for Cub Scouting at younger levels: 1. Character Development 2. Spiritual Growth 3. Good Citizenship 4. Sportsmanship and Fitness 5. Family Understanding 6. Respectful Relationships 7. Personal Achievement 8. Friendly Service 9. Fun and Adventure 10. Preparation for Boy Scouts 6 Webelos Scout Parent Guide Character Connections® Cub Scouting’s Character Connections program helps your son know, commit, and practice Cub Scouting’s 12 core values while enjoying fun and adventure in his Webelos den. This symbol identifies Char- acter Connections throughout this book and in other Cub Scouting materials. Character Development Since its origin, the Scouting progam has been an educational experience concerned with values. In 1910, the first activities for Scouts were designed to build character, physical fitness, practical skills, and service. These elements were part of the original Cub Scout program and continue to be part of Cub Scouting today. Character development should extend into every aspect of a boy’s life. Character development should also extend into every aspect of Cub Scouting. Cub Scout leaders should strive to use Cub Scouting’s 12 core values throughout all elements of the program—service projects, ceremonies, games, skits, songs, crafts, and all the other activities enjoyed at den and pack meetings. Webelos Scout Parent Guide 7 Cub Scouting’s 12 Core Values 1. Citizenship: Contributing service and showing respon- sibility to local, state, and national communities. 2. Compassion: Being kind and considerate, and show- ing concern for the well-being of others. 3. Cooperation: Being helpful and working together with others toward a common goal. 4. Courage: Being brave and doing what is right regard- less of our fears, the difficulties, or the consequences. 5. Faith: Having inner strength and confidence based on our trust in God. 6. Health and Fitness: Being personally committed to keeping our minds and bodies clean and fit. 7. Honesty: Telling the truth and being worthy of trust. 8. Perseverance: Sticking with something and not giving up, even if it is difficult. 9. Positive Attitude: Being cheerful and setting our minds to look for and find the best in all situations. 10. Resourcefulness: Using human and other resources to their fullest. 11. Respect: Showing regard for the worth of something or someone. 12. Responsibility: Fulfilling our duty to God, country, other people, and ourselves. 8 Webelos Scout Parent Guide Where the Webelos Den Fits In If you’re new to Cub Scouting, this will help you understand how it’s set up. Your son belongs to a small group called a Webelos den. The den is part of a larger Cub Scout pack that includes younger boys in the Tiger Cub and Wolf and Bear Cub Scout dens. The pack is operated by a community organization, such as a school, a church or other religious institution, a service club, or other group interested in helping youth. It’s called the chartered organization because it holds a charter from the BSA local council that allows it to use the Scouting program. In addition to their den meetings, Webelos Scouts take part in monthly pack meetings led by an adult volunteer called the Cubmaster. Parents and other adult family members can serve on the pack committee, which plans pack activities. Cub Scout Pack Structure Chartered Organization Chartered Organization Representative Pack Committee Cubmaster Assistant Cubmaster Tiger Cub Cub Scout Webelos Den Leaders Den Leaders Den Leaders Adult Partners Assistant Cub Scout Den Assistant Webelos Den Leaders Leaders Den Chiefs Den Chiefs Webelos Scout Parent Guide 9 The Webelos Scout Experience If your son has been in Cub Scouting before, he already knows a little about the Webelos Scout den from his earlier experi- ences. He may be surprised, though, to see how different it is.