How Advancement Works in Webelos:
“The Webelos den program is
different from the Cub Scout den program.
Everything in
the Webelos Scout program is more challenging than what
younger boys in the pack do. Webelos Scouts get to work on the 20
Webelos activity badges.”
Earning all 20 activity badges is not a requirement, it’s a goal. But
knowing a requirement to their fullest ability is an achievement not to be
rushed or dismissed.
“Webelos Scouts work on requirements
during their weekly den meetings.
Once a boy learns a
skill, he practices it at den meetings and at home on
his own. His family helps him at home. Webelos Scouts bring the projects
they do at home to the den meetings to show others, and
to have the
Webelos den leader approve their projects.”
Our goal is to have the boys try to come prepared for the meetings; to
have at least opened the book so we can then review, work on, and
acknowledge what the boys have learned and experienced.
“When a boy has done the
requirements for an activity badge, the Webelos
den
leader or activity badge counselor, rather than a parent, approves
most of the activity badges. It takes three activity
badges, including Fitness
and Citizen, to earn the
Webelos badge.”
It is the Den Leaders that approve, sign off, and initial what the boys
achieve in their books. We will do this in the spirit of how the
requirement is to be fulfilled.
How Advancements Get Recorded in our Den:
It is absolutely appropriate and necessary that parents work with their
boys on requirements. It’s a family program.
Once a scout works on a requirement, whether completed at home or in
the Den, they should:
1.
Write it down on their individual “Webelos Activity Badge Details”
sheet.
a.
If a date is listed, it is already complete.
b.
Find the requirement they worked on on the list
c.
Write in the newly completed requirement number on the
same line
2.
Bring this sheet with them to the next Den Meeting. 3.
Hand it in and proudly state that they have requirements to be checked 4.
Now the Den Leader has a list of what he/she needs to review with
that scout. *
a.
The scout briefly details what they did to complete the
requirement(s)
b.
Once approved, the leader will initial the scout’s book and
retain the sheet to record in PackMaster.
c.
After the advancements are recorded, a new sheet will be
emailed or handed out to repeat the process.
* The difficult part is finding enough time to review with your scout,
especially if they suddenly come in with a long list. ☺ But this is a good
thing! ☺
We want to do everything we can to ensure that a scout gets credit for
their achievements within the spirit of the requirement. This isn’t Boy
Scouts, but we need to prepare them for it, when they are required to be
responsible for their own efforts or lack of.
