Welcome to Webelos!

These pages are meant to give you a better understanding of the Webelos Scout program. Along with an overview of the Webelos program, there are the requirements for the Webelos badge, the Arrow of Light award, and the activity badges

A boy's first step after registering as a Cub Scout, regardless of his age, is to pass the Bobcat requirements.

They are as follows:

1. THE CUB SCOUT PROMISE - and its meaning.

"I .....(name).... promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people, and
To obey the Law of the Pack."

2. THE LAW OF THE PACK - and its meaning.

"The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The pack helps the Cub Scout Grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill."

3. THE CUB SCOUT MOTTO -

 "Do Your Best."

4. THE MEANING OF THE WORD WEBELOS

 "WE 'll BE LOyal Scouts"

5. SHOW THE CUB SCOUT SIGN and tell what it means

• Make the sign with your right hand, first two fingers raised.
• Hold your arm straight up.
• The two raised fingers look like the sharp ears of the wolf listening to Akela, his leader.

6. GIVE THE CUB SCOUT SALUTE and tell what it means

• Salute with your right hand. Hold your first two fingers close together.
• Touch the tips to your cap. Touch your eyebrow if you are not wearing a cap.
• This is the way to show respect to your leaders.
• You salute the flag to show respect to our country.
• And you can greet another Cub Scout this way.

7. SHOW THE CUB SCOUT HANDSHAKE and tell what it means

When you shake hands with another Cub Scout,
place the first two fingers of your right hand
along the inside of his right wrist.

8. WITH YOUR PARENT OR GUARDIAN

Complete the exercises in the parent's guide, How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse.

The Webelos Scout program is a two-year transition program between Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.

The boy becomes a Webelos Scout upon graduation from the Bear program in the spring of third grade. He has all summer to get started on Webelos activities. Boys new to Cub Scouting can become Webelos if they are 10 years old or have completed third grade, and have earned the Bobcat badge.

The end of the Webelos Scout program is when the Webelos Scouts graduate into a troop, typically in February or March of their fifth grade year for those areas holding early graduations. Other groups may graduate at the end of fifth grade when the school year ends.

During these two years, the Webelos Scouts have two badges of rank they can earn and 20 activity badges. These two ranks are: Webelos Badge and the Arrow of Light award

Usually the boys earn the Webelos badge during the first year, and the Arrow of Light during the second year. It is possible for a boy who joins scouting at the start of fifth grade to earn both his Webelos badge and his Arrow of Light award before it is time to graduate into a troop, but it takes a lot of planning and effort to accomplish this.

Much of the activities done in the den are focused around the 20 activity badges (or pins). Some (not all) activity badges are required for the Webelos badge and for the Arrow of Light award. There are other activities the Webelos Scouts must do besides earn activity badges.

1. Have an adult member of the family read and sign the Parent Guide in the Webelos Scout Book.

2. Be an active member of the Webelos den for 3 months (attendance, dues, den projects).

3. Know and explain the meaning of the Webelos badge.

4. Point out and explain the parts of the Webelos Scout uniform. Tell when to and when not to wear it.

5. Earn Fitness and two other activity badges - one from each of two different activity badge groups.

6. Plan and lead a flag ceremony in your den.

7. Show that you know and understand the requirements to be a Boy Scout.

Understand and intend to live by the:

• Scout Oath or Promise
• Scout Law
• Scout motto
• Scout slogan
• Know the following and when to use them:
  • Scout salute
  • Scout sign
  • Scout handclasp
• Understand and agree to follow the Outdoor Code.

 8. Earn the religious award of your faith

Or

Do two of these: Attend the church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious organization of your choice, talk with your religious leader about your beliefs, and tell your family and Webelo den leader what you learned.

Tell how your religious beliefs fit in with the Scout Oath and Scout Law, and discuss with your family and Webelos leader what character-building traits your beliefs and the Scout Oath and Scout Law have in common.

With your religious leader, list and do two things you think will help you draw nearer to God.

Pray to God daily as taught by your family, church, synagogue, or other religious brotherhood. Do this for at least 1 month.

Under the direction of your religious leader, do an act of service for someone else. Talk about your service with your family and Webelos leader. Tell them how it made you feel.

List at least two ways in which you believe you have been a good example and lived in accordance with your religious beliefs.

The meaning of the Webelos Badge:
The emblem is made up of a gold Scout badge with a blue "W," for Webelos, on it. It shows that the boy is moving from Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting.

Webelos Scouts may wear either the blue uniform they wore as Cub Scouts or the khaki and tan uniform they will wear as Boy Scouts. The Scout and his family decide which one he will wear. With the tan shirt, blue loops are worn on the epaulets, to represent Cub Scouting.

With either uniform, Webelos Scouts wear three special parts - the Webelos cap, Webelos neckerchief, and Webelos neckerchief slide. The cap is in two shades of blue and has the Webelos emblem on the front. The neckerchief is a red plaid, and the slide has the Webelos emblem on it.

When to wear the Webelos uniform:

To all den and pack meetings

On campouts and other den activities

At den service projects

During Anniversary Week in February

There are 20 activity badges. They are an integral part of the Webelos den program. They provide exciting activities for den meetings and suggest outside activities that will break up the routine of regular indoor meetings. Activity badges are part of the requirements for earning the Webelos badge and the Arrow of Light Award. But, most of all, they help accomplish the purposes of Cub Scouting.

The Webelos den meeting program will usually feature one activity badge each month. The boys receive instruction, practice what they have been taught, and take part in games or contests using the skills. In some cases they actually pass the badge requirements. Once the skill is learned by the boy, he practices it at den meetings and at home on his own. The boy's family should be encouraged to help him at home. All work or experiments are done or brought to meetings to show others. This encourages a boy to do his best and gives the uncertain boys an idea of what is required. Essays, notebooks, drawings, and other written work are turned in to the Webelos den leader for approval. If the requirement says for a boy to "tell," he should do that at a den meeting.

Many people can be involved in activity badge work. The Webelos den leader and Webelos den chief will handle quite a bit. However, there will be parents, other family members, or other adults with talents and skill related to certain badges who should be invited to help also. Remember to enlist the aid of outsiders who can teach the badge requirements. The badges will have more meaning to the boys if a qualified person coaches them. (See Activity Badge Counselor)

Activity badges offer a good opportunity to spice up Webelos den meetings. They provide opportunities for exhibits and demonstrations at pack meetings. And they might create an interest that will lead to a hobby or career in later life.

Webelos wear them either on their Webelos cap or on the Webelos "colors". It does not matter which pin goes on which ribbon. The Webelos colors go below and touching the den number, or below and touching the U.S. flag if there is no den number (such as using patrol badges). The activity badges are in five groups of four badges each.

The groups are:

Physical skills

Aquanaut

Athlete

Fitness

Sportsman

Mental skills

Artist

Scholar

Showman

Traveler

Community

Citizen

Communicator

Family Member

Readyman

Technology

Craftsman

Engineer

Handyman

Scientist

Outdoor

Forester

Geologist

Naturalist

Outdoorsman

The highest award in Cub Scouts is earned by Webelos that have been active participants in their den and are ready to join a Boy Scout troop. Many of the requirements for the Arrow of Light are intended to familiarize the scout with a local troop and hopefully show him that crossing over into a troop is the next step to take in scouting. A scout that earns his Arrow of Light patch has also completed nearly all the requirements to earn the Scout badge in the troop so he has already begun his Boy Scout trail.

1. Be active in your Webelos den for at least six months since completing the fourth grade (or for at least six months since becoming 10 years old), and earn the Webelos badge.
2. Show your knowledge of the requirements to become a Boy Scout by doing all of these:
   • Repeat from memory and explain in your own words the Scout Oath or Promise and the 12 points of the Scout Law. Tell how you have practiced them in your everyday life.
   • Give and explain the Scout motto, slogan, sign, salute, and handshake.
   • Understand the significance of the First Class Scout badge. Describe its parts and tell what each stands for.
   • Tell how a Boy Scout uniform is different from a Webelos Scout uniform.
   • Tie the joining knot (square knot)
3. Earn five more activity badges in addition to the three you already earned for the Webelos badge. These must include:
   • Fitness (already earned for the Webelos badge)
   • Citizen (already earned for the Webelos badge)
   • Readyman
   • Outdoorsman
   • At least one from the Mental Skills Group
   • At least one from the Technology Group
   • Two more of your choice
4. With your Webelos den, visit at least
   • one Boy Scout troop meeting
   • one Boy Scout-oriented outdoor activity. (If you have already done this when you earned your Outdoorsman activity badge, you may not use it to fulfill requirements for your Arrow of Light Award.)
5. Participate in a Webelos overnight campout or day hike.
   (If you have already done this when you earned your Outdoorsman activity badge, you may not use it to fulfill requirements for your Arrow of Light Award requirements.)
6. After you have completed all five of the above requirements, and after a talk with your Webelos den leader, arrange to visit, with your parent or guardian, a meeting of a Boy Scout troop you think you might like to join. Have a conference with the Scoutmaster.
7. Complete the Honesty Character Connection.
   1. Know: Say the Cub Scout Promise to your family. Discuss these questions with them. What is a promise? What does it mean to keep your word? What does it mean to be trustworthy? What does honesty mean?
   2. Commit: Discuss these questions with your family. Why is a promise important? Why is it important for people to trust you when you give your word? When might it be difficult to be truthful? List examples.
   3. Practice: Discuss with a family member why it is important to be trustworthy and honest. How can you do your best to be honest even when it is difficult?

 
  This ceremony should be the peak event of a Scouts cubbing involvement.  All the young boys should look up to the accomplishment and look forward to their own ceremony one day.