Webelos Meaning:
We‘ll Be Loyal Scouts

Webelos Goal:
Prepare a Cub Scout to be a Boy Scout

Webelos is a 20 month program for 4th and 5th grade boys to prepare to join a Boy Scout troop while learning outdoors skills and participating in 20 different activity badges. A well-run group of Webelos is a gradual change from being an ‘adult-run’ den to being a ‘boy-run’ patrol ready to fit right into an adventurous scouting troop. This migration requires the parents and den leaders to give the scouts more and more control, decision-making power, and responsibility as they progress in skills, abilities, and maturity. A good program also provides the scouts with many opportunities to grow in the Webelos Virtues.

The Webelos program has two major milestones - the Webelos rank badge to be earned around February of 4th grade and the Arrow of Light to be earned around February of 5th grade. The final part of Webelos is bridging over into a Boy Scout troop selected individually by the scout.

Once the goals of Webelos are understood, the methods of the program make a lot of sense! There are a few major changes between Cub Scouts and Webelos scouts that are very important to the success of your program. Some adult leaders and parents find it difficult to adjust to these changes so a Parent Meeting to discuss expectations and changes from Cub Scouts is critical to your succ

ess. Use parents to plan and lead individual activity badges. The Webelos den leader will have more paperwork and tracking than the wolf or bear den leader.

Webelos Badge Requirements

1. Have an adult member of your family read and sign the Parent Guide in the front of the Webelos Scout Book.
2. Be an active member of your Webelos den for 3 months.
3. Know and explain the meaning of the Webelos badge.
4. Point out and explain the three parts of the Webelos Scout uniform. Tell when to wear the uniform and when not to wear it.
5. Earn the Fitness and Citizen activity badges and one other activity badge from a different activity badge group.
6. Plan and lead a flag ceremony in your den that includes the U.S. flag.
7. Show that you know and understand the requirements to be a Boy Scout.
   1. Demonstrate the Scout salute, Scout sign, and Scout handshake. Explain when you would use them.
   2. Explain the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan.
   3. Explain and agree to follow the Outdoor Code.
8. Faith
   After completing the rest of requirement 8, do these (a, b, and c):
   1. Know: Tell what you have learned about faith.
   2. Commit: Tell how these faith experiences help you live your duty to God. Name one faith practice that you will continue to do in the future.
   3. Practice: After doing these requirements, tell what you have learned about your beliefs.

   And do one of these (d OR e):

   1. Earn the religious emblem of your faith*
   2. Do two of these:
      • Attend the mosque, church, synagogue, temple, or other religious organization of your choice, talk with your religious leader about your beliefs. Tell your family and your Webelos den leader what you learned.
      • Discuss with your family and Webelos den leader how your religious beliefs fit in with the Scout Oath and Scout Law, and what character-building traits your religious beliefs have in common with the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
      • With your religious leader, discuss and make a plan to do two things you think will help you draw nearer to God. Do these things for a month.
      • For at least a month, pray or meditate reverently each day as taught by your family, and by your church, temple, mosque, synagogue, or religious group.
      • Under the direction of your religious leader, do an act of service for someone else. Talk about your service with your family and Webelos den leader. Tell them how it made you feel.
      • List at least two ways you believe you have lived according to your religious beliefs.

Compass Points Emblem Requirements

1. Earn the Webelos Badge.
2. Earn four more activity badges for a total of seven to receive the compass points emblem.
3. Earn one compass point pin for each additional four activity badges.
   • 11 activity badges – first point
   • 15 activity badges – second point
   • 19 activity badges – third point

Important differences from Cub Scouts to Webelos:

1. Advancement Sign Off - each Webelos scout is supposed to take his handbook to the den leader or assistant den leader for sign off when a requirement is completed. This is a change from having a parent sign off every activity. This change prepares the scout to have a ScoutMaster sign off each advancement requirement in Boy Scouts. There is more responsibility put on the scout to remember and bring his handbook to meetings and get it signed.
2. Webelos Activity Badges - Bear and Wolf scouts earned red or yellow progress towards rank beads to string on a totem. Once enough were earned, they received the rank badge. Webelos moves closer to the Boy Scout merit badge system with a recognizable pin for each activity badge earned. Individual scouts may earn different badges at different times and there are only a couple badges that are mandatory to earn ranks. This change gives the scout more control over his advancement and lets him choose areas he enjoys more.
3. Camping - Webelos dens should Camp! Cub Scouts can camp as a pack, but Webelos should go out as a den as much as possible to give the scouts opportunities to learn and use their Outdoorsman, Naturalist, Forester, and Readyman skills. Each Webelos scout needs to have an adult responsible for him on each camping trip. Campouts in the backyard with dinner and s’mores made on a gas grill can be a great way to ease your scouts into the world of camping.