Webelos Den Plan  

 

This plan is designed to get your boys to Crossover in 19 months.  In the Webelos Leader guide there are two plans, a 21 month and a 19 month plan.  One plan starts in June and the other in September.  This plan also starts in June but it finishes in November giving you some time before Crossover to finish any badges that are incomplete.  It is entirely possible for all of your boys to earn the Arrow of Light and Heavy Shoulder (earning all 20 badges).  There are 8 total badges required to earn the Arrow of Light award.  They are as follows:  Fitness, Citizen, Readyman, Outdoorsman, one badge from the Mental Skills group, one from the Technology group, and two more of your choice.

 

          It is EXTREMELY helpful if you can have your boys attend Cub Scout Day Camp, a Boy Scout Camporee or the Cub Scout Advancement Day at least once while they are Webelos.  They can cover a lot of badges that you may not be qualified to teach such as Engineering, Scientist, Geologist, etc.  If you encourage your boys to attend these events, you will have a lot more time to do some really fun field trips and activities.  However, if some of your boys miss one of these events, plan on covering that badge like none of your boys attended the event.  This plan allows for you to do that.

 

          Start each den meeting with the boys reciting the Boy Scout Oath, Law, Outdoor Code and other things they will need to know for Crossover.

 

          Keener Morrow is the Naturalist at Oak Mountain State Park.  He will be happy to go over any of the Naturalist & Forester requirements with your boys and he is really good with the boys.  You must contact him in advance to set up a time to meet.  Call the Oak Mountain Park office and they can put you in touch with him.

 

          Coordinate with other Webelos dens to go to the Shelby County YMCA and they will provide you with a certified lifeguard to take the boys through the Aquanaut requirements.  It is best if you let them know in advance what skills they need to present to the boys so you get everything covered.  The YMCA charges a nominal fee per boy (I think it is about $3 or$4).  Use den funds.

 

          Make up forms for the boys to fill out to keep track of things to be done at home.  Have them turn them in just like homework.  Traveler must be done with the family so you might have them write down everything and turn it in to you.  Athlete can be started at an event or a den meeting but some of it must be done at home.  They must earn the Physical Fitness Belt Loop and pin and the pin takes a month to complete.  You might want to meet every week during that month just to do those requirements as a group to make sure that they all complete the requirements.

 

          The following is the plan I used during my oldest son’s Webelos experience and I plan to use it with my younger son.  It is fairly detailed but you may want to change some of the activities and field trips to accommodate the interests of your boys.  If you can’t start in June, it’s ok.  Just start in August with Aquanaut and go from there.  You will have December and January to finish up.

 

          June – Fitness

          July – Citizen & Traveler (at home)

          August – Aquanaut & Athlete (Start Now!!!)

          September – Readyman & finish Athlete

          October – Outdoorsman

          November – Craftsman

          December – Finish Craftsman

          January – Showman – Volunteer to perform at pack meeting

          February – Artist

          March – Scholar

          April – Family Member

          May – Naturalist

          June – Handyman – Sportsman

          July – Geologist – Sportsman

          August – Engineer – finish Sportsman

          September – Communicator

          October – Forester

          November – Scientist

          December & January – Finish up any incomplete badges

 

 

Detailed Plan

 

June – Fitness – At meeting discuss Character Connection.  Complete Safety notebook, discuss #5, 6 & 7.  Send home form to complete 3 & 4.  Bring to next meeting.  Introduce Traveler & have the boys work on it during the summer (big travel season).

 

July – Citizen – Discuss & do # 1-8 and 10 and 11 (Maybe visit city hall and talk to mayor or council member.

 

August – Go to YMCA and complete Aquanaut.  Discuss 1 – 4 and begin 30 day period for tracking progress.  Bring results to 1st September meeting.

 

September – Readyman – Discuss #1 & 2 and with parents do #3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8.  Discuss 9 and make first aid kit & do #12.  It wouldn’t hurt to have them do #11.  This is a badge they frequently offer at Camporee and other events, usually taught by a doctor or nurse.

 

October – Outdoorsman – Go camping.  Plan what to do at meeting before campout.  Carry out plan at campout.  You can also switch Outdoorsman and the first month of craftsman (November) and just do the Outdoorsman at the Tannehill campout in November.

 

November – Start Craftsman – Gather supplies like safety goggles, work apron, small tape measure.  Use den funds to purchase these things and every boy can keep these after you are done with this badge.  You may be able to get Lowe’s or Home Depot to donate or discount these products.  Use www.usscouts.org for resources.

 

December – Finish Craftsman – Clay bowl, Webelos scrapbook (wood or paper), handle for walking stick (leather).  Just use your imagination.

 

January – Showman – Music is the easiest. Do 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, & 14.  This can be done in one meeting.  If you need to, finish Craftsman.  You can also do a puppet show and perform it for the pack.

 

February – Artist – Do 1 & 2 and 4, 5, 6, 7, & 11.  By the end of this month you should have your Webelos Badge.

 

March – Scholar – This should take only 1 meeting.  Discuss #1, Do #2, 5, 6 and discuss 9 and do 10 & 12.  Do something fun at 2nd meeting or work on missed badges.

 

April – Family Member – Most of this badge must be done at home.  Discuss what requirements you will do at the meeting and send forms home for the boys to complete.  Do something fun at 2nd meeting or work on missed badges.

 

May – Naturalist – Get with the Naturalist at Oak Mountain or go camping as a den and complete these on your own.

 

June – Handyman – Discuss #1, 2 (a good opportunity to get your car washed!!) 5, 8, 10, 12, & 17.  This could take 2 meetings.  If not, do some activity to earn a sports beltloop for sportsman.  If they go to Day Camp they will earn some sports bl’s.

 

July – Geologist – Take a field trip to the Fossil Site.  Call Mayor Frings to schedule.

 

August – Engineer – Find an engineer & get him to do this one (you can do this on your own but it is much easier if you know someone).  You may ask other den leaders if they have an engineer in their den and do this badge together.  The boys love building the catapult (kit available at Scout Shop).  This is another one that may be offered at and event.

 

September – Communicator – Do #1 & 2 (Discuss at 1st meeting, present at 2nd), 4, 7, 11, 12, 13, & 14.  This one can be done at 1 meeting and brought back to the 2nd meeting.

 

October – Forester – Go camping.  Get with Keener at Oak Mountain or go over yourself.

 

November – Scientist – FIND A SCIENTIST!!  This one is often offered at multiple events.  The boys should get this at some point in the 2 years of Webelos.

 

December – Finish any badges needed for heavy shoulder or Arrow of Light.  Work on Boy Scout requirements or just do something fun.  You have earned it!!!!

 

January – Get ready for Arrow of Light Ceremony and participate in the boys’ last Pinewood Derby!

 

February – CROSSOVER!!!!!!  CONGRATULATIONS, YOU MADE IT!!!!!!!