Webelos Scout Program

Your son is even older now and most likely shows more responsibility. He requires more advanced activities to keep his interest. He is becoming more independent. The Webelos program is tailored to these needs and you will notice that the advancement requirements are more difficult. He still needs your support and participation. He is preparing for Boy Scouts and will have a great deal of interactions with them. Over the next two years, he will become familiar with the Boy Scout trail and hopefully find a Troop that he can join after completing his Webelos requirements.

The Webelos badge is the fifth rank in Cub Scouting (coming after Bobcat, Tiger, Wolf, and Bear.) You can start on it as soon as you join a Webelos den, and have earned the Bobcat badge. Webelos (from “WE’ll BE LOyal Scouts,” pronounced WEE-buh-lows) is a transitional program that shifts the emphasis from the home-centered activities
of Tiger Cub, Wolf and Bear Scouts to more group-centered activities. Your participation is still very important and will help your son advance in the more demanding program of Webelos Scout.

This stage prepares son for participation in the great adventure of Boy Scouting by providing him with a variety of new experiences to help assume responsibilities and gain maturity, knowledge and skills.

Advancement and recognition are based on earning the Webelos badge and activity badges. After the Webelos badge, your son can continue working toward the Arrow of Light Award, Cub Scouting’s highest award.

Webelos dens are for boys who have completed third grade (or reached age 10). The Webelos den program is different from the Cub Scout den program: Instead of being based on a monthly theme, the Webelos den program is based on one of 20 Webelos activities: As with all Cub Scout ranks, you must first earn the Bobcat Badge to be eligible to work for this award.

Also, your Webelos Den Leader will now sign off your activities (your parent or guardian does not sign off the activities as they did when you were a Wolf or Bear).

Here is a brief intro to activity badges. We will look into them further as we progress thru the course.

Physical Skills Aquanaut Athlete Fitness Sportsman Mental Skills Artist Scholar Showman Traveler

Community Citizen Communicator Family Member Readyman Technology Craftsman Engineer Handyman Scientist

Outdoor Activity Forester Geologist Naturalist Outdoorsman

Webelos Scouts work on requirements during their weekly den meetings. Once the boy learns the skill, he practices it at den meetings and at home on his own. The boy's family is encouraged to help him at home. Boys bring to den meetings completed or partially completed projects done at home to show others, as well as to be approved by the Webelos den leader. This sharing encourages a boy to do his best and helps to build his confidence and self-esteem.

When a boy has completed the requirements for an activity badge, the Webelos den leader or activity badge counselor, rather than a parent, approves most of the activity badges.

In addition to earning individual activity pins, Webelos Scouts can earn the compass points emblem, which is awarded after earning seven activity badges. Metal compass points—east, west, north, and south—are awarded for each four additional activity badges earned.

Now that you have a better understanding of the Webelos Scout program, click here to learn about the Webelos Badge.