LDS-BSA Relationships Update Information
AND:
Cub Scout Program Updates - 2015 and Beyond
(If you missed the online training in January it is available here).
- Cub Scout Program Transition Information is a “Must Read” for LDS packs. Pages 4 through 7 contain specific ideas for Cub Scout dens and packs sponsored by wards and branches of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. You can start now by helping the boys learn and understand the Scout Oath and Law (SOAL) so they’ll be ahead of the game by June 1, 2015.
Important dates:
April 1: New Pack Meeting Plans
May 1: New handbooks for each den and Den Leader guides. Available in Scout shops.
June 1: Transition into the new program.
New Program FAQ's:
Q: On the camping requirement – it is indicated that we could substitute an all day activity. Is there a certain length it needs to be or just work on the requirements as if we were camping?
A: The exact wording is: While a Wolf/Bear/Webelos Scout, attend a pack or family campout. If your chartered organization does not permit Cub Scout camping, you may substitute a family campout or a daylong outdoor activity with your den or pack. Webelos actually have to plan and conduct the campout or daylong outdoor activity.
There is not a certain length specified but the wording "daylong" indicates it is not something to be rushed through in an hour or two. The emphasis on being unhurried in the outdoors with the boys is being stressed more and more. You need to decide if Webelos Woods and Cub day camp qualifies for a daylong outdoor activity which can be a proper substitute. A Father and Son’s campout sponsored by your wards can count as an overnight. Webelos could plan and conduct a daylong activity for the entire pack. If a family campout is substituted (or another activity) be sure to review the requirements the Cubs need to do overall while on this activity (ie, cooking, campfire program, tent set up, etc)
Important Note on Camping in LDS Units: We recently were reminded of the following: The Church Scouting Handbook reads (and as far as we can tell, has always read): "No Scout-sponsored overnight camping should be planned for boys under age 11." (Scouting in Primary 6.1)
What does this mean? Plan on using substitutes for pack overnighters: a daylong outdoor activity, encourage families to camp out on their own or attend a family camp, and/or encourage Ward/Stake sponsored campouts like Father/sons.
Q: Can the Aaronic Priesthood Commemorative Campout count as a "family camp"?
A: Yes
Q: As a primary leader or cub committee chair, is there a way we can see what training each person has on our committee?
A: Ahh, one of the best discoveries of late… The Unit Key 3 (Cubmasters, Committee Chairs and CORs - as appointed in the recharter) are able to access a detailed report of training done by leaders in their unit. They are also able to designate 3 other leaders to access this - like the pack trainer, Primary counselor, etc. Go to myscouting.org and log in. You will see “Training” on the left side window. Click on “Unit Training Detail” and a report will appear with your unit leaders and their information. You can also click on My.Scouting Tools and find more information, like how to record trainings and more.
Q: It appears that you do not need to earn your Webelos Badge in order to earn the Arrow of Light. Is this true?
A: True
Q: Can a boy earn the arrow light before the Webelos Badge?
A: Yes, but the emphasis should be on getting the Webelos badge first, then working toward the AoL and receiving it not too long before they transition. This is easier to envision in a non-LDS unit. In LDS units it will be more jumbled depending on what is being worked on when they come in. However, while many of us have a mindset to do the Webelos first and AoL second, keep in mind the latest info on advancement: “Ensuring that boys are recognized immediately and publicly for their efforts is an important part of the advancement process. No boy should have to wait for more than two weeks to receive and be recognized for his accomplishments.” One suggestion is that den leaders alternate Webelos requirements with AoL requirements with an elective every three months. If the den leader does that, a Cub can’t really get his AoL very much ahead of his Webelos. The other mind set we might need to reconsider is not so much that the AoL is the highest award in Cub Scouting (which it is), but the AoL is an award that shows a boy is ready to become a Boy Scout. In the history of Cub Scouting, the Webelos rank was not always required to earn the AoL. However, the AoL has always been a “transition rank/award” between Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, which remains the focus of the rank. If you read through the new requirements, you will see how much they do prepare the Cub Scout to become a Scout.
Q: Will there be an award like the all 20 or heavy shoulders for Webelos?
A: No
Q: Will there be an award like the compass patch with the compass pins for Webelos?
A: No
Q: Will Webelos still use the tri colors to display their pins?
A: Yes
Q: Will there be an award for the Wolves or Bears who complete all the adventures during the year?
A: No
Q: Is there a list of activities for the new program that need to be done (or could be done) as a pack or during a pack meeting?
A: [we will continue to research this as well as look for items within den requirements that are two-fors or double takes (items that you can do once and count for two different requirements)]
- Daylong outdoor activity (planned and conducted by Webelos) passes off overnight camping requirement for
all dens. [see comments below on daylong question]
-Outdoor Campfire Program (all dens need to do skits and/or songs, webelos needs to make a fire, bears need
to cook two meals one outside, AOL cook outdoors)
-Cub Scout Service – Wolves & Webelos need to organize and plan a service project for the community. Both Wolves & Webelos also have achievements for recycling and could do a community/neighborhood recycling project as a service. (Web-Building a Better World #8, Wolf Council Fire #3&5)
-Cub Scout Carnival – Bear den needs to organize and plan a carnival for the pack and have it during a Pack Meeting and help younger Cubs with take part in one of the events.
-Gathering Activity – Webelos den needs to play fitness games or games leading younger scouts.
-Display Projects – Webelos den needs to exhibit projects using engineering skills at a pack meeting
-All dens need to hike (Wolf & Bear 1 mile, Webelos 3 miles) with a variety of things they should identify or do on the hike(s)
-All dens need to learn Leave No Trace principles, and the outdoor code
-All dens have requirements with Weather/disasters
-All dens can visit a law enforcement agency to cover a variety of requirements for Hometown Heroes (wolf), Paws for Action & Forensics (Bear), and Build My Own Hero (Webelos)
-Wolves can visit botanical or community garden (Grow Something #3), Bears visit nature center (Fur, Feathers, Ferns #3), Webelos visit nature center (Into the Wild #9)
-Disability Awareness - Wolf Elective (Cubs Who Care), Webelos/AOL Elective (Aware and Care)
-Whittling Chip - Bears (Bear Claws) & Webelos (Scouting Adventure #6)
-Grow something (wolves & Webelos - Terrarium, Bears plant a vegetable or herb garden)-Wood working - Bears (Baloo the Builder) & Webelos (Build It), Wolves could build a container to hold their collection.
-Swimming - Wolves (Spirit of the Water #6), Bears (Salmon Run), Webelos (Aquanaut)
-Cooking - Bears (Bear Necessities & Bear Picnic Basket), Webelos (Cast Iron Chef & Castaway & Project Family)
-Knots - Wolf (overhand and square), Bear (two half hitches), Webelos (Bowline, & teach younger scout - Camper #5; Scouting Adventure #5-square, two half hitches, taut line hitch, whip & fuse and care for rope,)
- Webelos - Building a Better World 10b--Set up an exhibit at pack meeting to share information about the World Friendship Fund.
- Webelos - Art Explosion 4b-- Display your artwork in a pack, school or community art show.
- Webelos - Maestral 2a and 3abcde-- Make a musical instrument. Play it for your family, den, or pack.
- Webelos - Movie Making 3-- Share your movie with your family, den, or pack.
Q: Some of the requirements have my Den leaders a little scared because they don’t know how to do them. (musical wind instrument mbira, sistrum, balance scale, fossil cast, car that moves on its own power, chromatography, rube Goldberg machine, built robot hand, build and launch a model rocket, create a series circuit and parallel circuit, chemical reactions, mineral test kit, earth science demonstration) The dens leaders are very excited about the new requirements just nervous they don’t have the skill set to help the boys. I guess the question is will there be a detailed leader guide or some sort of resource that will give very specific instructions on how to teach these requirements?
A: The new den leader guides will contain this information - likely similar to how it is presented in current handbooks. It is supposed to have very clear, simple instruction that any den leader can follow and information and/or resources of how to get help. These activities are a great opportunity to use people in your community who specialize in them and having them visit your den or taking a field trip to learn from others. However, we believe den leaders will be able to competently teach and share these activities without needing outside help.
Q: Will there still be the sports and academic belt loops and pins?
A: No. You will find, however, that many of the activities from this program have been incorporated into the new requirements and electives.
Q: If we can’t get the books on May 1st, will they be available digitally & what will be the cost?
A: Yes, they will be available digitally and the digital books will be less expensive than the hard copy manuals. When we get materials in the Scout office can be questionable. National BSA controls what is sent to the Scout store. They don’t necessarily send what the store determines they need. Hopefully National BSA is aware of our needs and sends plenty…by May as expected. The new program starts for everyone nationally June 1, 2015 with the summer of 2015 as a “transition time” so that all units are ready to use the new program exclusively by Sept 2015.
Q: Will leader books be available by PDF?
A: Yes, but for a cost.
Q: What will the cost of new handbooks and manuals be?
A: We expect the cost to be similar to what they currently cost. $10.99 for Scout handbooks (non spiral bound). Anywhere from $8.99 - 11.99 for leader manuals.
Q: What will be cost of the belt loops and pins?
A: Belt loops- $1.39, Pins- $1.89
Q: How to the Core Value Themes line up with the Scout Law?
A: The Cub Scout core values can line up one to one with the Scout Law, however, multiple Scout Law values can cover one core value. You can’t really go wrong.
Suggested: Trustworthy/Honesty (& Responsibility); Loyal/Perseverance (& Honesty); Helpful/Citizenship (& Compassion, Responsibility); Friendly/Cooperation (& Compassion); Courteous/Respect; Kind/Compassion (& Cooperation); Obedient/Responsibility (& Respect); Cheerful/Positive Attitude (& Compassion); Thrifty/Resourcefulness (& Perseverance); Brave/Courage; Clean/Health & Fitness; Reverent/Faith
Q: When do we need to switch over to the Scout Oath and Law and stop using the Law of the Pack and Cub Scout Promise?
A: You can use the Scout Oath and Law now.
Q:What are the Cub Scout themes for the year?
January
|
Positive Attitude
|
Yes, I Can
|
February
|
Resourcefulness
|
Litter to Glitter
|
March
|
Compassion
|
Aware and Care
|
April
|
Faith
|
Soaring the Skies
|
May
|
Health & Fitness
|
Backyard Fun
|
June
|
Obedient
|
Play Ball
|
July
|
Loyal
|
Scout Salute
|
August
|
Courteous
|
S’more Cub Scout Fun
|
September
|
Clean
|
Cubservation
|
October
|
Brave
|
Super Cub!
|
November
|
Helpful
|
Cubs in Action
|
December
|
Reverent
|
Winter Wonderland
|
A: Yes there will be, but we don't know transition details right now.
Q: What is considered “service” for Journey to Excellence? Is it just the hours spent doing our scout callings, or an actual “service” project?
A: It’s an actual service project provided by the boys (led by their leaders). IE, handing out fliers for voting reminders or scouting for food, cleaning up trash, recycling collection and donation, shoveling snow, raking leaves, etc.