First Class Rank

As you progress toward Eagle Scout, you will pass a couple milestones. 

The first rank you will earn is called Scout. It is likely you will earn this within a couple weeks of crossing over. After Scout is Tenderfoot, this rank requires a little more work and can be earned within a few months. The Second Class Rank can be completed by the end of summer. The First Class Rank will be next. Camping at Heritage Reservation helps to speed advancement.

As a First Class Scout you can be a Den Chief.

Shooting Sports

Shooting Sports has long been part of the Boy Scouts. Starting when you were a Tiger Cub at Fall Fun Day, you were shooting BB's and Arrows. In the past we would award BB and Archery Belt Loops as one of your first awards. Those easy to earn belt loops were replaced with the BSA Shooting Sports Pins. These three pins for BB, Archery and Sling Shot are harder to earn, require more shooting and focus on safety and fundamentals.  Most of you have earned at least one of these pins by attending day camp or resident camp. We will be trying something new this winter, a night of shooting at the indoor range at Camp Guyasuta just across the river from the Pittsburgh Zoo. Next year, you will be able to shoot .22 Rifles at resident camp.

Klondike Derby

The Klondike Derby is a Boy Scout weekend campout with an all day skills competition and auction. Each patrol maneuvers the camp with all their gear loaded onto a dogsled. They traverse from station to station earning gold nuggets that they will use at the after dinner auction. Although this is a Boy Scout event, Webelos patrols are invited to compete as well. The derby usually takes place at Camp Twin Echos. This year the Klondike Derby is scheduled for February 4th. We will be preparing during the December and January meetings.  

Events traditionally are:

     First Aid

     Tomahawk Throwing

     Slingshot

     Knot Tying

     Cooking

     Sled Racing

     Scout History

     Shelter Building

     

Boy Scout Ranks

There are 7 ranks you will earn on your way to Eagle. So far, you are well prepared for Scout and Tenderfoot.

Once you achieve First Class, you may work as a Den Chief with Cub Scouts.

You can continue working toward merit even after Eagle by earning Eagle Palms.

Independent Studies

As a boy scout, you will be working more independently with a merit badge counselor than you have as a Webelos Scout working with our patrol. You will use a blue card to track your progress.

We are going to try using blue cards to track progress for a few possible extra adventure pins. To earn the activity pin you will have to fill out the blue card, one of your parents will act as the merit badge counselor and then I will sign as the scout leader. 

Below are the links to some Webelos Electives

Build My Own Hero
Engineer
Fix It
Project Family
Movie Maker
Aware and Care
Build It

Try to complete as much of the requirements as possible for credit. 

Camper Adventure

The past two years have opened the doors to additional camping opportunities. As Webelos, we are permitted to camp as a group at the scout cabin. Here each of you have had the chance to select a tent site, set up a tent and sleep under the stars. Some of you have camped at Heritage Reservation and some have camped at the Scout Cabin. In all, as Webelos we have had the opportunity to camp in the spring, summer and fall. This year we are planning a winter weekender at the cabin.


Camper Adventure Workbook

Webelos Super Achiever

The Webelos Super Achiever patch has always been an unofficial award, but it has also been a very difficult award to earn. To be a Super Achiever, you must earn 20 Webelos Adventure Pins. If you have been to all the meetings you are probably close and may get there before we cross over. Count your pins and make sure we are not missing any. We will have a few pins that can be earned independent at home and we will be earning a few more together in the upcoming meetings.

November for Citizenship

Building a Better World replaced the Citizenship Pin for Webelos a couple years ago. Each of you earned this pin last year as you worked toward the Arrow of Light Award. In order to achieve the Rank of Eagle Scout, you must earn the Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation and Citizenship in the World Merit Badges. 

Citizenship in the Community is displayed when we honor those fallen at the 9/11 ceremony or when we retire flags, those are things we do for our community.

Citizenship in the Nation is displayed when we do things that help our nation as a whole. We discussed some of the questions on the citizenship test. Knowing how our government works helps you understand Citizenship in the Nation.

Citizenship in the World sounds confusing. We are American citizens, but no matter what nation we are from, we are in this world together. When traveling abroad, always represent yourself as a model scout. Learn about other countries and understand the customs of other places. Conserve energy and water. Recycle. These are the things that make you a citizen of the world

Sharpening and Cleaning Knives

You are less likely to get cut when using a sharp knife. A dull knife will slip in the wood and increases the chance of getting a cut.

There are dozens of different knife sharpeners on the market ranging in price from $5 to well over $100. Which one of these is the best? The best sharpener is the one you can use best.

Whet Stones

Diamond Sharpens

Lansky Kits

Rod Sharpeners

Chef Choice

Honing Steel

Strops

Keeping your knife clean will also extend its service life. A knife is a tool and must be kept in working order. Keep the blade clean by using a soft cloth and a small drop of oil at the hinge will keep the blade opening and closing easily.

As part of this activity we will be crafting Knife Sharpeners from recycled materials and we will be learning about saws and axes

As Boy Scouts you will be using and maintaining Knives, Saws and Axes

Using Blue Cards

Everything that you have earned in Cub Scouts was recorded by your den leader or your parents. In this way, an adult made sure that you got the merit badge that you earned. In Boy Scouts, its the scout's responsibility to make sure they get credit for their merit badges. Scouts use Blue Cards to apply for their merit badges. There will always be adult leaders to guide the scout, but the responsibility is shifted to the scout.

Here is a pdf of the Blue Card Process

We are going to try using Blue Cards for a few Webelos Pins to get you accustomed to the Blue Card.

Scouting in the UK

Lord Baden-Powell founded the Boy Scouts in Great Britain in 1907.

He felt that young people should be prepared for the world that awaits them.

Scouting came to the US in 1910.

There are numerous differences between the US and the UK and that reflects in scouting.





The differences between the UK and the US include many of the names we call things, the kinds of foods we eat, the kinds of drinks we drink and the presence of the Royal Family.


Last year, most of us were drinking tea at our Webelos Spring Camporee. Tea is the preferred drink in the UK.

Scout Troops in the UK include girls among their ranks. In the US, boys and girls do not scout together until age 14 when Venture Scouting becomes an option.

This year we will be reaching out to a Scout Troop in the UK.

Scout Skits

In the past, Webelos Scouts have had the opportunity to earn the Showman Activity Pin. This pin required the scout to perform skits, puppet shows, musical numbers or dramatic monologues. Last year, the Showman Pin was replaced with the Maestro Adventure. The Maestro Adventure focused only on music. 

This year, Pack 569 is bringing back the Skit!  

Hiking Sticks

The hottest ticket item at the Heritage Reservation Trading Post this summer was the Hiking Stick. They sold out almost as the store opened. 

Hiking sticks can be wood, fiberglass, carbon fiber, bamboo, telescopic, store bought, recycled, homemade or acquired along the way. A hiking stick can help you keep your footing on a rough trail and can give you something to lean on while you take a break.

Here is a handout on homemade hiking sticks

You can customize you own hiking stick with paracord, carvings and medallions. 

Scouting Adventure

This adventure will fully prepare you to crossover to the Boy Scouts. If you have camped at Heritage Reservation or if you competed in the Klondike Derby, you have already completed most of this adventure.

We will be attending a Patrol Meeting with Troop 510 as part of this adventure.

By the time you earn your Arrow of Light, you will have the skills and knowledge to easily earn the Scout and Tenderfoot ranks and be on your way to First Class.

Scouting Adventure Workbook

High Adventure camping is something to look forward to as you grow in scouting. 

Arrow of Light

The Arrow of Light is the highest honor a Cub Scout can earn. It is one of the very few Cub Scout badges that can be worn on the Boy Scout uniform. By earning the Arrow of Light, you have demonstrated that you are ready and well prepared to cross the bridge and become a Boy Scout. 

We only have a couple adventures to complete before you have all earned the Arrow of Light.

As a final project, you will prepare your Arrow of Light Plaque. This is a keepsake that will chronicle your career in Cub Scouts.

We will order plaque kits well in advance of the Blue and Gold Banquet.

Fire Safety

October is Fire Safety Month.

As Boy Scouts, you can earn the merit badge for fire safety and as Cub Scouts, we can start making sure that we are safe with fire and that we are responsible with fire.  

You all have experienced Fire Drills at school, but what would you do at your own home.  Would you know were to go or who to call?

Its a good idea to have a plan just in case there is a fire.  Select a meeting spot outside and make sure your smoke alarms have fresh batteries. Now is a good time to change them.

If you have a two story house, you can keep an escape ladder in a room with a window.  This ladder fits in a box about 12"x 12" and will reach the ground from a second floor window.  

If a door is warm to the touch, there is probably fire on the other side.  If a room is smoke filled, crawl on the floor where the fresh air is.

Fire extinguishers are important pieces of safety equipment to have in case of a fire. Not all fire extinguishers are the same. Each type of extinguisher has a purpose and is designed to best put out a certain type of fire.  

Here is a link to the National Fire Protection Association and to Smokey the Bear's Website

Earth Rocks!

The study of the earth is called Geology. We will be learning about Geology as an elective on our way to the Arrow of Light. 

There are several disciplines within the field of Geology.

I am a Field Geologist, but there are also Geologists who specialize in Minerals, Oil and Gas, the Environment, Engineering, Earthquakes, Hydrology and Mining.

Geologists work with Civil Engineers and Environmental Scientists.

Some of the principle tools a Geologist uses are maps, compasses and hammers.

Leave No Trace

As Bears, we went on our first Leave No Trace hike in the park. Last year as Webelos, we all earned the Leave No Trace patch. If you went to Webelos Camp, Leave No Trace was part of the Acorn Challenge. As we transition into Boy Scouts, we want to make sure that we continue this trend.

Learn the Outdoor Code

Tread Lightly

Take only pictures, leave only footprints

Duty to God in Action

Last year we discussed Duty to God and You. This adventure focused on your relationship with God. This year, our adventure is Duty to God in Action. The focus here is trying to reflect in your actions the types of behavior and manners God expects from us.

A few things we can do are called "Works of Mercy"

Feed the Hungry - We do this when we "Scout for Food". All our donated food goes to the South Hills Interfaith Ministry Food Pantry. The food is given to whomever needs it.

Clothe those who need Clothes - Donating old clothes to Goodwill helps to provide low cost clothing. There are also donation points that provide free clothing to those in poor countries.

Give Drink to the Thirsty - This can be a big a challenge as helping to dig a well or as simple as not wasting water. The Red Cross frequently delivers water to those in need.

Visit the Sick - Scouts frequently visit people who are sick and cannot leave the hospital or nursing home. A donation to an organization like St Jude's helps sick children

Give to the Poor - Giving to the food pantry and donating clothes help disadvantaged people to help make ends meet.

By following the 12 points of the Scout Law, you will be conducting yourself as gentleman and you will be a reflection of how God wants you to be.

Duty to God in Action Workbook

Our craft for this activity will be a prayer box made from recycled materials.

We will be using empty Altoid tins and scrap paper. The pencil and paper inside get used to write the names of people you are praying for.

Game Design

The game design activity pin is an opportunity to be creative and have fun. Last year we played Kali using dried beans and egg cartons. That was a way to play a fun game using recycled materials. At Webelos Camp, many of you played a game called Glass Doors that our campsite host made up. Frequently at gatherings, games like Jackpot and Release are played. These are all games that were created by kids.

This year one of our projects is going to be a triple threat. We will recycle materials, design a game and do a service project all in one. 

As Webelos, game design can be as simplistic as creating a new game and playing it with our patrol or drawing a storyboard for your own video game concept. This adventure sets the stage for the Game Design Merit Badge that can be earned as a Boy Scout.

Webelos Handbook

Webelos Handbook

Last Year, the BSA revamped all the Cub Scout Handbooks. We completed all our adventures using the leaders guide and we did not require a handbook. If you would like a digital handbook, you can download one here in pdf format easily readable on a tablet.