Webelos to Boy Scout Orientation

Transcription

1 Webels t By Scut Orientatin Trp Organizatin The Patrl Methd In 1888, Lrd Baden Pwell wrte, The frmatin f the bys int Patrls f frm six t eight and training them as separate units each under its wn respnsible leader is the key t a gd Trp. Patrls are the building blcks f Scuting. As a member f a patrl, yu plan tgether, learn tgether, and all f yu pitch in t turn exciting plans int actin. Patrls are such an imprtant part f Scuting that a part f each trp meeting is usually set aside fr each patrl t meet by itself. Every patrl has a name and every Scut in the patrl wears a patch n their right sleeve with their patrl s emblem. Each patrl has a flag they make that they carry at trp meetings a camputs. Every patrl has a yell, t. Yu give the yell when yur patrl wins a cntest r perfrms well at any ther event. Yur patrl will elect ne f its members t serve a patrl leader. The patrl leader is in charge f the patrl at trp meetings and during utdr adventures, and he represents the patrl n the patrl leaders cuncil. While there is nly ne patrl leader, every member f a patrl shares the duties f leadership. Yu culd be the ne wh finds the way n a hike, wh is the chief ck in camp, r wh teaches ther Scuts hw t tie a knt. The new-scut patrl is a grup f bys wh have just becme Scuts. They are helped by a trp guide an lder, experienced Scut wh can shw the way. Members f a new-scut patrl chse their patrl leader, plan what they want t d, and take part in utings and trp meetings just like any patrl. They als learn the basic skills they need in rder t enjy hiking, camping, and ther Scut adventures. Befre lng, members f a new-scut patrl will discver that they are passing many f the requirements fr the ranks f Tenderft, Secnd Class, and First Class. SPL Senir Patrl Leader. This is the tp by leader f a trp and is elected by all f the Scuts. With guidance frm the Scutmaster, he is in charge f trp meetings and the patrl leaders cuncil, and des all he can t see that the patrls succeed. Patrl Leader Cuncil The activities f yur trp are planned by a patrl leaders cuncil (PLC) made up f yu patrl leaders, senir patrl leader, Scutmaster, and ther trp leaders. The PLC discusses future meetings and utings fr the whle trp. Yur patrl leader s respnsibility is t share the ideas that have cme frm yu and ther Scuts in yur patrl t the PLC and t reprt back decisins made by the PLC back t yu and the patrl Scutmaster The Scutmaster is the main adult leader f yur trp. He is respnsible fr training the Senir Patrl Leader, meeting with each by as they are ready fr advancement (Scutmaster Cnference), and directing the activities f the varius assistant scutmasters. Meetings Unlike Cub Scut packs, trps meet every week f the year, including summer. In additin, there are usually separate patrl meetings (1 t 2) a mnth and mst trps will have planned a mnthly utdr activity.

2 Webels t By Scut Orientatin Hw t visit a trp Wh t call Many trps will designate ne persn t be their main cntact pint fr arranging visits. This culd be the Scutmaster r ne f his assistants acting as the Webels crdinatr. Gse Creek District maintains a web site ( where all the trps in the district are listed alng with their meeting times and places, chartering rganizatin, and cntact pints. While any trp wuld welcme yu at any time, it is best t call ahead especially if mre than ne Webels will be visiting. When t visit Mst trps hld an Open Huse where they gear their prgram fr that night specifically t visiting Webels. While these are definitely great events and wrth ging t yu shuld be aware f tw things. First, these are usually nt held until February and yu really want t start lking at trps befre then. Secnd, with all the special things that they are ding fr yu at the meeting yu dn t get t see hw the trp behaves nrmally. Try t visit a trp at ne f their regular meetings. If a trp lks interesting visit them mre than nce. Dn t wait until February t start visiting, start nw and visit as many trps as yu can. Deciding n a Trp Every trp has its wn persnality and what yu need t d is t find ne that yu will be cmfrtable with and will grw with fr the next few years. Sme f the factrs that give each trp its character are: Meeting Time and Place - When lking at trps dn t limit yurself t thse in the same twn. Unlike Cub Scut packs that are ften based arund an elementary schl, trps usually have members that cme frm a very wide gegraphical area. Thugh yu may nt want t pick a trp clear acrss the cunty (thugh sme Scuts d), dn t be afraid f an extra 15 r 20 minute drive if yu find a trp that really meets yur gals. The nly real cnsideratin fr this factr is what day f the week the trp meets. If the trp meets n a day yu knw yu will have cnflicts with, lk fr anther trp. Size f the Trp With mre Scuts and mre adult leadership, large trps ften supprt a mre varied list f activities. On the ther hand, large trps ften have mre cmpetitin fr leadership psitins and new Scuts can smetimes feel verlked. Small trps will ften have a clser bnding f Scuts but may smetimes have truble getting sme activities ging because f fewer adult leaders. Try t decide what size trp fits yur needs best and when lking at trps find ut what size they plan t grw t. It is nt uncmmn t decide that yu want t be in a small trp, find ne f abut 20 Scuts that yu like t jin, and then discver that 30 ther Scuts have decided t d the same. Age Distributin f Scuts When visiting a trp lk t see hw many lder Scuts are present. These lder Scuts help t prvide mre experienced by leadership t the trp. Try t find ut what challenges the tarp ffers the lder Scuts t keep them interested in Scuting. This is imprtant because sn yu re ging t be ne f thse lder Scuts and will want t d mre than just yur basic camping.

3 Chartering Organizatin The Chartering Organizatin is the grup that wns the trp yu are visiting. Try t find ut what they d t supprt the trp (leadership, funding, events). Sme Chartering Organizatins may help by emphasizing certain prgrams, fr example, a church may help its Scuts earn the Religius Emblem. Camping (hw ften, where, what type) All trps camp. Try t find ut hw ften they g ut, whether they just camp lcally r travel a bit, and what types f camping they d. Sme may d special yearly events such as a beach camput r a caneing expeditin. If they d a lt f hiking yu may want t plan n getting better bts then yu nrmally wuld. Find ut what the csts f a camping trip are and hw d they wrk ut the transprtatin issues. Ask abut what summer camps they g t and when and where they are planning t g t this year. Als ask what fund raisers the Scuts d t earn mney fr camping. Trp specialties Many trps ver time develp prgrams n ne r mre types f activities that they may d mre ften, r with mre prficiency, than ther trps. These culd be such things as hiking, caneing, rck climbing, r spelunking (caving). If yu find a trp whse specialty matches yur wn interests yu may want t lk mre seriusly int jining them. Quality Unit There are a number f requirements (advancements, adult leader training, n time rechartering) a trp must meet in rder t earn their Quality Unit patch. If yu dn t see the Scuts in the trp yu re visiting wearing the Quality Unit patch try t find ut why and what steps they have dne t make sure that they get it next year. Crssvers The Crssver is a special ceremny where the trp yu ve jined recgnizes that yu have crssed ver frm Cub Scuting int By Scuting. This can be dne either by the trp visiting yur pack and ding the ceremny in frnt f the entire pack r by the trp having all its new members cme t ne lcatin where they will d the ceremny fr all. The main t knw here is that yu dn t have t wait fr this ceremny t start attending trp meetings. As sn as yu decide n a trp and have earned yur Arrw f Light start ging t the meetings. If yu wait fr the crssver then yu ve missed a mnth s wrth f infrmatin abut summer camp and may have missed that first camput that the trp hlds that is specifically designed fr the new Scuts.

4 Webels t By Scut Orientatin By Scut Advancements Jining Requirements All Scuts when jining a trp must pass the Jining Requirements listed n page 4 f the Scut Handbk. This is much like earning the Bbcat badge when yu jined yur pack. 1 st year Prgram (Tenderft, Secnd Class, First Class) The first year prgram, with the ranks f Tenderft, Secnd Class, and First Class is designed t teach the camping, first aid, and safety skills needed t g camping t new Scuts. Thugh called the 1 st year prgram there is n time requirement n when the advancements must be cmpleted. Sme Scuts can d all f the requirements in less than a year, sme will take lnger. Unlike Cub Scuts there is n age determined advancements. All Scuts g thrugh the same advancement prgram n matter hw ld they are r when then jin. Yu may pass any f the requirements fr Tenderft, Secnd Class, and First Class at any time. Fr example, if yu fulfill a First Class requirement befre yu are a Secnd Class Scut, yu may check ff the First Class requirement as cmpleted. Yu may nt receive a rank, hwever, until yu have earned the ne befre it. Handbk - This is the Scut Bible. It explains all the requirements and lists ut all f the infrmatin yu need t knw in rder t reach First Class. This is als the place where yur requirements get signed ff. Mst Scutmasters expect this bk t be always with yu at trp meetings and camputs. Scutmaster Cnference One requirement that By Scuts have fr rank advancement that Cub Scuting desn t have is that whenever yu cmplete the requirements fr a rank yu need t have a Scutmaster Cnference. At this meeting the Scutmaster will review the requirements with yu t make sure that they have been learned crrectly, he will help yu t set up the gals fr the next advancement, and he will have yu share yur ideas abut the trp (hw its ging frm yur viewpint, what yu wuld like the trp t d mre f, prblems yu see ccurring ) Bard f Review Anther difference in By Scut requirements is that all rank advancements (except the Jining Requirements) require a Bard f Review. The members f a Bard f Review can be any adult in the trp except fr the Scutmaster r any f his assistants. The main purpse f the Bard f Review is nt t retest the skills a Scut has learned, but t see what the Scut s spirit is and hw the trp is ding is helping the Scut alng and meeting By Scut bjectives. Curt f Hnr When yu cmplete a rank advancement yu will usually be given the badge at the next trp meeting. Abut fur times a year, the trp will hld a special meeting called a Curt f Hnr. This is a frmal ceremny t recgnize yu and yur fellw Scuts fr rank advancement and ther Scuting achievements. This event is held with an audience f family, friends, chartered rganizatin fficials, and trp leaders. The Path t Eagle Once a Scut has reached First Class and learned the basic skills f Scuting, he is ready fr the challenge f becming an Eagle Scut. The Path t Eagle has three ranks, Star Scut, Life Scut, and Eagle Scut. Here the requirements fr advancement cnsist f earning merit badges, ding service prjects t help the cmmunity, shwing that yu can lead

5 ther Scuts as a patrl leader r sme ther leadership psitin, and demnstrating t thers that yu have Scut spirit. Merit Badges A merit badge is an invitatin t explre an exciting subject. With mre than a hundred t chse frm, sme merit badges encurage yu t increase yur skill in subjects yu already like, while thers challenge yu t learn abut new areas f knwledge. Many f the merit badges are designed t help yu increase yur ability t be f service t thers, t take part in utdr adventures, t better understand the envirnment, and t play a valuable rle in yur family and cmmunity. Earning a merit badge can even lead yu tward a lifelng hbby r set yu n the way t a rewarding career. The requirements fr each merit badge appear in the current BSA merit badge pamphlet fr that award, and in the bk By Scut Requirements, available at Scut shps and cuncil service centers. When yu have decided n a merit badge yu wuld like t earn, fllw these steps: 1. Obtain frm yur Scutmaster a signed merit badge applicatin (blue card) and the name f a qualified cunselr fr that merit badge. 2. Alng with anther Scut, a relative, r a friend, set up and attend yur first appintment with the merit badge cunselr. 3. Cmplete the requirements, meeting with the cunselr whenever necessary until yu have finished wrking n the badge. Sme imprtant facts t knw abut merit badges: 1. Any Scut, regardless f rank, can earn merit badges. 2. Thugh there are ver a hundred merit badges there are fifteen special nes (pages f the Scut Handbk) that must be earned in rder t becme an Eagle Scut. These are referred t as the Eagle Required Badges and have a silver instead f a green brder. Other Awards There are tw ther Scut awards that are usually f interest t first year Scuts: The Ttin Chip and the Firem n Chit. When a Scut demnstrates that he knws hw t handle wds tls (knife, axe, saw) he may be granted ttin rights. Until a Scut has earned his Ttin Chit he is nt allwed t carry a pcketknife. If fund handling wd tls incrrectly, a crner f the Ttin Chip card is ften cut ff. When all fur crners are gne, s is the Scuts ttin rights. The wner f a Firem n Chit has demnstrated knwledge f safety rules in building, maintaining, and putting ut camp and cking fires. Until a Scut has earned his Firem n Chit he is nt allwed t carry matches.

6 Webels t By Scut Orientatin Camping and Equipment Overall In general the first year f camping will be pretty tame. New Scuts need time t learn camping skills and what is expected f them frm the Trp and their patrl. Parents may, r may nt, be invited t attend camputs, depending n Trp plicy. Once a Scut has reached First Class he may start participating in mre fun camputs. When Scuts becme 14 years ld they may start participating in Venture camputs. Summer Camp This is a week lng camput usually fcused n earning merit badges. New Scuts may be enrlled in a Brwnsea prgram that is fcused n learning their First Class camping skill. As sn as yu decide n a trp begin ging t their meetings and find ut where they are ging fr summer camp, hw much it will cst, and what frms yu need t start filling ut. Equipment There is a lt f equipment yu need t g camping, but that des nt mean that yu have t g ut and immediately buy a lt f expensive gear. When lking fr camping equipment keep in mind tw things: (1) new Scuts start ff small and grw rapidly (a sleeping bag that fits tday will be t small tmrrw) and (2) new Scuts will nt be ding majr hiking r extreme weather camping their first year. Trp and Patrl Gear Mst trps have their wn tents and cking gear that are supplied t the patrls. Patrls will supplement this with purchases f their wn fr such things as pt hlders, paper twels, etc. Parents, hwever, usually have t supply their wn tent. Backpacks When yu pack mre than 25% f yur bdy weight in a pack yu ve verpacked. Thse great big packs that yu see lder Scuts and adults use are much t big fr new Scuts. Lk fr a small, inexpensive backpack fr the first year (brrw ne preferably) and wait fr them t reach their grwth befre buying a bigger, better ne. Als since the distance mst first year Scuts have t travel is frm the back f the car t the tent, a duffle bag is ften sufficient. Until a Scut learns hw t prperly pack, an external frame pack is usually best. They are cheaper, allw fr mre freedm in packing, and the frame helps keep the lumps in the pack away frm the back. Sleeping bags A 25 (F) sleeping bag is mre than adequate fr the type f camping a new Scut will d in the first tw years (including winter camping). Even when the temperature ges dwn t zer the Scuts will be sleeping inside tents with ther Scuts, dressed, and with a bag liner r blanket inside the bag. Sleeping bags filled with dwn are t be avided. Thugh they are the warmest and lightest they lse almst all f their insulating ability when they get wet (a cmmn ccurrence fr new Scuts) and cannt be dried ut n a camping trip. The new synthetics are almst as gd as dwn, retain mst f their insulating capability when wet, and can be dried n a camping trip. Mummy bags are gd because they heat up faster, are lighter and easier, and usually cme with a hd t keep the head warm. They can smetimes be uncmfrtably fr new Scuts, hwever, because they feel cnstrictive. Bts - Bts are an essential fr camping. Sneakers d nt prvide any ankle supprt and quickly get wet with a little rain. Bts shuld g abve the ankle and shuld have a gusseted tngue (the tngue has extra material t the sides that attach t the bt) s that water and dirt

7 are kept ut. Lk fr a minimum number f sewn seams (because they all have t be waterprfed) and a cemented r sewn sle. Get a gd ft liner t help wick misture ut f the bt. See pages f the Scut Handbk fr mre infrmatin abut bts and scks. Flashlights The preferred flashlights fr Scut is the MagLite, with a belt hlder. They are small, easily carried, always with yu, and have a spare bulb inside. Yu can als buy a headband fr them s that yu can use them hand free. Headbands with attached lights are als gd. The rule here is that if it takes a D cell, its t big. Als remember that having spare batteries is ften as imprtant as having the flashlight. Mess kits Dn t g ut and buy thse army style messkits where everything fits inside everything else. They are made f metal which lets the fd get cld quickly and easily get bent ut f shape. What yu want is a gd study plastic plate and bwl that will nt break when drpped r stuffed int a pack n the way hme. Utensils can be any ld mismatched set f knife, frk, and spn that yu wn t wrry abut if it desn t cme hme. Fr drinks use a gd plastic mug. Dn t get a cllapsible cup. Raingear Almst everyne ges thrugh what we call an evlutin in raingear. First year Scuts usually wear a pnch. It s easy t pack, quick t put n, and wrks fr abut five minutes in a dwnpur, unless yu re hiking. By the secnd year they ve switched t a plastic r rubber cated rainsuit. While this ffers mre prtectin Scuts eventually realize that they are sweating inside as much as its raining utside. Finally they end up in a nyln r Gre-tex rainsuit that lets the bdy breath and als serves as a jacket when it is cler. 10 Essentials Page 207 f the Scut Handbk lists the 10 essentials that a Scut shuld always have with him when utdrs. Wh packs Never let smene else pack fr yu, even yur parents. Yu are the ne ging camping and in the middle f the night when yur flashlight dies and yu need yur spare batteries, yu are the ne wh needs t knw in what pcket f the backpack they are in. Yur patrl leader shuld be inspecting yur pack fr the first camput r tw t shw yu hw and t make sure that yu haven t frgtten anything. Als, if it has a battery in it and it is nt yur flashlight, leave it hme. Never bring anything camping that yu re nt afraid f lsing r breaking.

8 Scut Glssary 10 Essentials the list f basic equipment that a Scut shuld have ready fr any utdr activity. APL Assistant Patrl Leader ASM Assistant Scutmaster ASPL Assistant Senir Patrl Leader Blue Card card shwing that yu re wrking n a merit badge Breakut t disslve int smaller grups fr a meeting, i.e. patrls Buddy System t have anther Scut with yu at all times Campree- a District camput with many trps Cracker Barrel an infrmal meeting fr leaders with snacks held during a camput COH Curt f Hnr Firem n Chit a card shwing that the Scut has earned the right t use matches and build cking and campfires Freezree - a District camput with many trps held during the winter Green Bar a meeting fr the SPL, ASPLs, Patrl Leaders, and Assistant Patrl Leaders (thse whse leadership badge has a Green Bar in it) Grubmaster the persn respnsible fr buying fd fr a camput Guide Trp Guide. A Scut designated t help ther Scuts with their advancements IMPEESA Cuncil level training fr bys t be leaders JLT Junir Leader Training (cnducted by the Trp) fr the Scuts KP Kitchen Patrl. The persn wh cleans the dishes Merit Badge Cunselr an adult wh helps a Scut earn a merit badge OA Order f the Arrw. PL Patrl Leader SPL Senir Patrl Leader SM Scutmaster PLC Patrl Leader Cuncil Quartermaster the persn in charge f equipment Resident Camp summer camp Scribe the Scut wh takes ntes fr a meeting Signffs signatures n advancement requirements SMF Scutmaster Fundamentals. Basic training fr adult leaders Ttin Chip a card shwing that the Scut has earned the right t use a knife, ax, and saw Treasurer the Scut in charge f a patrl s mney Venture advanced Scuting activities fr lder Scuts Wggle neckerchief slide Wd Badge advance training fr adult scuters