Onward to the Webelos Badge

Greetings Webelos 1 Cub Scouts!

It is November and we have a goal to earn our Webelos Badges by the end of the year.  In order to do this we have been working on things in our meetings and you have been given assignments to do at home (the big paper packet).  By the end of the year you will have earned:

Citizen Webelos Badge

Citizenship Belt Loop

Athlete Webelos Badge

Fitness Webelos Badge

Physical Fitness Belt Loop

Communicator Webelos Badge
Computer Belt Loop

Artist Webelos Badge
Art Belt Loop
Communicating Belt Loop

Webelos Badge (awarded at the January Pack Meeting)

In most cases the belt loops have duplicate requirements to the badges.  That makes them very easy to earn.  Please know that Pack 31 only pays for a belt loop once.  So if you earned the Citizenship belt loop in previous years you won't get a second one.  It never hurts to review the information for a few minutes though.

I have broken each into its own page on the website and have linked to a page that tells what we have done, what we have left and the plan to complete it, and what you need to do at home.  

This looks like a lot but remember, we have done much of the work already at den meetings.  I've pointed out what you need to do for each item to make it very easy to finish your Webelos Badge.

Please be aware that you only have to complete the requirement.  You don't have to hand write out the information unless it specifically says so even if the packet has a place to do it.  A conversation with your Akela works great.

Be sure your Akela signs your handbook when you complete something.  Let me know if you have questions or need help.  

Please post in the comments (first name only please) that you have read this.  Not the parents.  The Webelos need to read this too.

Webelos Badge

Webelos Badge

As you complete each requirement have your Akela sign your handbook.  All of the answers are in the handbook.

1.  Have your Akela read the parent guide on pages 1-22.
2.  Be active for 3 months.
3.  Know and explain the meaning of the Webelos Badge.
4.  Point out 3 parts of the Webelos uniform.  Tell when to wear it and when not to.
5.  Earn the Fitness and Citizen badges plus one other from a different group.  Artist is the other pin we are earning.  Athlete is also in progress but it is in the same group as Fitness.
6.  Plan and lead a flag ceremony in your den.
7a. Demonstrate the Boy Scout salute, sign, and handshake and know when to use them.
7b. Explain the Scout Oath, Law, Motto, and Slogan.
7c. Explain and agree to follow the Outdoor code.
8.  KNOW, COMMIT, PRACTICE  Have a discussion with your Akela about faith.

Do 2 of the following:

• Attend church and talk with your religious leaders about your faith. 
• Discuss with your family and Den Leader how your religious beliefs fit in with the Scout Oath and Law.
• With your religious leader discuss and make a plan to do 2 things you think will draw you closer to God and do them for a month.
• For at least a month pray or meditate reverently as taught by your religious group.
• Under the direction of your religious leader do a service for someone else.
• List at least 2 ways you have lived according to your religious beliefs. 

Webelos Artist Badge

Webelos Artist Badge

We will schedule a date in December to complete this badge in one afternoon.

1.  Talk to an artist about the different occupations in the art field.
2.  Create a scrapbook/portfolio for your Artist Badge Projects
3.  Draw or paint an outdoors picture.
4.  List the Primary and Secondary colors and what happens when you combine them.
6.  Use clay to sculpt a simple object.
10.  Create a collage that expresses something about you.
11.  While a Webelos earn the Art Belt Loop

1. Make a list of common materials used to create visual art compositions.
2. Demonstrate how six of the following elements of design are used in a drawing: lines, circles, dots, shapes, colors, patterns, textures, space, balance, or perspective.
3. Identify the three primary colors and the three secondary colors that can be made by mixing them. Show how this is done using paints or markers. Use the primary and secondary colors to create a painting.

Webelos Communicator Badge

Webelos Communicator Badge

We will be working on the Communicator Badge in the coming weeks.

1.  Play the Body Language Game with your den.

2.  Prepare a 3 minute talk to your den on the subject of your choice.  This is a good one to prepare at home.  

4.  Identify and discuss as many different methods of communication as you can.  

5.  Invent your own secret code and send one of your den members a message.

10.  Guest speaker who speaks another language.

The following will need to be done at home and signed by your Akela.  Use safe computer practices.

11.  Using a computer, write a letter to a friend or relative.

12. Use a computer find 5 sites that interest you.

14.  As a Webelos earn the Computer Belt Loop.  #3 can be the letter from 11 above.  

1. Explain the parts of a personal computer: central processing unit (CPU), monitor, keyboard, mouse, modem, and printer.
2. Demonstrate how to start up and shut down a personal computer properly.
3. Use your computer to prepare and print a document.

Webelos Fitness Badge

Webelos Fitness Badge

1.  KNOW, COMMIT, PRACTICE

We have worked on these in class.  Discuss them with your Akela and have them sign your handbook.  

2.  Complete a safety notebook.  Page 19 of the parent insert in the front of the handbook as well as page 247 of the handbook have information.  Make this at home and have your Akela sign it when complete.

3.  Read the meal planning information in the handbook and plan a week of meals.  There is a form in the paperwork packet for this.  

4.  Keep a record of meals and snacks eaten for a week.  Discuss it with your Akela when complete.  See the paperwork packet for forms.

5.  Talk about tobacco.  We did this in class.

6.  Talk about alcohol. We did this in class.

7.  Talk about drugs.  We did this in class.

8. Read the comic book "Choose to Refuse."  I have sent this home with all of the Webelos.  Please read it and have your Akela sign your handbook after discussing it with them.  If you have lost your copy you can find it online here. 

Webelos Athlete Badge

Webelos Athlete Badge

1.  KNOW, COMMIT, PRACTICE: We reviewed these in our meetings.  Please complete the discussion with your Akela and have them sign your handbook when complete.

2.  Explain what it means to be physically and mentally healthy.  We reviewed these in our meetings.  Please complete the discussion with your Akela and have them sign your handbook when complete.

3.  Explain what you can do to stay physically and mentally healthy.  We reviewed these in our meetings.  Please complete the discussion with your Akela and have them sign your handbook when complete.

4.  Every time you work on the exercises in the book start with 5 minutes of stretching and warm ups.

5.  Do as many of the following exercises as you can and record your results.  Show improvement after 30 days.  We tested you in class and recorded your results in your paperwork packet.  We will test you again on November 25 on the following:  sit ups (curl ups), push ups, standing long jump.  Please work on pull ups and the quarter mile walk or run at home.

If you use the road in front of the school as your route for the quarter mile, start at 172nd Pl SE and go north to 168th St SE.  That is 0.3 miles.  You can use Google Maps to calculate the distance between two points near where you live to work on this as well.

6.  Vertical Jump with improvement over 30 days.  We will start this in our den meeting.  Practice at home.

7. Do a 50 yard dash as fast as you can and show a decrease in time over a 30 day period.

Webelos Citizenship Badge

Webelos Citizen Badge

1.  KNOW, COMMIT, PRACTICE

     We have discussed these in class.  Please spend a few minutes discussing them with your Akela at home and have them sign your book.

2.  Know the names of the President, Vice President, Governor, and head of the local government.  We will test your ability to identify them at our next den meeting.

President: Barack Obama

Vice President: Joe Biden

Governor: Jay Inslee

Snohomish County Executive: John Lovick

Mill Creek City Manager: Kenneth Armstrong

3.  Describe the flag and its history and show how to hoist, fold and display it.  We have done this in meetings and at Day Camp.  If you have not had a chance to do it since being a Webelos, please read the relevant section of your handbook and let me know.  I can help you with this. I have access to a flagpole too.

4.  Talk about respect for the flag.  We did this in our meeting.  Discuss it with your Akela and have them sign your book.

5.  Repeat and explain the Pledge of Allegiance.  We did this in class.

6.  Tell how our national anthem was written.  We did this in class.  Discuss it with your Akela and have them sign your book.  If you don't remember you can find the story in your handbook and here:  http://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-story-behind-the-star-spangled-banner-149220970/?no-ist

7.  Explain the rights and duties of citizens.  We did this in class.  Discuss it with your Akela and have them sign your book. 

8.  Earn the Citizenship Belt Loop as a Webelos.

1.    
2. Develop a list of jobs you can do around the home. Chart your progress for one week.  We worked on this in class but you need to fill out the chart in your paperwork packet.
3. 
   
4. Make a poster showing things that you can do to be a good citizen.  Please bring this to the next den meeting.
5. 
   
6. Participate in a family, den, or school service project.  We had a school clean up last week and are doing a food drive this week.  You need to have participated in at least one of them.

14.  Tell why we have laws.  We will be doing this at the next den meeting. Think about it in advance so you can contribute to the conversation.

15.  Tell why we have government. We will be doing this at the next den meeting.  Think about it in advance so you can contribute to the conversation.

The Beginning of a New Era!

Tigers, Wolves and Bears.  All have slipped into the past and we stand at the crest of the bridge looking toward Webelos.

15 members of Den 3 have made it this far and things will be changing.

Normally during the summer we don't meet as a den.  This year we are meeting 3 times!  See the calendar for information.  

As Tigers and Wolves we were a single den. As Bears we grew and our meetings were split between the Grizzly Bears and Polar Bears but the den remained united.

We have grown so much now though that we need to actually form a new den.  Yes, we will have a new Den Leader and Assistant Den Leader in addition to me.  We will have separate meetings (but on the same night) and while our program will be similar it will not be exactly the same.

The plan is to divide the den at our last summer meeting on August 26.  We will be talking about who will go with which den over the summer.  Your choice will be taken into consideration but there are no guarantees which den you will go with.

Den 3 Summer Calendar

Den 3 is going to be very active this summer!  Not only is Pack 31 doing all sorts of fun things but we as a Den will also have our own activities.  Be sure to look over the calendar.

·       June 3 - Den 3 Meeting - Root Beer Float Party!!!

·       June 10 ^th – Pack Meeting – New Scout Night

Wear your uniform to school! Invite your friends to join Cub Scouts tonight!  - Camping sign up deadline (see below)

·       June 24^th – 6pm Den 3 Meeting - Smores at Den Leader's house

Bring your pocket knife, Whittling Chip card, and a stick to carve into a marshmallow stick.  We'll be making smores.

·       June 28^th – Camp Out at Jim Creek Recreation Area

o      $10 per person, includes dinner, breakfast & snacks

o      Sign-up & money due to Luke Valentine by June 10^th

o      Tent camping, but restrooms/showers are available

·       July 4^th – Everett’s 4^th of July Parade

o      Show your Pack 31 pride by marching in this year’s parade

o      Wear your Class A uniform

o      Meet at start of parade route by 10:15am

o      Bring sunscreen & water

o      Park for free at Everett Station and hop onto one of the free shuttles leaving every 5 minutes beginning at 9:30am.  Shuttles back to Everett Station run between noon and 1:00pm.

·       July 22nd – Den Meeting - Fire Building at Den Leader's house. 6pm

·       August 18^th-21^st  – Silver Lake Day Camp and Twilight Camp

o      This year’s theme is Knights of the Round Table

o      Day Camp is filling up quickly.  Twilight Camp (Aug 18-22) has plenty of room.

o      Contact Michael Dyer with questions at  sasjhwa@gmail.com

Visit our Facebook Page 

·       August 23^rd – Welcome Back Picnic at Jetty Island

o      Ride the free ferry to Jetty Island for a relaxing day at the beach with friends

o      Parking is $3 at the Port of Everett (cash or credit card)

o      Our ferry leaves for the island at 10:30, return trip is flexible

o      If the weather is nice, make sure to bring a towel, sunscreen, appropriate beach clothing & toys, change of clothes and your lunch.  There is not a lot of shade so an umbrella or other shelter is advisable.

·       August 26^rd – Den Meeting at Den Leader’ House – Webelos Night! 6pm  

We will be working on our first badges as well as dividing into new Dens.

Bear Den Update

The Bear Den of Pack 31 is doing amazing!  We have 8 boys that have earned their Bear Badges and everyone else has only a few items left to go.  Since our deadline is next Tuesday that is fantastic!

Finish the Bear Badge on Saturday!!!

Any Bear who has not completed his Bear Badge is invited to Den Leader Michael's house on Saturday at 6pm.  I will work with you until it is done.

If you finish at home this week you can bring your book by to be signed as well.

Bear Badge Ceremony

Pack Meeting, Tuesday May 6

7pm Woodside Cafeteria

Please try to be there for this special event.  Parents should plan to stay for the meeting if possible.  My hope is to award Jack his Bobcat Badge and everyone else their Bear Badges!

NEW MEMBER DRIVE

We are looking for new Cub Scouts to join us this summer.  Starting in June we will be actively recruiting kids that are currently in kindergarten through 4th grade.  You can earn your Recruiter patch by helping new kids join Pack 31.  Why now and not September?  So they can enjoy all the fun summer activities we are planning (come to the Pack Meeting to get the calendar!)

NEW WEBELOS DENS IN SEPTEMBER

Pack 31 is growing by leaps and bounds and our den is no different.  Because of this several dens will be split into multiple ones in September.  There will probably 2 dens each of Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and yes, Webelos 1 (which we will be then).

I tried to run the split meetings this year but I don't think it was entirely successful.  So starting in September Den 3 will be dividing into two independent dens!!!  

What does that mean?

* We will have a second Den Leader who will run his or her den separate from Den 3 that I will continue to lead.  Parents should start considering if this is an opportunity that appeals to them.  I will train and help in every way I can.  We can even plan meetings together if you want.

* We will not be dividing along the current patrol lines.  The Polar Bears and Grizzly Bears will not become the new dens.  Instead we will work out how to divide the den based on friendships, interests, etc.  The Scout's wishes will be taken into consideration.

* Pack 31 might be adding a second night to our meeting schedule.  That will lower the overall volume in the room.  The entire pack will still meet together during Pack Meetings.

Other Webelos Changes

Beginning in June we will transition from Bears to Webelos.  One of the most visible differences is that we begin wearing the tan Boy Scout uniform instead of the blue Cub Scout one.  Many of the Scouts are outgrowing their uniforms and it will be great to see them in their new ones.  It is still acceptable to wear the blue, however so if you aren't able to make the change right away, that is okay.

If you want to get an idea of what the Webelos requirements are you can visit this website.  

A WEBELOS SUMMER

While we do not have weekly meetings during the summer we will have an active pack activity schedule.  We will also meet every few weeks as a Webelos den to try out some new skills.  We may have a night to whittle with our pocket knives, or build a campfire, or cook over one, or learn to pitch tents or learning other skills that younger Cub Scouts are too young to learn.  We will be talking about this during den meetings in May.