Anyone's Son in Webelos?

[Christine]

My son started Webelos this year. He's never been in scouts before. I figured it would be just like Brownies or Girl Scouts for the girls: meeting once a week and maybe one weekend activity per month.

Well, since the beginning of school we have been doing something EVERY weekend. No kidding. The first few times my son seemed to like it, but now he says he wants to quit because he is tired of "doing stuff every weekend."

So far he has:
Camped overnight
Hiked 10 miles/Battlefield Tour
Boy Scout Olympics
Marine Corp Marathon for Kids
Food Drive (Two Saturdays for this)
Landfill Tour'
Pentagon Tour

And there are some other *small* things I've forgotten. On top of that, he has a den meeting weekly where he gets homework assignments and then there is the monthly pack meeting (I may have den and pack reversed).

Is this typical for Scouts? Much of the stuff they have done is very interesting and I commend the leader for being so energetic, but I have noticed that many of the boys are now not going to every event and my kid is complaining. Do you think this is too much?

 

[littleclover]

This does sound like a lot. My understanding is he only has to attend the outings or meetings that interest him. As long as he completes the required achievements, he will earn his Webelos colors.

 

[Kirby]

It sounds like you have a very energetic den leader. My son was in a great den, but they weren't as active as that. The den meetings are important. If I remember (it's been a couple of years since James was in Webelos) they should be earning activity pins. Take a look in his Webelos book to see which ones he is interested in. You'll also see what is required for him to receive his Arrow of Light at the end of second year Webelos.

As for the extra activities, he doesn't have to participate in all of them. You might talk to his den leader to see which ones go towards earning his pins.

The monthly pack meeting is important because it serves as encouragement to the boys. The younger ones look up to the older ones and the older ones interact with others in scouts. It also is a time to acknowledge the boys hard work in earning the different patches and pins. Also, to hear what's going on in the pack. Sometimes the whole pack does things together.

At times it can be overwhelming, you'd rather stay home than go to a meeting. But I look back now, James is almost an Eagle Scout, and it was all worth it.

 

[Christine]

Thanks. I don't mind the weekly meetings and even the monthly ones. I guess it is all the Saturday activities. Every Saturday or Sunday our whole day is revolving around getting him to a place at a specific time and then waiting around because the leader is never sure when the actiivity will be over with. I feel like we can't even just go to a movie anymore or something spontaneously fun. I have felt this way for awhile but figured my son was having a good time and that was a sacrifice. Now that he is complaining, I thinking maybe we are overdoing it.

 

[chrissyk]

What on earth is a "Landfill Tour"?! That doesn't sound pleasant

 

[Christine]

Originally posted by chrissyk
What on earth is a "Landfill Tour"?! That doesn't sound pleasant

They went to the county landfill and had a tour on trash and recycling, believe it or not.

 

[Carl]

If you think that schedule is intense, try putting him in Little League baseball or football!

 

[Christine]

Originally posted by Carl
If you think that schedule is intense, try putting him in Little League baseball or football!

Carl,
I wouldn't dare!!! Already he plays piano and saxophone. His teacher gives LOADS of homework. Unfortunately, the scouts is starting to feel more like a burden than a fun thing. I just hate it when people get too serious and start taking the fun out of activities.

 

[Twigs]

I was a cub scout leader for my DS's and when they were in Webelos our pack requirements were den meetings 2 x. a month, pack night 1 x a month and a weekend activity 1 x a month. My sons loved cub scouts and are in boy scouts now. I know that if they had a schedule like your sons they would have gotten burnt out and quit. All that plus all the sports they are in would have been over the top! You could always look into getting him into another den in your pack, or check out another pack in your area and see what they require.

 

[grlpwrd]

Have you or your son taken your concerns to his leader yet? I would. I'm a Girl Scout leader to 2 troops and from what it sounds like too much is sometimes not a good thing. We have our meetings every other week with 2 optional monthly weekend activities because I believe family times are for weekends and for winding down.

The ex-leader of our troop met every week and every weekend and lots of girls dropped out. Yes, too much activity leads to burn out.

GL!

 

[Wishing on a star]

We are just starting out in Cub Scouts. It is my understandng that the poster who mentioned 2 weekly Den Meetings, 1 Pack Meeting, and one outside activity PER MONTH are what is generally recommended/expected. It sounds like your energetic den leader is racing on head-strong!

We have another problem in our Den. It is a brand new Den, and basicly a brand new Pack. Well, our Pack Committee Chairman thinks that they ALONE are in charge of everything. Including dictating every small detail down to our Den Leader. This is not supposed to be true! The Committee is supposed to make Pack decisions. ( My DH is a committee member, and has yet to have any input into anything that this Pack Committee Chairman is doing.) And, Den leaders are supposed to have ther automomy to conduct their Dens to the best of their talents and abilities. Within guidelines, of course.... Like the guidelines we have mentioned on the meetings and activities per each month.

If you feel that this level of activities is simply just too much for your son, and probably other scouts, to keep up with... Attend the next Pack Committee Meeting. Let them officially hear this concern!

Scouting is a good thing! Maybe this would help alleviate the demands. Good Luck!

 

[Christine]

Originally posted by Wishing on a star

We have another problem in our Den. It is a brand new Den, and basicly a brand new Pack. Well, our Pack Committee Chairman thinks that they ALONE are in charge of everything. Including dictating every small detail down to our Den Leader. This is not supposed to be true! The Committee is supposed to make Pack decisions. ( My DH is a committee member, and has yet to have any input into anything that this Pack Committee Chairman is doing.)

Sounds like you've got a control freak here!!! Don't you just love those people that get into these little positions that give them some authority and they just go nuts?

 

[Az Pirates]

It does sound like a lot!
My son is still in bear den - but even the older boys seldom have weekend activities (maybe once a month)
I guess a lot depends on your leaders and how they choose to structure the program within the general guidelines.
Here the focus is very much on the boys' family helping him progress. They do required activities in the meetings, but they tell the boys right from the start that they will have to work at home as well if they want to progress through the ranks.
Sounds like your den leader is trying to do it all.
I think it's a valuable program. Maybe you could talk with the leader and let them know that your son will not be available every weekend - then he can just pick those activities that really interest him or that he needs for advancement.
Good Luck

 

[Pam]

I'm with Kirby on this one. My son is an Eagle Scout and is still active in the Troop. (He's in 10 grade.)

Your Webelos Den/ Cub Pack is doing some extreme activities that are more on the level of a very active Boy Scout Troop.

I was the Cub Scout leader for my son's den from Tiger - Webelos II. We always met one a week and also had the monthly Pack meeting. We had occasional Council events on the weekends: Akela Council Fire/Crossover, Yukon Goldrush, etc.

It sounds as though your den leader is organizing some events to tie in with the activity pins, which is a great idea. I took my Scouts on field trips for each Webelos activity badge/pin, but I did it during the regularly scheduled Den meeting.

I would talk to him and gently suggest that the boys are still young and are experiencing flashes of burnout.

 

[Duchie]

We just started Cub Scouts this year. My son is in a Wolf den. He has den meetings every other week and a pack meeting once a month. It seems like the other activities come in waves, and we're currently in a wave of having a LOT to do. His den leader told me that they want to minimize it (due to time constraints and cost) but it's tough some times. The pack had a fall camp out in October and just scheduled a winter one in December. I think we might have to miss that one

 

[Christine]

Well, coming up we have an 8 mile Arlington Cemetery Hike, a 3-day camping event, a Christmas Parade on Dec 11, Christmas caroling at a senior home on Dec 12, and the following weekend is the den party.

 

[Pam]

Christine,
You are definitely having Boy Scout activities while still in Cub Scouts. That's quite some intense activities....

I do know that winter camping is usually discouraged for the Cub Scouts because they haven't been trained in the proper camping methods.

I would do some research through the Cub handbooks and leader books and then suggest to the leader that the activities be curtailed.

By any chance does the Cub leader have a son in Boy Scouts and is crossing the two by doing the same things at the same time??

 

[cajunfan]

Christine,

I agree with Pam...sounds like an active BOY SCOUT troop not a Cub pack. My son just crossed over to Boy Scouts (after having gone from Tiger thru Webelo II). Their new Troop has a meeting every week (only week not scheduled is between Christmas and New Years). They also have an acctivity of some sort scheduled every weekend. It is my understanding that you are encouraged to go, but it is not necessary to go to all events. But again, keep in mind that this is Boy Scouts, not Cub Scouts. I don't think my son would have made it through Cub Scouts if he had that schedule. They need some "down" time, and these days for us, that means weekends only.

Lynn

 

[ksjayhawks]

I was also a den leader. Our Webelos met, on average, every other week. We also attended pack meetings once a month as well as council activities and occasional weekend pack events.

If your den keeps going like that, you will burn most of the boys out on scouting. My son is now in scouts and they meet every week and do one weekend a month for camping and occasionally other activities--badge forums, Eagle projects, etc.

Some packs keep the kids so busy with scouts that they have no time for other activities such as sports, martial arts, etc and that is their intention. I think that attitude is sad. The boys need to participate in a variety of activities, not just focus on one thing, especially when they are so young.

I would talk with other den parents and see what their feelings are, then arrange to have a meeting with the den leader and the parents to discuss--calmly--your concerns.

It almost sounds like he is trying to get all the webelos badges earned this year. He should spread them out and have some to work on next year as well. Also, some badges need to be done at home with parents, some require den meetings and work at home, while most are done in den meetings.

Good luck!

 

[Christine]

Originally posted by Pam
Christine,
You are definitely having Boy Scout activities while still in Cub Scouts. That's quite some intense activities....

I do know that winter camping is usually discouraged for the Cub Scouts because they haven't been trained in the proper camping methods.

Well, in fact, this winter camping is being done by the Boy Scouts but they have invited the Webelos to camp with them so "they can get an idea of what it is like to be a Boy Scout." The camping trip starts on a Friday right after school and ends on Sunday afternoon. Hmmmm...how to get the homework done?

And, in response to another person's comment, the den leader does have a son who is in Boy Scouts. She doesn't seem to be trying to join up with them though--the Boy Scouts are never with the Webelos (except for this upcoming camping trip.)