Arrow of Light News

This archive includes posts relating specifically to those Webelos Scouts who are in their second year and have already earned their Webelos rank. These scouts are 5th graders who are in at least their second year of scouting and are working towards their Arrow of Light, the highest award available in Cub Scouting. The Arrow of Light is the only Cub Scout Specific award that carries over into the Boy Scouts.

Webelos & Arrow of Light Progress Report – April 7th 2014

On Monday, we started off with a discussion of the plant project done several weeks ago. This discussion completed the Science Belt Loop for those who participated in the first part of the experiment.  Earning the Science Belt Loop also completed Requirement 4 of the Scientist Activity Badge; completing the activity badge for several boys.

We continued to collect homework on the Communicator Activity Badge, thus completing the activity badge for the boys who attended the March 31st meeting and turned in their assignments.

Finally with camping and hiking season starting to peek out from behind colder days, we continued with reviewing some of the basics required to complete the Outdoorsman Activity Badge. Note that most of the requirements require your scout to actually go hiking or camping to finish the requirements, however we like to prepare the boys by discussing some basic safety tips for hiking and camping as well as what gear to bring.

To date, the following Outdoorsman requirements were covered either in Den or at other Activities. If your scout did not participate, you can work on these at home or let us know when we go camping in May.

  • Requirement 2: Outdoor Activity including a campfire (Fort Mifflin Camping Trip – September).
  • Requirement 3: With your Parent or Guardian, take part in a Webelos den overnight campout or family campout. Sleep in a tent that you have helped pitch (Fort Mifflin Camping Trip – September).
  • Requirement 6: Participate in an outdoor conservation project with your Den or a Boy Scout Troop. (April 5th at playground with Mr. Gallen or April 6th at Veterans Home assisting with the Eagle Scout Project & Mayfair Cleanup Project with Mrs. Karen) .
  • Requirement 7: Discuss the rules of outdoor fire safety, show how to build a safe fire and put it out. (Klondike Derby Preparations & 4/4 (Web 2))
  • Requirement 9: Discussion Only – (Scout needs to do a 3 mile hike to complete)

 

 

Webelos Reminders for 4/7/14

All Webelos Scouts (Both Webelos and Arrow of Light) need to be sure to turn in any outstanding assignments from the season so far. Also, for those who have not yet done so, please bring in your handbooks.

Please remember to bring back the results of your plant project to discuss; you are encouraged to bring your plants too. This will complete the Science Belt Loop. Additionally don’t forget to complete the assignments and turn in the homework given out last week in order to complete both the Communicator Activity Badge and Computers Belt Loop.

This week we will cover some of the requirements for the Outdoorsman Activity Badge. This should wrap up Outdoorsman for most of the 2nd Year Webelos and give the 1st Year Webelos a head start.  Next week we will start on the Engineer Activity Badge.

Webelos & Arrow of Light Progress Report – March 31st, 2014

Both the 1st year and 2nd year Webelos worked on the Communicator Activity Badge.  We covered the following requirements in den:

The boys had some homework to do which will complete both the Communicator Activity Badge and the Computer Belt Loop.

*Note Communicator Requirement 11 and Compute Belt Loop Requirement 13 can be one in the same.

We have attached a PDF copy of the homework assignment below…

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Wolves, Bears and Arrow of Light (Web 2s)

Please bring your rank books in on 3/31. Your leaders will be collecting the books to review, update and return.

Parents — if you have a few moments to review the books and update with any family activities it would be much appreciated.

Bears & Webelos Progress Report: Knife Safety Training

Whittling Chip CardTonight the Bears and Webelos begin their annual Knife Safety training. This class is designed to teach knife safety and in addition to some basic safety rules, the boys will learn additional rules that must be followed.  While this is a requirement for Bears, the pack requires Webelos scouts to take the training each year as well.

Our program takes 2-3 hours depending on the attentiveness and behavior of the boys. We start with an introduction to various bladed items, teach them the differences, and validity of their usage. We will cover a series of safety requirements, administer a short test, and if they pass we will practice carving apples and soap.

  • For Bears this course will complete Bear Achievement 19: Shavings and Chips and allow your Bear to earn his Whittling Chip Card.
  • For new Webelos this isn’t a requirement for rank but the training is required to allow your Webelos to earn his Whittling Chip Card.
  • For returning Webelos who have already earned their Whittling Chip Card, this training is required by the pack in order to upkeep the privilege of the whittling chip.

We may or may not have activities that allow the use of a pocketknife and having a whittling chip card is a requirement to participate in such activities.

Craftsman Activity Badge – All Webelos – December 9th, 2013

Webelos BadgeOn December 9th, Webelos 1 and 2 will be joining forces to make bean bag toss games for the Christmas party. This will fulfill one of the requirements for the Craftsman Activity Badge. Since this is the first project that requires the use of tools, there will be a talk about tool safety.

All Webelos need to be in long pants and closed shoes (No flip flops!). If any of our parents are handy, I will gladly accept all help. Extra rulers, Philips screwdrivers, 1/2″ wrenches, and channel locks will help speed up the process.

Arrow of Light Progress Report – November 25th, 2013

Last week we began working on the Traveler Activity Badge.  In earning the Traveler activity badge, you’re scout will learn the basics of reading a map, how to use public transportation and how to plan family trips.  Specifically we worked on Traveler requirements 9, 10, and 12.

Requirement 9 is looking at a map legend and learning what the symbols mean. Requirement 10 was finding a place of interest on a road map and to draw two different routes to it and determine which route is shorter. Requirement 12 is to earn the Geography Belt Loop which is done by drawing a map of the neighborhood, learning the geography of the community, and using a globe to locate the continents, oceans, equator, hemispheres.

This week will will fine tune the above requirements and begin covering the topics covered by their home assignments.

Home Assignments

Handouts were provided to begin requirements 7 & 8 as well as one to reinforce what requirement 9 teaches.

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Arrow of Light Progress Report – November 4th, 2013

Last night we covered several things with the 2nd Year Webelos.  We started the evening by going over the expectations of a scout working towards his Arrow of Light, the highest award available to cub scouts and the only one that stays with them through all of scouting.  We started working on the Family Member Activity Badge and gave them a sampling of a board of review as well a sampling of the leadership skills we would like them to develop over the course of the season.

Expectations

The primary point we tried to drive home is that the boys now work at their own pace.  Being older scouts it is now up to them to decide if and when they will earn the Arrow of Light.  As in previous years, they will have home assignments.  However, unlike previous years, the leaders will not keep on them to get it done.  Essentially we are shifting the burden of responsibility to the scouts.  We will go over the materials and let them know what they need to do in order to complete the requirements. It will now be up to them to complete them and turn them in for credit as there will be no further follow ups.

It was also explained to the scouts, that as the oldest in the pack, it is imperative that they learn how to function as a boy scout patrol. We will start rotating the boys through becoming a Denner, a youth leader of their den.  Instead of the typical denner role of assistant, we will have each denner work on deciding something with the dens and then give them the opportunity to assist another den.We will give the Denner some basic instruction and scenarios to play out, after which they can serve as an assistant.

Lastly, we explained to the scouts that in order to earn their arrow of light they will go through a “simulated” board of review so that they can experience what they must do in the Boy Scouts to earn their rank.

Family Member Activity Badge

We have begun work on the Family Member Activity Badge.  As you can guess by the name of this Activity Badge it focuses on being a conscientious and contributing member of the family and as such many of the requirements of Family Member need to be done in a family environment.  The goal of this activity badge is to promote a better understanding within families, and to gain a better understanding of what is meant by “duty to family”.

We completed family member requirements 1 and 8 (with modification) and briefly went over what the other requirements are.  THERE IS A HOME ASSIGNMENT (SEE BELOW)

 

Arrow of Light Requirements

In our sample review board we began touching on Arrow of Light Requirement 2.  This requirement is a bit tricky because simply going over the requirement does not satisfy it.  The scout needs to be able to recite from memory, explain in his own words, describe badges and uniforms as well as tie a square know.  Although we are going over it, the scout has plenty of time to memorize what he needs and we will go over it frequently.

HOME ASSIGNMENTS

  • Read the Family Member chapter in the Webelos Handbook (pages 227-244).
  • Complete Family Member requirements 2-6, and any other from requirements 7, 9-13.
    • Requirement 12 is a good one as your scout will earn the Heritages Belt Loop in the process.
  • Review the Arrow of Light requirements in the Webelow Handbook (pages 62-67).

 

Resources  (Coming Soon)