Transition

This is the time of year when we think of gearing up for Scouting in the Fall. It is time for Cub Scout Roundups, Family Camps, Summer OA Ordeal and a full range of other unit, district and council events. Everyone is excited to get into their program. Fall is also a time to begin the plans you made in the late Spring after the Program Planning Conferences (You did plan for the year didn't you?) And then there is Popcorn! Any parent not supporting a unit popcorn sale should get their checkbook ready. Remember, you (the parent) can pay for Scouting or you can let popcorn buyers pay for Scouting! Your choice and your money.

I'm getting off track. Fall is also a time when every unit needs to think about Webelos transition. You might say the it is a little early to think about Webelos crossing over to Boy Scouts, but I beg to differ. If you are a Scoutmaster and have not made contact with units in your area, you may be too late. Every healthly, active troop regularly recruits boys from neighboring packs. They should also have a Den Chief in every den. History has proven that troops with a active Den Chief program tend to recruit more Webelos into their troop. Boy are going to go, first, where their buddies go, and second, where they know the program.

Cubmasters have just as much responsibility to the second-year Webelos. They should have already talked to the boys and their parents about moving on in Scouting. Too often the Cubmasters are looking at the end of their job, because their boys are moving on to Scouting or because they think their job is done with those scouts. It is the responsibility of the Cubmaster to make sure each and every Webelos has a opportunity and is encouraged to go on with Scouting.

The third part of this equation is the parent. It is very important to have the encouragement of the parent to continue in Scouting. In many ways, it is more important to "transition" the parent into Boy Scouts than the boys. It may also be much harder to transition the parents. Parents who have been active and involved in the Cub Committee and active in the operation of the pack are much more likely to be active in the troop. If the parents have not be active in the pack, they are less likely to be active in the troop. Again, history has shown that if the parent is active, the boy is more likely to be active.

Packs with active committees can begin the transition process early. Make sure every parent has a job in the unit. A formal Webelos transition process should begin early in the fall of the second year. This is after doing all the homework we have already discussed. Boys should visit several troops in the area. Webelos boys and their families should be encouraged to attend Webelos transition events. The Order of the Arrow Lodge is sponsoring such an event on November 15 and 16 at the Sequoyah Birthplace Museum in Vonore. Boys should be encouraged to make a decision where they are going before time to crossover. Scoutmasters should also be recruiting boys all during the year, but especially during transition times. Once again, boys are going to go where they feel welcome. Groups of Webelos moving into Boy Scouts together are all much more likely to remain active long term.

Every year we lose many boys during the transition. It is always one of our goals to achieve a higher rate of transition. In order to do this, we need every one's help. The Cubmaster, Scoutmaster, District Membership Chair, District Executive, Unit Commissioner and the parent all have a part in the transition. If everyone works together, we can decrease the loss during transition but more importantly, we can maintain the boys in the fun, excitement and adventure of Scouting.