Northridge Webelos to Scout Transition

The Northridge District Webelos to Scout Transition Team has developed "The Cubmaster's Disappearing Packet" to assist in the transition process. The mission of the Cubmaster is to make this packet of information disappear into the right hands. The Webelos-to-Scout graduation effort is vital to the success of the Cub Packs and Boy Scout Troops and the Cubmaster has a pivotal role in ensuring it's success. Download the Cubmaster's Disappearing Packet

1. Use The Pack's Role to discuss, plan, and implement the plan at the Pack Committee meetings beginning in October.

2. Provide the Webelos II Den Leaders with copies of The Webelos Leader's Role and The Tracking List in October.

3. Provide The Scoutmaster's Role to the Scoutmaster(s) of a troop near your Pack's meeting location.

4. Review and implement the Cubmaster's Role right after the District Program Planning Roundtable.

5. Review the Unit Commissioner's Role to see where assistance can be provided.

6. A copy of the District Schedule for your information. 

The Packs Role Your pack has given your Webelos a good beginning on the Scouting trail. The Webelos program is to prepare and help boys become Boy Scouts. You are a key to the process of Webelos graduation for your pack

Target Date	Task
Oct/Nov	Encourage your fifth-grade Webelos leaders to complete and return their den/patrol roster (tracking list) to the Scout Service Center or by the November roundtable. Encourage your Webelos leader(s) to meet with Scoutmasters in the area.
December	Plan for a top-notch Webelos graduation at the February pack meeting. (See Den and Pack Ceremonies page 144.) Note: February is the preferred month of graduation so that new Scouts can attend March - May troop meetings to get acquainted and prepare for summer camp. Invite the Scoutmaster(s) to your Blue and Gold Banquet as an honored guest. Have him/her sit with the Webelos den/patrol, arid assist with the graduation ceremony.
February	Assist with Webelos graduation at your pack meeting. Ensure Webelos complete a Boy Scout application and register with a troop.
March	Assist the Webelos leader(s) in follow up with any of your Webelos as to why they did not yet join a troop

The Webelos II Den Leader's Role Your ultimate success in helping bays in Scouting is getting your Webelos to join a Boy Scout Troop in February. Your efforts through the Webelos program have made a major contribution towards the Scouting trail for all boys in your den/patrol. You are the key to a smooth transition for your Webelos.

Note: For the name of local Scoutmaster(s) see the Northridge Troop Directory or ask the Webelos Transition Team.

Target Date	Task
Sept/Oct	Have your den select a Scout patrol name, get patrol patches to wear, make a patrol flag, and elect a patrol leader. (Check the Scout Handbook for ideas.)
October	Complete and return your Webelos roster (tracking sheet) to the Scout Service Center or bring to the November roundtable. (This is very important so that troops can send you Webelos information and invite them to orientation and camp promotion meetings.)
Oct/Nov	Meet with the local Scoutmaster(s) for transition planning. Take your Webelos and their parents to visit a troop meeting. A new parent/Scout informational meeting at the troop should include summer camp plans. Ask the troop to appoint a Webelos Den Chief (This will aid new Scouts with their transition into the troop.)
December	Encourage your Webelos to make a final decision on joining a troop. Assist the Cubmaster in planning a top-notch, personalized graduation for the February pack meeting.
February	Graduate your Webelos into Boy Scouts. Have them complete a Scout application and register with the troop. New Scouts should have a Scout Handbook at this time.
Feb/Mar	Be sure that new Scouts have a schedule and begin attending troop activities. Encourage parents to get involved with the troop committee Talk to the Scoutmaster about continuing to work with the new Scouts as a patrol advisor. This will help boys become comfortable in the new troop. Help as needed with any final details for summer camp preparedness.  Follow up with any of your Webelos as to why they did not yet join a troop.

The Tracking List

Available in the download packet.

The Scoutmaster's Role

Knowing that 70% of all boys who join Boy Scout were Webelos first, it makes good sense to "go after" those Webelos. New members have vitality, new ideas, and add new parents to your Troop! You can play a critical role in recruiting new Scouts to your troop through the Webelos Graduation Plan.

Target Date	Task
October	Choose and make reservations for your troops summer long-term camp - if you have not already done so. Meet with your unit commissioner and let him/her know your desires for increasing the troop size. Appoint good Scouts to be Webelos Den Chiefs to help get Webelos in nearby pack(s) interested in joining your troop. Identify a Webelos Resource Chairman for the Troop to help as liaison with nearby packs and unit commissioner.
November	Invite Webelos to visit a troop meeting. Have a Webelos parents' night to promote the troop's summer camp plans -and get Webelos ready to participate. Give them an information sheet with schedule, fees, and general camp information
December	Plan to be a part of the pack's February meeting and Webelos graduation.
February	Attend the pack meeting in February and help conduct the graduation ceremony. Webelos should register as Scouts with your troop.
March/April	Invite Webelos leader(s) to be the new Scout's patrol advisor. This will help the new boys get adjusted and provides an excellent prospect for a new assistant or committee person in the troop. Be sure all new Scouts have the troop schedule so that they can begin participating in Troop activities.  Hold a spring campout for the troop emphasizing basic Scout skills for new boys (eg. cooking, camping and patrol method). This activity will build confidence in new Scouts and help prepare them for summer camp. Have a troop parents meeting for final details on summer camp. Encourage new parents to join the troop committee.

Note: For information on packs in your area to recruit new boys from, ask the Membership Team, unit commissioner, or district executive. A list of Webelos leaders and/or Pack Committee Chairman can be provided to you. Also: You should receive a list of eligible Webelos in November/December to invite to your troop. If you do not, contact the Webelos To Scout Transition Team.

The Cubmaster's Role

Your Pack has given your Webelos a good beginning on the Scouting trail. As you know, the purpose of the Webelos program is to prepare and help boys become Boy Scouts. We know that boys succeed best in becoming Scouts when the Cubmaster, Scoutmaster and Webelos Leader work on their transition together, as a Scouting team. Webelos Leaders and the Scoutmaster(s) (both have received this graduation plan) have a major role in Webelos-to-Scout Graduation, but we are counting on you to help in several important ways. This sheet is designed as a checklist to help your Webelos succeed in becoming Boy Scouts.

Target Date	Task
This Month	Encourage your fifth grade Webelos Leaders to complete and return their roster (tracking list) to the Membership Committee in October or return it to the November Roundtable.
October	Make an appointment with the Scoutmaster. Confirm with them the Webelos graduation plan for the February Pack Meeting. Invite the Scoutmaster to your Blue and Gold Banquet as an honored guest. Have him sit with the Webelos Den, and assist with the graduation ceremony. With Webelos Leader and Scoutmaster, plan a top-notch Webelos graduation for the February Pack Meeting. See Den and Pack Ceremonies. February is preferred to later months, so that new Boy Scouts have Troop Meetings in March-May to get acquainted and prepared to attend long-term summer camp.
February	Conduct your Webelos graduation at the Pack Meeting. Webelos should register and become Boy Scout in the Troop.

The Unit Commissioner's Role

Our best source of Boy Scouts is our Webelos. In fact 70% of all Boy Scouts were Webelos. So, it makes good sense to be sure every interested Webelos and his parents are invited, oriented, and welcomed into a Boy Scout Troop. You are the key to this whole process!

Target Date	Task
Oct/Nov	Ensure that Webelos leaders complete and return their 5th grade Webelos-to Scout Transition Tracking List to you, or the district Webelos Transition Chairman no later than November roundtable. Please forward any lists that you collect to your district Webelos Transition Chairman or your district executive. Determine if your troop(s) can accommodate more Scouts. Some troops feel they are big enough. If not contact your district executive immediately and help Webelos parents form a new troop to begin in February. Arrange a phone contact or meeting between Webelos leaders and Scoutmasters to work the plan. Assist in the planning a Webelos visit to a quality troop meting including camp promotion information for new parents. You should attend this troop meeting, and ensure that invitations are telephoned to parents beforehand.
Dec/Jan	Help plan a top-notch graduation for Webelos at their February pack meeting.
February	Attend graduation. Be sure new Scouts complete a Boy Scout application and know the troops program and meeting schedule. Assist troops to turn in applications and Webelos graduation report to the Scout Service Center.
March	Begin follow-up with boys who have not yet joined. Get them invited to visit another troop.

The District Schedule

By Date	Item
August 1	District Webelos Graduation Team (W2S) recruited and oriented.	Membership Chairperson/DE
September RT	Graduation job description sheets for every Scoutmaster, Cubmaster, or Pack Committee chairman and Webelos leader plus Webelos Tracking sheets in the Disappearing packet	W2S Team
October Commissioner Meeting/RT	Graduation plan and job descriptions are reviewed with all leaders. Time to begin working the plan!	W2S
Nov RT	Every pack turns in a Webelos Tracking Sheet, including those with no fifth-grade Webelos.	W2S or DE
Nov RT	All Scoutmasters receive letter and Webelos rosters of eligible boys to be invited to visit troop. 100% of packs have been followed up on and all rosters are completed and in.	W2S or DE
December	100% of Webelos leaders, Scoutmasters and unit commissioners have met. Their pack's February graduation plan and camp promotion meeting plans should be completed.	Commissioners & W2S
March/April	All February graduations are recorded, new Scouts registered.	W2S, DE, Commissioners
April 30	100% of non-transitioned Webelos have been contacted and encouraged to join a troop.	W2S
June 30	Final graduation report is prepared, recorded unit-by-unit numbers and percentages of graduated Webelos.	W2S
June District or Commissioners Meeting	Webelos Graduation Chairperson reports on graduation. Discussion on improvements for next year.	W2S

Last Edited March 05, 2007