The Webelos Scout program is a two-year transition program between Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.

 

The boy becomes a Webelos Scout upon graduation from the Bear program in the spring of third grade. He has all summer to get started on Webelos activities. Boys new to Cub Scouting can become Webelos if they are 10 years old or have completed third grade, and have earned the Bobcat badge.

The end of the Webelos Scout program is when the Webelos Scouts graduate into a troop, typically in February or March of their fifth grade year at the Blue & Gold ceremony.

During these two years, the Webelos Scouts have two badges of rank they can earn and 20 activity badges. These two ranks are: Webelos Badge and the Arrow of Light award

Usually the boys earn the Webelos badge during the first year, and the Arrow of Light during the second year.
Much of the activities done in the den are focused around the 20 activity badges (or pins). Some (not all) activity badges are required for the Webelos badge and for the Arrow of Light award.

There are other activities the Webelos Scouts must do besides earn activity badges. These include:

1. Have an adult member of the family read and sign the Parent Guide in the Webelos Scout book.
2. Be an active member of the Webelos den for 3 months (attendance, den projects).
3. Know and explain the meaning of the Webelos badge.
4. Point out and explain the parts of the Webelos Scout uniform. Tell when to and when not to wear it.
5. Earn Fitness and two other activity badges - one from each of two different activity badge groups.
6. Plan and lead a flag ceremony in your den.
7. Show that you know and understand the requirements to be a Boy Scout:
   • Understand and intend to live by the:

     Scout Oath or Promise
     Scout Law
     Scout motto
     Scout slogan

   • Know the following and when to use them:

     Scout salute
     Scout sign
     Scout handclasp
     Understand and agree to follow the Outdoor Code.

8. Earn the religious award of your faith

   - Or -

   Do two of these:

   • Attend the church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious organization of your choice, talk with your religious leader about your beliefs, and tell your family and Webelos den leader what you learned.
   • Tell how your religious beliefs fit in with the Scout Oath and Scout Law, and discuss with your family and Webelos leader what character-building traits your beliefs and the Scout Oath and Scout Law have in common.
   • With your religious leader, list and do two things you think will help you draw nearer to God.
   • Pray to God daily as taught by your family, church, synagogue, or other religious brotherhood. Do this for at least 1 month.
   • Under the direction of your religious leader, do an act of service for someone else. Talk about your service with your family and Webelos leader. Tell them how it made you feel.
   • List at least two ways in which you believe you have been a good example and lived in accordance with your religious beliefs.

---

Details of Requirements

The meaning of the Webelos Badge:

 

The emblem is made up of a gold Scout badge with a blue "W," for Webelos, on it. It shows that the boy is moving from Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting.

Parts of the Webelos uniform:

Webelos Scouts may wear either the blue uniform they wore as Cub Scouts or the khaki and tan uniform they will wear as Boy Scouts. The Scout and his family decide which one he will wear. With the tan shirt, blue loops are worn on the epaulets, to represent Cub Scouting.

With either uniform, Webelos Scouts wear three special parts - the Webelos cap, Webelos neckerchief, and Webelos neckerchief slide. The cap is khaki and Webelos plaid and has the Webelos emblem on the front. The neckerchief is Webelos plaid, and the slide has the Webelos emblem on it.

---

Activity Badges

There are 20 activity badges. They are an integral part of the Webelos den program. They provide exciting activities for den meetings and suggest outside activities that will break up the routine of regular indoor meetings. Activity badges are part of the requirements for earning the Webelos badge and the Arrow of Light Award. But, most of all, they help accomplish the purposes of Cub Scouting.

The Webelos den meeting program will usually feature one activity badge each month. The boys receive instruction, practice what they have been taught, and take part in games or contests using the skills. In some cases they actually pass the badge requirements. Once the skill is learned by the boy, he practices it at den meetings and at home on his own. The boy's family should be encouraged to help him at home. All work or experiments are done or brought to meetings to show others. This encourages a boy to do his best and gives the uncertain boys an idea of what is required. Essays, notebooks, drawings, and other written work are turned in to the Webelos den leader for approval. If the requirement says for a boy to "tell," he should do that at a den meeting.

Many people can be involved in activity badge work. The Webelos den leader and Webelos den chief will handle quite a bit. However, there will be parents, other family members, or other adults with talents and skill related to certain badges who should be invited to help also. Remember to enlist the aid of outsiders who can teach the badge requirements. The badges will have more meaning to the boys if a qualified person coaches them. (See Activity Badge Counselor)

Activity badges offer a good opportunity to explore many things and may well lead to a hobby or career in later life.

Webelos wear these badges either on their Webelos cap or on the Webelos "colors". It does not matter which pin goes on which ribbon. The colors should be attached to the right sleeve of the uniform shirt, touching the bottom of the U.S. flag if there is no den number (such as using patrol badges). The activity badges are in five groups of four badges each.

 

These groups are:

Physical Skills
Aquanaut
Athlete
Fitness
Sportsman

Mental Skills
Artist
Scholar
Showman
Traveler
Communicator
Family Member
Readyman

Technology
Craftsman
Engineer
Handyman
Scientist

Outdoor Skills
Forester
Geologist
Naturalist
Outdoorsman

Webelos Scouts can earn the Compass Points Emblem and Compass Points as recognition of earning more activity badges than the minimum required for Webelos. The scout must earn the Webelos badge first, before being awarded the compass points emblem, no matter how many activity badges he has earned. The emblem and the compass points are each awarded for an additional four activity badges.