For many years I was a major Cub Scout Leader for our local Cub Scout Pack 481 in my home town. I started as a leader for the oldest boys, 4th and 5th graders, called the Webelos (WE'll BE LOyal Scouts). Shortly after I took that position the CubMaster and Committee Chairperson moved into Boy Scouts, and that left a few openings.
I was the enthusiastic new leader, and I was excited to be involved. So I moved into the CubMaster role, I helped to find a Committee Chairperson and helped with the planning and organization of the pack. The other parents weren't as enthusiastic as I was, and since I wanted to help the Pack grow bigger and more fun than it was, I started doing more and more. Eventually I was doing practically everything; planning our pack's functions, running the functions, attending training, attending district meetings, taking the boys on outings, and etc. I even got myself involved with running the district's summer day camp.
Well, as you can imagine, my enthusiasm waned, because I didn't get the help I needed. No one else wanted to help, probably because they thought I could do it all. I struggled for the last couple of years trying to keep things going, but I could see that it was falling apart. The parents seemed to only want a place where they could drop of their kids for an hour or two each week, and leave and do their own chores or go home and watch TV uninterrupted. I think they thought B.S.A. stood for Baby Sitters of America istead of Boy Scouts of America.
So couple of years ago my Cub Scout pack shut down. The Boy Scout troop continued for boys from 11 through 18, and so I became "just" a parent of a boy scout and attended the occassional Parent's (Committee) meeting. I stopped doing all of the training, the district events, the day camps, and everything else. Even though I gotten myself too involved, and I burnt out quickly, I find myself, even today, missing it. It was very rewarding teaching and working with the kids.
Recently a good friend of mine in Scouting asked me if I would help give some training sessions to new Cub Scout leaders. Training other leaders was something that I truly enjoyed doing when I was involved in Scouting in the past. I really do enjoy teaching, and I sometimes think I took a wrong turn on the career path... I would have also liked to be a writer, journalist, or even a photographer as well... but I digress...
Tonight is the first of 5 training classes we are offering over the next 2 weeks. We are teaching Tiger Cub Den Leaders tonight, which are volunteers (parents) who will work with the youngest kids in the pack, the 1st graders. Tomorrow night we teach the Wolf and Bear Den Leaders, which are the volunteers who work with the 2nd and 3rd graders.
I am looking foward to getting slightly involved in Scouting again, and hopefully the distraction will not only keep my mind off of my current financial situation, but to give me some sense of positive action in my life, since everthing else seems to be going negatively.
Later Lou
Don't laugh at me, but is that really what Webelos stands for? We do some trophies for a couple of the local packs and I could never figure out how that fit in along with Tiger, Wolf and Bear.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I was too lazy to look it up myself ;-)
Yep, that's what Webelos means... The 4th and 5th grade level is a "transistion" level between Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts... So they are unique and don't follow the animal names... BTW: The animal names are based on Kipplings Jungle Book.
ReplyDeleteNo need to look it up, just ask the "Digger", that's what everyone else at work does when they want to know someting... Ask me to dig up the answer for them on the Internet! (that is if I don't already know it, and being a guy I know about everything, except women).
Later
Lou
BTW: Hopefully you heard the sarcasm in that last comment that was dripping out and made a mess.
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Lou. It sounds like you need a distraction. It's good that you can give back to the children in your community in the process.
ReplyDeleteDigger. Heh. Now I know where to come the next time Limpy uses some disgusting slang term I've never heard of!
I understand from whence you come, Lou. In other words, I, too, was a Cub Scout leader for several years. Actually, I gave it up only after I entered seminary in my late 30s and moved from Kentucky to St. Louis. Until I read this post, I‘d not thought of those days in years. The memories are good ones. I believe you will find excellent experiences in you return to Scouting. So I commend your decision and offer my blessings for your Scouting future. In other words, have fun!
ReplyDeleteP.S.~ Alex says thanks for your words—and so do I.
tysgirl
ReplyDeleteThey call me other names as well, but that's another story! ;-)
nick
Were you a boy scout or a cub scout when you were a boy? My son is almost an Eagle Scout, but I only made it to Webelos Scout.
soozieq
I learned tonight that Webelos scout used to stand for Wolf-Bear-Lion Scout, but that was before I was a scout as a kid, and that was quite some time ago.
Later
Lou
I was only a Cub Scout, but both of my sons began as Webelos and continued into Boy Scouting.
ReplyDeleteLou,
ReplyDeleteAs I am my Troop's Committee Person in charge of Training, it's always good to see another active parent who is also trained!
How did I get involved? My now-12 yo son wasn't interested in Tiger Cubs. I told him how I wish I could have been one, since I had to wait to be a Wolf. And then I went on to Bear, then Webelos, then I was Boy Scout.
Well, we went for sign-up night, and he was hooked. The Cubmaster said he was the first Tiger to sign-up, so we'd need a Leader. My son stepped up and said Well, My dad was Wolf, a Bear AND a Boy Scout! In spite of my hushing him... I was a Den Leader for the 4-1/2 years.
Ok, now I'm set. I know way more now about Webelos than I ever thought I would! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteAnd I thought something dripped onto my shoe when I was here last....I'm glad it was just sarcasm!