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
for those areas holding early graduations. Other groups may graduate
at the end of fifth grade when the school year ends.
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.
It is possible for a boy who joins scouting at the start of fifth grade
to earn both his Webelos badge and his Arrow of Light award before it
is time to graduate into a troop, but it takes a lot of planning and
effort to accomplish this. The achievements, as were the Bear and Wolf
activities, are primarily done at home and signed off by an adult family
member after the boy has completed each one. The book is then shown
to the Den Leader who records the progress and also signs the boy's
book.
Instead of working on achievements and electives, each Webelos Scout
works to complete a series of hobby and career Activity Badges. The
emphasis shifts from home-centered activities to a series of group-centered
activities conducted by the Webelos den.