Webelos
| Webelos badge | ||
|---|---|---|
| Old style Worn on the blue Cub Scout uniform |
New style Worn on the tan "Boy Scout"-style uniform | |
Webelos (short for "We'll Be Loyal Scouts") is a rank within the Cub Scouts division of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). The Webelos program is designed to help transition the boys from Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting[1]. Webelos Scouts are boys who have completed third grade, or are ten years old[2]. Boys work on activity badges, attend meetings, and become familiar with what it takes to become a Boy Scout. Webelos activities lead to the Arrow of Light Award, Cub Scouting's highest award.
History
Webelos was a neologism whose consonants once stood for the Cub Scout rank progression (Wolf, Bear, Lion, and Scout) but this concept lost meaning when the progression was changed and Lion rank was discontinued. In the late 1960s, Webelos was backronymed to mean "We'll Be Loyal Scouts".
Webelos are often divided into Webelos I and Webelos II groups, to keep their den from previous years intact. Webelos I groups often spend much of their time learning about Boy Scout customs, including memorization of the Scout Law and Oath. Webelos II groups spend more of their time looking for a Scout troop to join once they have finished the Cub Scouting program. This process is known as 'bridging over'. Many packs facilitate this process by associating with a Scout troop to ease the transition. Packs that do so are usually known as 'feeder packs'. A Boy Scout Troop may have multiple feeder packs.
The Webelos symbol is the fleur-de-lis, which also appears in the background of the Boy Scouts of America logo, colored yellow, blue, or yellow with a stylized blue W. They may wear the tan uniform of the Boy Scout instead of the navy blue uniform of the Cub Scouts. When doing so, they wear the blue epaulet loops of Cub Scouting (the navy blue uniforms have no epaulets). They are further differentiated from younger Cub Scouts by the use of a plaid neckerchief, instead of the gold or blue neckerchief of Cub Scouts.
Many Webelos earn the Arrow of Light during their second year as a Webelos. This award is the Cub Scout equivalent of the Eagle Scout award in Boy Scouting. Scouts that earned this award may wear the associated patch on their Boy Scout uniform. Adults who have earned the Arrow of Light are entitled to wear a knot on their uniform. This is the only award from Cub Scouting that is still worn on uniforms at the Boy Scout and Adult level.
Webelos in popular culture
- In Lost, the character John Locke stated he was in the Webelos as a boy.
- In NCIS, the character Timothy McGee stated that he was a Webelos but not a Scout.
References
- ^ Welcome to Webelos Scouting! from the U. S. Scouting Service Project website
- ^ What Is Cub Scouting? from the Boy Scouts of America website
