Preparing for the exact instant when our sons will become young men
Boy Scouts of America, your local Great Sauk Trail Council
Dell Deaton | Contributor
What sorts of decisions will your son need to make a decade-and-a-half from now? What will be the long-term impacts of their decisions—and which paths will be pliable, which more like Caesar crossing the Rubicon?
None of us know precisely.
To answer these what questions we need to ask how our sons will make their choices. How will they develop lists of options? How will they divine meaningful criterion through which to weigh and select from?
In the Boy Scout program, these skills begin to develop through what we commonly call the “Webelos Cross-Over.” Webelos are a part of the Cub Scout Pack made up of fourth- and fifth-grade boys. Think of guys pulling a bit at the bridle of an almost exclusively adult-led social-learning structure, but not quite ready to step fully into the dynamics of a largely youth-led Boy Scout Troop.
As Webelos, they work on skills that help them sample age-appropriate, “lite” versions of key activities in which they will later take part, demonstrate proficiency, and advance from between their 10th and 18th birthdays.
Perhaps most importantly as Webelos, they’ll identify and interview prospective Troops: Attend regular meetings with those units (ad hoc and by special invitation), and even join them overnight on camp-outs in the woods.
Although Webelos have been together for years as a “Den” of similarly-aged peers, it’s common for each boy to choose a Troop based on things that are individually most important to him—and for his buddies to do likewise, quite possibly going to other Troops.
Troops vary in the number of boys on their roster and in the degree to which youth versus adults plan and administer programming.
What do they do for outings and summer camp, and where? Where does each Troop’s support for each boy’s individual work toward rank advancement, and, ultimately, potential to make Eagle Scout, sit among Troop priorities?
The fact that BSA has provided for this process leading up to the instant of Cross-Over is itself an objective of Scouting.
It’s a safe experience-, confidence-building step to preparing youth for the decisions of greater consequence they’ll inevitably be making in adulthood, outside the protective wings of their parents. Via internalized standards.
Skills they’ll need, flying DeLorean or not.
Dell Deaton is a local volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America, Great Sauk Trail Council. He currently serves as District Vice-Chair for Membership, and as Chaplain in his son's Troop. Wood Badge C-60-08, Beaver Patrol. Former Cubmaster, Ann Arbor-based Pack. Check out /scouting_dell to Follow me on Twitter.
Professionally, Dell Deaton is a Christian divorce (and alternatives) counselor based in Saline, Michigan. Personal life: Re-married, father of one, with three dogs. Other interests include Ian Fleming and James Bond wristwatches, on which he is an internationally-recognized expert.
Comments
leaguebus
Mon, Oct 11, 2010 : 9:02 a.m.
A really big transition between Cubs and Boy Scouts is that once the Cubs reach Boy Scouts the Scouts start to learn to think for themselves. They do this by year round outdoor activities that teach the Scouts how to take care of themselves in sometimes extreme environments. Once the Scouts have begun to master these skills, they are presented with leadership opportunities within their Troop and begin the most important training in Boy Scouts, to be leaders. Our Scout Troop is boy lead, meaning that the leadership cadre (Patrol Leadership Council) makes all of the important decisions for the program. The adult leadership are there to guide, facilitate and to help train the newer leaders. The pinnacle of the Boy Scout program is the Eagle rank, where Scouts pick a public service project and then, using their leadership skills, raise monies, assemble tools, materials, then manage the workers to complete the project. Only about 1 to 2% of Scouts achieve Eagle, but those that do not still receive copious amounts of leadership training during their time in Boy Scouts. As Mr Deaton said, the Cub Scout to Boy Scout transition is a really big step in the life of a young Scout. They go from being followers to leaders.