Webelos Woods 2011 Wrap-Up & FAQ's
This year's event was a great success according to the feedback we heard. Many Webelos were excited about the event. It is important to give the boys an opportunity to earn activity pins and skills (See FAQ's below for a specific list of what was covered). An equally important goal is to introduce the concept of a boy lead program the Webelos will encounter once they cross over from the Cub Scout program to the Boy Scout program.
THANKS!
This event could not take place without a large number of volunteers giving their time and skills.
Here are the Boy Scout Troops we have to thank this year:
Troop 29 - Cooking demonstration, campfire staff & chapel
Troop 71 - Readyman 2 activity session & lead on ceremonial trail
Troop 287 - Outdoorsman activity session
Troop 312 - fire safety and string burning contest
Troop 330 - football & volleyball belt loop activity session
Patrol Leaders & Assistant Patrol Leaders included boy scouts from:
Troop 202
Troop 312
There were also staff in other roles from Troop 91, 307, and others.
Thanks to our utility volunteers from Wood Badge who did numerous jobs throughout the event - Billy Rucker, Walter Stover, and Kenton Dilley.
Camp Barstow was in great shape for Webelos Woods because of dedicated Rangers - Dave & Kathy Bauer and the Campmaster Corps. Everyone at Webelos Woods did their part by leaving Camp in at least as good a shape as they found it.
Almost no event takes place at Camp Barstow without the cheerful service of the Order of the Arrow Cook Team getting up well before the rest of us and working well past the time the rest call it quits for the evening. Webelos Woods participants got tasty food courtesy of their dedicated work.
Parents really stepped up to the plate on volunteering to help in the kitchen. This was nearly ideal - everyone showed up when they volunteered, there were plenty of volunteers, and no one had to do double or triple duty to get everyone fed and the kitchen & dining hall cleaned. When everyone works 1-3 hours, no one gets overloaded and the event runs much more smoothly. A special thanks to those who pitched in after Sunday breakfast - everyone was able to leave camp before noon instead of a few working until mid-afternoon.
Faye McConnell was our wonderful nurse.
Thanks to our utility volunteers from Wood Badge who did numerous jobs throughout the event - Billy Rucker, Walter Stover, and Kenton Dilley.
Here are several questions Webelos leaders had during the weekend:
Q: What requirements were potentially earned during the event?
A: Assuming the webelos participated in all aspects of the activity sessions, pitched their own tent, a late arrival didn't abbreviate the time for a specific activity session, and all opportunities outside the activity sessions were taken advantage of, etc....... This is the list of potential requirements:
Readyman: 4, 5, 6
Outdoorsman: 2, 3, 7, 10, 11, 12
Sportsman: 4 - Flag Football & Volleyball belt loop
Q: How do I contact Charlie Gwinn to volunteer fo the cook team?
A: Charlie’s email address is: paladin1@usit.net.You don’t have to work every event to be part of the team.
Q: How do I contact the group that does construction projects to improve Camp Barstow once a month?
A: Bill Eisele heads up the Barstow Bears and his email is beisele@scana.com. They built a shelter for the COPE course area in 6 hours last Saturday!
Q: Why is Webelos Woods so soon after the start of school?
A: It's a calendar driven decision. Camp Barstow is busier and handles more scouts in the fall than any other time of year - Cub/Partner, Haunted Forest, Order of the Arrow ordeals and fellowships, training events. We could go later in the fall, but it would be much later and the risk of a real cold snap for which many Webelos do not have proper sleeping gear is a consideration. Webelos Woods is one of the smallest council-wide camping events at Barstow. We have explored other locations, but costs rise because of camping fees and/or food service. Most other suitable locations also lack some of the great facilities that are available at our own Camp Barstow.
Q: I lost a ___. Did someone find it and where do I pick it up?
A: All lost items not claimed at the camp out were turned in the scout shop - several nice jackets and hoodies, steel water bottles, a book, etc....scout shop will keep them until Monday, October 3.
Q: Why is registration so limited?
A: 1. Boy scout patrol leaders and activity session leaders can't really handle an unlimited number of boys any more than adults can. 2. There is limited fire ring space in each camp site (foil packet dinners) and a limited number of camp sites set up at Barstow. Boy Scout staff troops camp in the upper end of camp (sites 1-4)
Q: Why is there overlap in the activity pins earned at Webelos Waters and Webelos Woods?
A: Each event is planned by a different volunteer and there is some exchange of plans. However, it really comes down to what activities the volunteer boy scout staff troops are comfortable teaching. In years past, there was a wonderful Geologist mine, but the session really revolved around a very knowledgeable adult helping to ID raw specimens in a barrel of seeded dirt; a bouldering wall session has been done, but that requires adults with training certificates; BB’s and archery are offered at other events; etc...
Q: Why don't you alternate years where Outdoorsman and Readyman is offered so that my son can earn more pins?
A: Even with both Webelos Woods & Webelos Waters fully subscribed, there are fewer slots than there are webelos who want to participate. Both of these pins are required for the Arrow of Light and some elements of Outdoorsman require camping that some parents may not be ecstatic about doing themselves. In addition, there are always boys new to Webelos as a Webelos 2 who need the pin that year and most of the skills covered are ones that need repetition to be retained.
Q: Why is the registration price $55.00 for Webelos Woods & Webelos Waters?
A: As in all events, there is food, insurance, program materials (even resusable items disappear or break at every event). For Webelos Woods, one big item is that we feed and give a patch to the Boy Scout staff as a thanks for volunteering. There are always many boys scout staff members for Webelos Woods. For Webelos Waters the paid camp staff is used. We also have to pay for LP gas for the Camp kitchen, tp for the latrines, and other "invisible" consumables from Camp during the weekend.
Q: Why weren't there t-shirts for Webelos Woods in 2010?
A: A good deal on a t-shirt is $7.00 for a run this small, probably more. More to the point, it is difficult to get size distribution correct when the registration doesn't typically max out until the time the registration price jumps up and there are still numerous "swap outs" when a boy drops and another is inserted in his place. Webelos shirts are also not frequently worn when the boy goes over to a boy scout troop. Of the 8 years Webelos Woods has been run, only 2 of them included a t-shirt in the package.
Registration is by pack, although individual registration will be allowed if only one boy from a pack is interested. Participation is limited to 12 patrols of 10 boys on a first-come, first-served basis. Places are secured by completing the online registration and receipt of fees.
The program will include a cooking demo, 2 team sports belt loops, knots & pitching a dining fly, firebuilding and Ceremonial Trail.
Uniforms: Scouts will wear their full Class A uniform on Sunday morning for the morning parade, chapel and closing ceremonies. At all other times, an activity uniform of Scout shorts and Scout t-shirt is acceptable.
Here's the skinny on this event:
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For Webelos only (and their parents & leaders); siblings cannot be accommodated.
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Boys will be formed into patrols of 10.
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Boy Scout patrol leaders and assistant patrol leaders will lead each patrol.
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Patrols will rotate through advancement oriented activities, Scout skill activities on a set schedule.
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Most activity sessions will be Boy Scout led.
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A ceremonial campfire will light the sky on Saturday evening.
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Event will meet several Arrow of Light requirements.
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Activity to begin the transition from Cub Scouting events to Boy Scouting activities.
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Boy: leader/parent ratio is 4:1.
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A non-denominational Christian chapel will be held Sunday morning.
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Meals will be in the dining hall, but hobo dinner boys will cook for themselves Saturday evening.
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Meals included in the registration include breakfast on Saturday & Sunday, lunch Saturday and dinner Saturday evening.
What To Bring: Sleeping bag or sheets and blankets, pillow, tent, flashlights, toothbrush, toiletries, rain gear, jacket, hat, (evenings can get cool). Place sleeping items in a heavy duty garbage bag for the Scout to carry or in a good duffel bag or backpack; if he drops it, everything stays clean and dry. The walk to your camp could be 1/4 mile. Your Scout's uniform should be marked with his name on the labels and in his hat.