What exactly do Webelos base their decision on when deciding which Boy Scout troop to join. I guess it depends. If the young scout lives in an area where there is only one troop, well I guess the decision is easy. What if they live in an urban area where there is a Scout troop on almost every corner. Do they decide on the activities the troop likes to do, is their decision based on where siblings or relatives are at, follow their friends to the troop of their choice, or do some parents make the decision for them? All of the above. I have watched this happen year after year.
I believe that decision should be left up to the scout. When I hear parents and leaders tell me the boys will go to a troop as a group because they believe they should stay together, it makes me cringe. Thats great, but that troop may not be THE right troop for all of the boys. Ok, look at it this way, when they graduate high school, are they all going to go to the same college? After college, are they all going into the same careers and work for the same company’s? Or better yet will they all join the same branch of the service and stay in the same patrol to fight for our country? If thats the case lets change their scout uniforms to sheep costumes, retire the scoutmaster and get a sheep dog to heard them instead of leading them.
What is important is that they make their own choice to which troop they join and be encouraged by their parents to be in scouting. By letting them make an independent choice we will end up with stronger leaders and better citizens in the future. You never know, they just might one day become an Eagle Scout and do some incredible things in their life.
Looking at my Webelos II den, right now I’ll bet they split right down the middle.
Troop A will get one boy because it’s the closest, One boy because his brother goes there, and one or two others for other reasons.
Troop B will get one boy because he loves the troop and has since his first visit. (He was invited to last years camporee.) Another boy because its the closest. and two probablly because of buddy syndrome. I’m going because my buddy is going.
You know I’m ok with this because both are excellent troops. Maybe except for the “I’m going because my brother goes there”, all the boys are moving to the troops for valid reasons of there own. Some need their buddies. Some need fun activities. Some need to be close to home.
Sounds like they are picking the troop they like based on their own decision. Thanks for the reply Gary and good luck to the young scouts.