Walking to Webelos is a session aimed to help new Webelos scouts work towards the requirements of earning their Webelos patch.  This is day 4 of our Walking to Webelos activities at day camp for 2013.  The opening exercises are shared between Walking to Webelos and Aiming for Arrow (aimed at Webelos 2 scouts).

Supplies

• Drug Post (and pre if you want) tests from scouting.org
• Pens

Requirements covered and activities for each requirement

Opening exercises: Scout Jokes

This comes from: Boy Scout Trail.

Joke:  What do you call a scout that is…

• Sleeping on your porch? Matt
• Camping on the beach? Sandy
• Hanging on your living room wall? Art
• Flying over the fence? Homer
• Hiding in a pile of leafs? Russell
• Sitting in the sun too long? Wilt
• Floating in the lake? Bob
• Falling in the campfire? Frank
• Stuck in the latrine? John
• Rock climbing? Cliff
• Struck by lightning? Rod
• Coming home from camp? Dusty

Webelos 1’s only (Aiming for Arrow splits off and works on their session now)

Citizen 9. Tell about two things you can do that will help law enforcement agencies.  Ask the boys what they can do to help police, then go over the below items.

• The police and other law enforcement agencies need your help in fighting crime. Here’s what you might do:
  • Burglar-proof your home with good locks and windows that cannot be easily pried open.
  • Protect the family car by always making sure the key is removed and the doors are locked.
  • Safeguard your bicycle by locking it in the daytime and bringing it indoors at night.
  • Report to the police any suspicious-looking people or activities you see around the neighborhood.

Citizen 14. Tell why we have laws.  Tell why you think it is important to obey the law.  Tell about three laws you obeyed this week.

• Why We Have Laws: If there were no laws, people could do anything they wanted. Does that sound wonderful? Think about it. If someone stole your bike, could you get it back? Probably not, especially if the thief were bigger than you. Laws help us have an orderly society. Many laws are designed to protect people, property, and natural resources. There are laws against littering, driving while under the influence of alcohol, and selling certain drugs, to name a few. Our nation has federal laws that are for everyone in the country. Each state has state laws. Cities, towns, villages, and counties have ordinances. If your city requires dogs to be penned up or on a leash at all times, that’s a city ordinance.

Citizen 17. Name three organizations, not churches or other religious organizations, in your area that help people. Tell something about what one of these organizations does.

• Ask the boys if they can name 3, then go over the information below.
• Citizenship in Your Town
  • Many people in your community show good citizenship by working without pay. They are volunteers. They care about other people, and they find their work enjoyable and worthwhile.  These are some volunteer groups that may make your community a better place:
    • Volunteer fire department
    • Rescue squad
    • Red Cross
    • Hospital volunteers
    • Recreation associations
    • United Way
    • Humane Society
    • The Salvation Army
    • Boy Scouts of America
    • Girl Scouts of the United States of America
  • Many people help these volunteer organizations by donating money to them.

Fitness 5. Tell an adult member of your family about the bad effects smoking or chewing tobacco would have on your body.

• Exercise: Have the boys untie and then tie their shoes. Simple Huh!  Now have them spin in a circle 10-20 times.  Now have them untie and tie their shoes.  Not so easy is it? Explain this is like being on drugs
• Ask the boys if they know somebody that has been affected by smoking or chewing tobacco. Ask the boys about the negative effects of smoking and chewing, then go over the following information.

The Dangers of Tobacco

Why do some kids smoke or chew tobacco? They do it because they think it makes them more grown up. In fact, smoking and using chewing tobacco are bad choices for  anyone—child, teen, and adult. Many adults have given up smoking and chewing tobacco because scientists have shown that these habits are very harmful to health.

Cigarette smoking has these bad effects:

• It causes lung cancer, heart disease, and other ailments.
• It reduces a person’s ability to breathe deeply. Athletes who smoke cannot play as hard or as long as those who don’t.
• Smoke may irritate the eyes, making them red and sore.
• Smoke stains teeth and fingers.

Chewing tobacco is as dangerous as smoking.

• The tobacco may damage the delicate tissues of your mouth.
• It causes diseases.
• It certainly will stain your teeth.

Using tobacco is like putting sand in the gas tank of a new car. The beautiful car won’t run, and the engine will be ruined.

Fitness 6. Tell an adult member of your family four reasons why you should not use alcohol and how it could affect you.

• Ask the boys if they know somebody that has been affected by alcohol. Ask the boys about the negative effects of drinking, then go over the following information.

Drinking alcoholic beverages and doing drugs are even more dangerous than smoking because these actions can have terrible consequences the very first time a person tries them.

The effects of alcohol:

Perhaps you have seen someone unsteady on their feet because of drinking too much beer, wine, or liquor. Alcohol slows down the brain and body. It destroys balance. It may make a person see double or even pass out. Alcohol makes some people do bad things they would never consider doing when they are sober. Drunk drivers are responsible for thousands of deaths on our nation’s streets and highways every year. A person who drinks too much for several years may suffer from serious illnesses of the liver and other organs.

Fitness 7. Tell an adult member of your family what drugs could do to your body and how they would affect your ability to think clearly.

• Ask the boys if they know somebody that has been affected by drugs. Ask the boys about the negative effects of drugs, then go over the below information.

The effects of drugs:

Some drugs are prescribed by doctors to ease pain or relieve symptoms of disease, but prescription drugs are dangerous if they are misused. You should never take a prescription drug unless it is prescribed for you by a doctor. All other drugs are dangerous for you—whether they have been legally prescribed for someone else or sold illegally on the street.

The effects of inhalants:

Sniffing glue and inhaling the fumes of paint thinner or gasoline can be dangerous and even fatal. These substances contain toxins that can affect the liver, kidneys, and muscular system. Inhaling these poisonous substances can also cause psychological problems. Stay away from inhalants and drugs and people who sell them. Marijuana, cocaine and “crack,” heroin, “speed,” “pep pills,” LSD, and other illegal drugs bring nothing but trouble. Some drugs make people drowsy. Some make it hard to know what is real and what is a dream. Others make people feel so awake and active that they cannot relax and rest. Overdoses are often fatal. All illegal drugs are bad news.

Have the boys take the drug post-test.

Analysis (Start/Stop/Continue)

• Start: Nothing to add.  It went well.
• Stop: This day went well.
• Continue: Continue the day as planned. Note that we had a LOT of parent participation in the drugs and alcohol discussions. Keep this!