My Childhood: Webelos

My dad thought it was time I joined an organization like Webelos. I suspect he believed I was a little too introverted. He seemed to feel I needed to be with a group of young boys so I would learn to be a little more outgoing.

Dad began his campaign by giving me his copy of the Boy Scout handbook. It was the book he used when he was in the boy scouts many years before. I was fascinated by this book, and quickly read it from cover to cover.

My father told me many things about the boy scouts. He told me about the feeling of brotherhood and togetherness everyone felt. He told stories about trips into the mountains, and long hikes in the forests. He told me about singing around the campfires and roasting marshmallows. He built up the boy scouts into this wonderful organization that would make me feel like a man.

There was a Webelos pack in the neighborhood, and after some prodding from my father, I signed up for it. Because of all of the stories that he had told, my expectations were very high.

A few days before going to my first meeting, my parents and I went shopping for all of the materials needed to become a webelo. I needed a uniform, which included a shirt, a pair of pants, socks, and a few other minor items. I also needed a Webelos handbook, which I read completely the night it was purchased.

The day of the first meeting arrived. The meetings were held at a neighbors house during the evening. My father dropped me off, and picked me up a couple of hours later. I wore my new uniform to the meeting; it itched and the fit was awkward.

The first meeting was an incredible disappointment. We didn’t do anything worthwhile. We just sat around and talked about stupid and useless things. The second meeting wasn’t much better. On the third meeting, we began a really dumb project. We began carving a totem pole.

Each webelo was given a section to carve, which consisted of a piece of wood from a palm tree about twelve inches in diameter and two feet high. We were also given a carving knife and some minimal instructions, and told to go at it.

I thought this was such a stupid project, and I was so disappointed with the Webelos in general, that I appealed to my parents. I told them I didn’t like the Webelos, and I would rather be doing something else. I told them the projects were stupid, and I was very bored. I was surprised at how little resistance I received from my parents. I think they decided to let me be me; which was very wise indeed.

I did get one good thing out of the Webelos, however. I earned one merit badge. It was for Geology, which was my favorite hobby at the time. The merit badge was easy, since I already had everything I needed to get one. I simply brought a whole bunch of rocks to the second Webelos meeting. The scoutmaster took a look, and awarded me the badge. I still have that merit badge.