This ceremony can be held at a pack meeting when the entire membership of a Webelos den is being organized into a Boy Scout troop.
PERSONNEL
Cubmaster, Webelos den leader who is becoming the new Scoutmaster, Scouting coordinator, Webelos Scouts and their parents, head of the chartered organization.
EQUIPMENT
Boy Scout neckerchiefs.
Cubmaster: Tonight we have an unusual event to recognize in our pack.
Because of the need for an additional Scout troop in our neighborhood (or organization) and because we had a Webelos den, our chartered organization has agreed to accept the responsibilities for a new troop. Our Scouting coordinator, [name], has met with the parents of the Webelos Scouts and learned that they are willing to organize and become the nucleus of a new troop. Our Webelos den leader [name] has accepted the invitation of the committee to become Scoutmaster.
[Name], the head of [name of the organization], our chartered organization, is here tonight. As he comes to the front, I will read the names of the graduating members of the Webelos den. Will they please step forward with their parents as their names are called. (Announces boys' names.)
Head of Chartered Organization: On behalf of the [name of organization], I pledge full cooperation with our new Boy Scout troop. We want it to be one of the finest troops anywhere. If this is to be true, every one of our members must do his part. We are proud of our Cub Scout pack and have watched with interest all of these boys as they become Webelos Scouts. We will continue to follow their advancement through the ranks of Boy Scouting.
Our Scouting coordinator will now say a few words and officially introduce the new troop and its leaders. [Name of Scouting coordinator].
Scouting Coordinator: Cub Scouting has been an answer to the needs of our boys and their families as they play and work together. We are proud of our pack leaders and of the progress made by the Cub Scouts in our pack.
Though our new troop is starting small, it will grow as its new Scoutmaster, [name], develops a program of fun and adventure with the new Boy Scouts. They will be
ready for recruits from our neighborhood and for other Webelos Scouts when they are eligible.
I am pleased to present the committee members of the new Troop [number].
The troop committee is composed of [name], as chairman, and [names of other committee members and, if possible, the specific assignments agreed upon]. The Scoutmaster is [name] and his assistant is [name]. The members of the new troop are [names of the Webelos Scout graduates].
These new troop members have come up through the ranks of Cub Scouting in our pack. We are proud of their record. They have served well and have given goodwill. We will count on their continued progress along the Scouting trail.
For you parents, it's going to be a wonderful experience as you travel that Scouting trail with- your son.
Scouts, your registration certificates will be presented when our new troop charter is presented to us. You have chosen your Boy Scout neckerchief color, so I will ask your Scoutmaster, [name], to present the neckerchief now.
Scoutmaster: I know all of you boys well. We have grown together in our Webelos den. We shall continue to grow as we enjoy the wonderful times ahead. III need your help as well as that of your parents.
I'm expecting each of you to move upward on the Scouting trail. Now, Cubmaster [name) will remove your Webelos Scout -neckerchiefs, after which I will present your troop neckerchiefs. May Boy Scouting be a real challenge to you. (Cubmaster removes Webelos Scout neckerchiefs. The Scoutmaster places a Boy Scout neckerchief around the neck of each boy.) As there are many ways your neckerchief might serve you, so it is with you: there are many ways you can serve your fellow man.
Good luck and good Scouting! Lees give a big howl for our Cubmaster who has done so much for us.
We're headed out on a Cub Scout Safari. Look, over there is a boa constrictor. Watch out, everyone! Listen to the monkeys. Aren't they loud? Wait! What's that roar? If we get really quiet, maybe we can spot some tigers. Look, here they come!
This month our Tiger Cubs have worked really hard on earning some more Tiger Tracks. They have been to (name Go and See activity) and have worked on Big Idea (number). Now, everyone climbs back aboard the jeep as we continue on our safari. There go some gazelles running. What could be after them? Lions, cougars? No, it's just some Bobcats. These boys are just getting started on our safari. They have learned the Scout sign, handshake, promise, and more. We are hoping they will stay on a Scouting safari until they have experienced all levels. Now rejoin the group and let's go see what's up ahead.
Here come some wild hogs. And watch those antelope scatter. Careful, folks, I think I've spotted some Wolves. These Safari Hunters have been working on their progress towards ranks. As they concentrated on the 49 steps of good safari hunting, they have reached the rank of Wolf. Congratulations on a fine hunt boys.
Quick, jump in the jeep. Here comes something we should never have seen on a safari. What are we going to do? Everyone holds on and tries to appear as small as possible. We need to hide from the Bears. They have spotted us and are coming to investigate.
A Safari may not be a usual place for Bears, but we are mighty proud of ours. They have worked really hard all year and are ready to move up the Scouting trail. Congratulations, boys. May you wear your Bear badge proudly.
Look at the beautiful birds. We have obviously reached the higher ground on our safari. Things seem to be quieter here. I see a macaw and a beautiful parrot. Oh, look over there, it's a Webelos. They have been working hard to earn their pins. We are proud to present the Webelos badge to them. We have some boys on our safari that have earned their Compass Point Emblem. They too have been working hard. We also have some boys who are ready to become Safari guides. They are the Super Achievers of the safari that have earned all 20 Webelos pins.
But wait, what is that up ahead? Oh, no! The natives are doing a dance around the campfire. Do you think it could be an Arrow of Light Ceremony?
When you look at how far we have come on our safari, what beautiful animals we have seen tonight, and yes, see that have earned the highest award in Cub Scouting, the Arrow of Light, would be to graduate these boys into Jeep Driving School!
Props: An arrow, two council fires.
Personnel: Akela dressed as Indian chief standing by first council fire.
Scout Master standing by second council fire.
Akela: Will ________ and his parents please come forward and take their place of honor at the council fire. Tonight ______ has achieved two high honors. He will receive his Arrow of Light award and graduate from Cub Scouting.
I hold in my hand an arrow. As you can see, it is straight and true, for only an arrow that is straight and true will hit its mark. In order to fly straight, it must have at least three feathers. These represent the first three ranks of Cub Scouting you have achieved; Bobcat, Wolf, and Bear. With these awards in place, you began to ascend along the shaft of the arrow by earning your Webelos rank until you reached the tip of the arrow, the Arrow of Light award. This is the culmination of all your Cub Scouting efforts. Without a hard, sharp tip, the arrow is not an effective weapon. Since you have achieved this, you will now be a more effective Boy Scout.
Please stand. I now present your parents with your award and ask that they present it to you. Please present your mother with the mother's pin and give her a proper salute (for a mother the proper salute is at least a hug). I now present you with this arrow.
Since you are graduating from Cub Scouting, you will no longer be a Cub Scout, except in memory. Because this arrow represents the path along which you have come, but not the path which you must go, I will ask you to return the arrow.
(Take the arrow and crack it over your knee only enough to crack it but not completely break it in two.) This broken arrow will now and forever be a reminder of everything that you have achieved in Cub Scouting and that you have graduated with honor. It will no longer fly, just as you will no longer be a Cub Scout. You will always wear the Arrow of Light symbol on your uniform as a reminder of your accomplishments. Keep this broken arrow as a reminder of your Cub Scouting years. I give you one last salute before you leave our council fire to join your new Boy Scout brothers at their council fire. Always be straight and true.
At this time the scout is summoned to the second council fire by the Scout Master and welcomed into the troop.
This evening, we're proud to announce that our pack is continuing with a very special award. In the Webelos program, the boys work on 20 different activity badges.
During the past 2 years as Webelos, they have, as a den and as individuals, worked on all 20 of these badges. The Webelos leader provides guidance; the boys do the work. Even though they're working in the den, not all boys finish all the requirements.
In nearly ____ years that our pack has been in existence, close to ___ boys have gone through the Webelos program. Of that number, only ____boys have earned all 20 Webelos activity badges.
To give you an idea of the extent of their accomplishments, here are the activity areas and a sample of the requirements:
Aquanaut - a minimum of 4 requirements, among them, swim 100 feet, ½ with backstroke.
Artist - a minimum of 5 requirements, among them; draw or paint an original picture, frame it.
Athlete - 4 requirements, among them, run 600 yards in 2 minutes, 45 seconds or less.
Citizen - 8 requirements, including writing a 50-word essay on the US President or other great American.
Communicator - a minimum of 9 requirements including using a signal code to send a message of a few words to a friend.
Craftsman - 7 requirements, including making 4 different useful wooden objects.
Engineer - 5 requirements, including building a working catapult.
Family Member - a minimum of 4 requirements, among them tell what is meant by family, duty to family, and chores.
Fitness - a minimum of 4 requirements including telling an adult what drugs, alcohol, and tobacco could do to your body.
Forester - 5 requirements including identifying 6 forest trees on a hike.
Geologist - 5 requirements to include collecting 5 geological specimens and identifying.
Handyman - a minimum of 4 requirements including mowing a lawn and properly raking and disposing of the cut grass.
Naturalist - 4 requirements, including being able to identify the poisonous plants and reptiles in our area.
Outdoorsman - 5 requirements among them tie 5 knots or attend your Boy Scout camp.
Readyman - 8 requirements among them, explain what first aid is and tell what you should do in case of an accident.
Scholar - 6 requirements, including taking an active part in a school service activity.
Scientist - 9 requirements, including explaining how crystals are formed and making some.
Showman - 4 requirements, including writing and putting on a puppet play, or play 4 tunes on a musical instrument, or memorizing and giving a monologue.
Sportsman - 4 requirements, including knowing skills, rules, equipment, safety courtesies of 2 teams and 2 individual sports and take part in them.
Traveler - 5 requirements including using timetables to plan a trip and figure out the cost per mile by bus, railroad, or plane.
Would the following boy(s) please come forward: ________, the pack is honored to recognize your outstanding achievements as a Webelos Scout by presenting you with this display on which you may mount your patches and activity badges.
Congratulations gentlemen!
PERSONNEL
Cubmaster and Bear Cub Scout, seven Webelos Scouts; Webelos den leader.
EQUIPMENT
Large cards, each printed with a letter of W-E-B-E-L-O-S.
ARRANGEMENT
The Webelos Scouts, holding their letters, form a semicircle with their backs toward the audience. The Cubmaster and the Webelos den leader (and any other Webelos Scouts) stand. The Cubmaster invites the Bear Cub Scout who is entering the Webelos den to come forward; he introduces him to each Webelos Scout and the Webelos den leader, and each gives him the Cub Scout handshake. One by one, each boy in the semicircle turns to face the audience, holds his letter shoulder-high, and recites his line.
lst Scout: Well be loyal Scouts.
2nd Scout: Each Scout earns his own activity badges.
3rd Scout: Boys are in the fourth and fifth grades.
4th Scout: Every Scout can earn the Webelos badge and Arrow of Light Award.
5th Scout: Love of God and country we will show.
6th Scout: On our honor, we will do our best.
7th Scout: Scouts are friendly and helpful, at home, at school, and in the community.
(In succession, the boys repeat their letters.)
All: Webelos - We'll be loyal Scouts!
Props: "Campfire", bridge, troop scarfs, numbers, Boy Scout hat, Patrol Patch(es), neckerchief, hat, shoulder tabs, Spotlight
Cast: Cubmaster, Webelos Leader(s), Scoutmaster, Senior Patrol Leader, Parents, Webelos, Patrol Leaders/Boy Scouts.
Scene: Boy Scouts are gathered around a "campfire" at the end of the bridge. Cubmaster, Webelos Leader and Webelos approach bridge (opposite from the Boy Scouts)
Cubmaster: Greetings, to our brothers from Troop ___!
ScoutMaster: Greetings Akela, it has been a while since our last meeting. Is everything going well in your lodge?
Cubmaster: Yes, thank you. I have Webelos worthy to join your Troop. Their Leader will assist them in their journey.
Webelos Leader: Greetings to our brother Scouts.
Scoutmaster: How many worthy braves will join our council fire tonight?
Webelos Leader: We have __ worthy and true boys to cross over to your council fire tonight.
Cubmaster: As each crosses the bridge to your council fire,I will tell of his achievements. We will miss them and their families as they move along the trail to Eagle.
Scoutmaster: We are ready, Akela, send them over. (On Cub side of bridge, the Webelos Leader assisted by Parents remove the scarf, [and blue tabs if wearing the khaki shirt], hat, and other Cub patches [removed and lightly tacked on prior to ceremony]. The boy moves to the middle of the bridge [in a spot light if available] while the Cubmaster recants the boy's history in Cub Scouting. After the Cubmaster ends, the family and boy cross over the bridge where they are greeted by the Scoutmaster)
Scoutmster: Welcome to Troop ______ we are glad to hear of your hard work in Pack ____. This is the Senior Patrol Leader, who will assist you on your quest for Eagle. He will welcome you into our council fire.
Senior Patrol Leader: I too welcome you to Troop ___ we hope that you and your family will enjoy your stay and will help the Troop. I present you with (Red Tabs, and/or Troop neckerchief, or, patrol patch, or Scout hat, or Boy Scout Handbook, or Troop neckerchief slide, etc depending on local and Troop customs) (During the presentation, the nex Cub is preped)
Scoutmaster: Who is the next Scout Akela? (The ceremony continues until each boy and familiy crosses over, after last boy)
CubMaster: That is the last boy for this year. I have enjoyed seeing you again and hope that your council fire will burn brightly and warmly.
Scoutmaster: Thank You Akela, the young men and their families will be a valuable part of our Troop. Until the next time our council fires meet, Good health to you and your tribe.
A darkened room, a single candle burning on a table. The Webelos Scouts (their parents behind them) are lined up near the Scoutmaster who is standing beside the flame.
SM: "The flame you see before you represents the Flame of Knowledge. You Webelos Scouts who are bridging over to Boy Scouts have shown me that you bring with you a hunger for Knowledge. The Scouting program offers you a special kind of knowledge that will serve you well as you walk the sometimes difficult Road to Manhood."
SM takes up another candle from the table where the Flame of Knowledge sits and holds it near the Flame but does not light it yet.
SM: "The Flame of Knowledge never goes out as long as there are people who are willing to seek knowledge. It burns eternally in the mind of Humankind as a beacon, casting it's rays to guide us as we seek a higher level of understanding or our world."
SM lights candle, saying: "This candle represents a Youth who seeks knowledge. Each of you Webelos here with me tonight is that Youth."
SM hands the newly-lit candle to the nearest Webelos Scout, saying: "You have sought to continue building upon your Scouting knowledge by finding a Boy Scout Troop that will help you gain your ample portion of this special knowledge. Take custody of the Flame." [Places candle in the>closest boy's hand.] "Hold this sacred Flame for a moment and then transfer this Flame to the next Webelos Scout. Hand it around from boy to boy until it reaches the last one of you in line who will return it to me."
As the Flame is transferred from Scout to Scout, the SM continues talking to the assembly, saying: "Knowledge, once gained, must be shared. Each Boy Scout must pass on to other Scouts what he has learned. As you grow more experienced in Scouting, we will ask you to begin to return to Scouting some of what you have received from it. Work diligently as you pass down your Trail to Eagle Scout and you will learn much that you can share with the others who come after you. Remember, you will receive from Scouting only what you put into it. I challenge you to work hard so that you will have much to give back."
When the candle has made it's way back to the SM, he places the second candle in a holder that was placed well away from the original Flame. After a moment, he blows out the second candle. NOTE: The Flame of Knowledge is left burning as long as possible.
SM: "See how easily that Youth's Flame was extinguished by the Breeze of Laziness? Don't let Laziness extinguish the Flame of Knowledge that burns in your own mind. Cherish your Flame by doing your best, by asking questions when you don't understand, and by living up to the Scout Oath and Law." [Pause for effect.] "But, notice how the Flame of Knowledge that burns in the mind of Humankind is still lit? From it you may always relight your own flame should the Breeze of Laziness blow too hard and snuff out your own Flame. Never stop learning. Never give the Breeze Laziness a chance to blow."
Now the Troop's SPL, who has been standing in the middle of a plywood bridge with an ASPL, calls across to the Webelos Scouts and their parents, "Troop 6 invites the Webelos Scouts and their parents to join us on the Boy Scout side of Scouting by crossing over this symbolic bridge."
As the Webelos reach the middle of the span the SPL and his assistant stop him to remove the boy's blue shoulder flashes and replace them with red ones his patent offers up behind the boy's back. After the red flashes are in place, the SPL then places the Troop's neckerchief OVER the boy's Webelos version, removes the boy's slide, puts it on the Troop neckerchief, and then slides away the old neckerchief. [Handing it and the blue flashings off to a parent.]
As the SPL removes the FIRST neckerchief the SM says, "Notice that we removed the Webelos neckerchief after we've placed the Boy Scout neckerchief on the Scout. We do this to be sure that there is no break in a boy's Scouting career."
As the new Boy Scout exits the bridge, he is welcomed by his new Troop's Assistant SM who's in charge of the New Scout Patrol, and by as many other boy leaders as the Troop can muster that evening. The parents are likewise greeted.
When all have bridged over, the SA asks the new Boy Scouts to take hold of the Troop flag with their left hand and raise the Scout sign with their right. He leads them in the Scout Oath, and the ceremony is over.
-- Thanks to Andrew Hagemann, SA, NSP, Troop 6, Colonial Virginia Council
This is the crossing over ceremony I used last year when I graduated my Webelos (including my older son) to Boy Scouts. This was separate from the Arrow of Light, which was done at the same meeting.
First you need to invite local community leaders to the cerremony. I had invited the City Manager, my Unit Commissioner, DE, Executive Officer from our sponsor and the State Senators & Representatives that serve the area where the boys live, as well as the SM, ASM & SPL from the troops the boys where joining. One Senator & one representative was unable to attend and sent the boys very nice congratulatory letters, which they were thrilled with. The state Senator even invited the boys to be pages for a day at the state capital.
You need for a prop, is a bridge that the boys can walk across from stage left to stage right (my BA is Theatre). The Cubmaster and ACM stand on the stage left side of the bridge. I didn't formally announce the ceremony but asked the representatives from the first troop to come forward and stand on the other side of the bridge to welcome their new scouts. I called down one boy to the bridge and his parents joined us, standing to the left of me. The graduating Webelos stands with his back to the bridge. I turned to the boy and silently removed his "signs of Cub Scouts". First I removed his hat, handed it to my ACM to hold upside down, I then removed his neckerchief slide, placed it in the hat, then the neckerchief placed into the hat and finally the navy blue epalets, also into the hat. I then took the hat from my ACM, turned and handed it to the mother, shook the parents hands and sent them in front of the bridge to the other side to greet their new boy scout. I turn back to the boy and my ACM shook hands with the boy using the Cub Scout handshake. I then shook the boy's hand using the Boy Scout handshake. At this point the boy turns to face the bridge and crosses over. On the other side, their SM presented the boy with his new hat (gift from the Pack), red epalets (from the parents) and new neckerchief from the troop.
The last one I graduated was my son and since I was staying on as the CM, only his father went over to the other side to greet him. This was done as a symbolic sign of me staying with the Pack and his going on to Boy Scouts.
After each boy graduated (and I graduated all the Webelos II) I then announced "New Boy Scouts of Troop 171 and Troop 271 dismissed. All the remaining Cub Scouts stood and saluted the boys as they filed out. The new Scouts and their parents formed a receiving line at the back of the church (our sponsor) and were greeted by everyone as they left to go downstairs for cake and punch. This ceremony was simple but very effective as there wasn't a dry eye in the audience. The state representative that was able to attend was very impressed and was also teary eyed.
-- Thanks to Dawn Moriarty , Cubmaster, Pack 168 Presque Isle, ME
The arch is the sun rising at daybreak, starting another week in scouting.
THE FIRST DAY - Is Sunday, a day of worship and development of the boy's spiritual life.
THE SECOND DAY - is Monday, a day for improving understanding within the family.
THE THIRD DAY - is Tuesday a day of developing habits and attitudes of good citizenship.
THE FOURTH DAY -is Wednesday, a day of strengthening the ability to get along with other boys and respect other people.
THE FIFTH DAY - is Thursday, the day for personal achievements by developing new interests and skills.
THE SIXTH DAY - is Friday, the day to work on good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind and body.
THE SEVENTH DAY - is Saturday-the day for fun and finding new things to do.
This gives us the seven rays of the sun to brighten our week. The arrow is to remind us to continue to go straight up the pathway in Scouting and in life. Putting all these together we have the Arrow of Light, the highest award in Cub Scouting.
We used an outer space theme this time. I have a Captain Picard suit I wear at Halloween, and a working toy ray gun. We started out by dimming the lights and playing over the speaker system at full volume Strauss' "Thus Spake Zarathustra," more familiarly known as the theme from "200l: A Space Odyssey."
I came out and tried to light the "campfire" but had no matches. "Great Denibian slime devils, I'm out of matches!" I bellowed in my most stentorian starship commander's voice. "I'll have to speak to Riker about this immediately!" But I solve the problem by lighting the campfire with a blast from my ray gun (my ASM turned the dimmer switch up to full slowly). Then I leisurely warmed my hands, and turned around and warmed my posterior (giggles here, as intended).
Then I turned to the WDL, and said, "Commander Keith, I understand you have seven graduates from the starfleet academy who are ready to join the crews of starships 113 and 1515. Bring them up here immediately!" Anyway, you get the idea. Bring the boys up, congratulate them on their accomplishments, wish them well in boy scouting, and then cross them over the bridge, where they are received by a representative from their new troops. We also give them boy scout neckerchiefs; my troop has a custom-made one we give each new scout.
Another thing we do--I have each boy sign our cross-over bridge with an indelible magic marker before they actually cross over. Who knows? We may have a president's signature on there someday.
At the end, we played the theme from "Star Wars", also LOUD. Very inspiring.
This is a fun ceremony and seemed to work well. The boys really liked it--didn't want me to turn off "Star Wars," so we played it as a finale when they were leaving the pack meeting.
Each of the seven boys also received his Arrow of Light in a separate ceremony earlier in the meeting.
Assistant Cub Master:
In fourth and fifth grade, Cub Scouts are brought into the tribe of Webelos. Webelos stands for `we'll be loyal scouts'. In the tribe of Webelos, boys prepare themselves for Boy Scouting. Webelos work on 20 different activity badges from five skill groups: physical, mental, outdoors, community, and technical skills. After three months in the Webelos Den, earning three activity pins and learning about Boy Scout ways, they have completed all the requirements for the Webelos badge.
Cub Master:
There are Cub Scouts among us tonight who have earned their Webelos Badge. Would the following boys please come forward with your parents to be recognized and honored by the Pack.
List of boys.
You have completed all the requirements for your Webelos badge, have moved along the Cub Scout trail and have earned a place in the Webelos Tribe. Receive now the mark of the Webelos Tribe, a BLUE mark, symbolizing vigilance, perseverance and justice.
[Mark each boy with BLUE face paint.]
Assistant Cub Master:
[Present Webelos badges to parents as Cub Master paints faces] It is our pleasure to award your Webelos badge to your parents, who have been your Akela in completing these requirements. Parents, please pin the Webelos badge to your son's left shirt pocket and congratulate him on a `Job Well Done'. Parents, as your son's Akela, you are entitled to proudly wear the parent's Webelos pin enclosed with your son's Webelos badge.
Cub Master:
It is my pleasure to congratulate each one of you on earning your Webelos badge. Boys please step over to the Advancement Ladder and move your clothes pin to the Webelos level. Parents and Scouts please return to your seats.
Compass Badge Presentation
PERSONNEL: Cubmaster, Webelos Leader
EQUIPMENT: Compass badge and compass point.
CUBMASTER: Tonight we have boys receiving Webelos recognition. (number) earning the compass and (number) earning the compass point. To earn the compass, a Webelos Scout has to earn his Webelos badge and four additional activity badges -- a total of seven activity badges. Once the compass has been earned, besides working on the Arrow of Light; the boy can work on earning compass points. He can earn one gold compass point for each four activity badges. To fill his compass a boy needs to earn nineteen of the available 20 activity badges. Would Mr./Mrs._______, the Webelos leader please come forward and present the awards.
WEBELOS LEADER: The compass badge is not an award that is sewn onto a boy's uniform. It is attached to his right pocket button under the flap. The points are given to the boy to put in any position he chooses. Tonight (names) have earned their compass and (names) have earned their compass point. Will they please come forward. This shows that the boys are working hard toward the end of their Cub Scout trail. Congratulations boys!!!!