For:
Cubmaster (CM), Assistant Cubmaster (ACM), Webelos Leader (WL), Den Leader (DL).
Props:
Fake fire with red bulb, teepee, drum.
ACM:
Many many moons ago, a small boy sat outside his teepee watching the stars in the sky, and
listening to the rustle of the trees in the night. Somewhere in the distance he could hear
the call of the Bobcat, the Wolf, and the Bear. Close by was the sound of the ceremonial
drum calling all braves of the tribe to the Council ring. The boy listened and wished he
could answer that call.
Quick and as true as an arrow in flight, quiet as the hush of the night, to the beat of that ceremonial drum, before a great fire they gathered, awaiting Akela, their chief. Here in the great Council fire ring, on top of the mountain, they met. Here too, they sought the help of the Great Spirit as they starved to do their duty. Here they met Chief Akela, and awaited his words.
Now with the last "boom" of the great drum, all was silent. The night was still. The great ceremonial fire was lit and it began to light up the night. As the fire grew and grew ever larger, the tom-tom started slowly and set the rhythm. Akela stepped into the ring as the tom-tom beat first low and slow and then like thunder. Akela danced and with his movement told of his life. He told of the strength of his father, the one they called the Arrow of Light. He told of how his father taught him the signs of the tribe; how to make a bow and let an arrow fly true to its target. Akela obediently followed the Arrow of Light and gained great knowledge. Akela learned that the arrow for which his father was named was one that pointed upward, truly to the Eagle so high above.
Akela's dance showed how he, as a young brave, was trusted to set out into the forest. There he met the Wolf who taught him the ways of the wild life, of the ground, of the tracks, and ways to find food. He next faced the Bear and learned the meaning of courage and the importance of being brave. And with this Akela stopped his dance!
Akela, the wise, had closed his dance and presented the sign of the tribe and all of the tribe did likewise. No one spoke until Akela said: "Our tribe can only be strong when the boys of the tribe are strong. The future is hidden, but if we are courageous and brave; if we teach our boys truth and knowledge, to aim high like the eagle, to be fair, our great tribe will continue to be strong.
CM:
My friends, you are like that small Indian boy wishing that you can answer the call of the
great ceremonial drum and be members of the tribe. Every boy who joins Cub Scouts,
whatever his age, first earns the Bobcat badge by learning the Cub Scout Promise, the Cub
Scout Sign, the Cub Scout Salute, the Cub Scout Handshake, the meaning of Webelos, the Law
of the Pack, and the Cub Scout Motto "Do Your Best."
ACM:
Would the following scouts and their parents please come forward? (List boys earning the
Bobcat badge.)
CM:
(scout's name) , do you see the stars in the sky? That is the constellation Big Dipper and
the big star is the North Star. For many years man has used these stars as a guide to show
them the way as they traveled. As you join Cub Scouts you are starting a trip. You will
experience adventures and excitement, meet new friends and learn new skills. However, as
you begin this trip you need a "North Star" to guide you. The "North
Star" is Akela ... Akela can be your parents, your Den leader, even I your Cubmaster.
It is our responsibility to help you along the way.
CM:
(parents' names) , I ask of you, will you accept the responsibility to be (scout's name)
'Akela', to help guide him along the Cub Scouting trail?
CM:
(scout's name) , you've already started your trip by earning the Bobcat badge.
Congratulations! (Present Bobcat badge to parents.) (scout's name) , here also is a star
for you to place in your bedroom. At night this star will shine, reminding you of your
start on the Cub Scout trail. Pack ___, would you please join with me in congratulating
(scout's name) and welcome him to our Pack by giving him a "Cub Scout" cheer?
DL:
Just as when Akela first went into the forest and learned from the Wolf, a Cub Scout in
the second grade begins working on the requirements for the Wolf badge. Wolf Cub Scouts
learn about Akela and the story of Mowgli and his survival in the Jungle. When a scout has
completed twelve Achievements on the Wolf Trail, in such areas as physical fitness,
exploring the world around him, fixing, building, collecting, safety, our flag, our family
and our Duty to God, he receives his Wolf badge.
ACM:
Would the following scouts and their parents please come forward? (List boys earning the
Wolf badge.)
CM:
(scout's name) , you've completed all the requirements for your Wolf badge and have moved
along the Cub Scout trail. Receive now the mark of the Wolf, a red mark, symbolizing
strength and valor. (Mark each boy with RED face paint.)
CM:
It is my pleasure to award your Wolf badge to your parents, who have been your Akela in
completing these requirements. Parents, please award this badge to your son and
congratulate him on a "job well done."
ACM:
We also have some boys who have earned their Wolf Gold & Silver Arrow points. Would
the following boys please come forward to receive them? (List boys earning Wolf arrow
points.) (scout's name) has earned his gold arrow point, and (quantity) silver arrow
points.
CM:
Pack ___, would you please join with me in congratulating these Wolfs by giving them a
"Grand Wolf Howl" cheer?
DL:
When the scout reaches third grade he begins working from the Big Bear book. Just as Akela
met the bear with courage, the scout walks the Big Bear trail. On that trail he finds and
conquers twelve challenging achievements in the categories of God, Country, Family and
Self. He then receives his Bear badge.
ACM:
Would the following scouts and their parents please come forward? (List boys earning the
Bear badge.)
CM:
(scout's name) , you've completed all the requirements for your Bear badge and have moved
along the Cub Scout trail. Receive now the mark of the Bear, a blue mark, symbolizing
bravery. (Mark each boy with Blue face paint.) It is my pleasure to award your Bear badge
to your parents, who have been your Akela in completing these requirements. Parents,
please award this badge to your son and congratulate him on a "job well done."
ACM:
Today we are pleased to present arrow points to some Bear scouts too. These scouts have
continued on the Big Bear Trail earning Bear arrow points. (List boys earning Bear arrow
points.)
CM:
It is my pleasure to award (scout's name) his gold arrow point and (quantity) silver arrow
points. Pack ___, would you please join with me in congratulating these Bears by giving
them a "Grizzly Bear Growl" cheer?
WL:
In fourth and fifth grade, the boy is brought into the tribe of Webelos. He enters a
Webelos Den with a name like the Scorpions or the Sharks. The boy prepares himself for Boy
Scouting. He works on twenty different activity badges from five skill groups: Physical,
Mental, Outdoor, Community, and Technical Skills. After three months in the Webelos Den
and after earning three activity pins and learning about the Boy Scout ways, he earns his
Webelos badge.
ACM:
There are Cub Scouts among us tonight who have earned their Webelos Badge. Would the
following please come forward with your parents to be recognized and honored by the Pack?
(List boys earning the Webelos badge.)
CM:
(scout's name) , you've completed all the requirements for your Webelos badge and have
moved along the Cub Scout trail. Receive now the mark of the Webelos, a white mark,
symbolizing vigilance, perseverance, and justice. (Mark each boy with White face paint.)
It is my pleasure to award your Webelos badge to your parents, who have been your Akela in
completing these requirements. Parents, please award this badge to your son and
congratulate him on a "job well done."
ACM:
We also have some scouts who have earned Webelos Activity Pins. Would the following boys
please come forward to receive them? (List boys earning activity pins.)
CM:
(scout's name) has earned (list activity pins). Pack ___, would you please join with me in
congratulating these new Webelos by giving them the "Grand Stomp" cheer?
WL:
The final and highest rank of Cub Scouting is the Arrow of Light. To earn it a boy must be
a member of his Den for at least six months since turning ten years old and have earned
the Webelos Badge. He must have earned the Fitness, Readyman, and Citizen Activity Pins
and five more for a total of eight. He must know the Boy Scout Oath and Scout Law from
memory as well as the Boy Scout slogan, motto, sign and salute. He must have participated
in a Webelos overnight campout or a Webelos day hike. He must have visited a Boy Scout
troop with his parents and Den and taken part in a Boy Scout outdoor activity.
CM:
The Arrow of Light is the only Cub Scout Rank which may be worn on the Boy Scout Uniform.
As an Adult he can wear the special square knot badge to always recall his having earned
the Arrow of Light.
ACM:
Tonight we have (number) Webelos Scouts who have earned Cub Scouting's highest award. Will
the following boys and their parents please come forward? (List boys earning the Arrow of
Light badge.) Long ago the Indian braves would collect eagle feathers. Regardless of how
an Indian brave accumulated feathers, he was not allowed, according to tribal law, to wear
them until he won them by doing a brave deed. He had to appear before the tribal Council
and tell or re-enact his deed. If the Council thought the brave was worthy, the brave was
allowed to wear the feather in his hair or war bonnet. These honors were called
"counting coop." The Indian displayed his honors on his clothing, on a banner,
or on a stick.
CM:
The Webelos scout "counts coop" by wearing the many rank awards and activity
pins on his uniform, but he will soon be a boy scouts and will not be allowed to wear them
any more. I want to present these Webelos with a banner displaying their own scouting
honors. (Cubmaster present banners to boys.) You've completed all the requirements for
your Arrow of Light badge and have completed the Cub Scout trail. It is our pleasure to
award you this certificate of accomplishment, and award your Arrow of Light badge to your
parents, who have been your Akela in completing these requirements. Parents, please award
this badge to your son and congratulate him on a "job well done." (Asst. CM
awards boys their certificates; Webelos Leaders present the parents with the Arrow of
Light badge and ask them to pin it on their son. Cubmaster presents the mother's pin to
the boy and asks him to present it to his mother or father.) The Arrow of Light is a
significant achievement. It is recognized as such by the Boy Scouts of America. When you
become a Boy Scout, you continue to wear the Arrow of Light on your uniform. When you
become an adult leader, you wear a square knot which represents the Arrow of Light on your
uniform. In view of that significance, I offer my sincere congratulations to each of you.
(Cubmaster shakes the hand of each scout and parent.)
CM:
In Boy Scouts, when they have an Eagle Court of Honor, a charge or challenge is made to
the new Eagle Scout. Tonight, I want to offer such a challenge to each of you. You have
achieved the highest rank in Cub Scouts. You have shown what you are capable of doing.
Tonight you will be crossing the bridge from the Pack to a Boy Scout troop.
I challenge each of you to continue to live by the ideals you have learned in Cub Scouts, especially the Cub Scout motto: "Do Your Best". I challenge each of you to continue your high level of achievement in Boy Scouts. I challenge each of you to look at the Arrow of Light badge and think about what it represents:
I challenge each of you to follow where that Arrow of Light points:
I challenge each of you to soar to great heights and obtain the Eagle Scout Award. As your Cubmaster, I will be honored to join you, wherever you may be, to see you receive this achievement. Parents, Guests and Cub Scouts of Pack ___, would you please join with me in giving these boys a standing ovation for achieving the highest award in Cub Scouting? Congratulations and good luck!
Please send me your comments, suggestions, additions, and requests.
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