ADVANCEMENT CEREMONIES
Everyone Helps Transition Ceremony
Sam Houston Area Council
Cubmaster: “I want to invite our Webelos to come to the front” (invite them up by name to the front). “This is now our new 5th Grade Webelos patrol, and I need you guys to help me out.” (hand them the new Webelos scarves and slides)
Cubmaster: “So now we’re missing a 4th grade Webelos patrol. Will Bear Den #__ members, (list boys’ names) please come forward? Parents please prepare to take photographs. I ask our 5th Grade Webelos to place Webelos neckerchiefs and tie slides onto our newest Webelos Den members.” (the older Webelos put the Webelos neckerchiefs and slides onto the new Webelos, and remove their Bear neckerchiefs)
Cubmaster: “That leaves us with no Bears. Will Wolf Den #__ members, (list boy’s names) please come forward? I ask our new 4th Grade Webelos to place Bear neckerchiefs onto our new Bear Den members.” (hand theyounger Webelos scarves so that they can put the Bear neckerchiefs onto the new Bears, and remove their Wolf neckerchiefs)
Cubmaster: “We now seem to be missing a Wolf den. Will Tiger Den #__ members, (list boy’s names) please come forward? I ask our new Bear Cubs to place Wolf neckerchiefs onto our new Wolf Den members.” (handthe Bears scarves so that they can put the Wolf neckerchiefs on the new Wolves).
Cubmaster: Pack ___ proudly announces our new dens for the 2006-2007 school year. You may now start working toward your next rank advancements and achievements. Please invite your friends to come join the Pack. We need new Tigers, Wolves, Bears and Webelos to join the fun.
Animal Tracks in the Dirt
San Gabriel Valley, Long Beach Area, Verdugo Hills Councils
Have various “animal tracks” available as each of the following are discussed.
Cubmaster (In a secretive manner) We are gathered tonight to study all the details of the scene of the crime. We have found many tracks in the dirt around the scene
The first animal we need to identify has the following characteristics: it is striped, orange and black. Stalks prey, belongs to the cat family. From all the above detailed I believe we are describing the Tiger family.
(call up Tigers receiving Awards and their parents)
The next animal track we found was a fairly fresh one. The facts that we know are: red in color, spotted, has a short stubby tail, and belongs to the Lynx family. Could it be a Bobcat?
(call up new Bobcats and their parents)
The next track was harder to trace as it belongs to the dog family. It loves to eat game and livestock, but especially loves to howl. It is more commonly known as the Wolf.
(call up Wolves receiving Awards and their parents)
His track was easy. It is larger in size than other tracks. It is a mammal with long shaggy hair, and loves to eat fruit and insects. Bears are easy to spot.
(call up Bears receiving Awards and their parents)
This was the hardest track of all. It has been here the longest so it was harder to identify. It made deeper grooves like it had more hanging on it. He identifies marks that made it easy to finally identify were its love of candy, sodas and junk food. And the evidence that it is tall and gangly. Of course, it could only be Webelos.
(call up Webelos receiving Awards and their parents)
It greatly relives my mind that all tracks have been identified and classified into groups. Everyone loves to solve a mystery.
Archeologist Award Ceremony
Baltimore Area Council
Props: Table topped with a 3 or 4 inch tall box about 18 inches square. The box is filled with sand or sawdust. “leggs” eggs or similar plastic eggs filled with the awards and buried in the sand. Archeologist costumes for 2 people (pith helmets, hammers, etc.). 1 plastic dinosaur.
Narrator: Everyone knows paleontologists, those scientists that look for dinosaur stuff, love to be Diggin’ in the Dirt.” Lets be quiet as we join two paleontologists as they go “Diggin’ in the Dirt.”
Dr Dina: (Finds dinosaur nest) Doctor Bones come look! I think I have found a rare CUBosaurus nest.
Dr Bones:By Jove! I do believe you have found it!
Dina: (Digs in the sand and pulls out an egg.) Look a rare WOLFosaurus egg! There is something inside! (They open it and present the awards.)
Bones: (Finds another egg.) I have found a rare BEARosaurus egg. (They open it and present the awards.)
Dina: (Fin& another egg.) Wow a rare WEBELOSaurus egg! (They open it and present the awards.)
Bones: Could it be! After all these years! This one is alive! (He puts his finger in the mouth of a plastic dinosaur. He waves it around for all to see. Then screams and runs off stage.)
Mighty Oaks From Little Acorns
Baltimore Area Council
Materials needed: Paper cup filled with soil, quick sprouting seeds such as alfalfa, water
Set Up: When a boy is ready to advance from one rank to another, the Cubmaster calls him to the front of the Pack Meeting with his parents and says the following:
Cub Scout _______, you have within you the seed of a man. Through Scouting, that seed may grow. Your advancement tonight from _______ to _______ is part of that growth.
To help you better understand the growth you have to make, we give you this cup of soil (hand cup to Cub), which represents the fertile ground of Scouting with the opportunities and direction it affords you for growth.
When you became a Cub Scout, you planted your seeds in this soil. (Hand Cub seeds to plant in soil.)
For a seed to grow, it must have nourishment. Your Den Leaders nourish your seeds through the activities and projects you work on at den meetings each week. (Have Den Leaders water the soil.)
No seed can grow without the warmth of the sun. By their encouragement and support in Scouting, your parents provide the warmth needed for your own seed to grow. (Ask the parents to help their son place his cup in a sunny spot at home.)
Now, Cub Scout _______, as you receive your advancement, we instruct you to take these seeds home and care for them so they will grow into healthy strong plants. And we promise you that as your seeds grow through the care you give them you too will grow through the care your Cub and Scout leaders give you as you go through the Scouting program.
With a little work this could be adapted for a great Cubmaster’s minute. CD
CUB SCOUT SEEDLING
Circle Ten Council
STAGING: Cardboard trees and bushes in background.
CUBMASTER: Do you see that tree in my backyard? My first den & I went “Diggin in the Dirt” to plant that tree as a seedling the first year my oldest joined Cub Scouts. Look at it now! We did it as a conservation project to show how we can help our environment.
ASST CM: Wow, it sure has grown!!
CUBMASTER: A young Bobcat starting his Cub Scouting adventure may be like a young seedling just starting to grow like that one used to be in my backyard. We have several Cub Scouts that have earned the Bobcat rank.
ASST CM: Will the following boys and their parents please join us in the backyard. (Reads names)
CUBMASTER: These Cubs, like a planted seedling, have just started. Parents, I give you the Bobcat Badge to present to your sons.
CUBMASTER: A young Wolf has gone beyond the bobcat, like the seedling becoming a tree. His limbs extend high and become visible to the neighborhood reaching out to see and learn.
ASST CM: We have several Cub Scouts tonight that have earned the Wolf Badge, the second rank in Cub Scouting. Will the following boys and their parents come into the backyard. (Read Wolf names)
CUBMASTER: A Wolf Cub has accomplished more than the Bobcat. His experiences, skills, and knowledge have begun to extend beyond his home and have become visible to others. Parents, please present these Wolf Badges to your sons.
CUBMASTER: The Bear Scout, the third rank of Cub Scouting, has continued up the Scouting trail beyond the Wolf. He has become strong and straight as a young tree, not fully grown yet, but on his way. His search extends beyond his neighborhood into the town and country. His experiences could be fishing in a creek, a hike through town, or visit to local park or zoo. We have several Cub Scouts that have met the challenges of the Bear and will receive their awards tonight.
ASST CM: Will the following Cub Scouts and parents join us. (Read names)
CUBMASTER. The Bear Scout has matured and endured the challenges of the Cub Scout trail. His experiences and knowledge are nearly complete. His backyard is beyond his neighborhood. Parents please present these badges to your sons.
CUBMASTER: The Webelos Scout is coming to the end of the Cub Scout Trail. He is a fully-grown tree in the Cub Scout forest. He stands straight and tall. His backyard extends up and down the highways. His fun may include Canoeing at a Cub Scout camp, hiking in the woods, and camping overnight. We have several Cub Scouts here tonight that have met the Webelos challenges.
ASST CM: Will the following boys and their parents join us in our backyard.
CUBMASTER: The Webelos Scouts have almost completed the Cub Scout trail. They are knowledgeable, skillful, and confident. His backyard is almost limitless. Parents please present these badges to your sons.
Diggin’ In The Dirt
Heart of America Council
Setting: Have a picture or toy of each tool listed with appropriate awards attached.
Hold up Hand Trowel and say “Tiger Cubs begin to learn about scouting and are just scratching the surface as they Search, Discover and Share. Tonight the following boys have started this trail. (Call boys and parents forward and present badges.)
Hold up a Hoe and say: As we begin roughing up the dirt a little more with our hoe, we also discover the Bobcat badge - learning more about scouting. These boys have learned the meaning of the Cub Scout Promise, Law of the Pack and Motto. (Call boys and parents forward and present badges.)
Hold up Shovel and say: Expanding our exploration of ground, means going deeper – we are using a shovel to uncover more dirt. As these Wolves have expanded their horizons to learn new skills. (Call boys and parents forward and present badges.)
Hold up a Tiller and say: Digging Deeper to learn more about the earth, we uncover the Bear badge. These boys have dug deep to learn about duty to self, country, family, and God. . (Call boys and parents forward and present badges.)
Hold up a Back Hoe(well maybe just a picture of one!) and say: Now it’s time to move a little more dirt with the backhoe. Webelos have moved a lot of dirt toward their independence. Fulfilling the requirements of the Webelos Badge are ___. (Call boys and parents forward and present badges.)
Now show a Bulldozer and say: Now is the time to move a lot dirt. These boys have covered a lot of Cub Scout ground. They have worked hard and dug very deep within themselves to earn Cub Scouting ’s highest award. Tonight we present the Arrow of Light Award to ___. (Call boys and parents forward and present badges.)
