OPENING CEREMONIES

Safe Swim Opening
San Gabriel Valley, Long Beach  Area, Verdugo Hills Councils

Arrangement:  Make card for each letter.  Write the line for each boy on the back.  The boys can carry water activity toys such as inner tubes, balls or snorkeling equipment.

CUB # 1: "S    S is for Scouts, we have fun"

CUB # 2: "A    A is for Activities, out in the sun"

CUB # 3: "F    F is for Friends, your buddies in the pool."

CUB # 4: "E    E is for Excitement, but keep your cool."

CUB # 5: "S    S is for Safety, that must come first."

CUB # 6: "W   W is for Weather, not only for the thirst."

CUB # 7: "I     I is for Instructions we follow with care."

CUB # 8: "M   M is for Merriment we all love to share."

All           Putting them together and we have SAFE SWIM. Let’s be safe and we will all win.

Allegiance To The Outdoors
San Gabriel Valley, Long Beach  Area, Verdugo Hills Councils

SETTING:        After presenting flags and Pledge of Allegiance, Den lines up across front of room.

Leader     We are coming up on the time of the year when we start using the outdoors more and more whether we are hiking the trails of America or just going to the park.  Each of us as Cub Scouts owes an allegiance to the outdoors just as we do our flag.  Each Cub Scout should know and understand the outdoor code.  Please repeat the parts of the code with our den and them listen to the explanation.

CUB # 1: "As an American, I will do my best to be clean in my outdoor habits; "

CUB # 2: "I will keep my trash and garbage out of America’s waters, fields, woods and roadways."

CUB # 3: "Be careful with fire:  "

CUB # 4: "I will build my fire in a safe place and be sure it is out before I leave."

CUB # 5: "Be considerate of the outdoors: "

CUB # 6: "I will remember that the use of the outdoors is a privilege I can lose by abuse."

CUB # 7: "And be conservation minded:  "

CUB # 8: "I will learn to practice good conservation of soil, waters, forests, minerals, grasslands, and wildlife and I will urge others to do the same."

A Tree is a Good Scout
San Gabriel Valley, Long Beach  Area, Verdugo Hills Councils

Personnel:      6 Cubs and a narrator

Equipment:    Each Cub holds a picture or drawing of a tree with his section of text on the back.

CUB # 1: "Did you ever pause to think about how helpful a tree is?"

CUB # 2: "It provides a nesting place for birds, shade from the sun, and protection from the rain."

CUB # 3: "It discards it’s dead branches, thus providing wood for building fires and for cooking food."

CUB # 4: "A tree adds beauty to the countryside and to camping areas."

CUB # 5: "We must admit that a tree gives a lot more than it receives."

CUB # 6: "We can learn a lesson from the tree , by doing our best to always be helpful to others and by putting our fellow Scouts first and ourselves second."

ALL:       Remember the lesson we learn from the tree - To give to others more than we receive."

“Wildlife Pledge” Opening
Baltimore Area Council

• Provide copies of the “Wildlife Pledge” below to each person in audience, and ask them to repeat it together.
• I pledge to use my eyes to see the beauty of all outdoors.
• I pledge to train my mind to learn the importance of nature.
• I pledge to use my hands to help protect our soil, water, woods,  and wildlife.
• And by my good example, show others how to respect, properly use, and enjoy our natural resources.

Four Winds Opening Ceremony
Baltimore Area Council

Personnel: Four Winds (cub scouts or leaders dressed in Indian costume or in cub scout uniform carrying artificial torches). Cubmaster (dressed as Indian chief

Equipment: Artificial campfire which can be lit by placing an electrical light bulb, covered with red cellophane inside the campfire.

Cubmaster: “Let the North Wind enter”.

(One of the cub scouts enters carrying a torch, He stands by campfire and says his line. Others do likewise as they are called in.)

North Wind: “The North Wind that brings the cold builds endurance”.

Cubmaster: “South Wind , enter”.

South Wind: “The South Wind brings the warmth of friendship”.

Cubmaster: “East Wind, enter”. East Wind: “The East Wind brings the light of day”. Cubmaster: “West Wind, enter”.

West Wind: “The West Wind from the direction where the sun sinks, brings night and stars.

Cubmaster: “The Four Winds will light our council fire”.

All four boys touch their artificial torches to the fire at the same time. At this same moment the light is turned on from offstage “lighting” the campfire..

Cub Scout Campfire Opening Ceremony
Baltimore Area Council

Equipment: Real or artificial campfire, seven candles.

Personnel: Narrator and seven Cub Scouts (each with his part written on a dip paper).

Narrator:  Welcome to our Cub Scout campfire.  Akela is among us. Let us draw from this campfire with all its vibrancy and warmth, the secrets of Cub Scouting and the spirit of brotherhood.

CUB # 1: "In its light we see new chances to be helpful and to do our best."

CUB # 2: "From its warmth we strengthen the bonds of fellowship and learn how to get along with others. "

CUB # 3: "From the stones that ring the fire and keep its power in check, we learn how we can curb our tempers and become good citizens. "

CUB # 4: "From the smoke that rises out of the fire, we learn to lift our eyes upward and worship God. "

CUB # 5: "The spark that started this fire reminds us that little Good Turns can lead to greater deeds."

CUB # 6: "Just as the fire needs wood to bum brightly, so do we need the care and love of our parents to bum brightly. "

CUB # 7: "In its leaping flames, we see the fun of Cub Scouting and the job of life."