September Cub Scout Roundtable Issue

Volume 7, Issue 1

Pockets (Webelos Communicator & Citizen)

ADVANCEMENT CEREMONIES

Bobcat Induction
Heart of America Council

Personnel: Cubmaster, Den Leader, and Den Chief, Bobcat candidates and parents

Equipment: Awards

Setting: Cubmaster calls the Den leader forward.

Cubmaster: Do we have any boys who desire to join our pack?

Den Leader: (comes forward) Akela, I have a boy who has shown his desire to join our pack.

Cubmaster: How has he shown his desire?

Den Leader: He has studied the Bobcat requirements and understands the purpose of Cub Scouting.

Cubmaster: Does he come alone?

Den Leader: No, his parents wish to join the pack also.

Cubmaster: Fine, bring him up. (Den Chief escorts new Bobcat candidate and his parents to the front.) What is your name?
(boy answers)

I understand you wish to become a member of our pack.
(boy answers)

Do you know the Law of the Pack?

Are you prepared to try to follow the Cub Scout ideals and obey the law?

Are you prepared to work hard and to advance in rank? Are you willing to do your best?
(boy answers)

Good. You are about to start on the Cub Scout trail. Please repeat with me the Law of the Pack. (Cubmaster and boy repeats law.)

(To parents) Cub Scouting is a family pro-gram. Parents have certain responsibilities too. They are expected to help their son advance in rank. They are expected to attend pack meetings with their son, and help at other times when called upon. Are you willing to do these things to help your son achieve the goals and fun that will be his in Cub Scouting?

(To boy and parents) You are starting the Cub Scout trail which leads to the great game of Scouting. May each of you be happy in our pack. (Cubmaster shakes hands with boy and parents.)

(pinning on Bobcat pin) I am pinning on this Bobcat pin upside down. After you have done your first good turn which is approved by your parents, you may turn it right side up. Welcome to our pack.

This ceremony should have an Indian motif to make them more dramatic. The more costumes, feathers, etc. used the better. With modification, this ceremony can be used as a continuous event or separated into parts as the occasion calls for.

Pocket Ceremony
York Adams Council

This is a pocket - a very plain pocket - not very interesting, and it could belong to anyone. But wait, let's give this pocket to a Cub Scout.

[Narrator places Bobcat badge on pocket.]

Our pocket is turning into something with meaning. It represents a sense of belonging and will soon bring our Cub Scout knowledge, skills, enjoyment and good fellowship. We would like to present the following boys and parents their Bobcat badge.

[Narrator places Wolf & arrows on pocket.]

With the Wolf rank, our pocket turns into something more special. It proudly displays the first symbol of new-found knowledge of the flag, of keeping strong, of tools, of knots of safety, of books and reading. It means our Cub Scout has mastered feats of fun. Tonight we are privileged to recognize the following Cub Scouts who have achieved the rank of Wolf. Would the following Wolf candidates and their parents please come forward.

[Narrator places Bear & arrows on pocket.]

Adding the Bear badge has increased our pocket's meaning even more. It shows our Cub Scout is completing increasingly difficult achievements which show he is growing in knowledge and skill. Would the following Bear candidates and their parents please come forward.

[Narrator places Webelos and Arrow of Light on pocket.]

Our pocket has now had placed upon it the Webelos badge and Arrow of Light, the highest awards which our Cub Scouts can achieve. To receive these awards, our Cub Scouts must dedicate themselves to the hard work necessary in completing the required number of activity badges and prove themselves ready to join the ranks of Scouting. Tonight we wish to recognize these boys who have completed activity areas within the Webelos program. Will the following boys and their parents please come forward.

(With the Webelos Scouts together, a candle ceremony may be added at this time.)

Our pocket is very special now. It is very rich in new possibilities. It opens up a whole new world of challenges. Cub Scouting has taken our plain pocket, and turned it into a pocketful of adventure, fun, and excitement.

Congratulations to all you boys and your parents on your achievements.

Pocket Ceremony #2
York Adams Council

(Prepare pockets of blue paper with different emblems on them ahead of time and hold up as each is referenced in speech).

Young boys and pockets-I don't think they can be separated. Pockets hold the treasures of lifetimes, a yo-yo, a shooter and four aggies, a few baseball cards, and a Canadian penny. When a boy walks home from school anything of interest goes in a pocket, stones, pine cones, nails, a rusty bolt. What neat stuff!

Unlike other boys' pockets, the pockets of the Cub Scout's uniform cannot only hold a lot of things, they are used to display a boy's accomplishments. Cub Scout achievements can be divided into four categories: God, Country, Family and Self.

A boy can earn separate awards for all these areas:

• For God, he can earn the emblem of his faith;
• For Country, the World Conservation Award;
• For Family, the Cub Scout Family Award;
• For Self, the camp, special events, and sports/academic program patches.

The most important part of this colorful shirt is the rank; Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and Arrow of Light. Tonight we have someone/boys who has/have earned...

Present awards to parents to give to boys.

Give boys and parents a round of applause for a job well done.

Trapper Trails Council

1. Make a big pocket of denim or blue poster paper with the awards in it. Or a poster with several pockets on it, each one with awards for a different boy.

2. Have each of the leaders (use committee members, den leaders, assistants, etc) put a different boys awards in their pockets and ask them to come pull out what is in their pockets. This is a good chance to involve pack leaders you normally don't use.

Materials found in Baloo's Bugle may be used by Scouters for Scouting activities provided that Baloo's Bugle and the original contributors are cited as the source of the material.

The U.S. Scouting Service Project is maintained by the Project Team. Please use our Suggestion Form to contact us. All holdings subject to this Disclaimer. The USSSP is Proud to be Hosted by the TIMM Communications.