ADVANCEMENT CEREMONIES

Bobcat Induction Ceremony
Heart of America Council

Personnel: Cubmaster, Den Leader, Den Chief, new Bobcat and Parents

Equipment: Bobcat Pin

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 and his parents to front.) What is your name? (answer) I understand you wish to become a member of our Pack. (answer) Do you know the Law of the Pack? (answer) Are you prepared to work hard to advance in rank?  Are you willing to do your best? (answer)  Good. You are about to start on the Cub Scout trail.  Please repeat with me the Law of the Pack.

(addressing parents) Cub Scouting is a family program.  Parents have certain responsibilities, too.  They are expected to help their son advance in rank.  They are expected to attend pack meeting 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? (answer) (to boy and parents) You are all starting the Cub Scout trail which leads to the great name of Scouting.  May each of you be happy in our pack. (shakes hands with parents and boy) (pinning on the Bobcat pin)  Welcome to our pack.

Map Advancement Ceremony
Cubmaster, Pack 938
Direct Service Council, Kuwait City, Kuwait

Equipment Needed: Topographic Map, Compass, Cub Scout activity books

Personnel Needed: Cubmaster (or Advancement chair); Advancing Scouts and Parents

Cubmaster (holding up compass) Can anyone tell me what this is?  That's right -- it's a compass.  And what do we use a compass for?  (wait for responses)  That's right -- you use a compass to find your directions or to find your way.  A compass helps you find your way because it always points to the North.

(Holding up map) Now who can tell me what this is? (wait for responses) That's right -- this is a map.  And what does a map tell us?  A map can tell us where we are, where we want to be, and the best way to get there.

With a compass and a good map, a skilled traveler can always find his way, because the compass and the map keep us on the right path and headed in the right direction.

(invite all advancing Scouts forward, with their parents and den leaders)

(Hold up Wolf, Bear, and Webelos activities books) Now, what am I holding in my hands?  These are your Cub Scout activity books.  These books are a lot like our map, aren't they?  They tell us where we want to go (to achieve our next badge of rank), and they tell us how to get there (by completing achievements and activity badges).

But we just agreed that a good traveler needed more than a map to find his way -- he needs a compass.  Look around you and tell me -- if your Cub Scout book is like your map, then what might be something like your compass?  (Wait for responses -- maybe someone will get it right!)  A compass is something that keeps us pointed in the right direction -- just like your parents and your Den Leaders. Your 'Akelas', those adults who help you learn and grow; they are your compasses.  Scouts, we, your Akelas, are very proud of you and your achievements, and we promise to continue to help you find your way along Scouting's path.

Announce names of boys receiving badges, and distribute awards.

Congratulations to all our advancing Scouts!

 

Rocket to the Top Advancement Ceremony
Crossroads of America Council

Equipment: Five boxes to stack on top each other. Pin or tape the awards to each section. You could also use a piece of poster board with proper support on the back.

Note: If you only have awards in a few areas, just explain the stage and pass over calling boys and parents up.

Cubmaster: This month’s theme “Blast Off” reminds us that the Scouting program, like the space program, has the ability to launch these boys to new horizons and to reach where they have never been before. Also like a rocket ship, Scouting comes in stages, which helps the boys reach their final destination. In the space program that final destination may be a far off galaxy, for a Webelos Scout the Arrow of Light.

The Bobcat Badge is like the launching pad for a rocket. It is the foundation on which the Cub Scout rests. Call the Bobcats and their parents up to get their awards.

The Wolf Badge is like the booster rockets that lift the rocket off the pad. The boy is beginning to reach for the stars. Call the Wolfs and their parents up to get their awards.

The Bear badge is the stage of the rocket that helps propel the rocket out of the Earth’s atmosphere. The boy is on his way to a new frontier. Call the Bears and their parents up to get their awards.

The Webelos Badge is like the separation from the main stages and is the process of self-discovery still in the protection of the space module. Call the Webelos and their parents up to get their awards.

The Arrow of Light is like return of the rocket and preparing for the next journey that will be Boy Scouting. Call the Arrow of Light recipients and their parents up to get their awards.

Houston, We Have a Problem
York Adams Area Council

Run this as a dialog between the spaceship “CUBS” and Houston’s Control Center.  (Hey, you can change “Houston” to “Irving” if you want!  Irving, TX, is the location of the BSA National Office!)

Commander (CM):  Houston, we have a problem. Over.

Houston (ACM):  Problem, commander?  What kind of problem? Over.

Commander:  We seem to have an overload of cargo on board tonight, Houston.  It’s affected the flight trajectory.  We will need to offload some cargo, but we need some ideas on how to do this.  Over.

Houston:  Okay, commander.  Don’t get nervous.  We’ll work out this problem.  What kinds of cargo do you have?  Over.

Commander:  Well, looks like we’ve got some Tiger Beads.  Yup, that’s what they are.  Why do we have Tiger Beads on board? Over.

Houston:  Don’t know commander.  Let’s check with the Tiger Den Leader on this.  Wait one.  [Pause.]  Commander.  Seems some of the Tiger Cubs have been busy with [describe the activities] and they have earned these Tiger Beads.  We will send the Tigers and their partners on a rendezvous flight.  Prepare to jettison Tiger Beads.  Over.

[Call up the Tigers and their partners to receive the beads.  Award and let them return to their seats.]

Commander:  Okay, Houston.  That helps, but I’m still off course.  Trying to correct.  Too much payload—seems to be the Bobcat badges on the port side of the ship.  Over.

Houston: Roger that, commander.  We have the team working on a solution.  [Pause]  Commander.  We do have Cubs who have completed all of their requirements for the Bobcat rank.  They have learned the Scout Promise and Law of the Pack as well as completing all other requirements.  We will set their course to meet up with you for offload of Bobcat badges.  Over.

[Call up the Bobcat recipients and their parents to receive the badges.  Have parents award the badges and let them return to their seats.]

Commander:  Thanks Houston, that helps.  But we’re still running off course by 20 degrees.  I’ve got a payload full of Wolf badges that are throwing us off course.  Request assistance.  Over.

Houston:  Copy that, commander.  We have a plan.  We need to forward the Wolf badges to some of our Cub Scouts.  We’ll get them suited up and shoot them up to you for transfer. Over.

[Call up the Wolf recipients and their parents to receive the badges.  Have parents award the badges and let them return to their seats.]

Commander:  Good job, Houston.  We are nearly on course.  One cargo bay is back to its specified load, but the starboard bay still reports excessive weight.  What should we do with the Bear badges on board? Over.

Houston:  Bear badges, Commander?  We will check.  [Pause]  Alright, Commander, we understand the problem and have identified the fix.  We have XX Bear Scouts who will be awarded the Bear badge tonight.  They have completed twelve Bear Achievements according to Akela.  Preparing them for rendezvous.  Over.

[Call up the Bear recipients and their parents to receive the badges.  Have parents award the badges and let them return to their seats.]

Commander:  Houston we are only off course by 10 degrees.  Keep coming up with these fixes and we’ll be back on course before it becomes serious.  We have significant overloading with some Webelos Activity Badges in the forward bay.  Over.

Houston:  Roger that, Commander.  We’ll check with the Webelos Den Leaders to see why there are so many on board.  [Pause]  Okay Commander, here’s the cause of that overload.  Webelos Dens have been working on [list off Activity Badges].  We need to get these off the spacecraft right away.  Over.

[Call off Webelos Scouts and earned Activity Badges.  Hand out awards and have boys return to their seats.]

Commander:  We are nearly back on course, Houston.  What can you tell me about the Webelos badge(s) in the back cargo bay?  Over.

Houston:  Still checking, Commander.  [Pause]  Okay Commander.  According to the flight plans there are XX Webelos Scouts who have completed their requirements for the rank of Webelos.  The badges are for them.  We will arrange for those Webelos to dock with the spacecraft to receive their badges.  Over.

[Call up the Webelos recipients and their parents to receive the badges.  Have parents award the badges and let them return to their seats.]

Commander:  That’s was it, Houston.  These Scouts are doing really well with their work and advancements.  This keeps the whole flight on course.  Out.

Flight Through Space Advancement Cermony
York Adams Area Council

Preparation: Ceremony board resembles chart of sun and planets with Boy Scout as sun and Cub ranks as planets. A small blue and yellow cardboard rocket should be made for each boy getting a badge and placed on or under his new rank. If a loop of masking tape is placed on the back of each rocket, rocket can be moved by the Cubmaster to new rank as parent is presented badge. (This is an excellent place to use the colorful Cub Scout Insignia stickers (NO. 4652)

Cubmaster: Will the Den Chief please bring forward the Cub Scouts who are ready for advancement?

(Pause and wait for boys to come forward.)

Cub Scouts, we are happy to see you have taken another flight forward in our Cub Scout galaxy. Please face your fellow Cub Scouts and the Den Chief will lead them in the rocket cheer.

(Pause for rocket cheer.)

Den Chief, will you bring the parents of these Cub Scouts forward?

(Den Chief brings parents forward, placing each Cub between his parents.)

These Cub Scouts have done a fine job in our pack. They are progressing through our Cub Scout galaxy. This would not be possible if it were not for the interest and help of their parents. I’m proud of the parents in our pack. As I move your rocket forward in our galaxy, your parent will present you with your badge.

(Cubmaster calls off names of Scouts as he moves rockets to appropriate ranks on ceremony board while parents present badges. Cubmaster congratulates boys and parents with Cub Scout handshake.)

Solar System Advancement Ceremony
York Adams Area Council

Arrangements: Ceremony board resembles chart of Sun and planets with Cub as the Sun and Cub ranks as planets. A small blue and yellow cardboard rocket should be made for each Cub getting a badge and placed on or under his rank. A loop of masking tape is placed on the back of each rocket, so rocket can be moved by the Cubmaster to the new rank as the parents are presenting the badge.  (Use Cub Scout insignia stickers.)

Cubmaster: Will the Den Chiefs (DEN leaders) please bring forward the Cub Scouts who are ready for advancement?

(Den Chief will bring Cubs forward and give their names) Cub Scouts, we are happy to see you have taken another flight forward in our Cub galaxy. Please face you fellow Cub Scouts and Den Chief, (name) will lead them in the Den cheer.

(Den chief leads Den Cheer)

Den Chiefs, will you please bring the parents of these Cubs forward.

(Den Chief brings parents forward, placing each Cub between his parents.)

These Cubs have done a fine job in our Pack. They are progressing through the Cub galaxy. This would not be possible if it were not for the interest and help of their parents. I'm proud of the parents in our Pack. As I move your rocket forward on our galaxy, your parents(s) will present you with your award.

(Cubmaster call off names as he moves rockets to appropriate ranks on ceremony board while parents presents badges. Cubmaster congratulates Cubs and parents with Cub Scout handshake.)

Martian Land Deeds
York Adams Area Council

Props: Martian Land Deed for each Cub Scout earning an award and a large scroll (proclamation) to be read by the Cubmaster.  If you really want to get the Cubs excited, dress the Cubmaster like a green, one eyed, etc. Martian.  See the separate sheet at the end of this section for the  “Martian Land Deed” handout.

Cubmaster: (Holds large scroll in hands and reads.) We, of Mars, in the interest of establishing a permanent and desirable civilization, will provide a Martian Land Deed to any earthling who can qualify for space travel and exploration by earning one or more Cub Scout badges listed on the deed. Said deed will provide one acre of Marian land for every listed badge earned by a Cub.

(Call names of Cubs receiving awards, identify awards they are to receive and present deed, with badges attached.)

In recognition of advanced training and preparation for space, travel, we of the planet Mars grants (how may badges earned) acres of land to Cub (Cub's names) for earning the badge(s) listed below:

Bobcat badge: (Continue for Wolf, Bear, Arrow Points, Webelos Activity pins, Webelos Badge, and Arrow of Light Award.)

Wherefore, we set our hand this day of (month) (year)

Cubmaster: (name) Committee Chairman: (name)