ADVANCEMENT CEREMONIES

Winter Wonderland
York Adams Area Council

There is something refreshing about the look of a field or woods after a good snowstorm.  It’s the look of a clean, unblemished land.  I’m sure it was this picture that was on the person’s mind when the term “Winter Wonderland” was first coined.  Even when we think of the words ourselves, I’m sure there’s more than one of us here that thinks of such a picture.  Close your eyes for a moment and think about it…  Winter Wonderland.  Winter Wonderland.  Winter Wonderland. 

Keeping your eyes closed, I want you to concentrate on the image that comes to mind when I give you another phrase:  Cub Scout Wonderland.  Cub Scout Wonderland.  Cub Scout Wonderland.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but the image that comes to mind for me is one of fun.  Kids running around having a good time doing things.  But I also see smiles on boys’ faces for having done things really well.  I see the look in their eyes that comes from having done something they never even thought they’d be able to do.  It’s the look of excitement and wonder.  It’s the look of goodness—a healthy, hardy look.

Okay.  Now let’s open our eyes and see these same things in real life.  Look around and what do you see?  I’ll tell you what I see.  I see you, Cub Scouts, who are pleased with yourselves for having succeeded beyond measure.  I see the parents who are proud of what they sons are doing and glad that they are part of it.  I see the brothers and sisters who are having almost as much fun as their Cub Scout brothers are having.  It is a sure sign of the success of the Scouting Program and the all of your hard work.

Tonight we will recognize our Tigers, Cubs, and Webelos who have worked so hard and achieved so much. 

[For the Tigers and for each rank, call off the boys names, inviting them forward to receive their awards with their parents/partners.]

T’was The Night Of The Pack Meeting
York Adams Area Council

T’was the night of the Pack meeting and all through the place
Not a boy was stirring, anticipation on each face.

It was time for Advancements and they all turned an ear,
So when their name was called, they would hear it loud and clear.

The Cubmaster was checking his list, not once but twice
To see which boys had worked hard and earned awards this night.

First come the Bobcats, all new to the Pack
Akela is ready with the guidance and experience they lack.

Come up our new Cubs, you’re our Bobcats tonight
Your final step as a Bobcat is to do a good deed, and you must do it right.

(Present the Bobcat badges)

Second are the Wolves, experienced that’s true
But there is still much to learn, Akela’s not through.

Come up all our Wolf Cubs, you are wolves to be praised
Achievements and electives you’ve done, so with Wolf badge and arrow points, in rank you are raised

(Present the Wolf badges and arrow points.)

Third are the Bears, most experienced so far,
Akela’s teachings they have heeded, they’re way above par.

Come up our Bear Cubs, your work and learning is applauded
For completing achievements and electives, tonight you’re awarded

(Present Bear badges and arrow points.)

Last are the Webelos, but not least to be sure
Akela’s lessons they’ve learned, now Boy Scouts is their lure.

Come up all our Webelos, your activities are harder,
Your accomplishments you wear proudly on your shoulder

(Present Webelos activity pins)

Christmas Advancement Ceremony
York Adams Area Council

Preparation: Have a Christmas tree with various colored lights. (This can be a cardboard tree with holes for the lights.) The bulbs should be unscrewed slightly so that they can be easily turned on at the proper time

Cubmaster: As we look at our tree this evening, we see that it is dark, with only one light on. (Screw in top light.) This is the light which represents the Webelos Arrow of Light Award.  Let us see if there are boys here tonight who can help light the way to the top of the tree, to the highest rank in Cub Scouting.

The first step along the Cub Scout trail is the BOBCAT. (Turn on light at the bottom.  If there are any Bobcats to be inducted do it here.)

Once a boy has achieved this honor, he is ready to climb. There are 12 achievements to completed for the rank of Wolf. Some of these require knowledge of the United States flag, of keeping strong, of safety and being useful to the family. The following boys have completed these requirements: (Call them forward—and any boys who have earned any arrow points.)  Thank you boys. We are now able to turn on the light representing the Wolf rank. (Turn on next light.)

As the boy grows older and stronger, he is able to climb higher.  But just as it is a little more difficult to climb the upper branches of a tree, so the achievements are a little more difficult for the Bear rank. (Call forward any boys receiving Bear and Bear arrow points.)  These boys have helped us light our tree, but it is still not quite as it might be. Since they have received help from their parents and leaders, let us turn on a light for them, too. (Turn on another light.)

Now the boys have reached 4th grade or 5th grade and have more climbing to do. This last climb will bring them to the top of the tree and the coveted Arrow of Light. To reach there they must attain the Webelos Award. In order to reach the Webelos Award they must first earn activity badges. (Call forward Webelos who have earned their various activity badges.)  Thank you boys as you have learned throughout Cub Scouting you have helped to make the world brighter. (Turn on another light.)

And now the boys who have earned their Webelos badge and have begun to learn what Scouting really is. (Call these boys' forward) (Light the next light)

Now our tree is complete. As you have seen, it has taken boys plus parents and leaders to complete it. With the same effort you have shown before, keep working for the highest rank in Cub Scouting. Congratulations to you and your parents for the fine work you have done.

Stockings Were Hung
York Adams Area Council

Set-up: Each rank is inside a small stocking or attached to a small paper stocking. Each stocking should clearly show the boy's name.  Stockings are hanging on (taped to) a mantle.

Build mantle by using 2 ladders with a board placed between the higher rungs. Set a Christmas centerpeice on top of board and paper in &or& to make a fake fireplace, if desired. Object in using the higher rungs is that parents will need to assist the boy in getting his rank.

Cubmaster enters and examines stockings hanging. Then comments: '*My, we've had a lot of hard-working Scouts this month. Stockings are over-flowing with achievements. Would the following Scouts and their parents come forward as I call them. Parents, please help your son remove his stocking just as you have worked with your Cub to help him earn his rank,"

Call Bobcats, then Wolves, Bear, Arrows, and Activity Pins and Webelos rank forward. After each rank has its stocking have the audience give them the Santa cheer (HO! HO! HO!). Alternate with a Big Hand (Hold hand up) or Round of Applause (clap hands as move hands around in a circle), if desired.

Added notes: Bobcat stockings could be upside down as their badges

are pinned thus until they do a good deed. CM should remind them of this. Have Bobcats repeat promise or motto.

Cubmaster may comment about achievements (accomplishments) as each rank comes forward. Boys who have earned arrows can repeat 1 or 2 things they did to earn them.

Plan something extra for Arrow of Light -- a large stocking with an arrow as well as rank and have Cub repeat the Scout oath. Or have a Boy Scout (Den Chief) wearing a Santa cap making a personal delivery for Arrow of Light.

An Old Fashioned Christmas
York Adams Area Council

Arrangements: Cubmaster and Committee Chairman stand behind head table, which holds all the awards and a box of Christmas tree decorations. Nearby is an undecorated tree. As each Cub receives his award, he and his parents are given a decoration to put on the tree. The tree can already have a string of lights, which are turned on at the end of the ceremony.

Cubmaster: Tonight we're celebrating an old fashioned Christmas. One of the most popular customs in America is decorating the Christmas tree. As each Cub Scout receives his award tonight, we're going to give him and his parents an opportunity to help decorate our tree. Since Cub Scouting is a family program, we want our pack families to help make our Cub Scouting Christmas tree bright and festive.

(Calls names of boys receiving their Bobcat. Have both boy and parent come forward, receive awards and each person is given an ornament to put on the tree. They return to their seats.)

(Follow the same procedure for boys receiving their Wolf Badge and Arrow Points and Bear Badge and Arrow Points.)

We have some Webelos Scouts who have earned some Activity Badges. We're going to give them special decorations for our tree.

Webelos Leader: (Calls names of boys forward, indicates what each boy has earned, describes some of the things done to earn it, and presents awards to his boys.) (Each boys receives the same number of decorations as he did badges and his parent helps him put the decorations on the tree. Use foil covered cutouts of the activity badges as tree ornaments.)

Cubmaster: The Arrow of Light is the highest award a Cub Scout can earn. Tonight we have a boy(s) who has earned their award. (Call his name and ask him and his parent(s) to come forward.) We're going to let (name) put the highest decoration on our tree... the star. (If there are few decorations on the tree, you may wish to call attention to the fact that the leaders help is essential to the pack and to the decoration of the tree.... call all leaders forward to add a decoration to the tree.)

And there you have our beautiful Christmas tree. There are other Cub Scouts and parents in our pack who didn't have an opportunity to add a decoration tonight. Now we're going to turn on the lights representing all members of our pack families.

You can see how each decoration and light make the difference in the appearance of our tree. In the same way, each member of our pack, boys and adults, makes a difference in the success of our pack's operation and success.

Thanks to you all.

Suggestions for Holiday Advancement Ceremonies
National Capitol Area Council

An adult, dressed as Santa, could arrive with his pack on his back, which contains the awards to be presented. It is a special treat to receive an award from Santa himself. 

Make a large papier-mâché snowman to hold the awards. Awards could either be put in snowman or removed from an opening cut in his back, or they could be fastened to a long scarf around his neck.

Awards could be taped to large cardboard cutout ornaments, which decorate a Christmas tree. When a boy's name is called, he goes to the tree and finds his ornaments.

A large papier-mâché Christmas stocking could set on head table to hold awards, or a large knit or felt stocking hung from a fireplace. Santa makes presentations.

Santa's Magic Advancement
National Capitol Area Council

Equipment: Christmas tree with lights, extra large cardboard telephone, small Christmas stockings with awards inside, candy canes for all children at the pack meeting.
Personnel: Santa Claus, elf (Cubmaster).
Setting: Hang the stockings with awards inside on the tree. Light the Christmas tree and dim the room lights. Santa Claus is outside the room but can be heard by the audience.
Cubmaster: (speaking into telephone)  Santa Claus, you will be welcome at the pack meeting. What can we do to help you get here, Santa?

Santa Claus:  Why, sing "Here Comes Santa Claus". It will give me all the magic I need to arrive. But remember, everyone must sing for the magic of their voices to guide me.
Cubmaster:  Okay Santa. We'll do our best! (Hangs up the phone and leads the song.)
On the last notes of the song, Santa arrives, calling "Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!" and carrying his bag of gifts, including candy canes for all the children. He takes the  stockings from the tree and picks out the advancement awards, calling for the recipients and their parents to come forward. After the parents have pinned awards on the boys' uniforms, Santa gives candy canes to all the children.