CLOSING CEREMONIES

THIS APPLE IS THE WHOLE WORLD

Circle Ten Council

PROPS: Apple, Pocketknife, Table

*Because this ceremony involves the use of a pocketknife, an adult should handle this.

CUBMASTER: Earth Day comes in April and it reminds us to be careful with our home planet. There is also an old song about April showers bring May flowers. Together, these remind me of how precious and valuable water is, and how important it is to use it wisely. I

Imagine that this apple is the whole world. Three quarters of the world is covered with water, and only one quarter is covered by land. (Cut one-fourth section off of apple and place it down on the table.)

Out of the three quarters covered in water, only about three percent is fresh water and the rest is salt water, mostly in the oceans. (Cuts off thin sliver from apple, and places larger piece down on the table. Holds the thin sliver up for all to see).

Of this 3% slice, about two-thirds of that is generally not available. Most of that is frozen in the North Pole and South Pole, and other hard to reach places. (Cuts off two thirds of the thin sliver and puts larger piece down).

Only this thin sliver is left. All the fresh water that is available to life on the land's surface. This is all the fresh water we have. What would happen to us if we ruin this thin sliver by pollution? (Eats thin sliver in one bite).

We would be gone just like that. Be careful with the world. We need to save it for all these young people here tonight.

NATURE CLOSING

Circle Ten Council

Wood and water, wind and tree,

Wisdom, strength, and courtesy,

Scouting favor go with thee.

Conservation Closing

Longhorn Council

Cubmaster (holds picture of outdoor scene): All of this great and beautiful America is ours to enjoy. Surely we want to preserve it for the thousands of boys who will come after us. Let us stand and repeat in unison a pledge that will remind us to conserve these wonderful things for those who follow us. Please repeat the outdoor code with me.

OUTDOOR CODE:

As an American, I will do my best to:
Be clean in my outdoor manners,
Be careful with fire,
Be considerate in the outdoors,
And be conservation minded.

Nature And The Good Visitor

Longhorn Council

COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN: Our pack meeting tonight brought us all together to think about nature. We can enjoy the great outdoors but we must think of others who will follow us. Wherever you go in the great wide world of nature, try to be a "good" visitor who will leave the plants and the creatures for others to enjoy after you leave.

Cub # 1:       The only shots I took were snapshots.

Cub # 2:       I tried to walk on pathways to keep off plants.

Cub # 3:       When I see animals or birds, I try to remember that I am a guest in their living place and I don't do anything to them but look at them.

Cub # 4:       The one big thing I always do when I am ready to go home is to look and see that all fires are out in nature's backyard.

CUBMASTER: With Cubs and Webelos like you to help keep our friends on the ball, I'm sure that the beauties of nature will be around for years to come. Thanks Cubs, Good night.

A TREE IS A GOOD SCOUT

Circle Ten Council

Personnel:  6 Cubs and a narrator

Equipment: Each Cub hold 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 its 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.

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

CUBMASTER’S MINUTE

A NATURALIST IS …

Circle Ten Council

No matter where you live, there is a world of undiscovered secrets of nature still waiting to be explored.

A naturalist is a student of natural history, which includes the many things found in nature, such as plants and animals. This month, our dens have (briefly review some of the den activities an the theme)... There are many more interesting activities to help you Cub Scouts learn more about the world of nature and to develop an appreciation of it.

A naturalist stands like Columbus on the prow of his ship with a vast continent before him... except that the naturalist's world can be at his very feet... a world to be investigated and discovered. It is as near as your own backyard; a nearby park, the woods and fields or even a country road. These places are inhabited by many kinds of insects, birds, plants, animals, trees and other forms of life. Continue exploring the world of nature and you will find many wonderful things that God has given us to enjoy.

Closing Thought

Longhorn Council

God created families. He also created our beautiful world for us to enjoy and care for. We have fun doing things together as families and in Cub Scouting. We have many opportunities to work and play together. Today let us be thankful for our own families and God’s beautiful world in which we live.

Good Night Closing Thought

Longhorn Council

No matter where you live, there is a world of undiscovered secrets of nature still waiting to be explored. A naturalist is a student of nature. This month our dens have gone on Outdoor Adventures to find what was waiting for them. There are many more interesting activities to help each of you Cub Scouts learn more about the world of nature and to develop an appreciation for it. One who studies nature stands like Columbus on the prow of his ship with a vast continent before him...except that the naturalist’s world can be at his very feet . . . a world to be investigated and discovered. It is as near as your own backyard, a nearby park, the woods and fields, or even a country road. These places are inhabited by many kinds of insects, birds, plants, animals, trees and other forms of life.

Continue exploring the world of nature and you will find many wonderful things that we have been given to enjoy. Think of the words of the song “America the Beautiful” for a moment. Oh beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain, for purple mountain majesties above the fruited plain.. . . . . . This is what God has given us--nature’s beauty. This is what we as Cub Scouts and Scouters will work to conserve, protect and enjoy.

WALK THROUGH THE WOODS

Circle Ten Council

The Cubmaster can simply read this or you can add music and trees in the background as props and have the boys in the dens walk out on stage as the words are being read.

When you walk through the woods, I want you to see,
The floating gold of a bumblebee
Rivers of sunlight, pools of shade
Toadstools sleeping in a mossy jade.
A cobweb net with a catch of dew.
Treetop cones against an azure blue.
Dancing flowers, bright green flies
Birds to put rainbows in your eyes.

When you walk through the woods, I want you to hear,
A million sounds in your little ear.
The scratch and battle of wind tressed trees
A rush as a timid chipmunk flees
The cry of a hawk from the distant sky
The burr of the leaves when a breeze rolls by
Brooks that mumble, stones that ring
And birds to teach your heart to sing.

When you walk through the woods, I want you to feel
That not we nor man could make this real
Could paint the throb of a butterfly's wing
Could teach the woodthrush how to sing
Could give the wonders of earth and sky
There's something greater than you or I

When you walk through the woods and the birches nod
Son, meet a friend of mine, named God.

The Gift Of Trees

Longhorn Council

The Indians believe that the secret of happiness comes from giving to others.  Many, many moons ago when the Great Spirit first put man on the earth, man was frightened.  “Where will I find food and water?” he asked.  The trees laughed softly.  “We are your brothers,” they said.  “We will help you.”

The maple tree spoke up:  “I will give you sweet water to drink and make into sugar.” 

The elm tree said, “Use my soft bark to make your baskets and tie them together with my tough muscles.” 

The hickory tree said, “My cousins and I will fill your baskets with sweet nuts.” 

And he called the chestnut, beech, and walnut to help him. 

The great pine tree whispered softly, “When you get tired, little brother, I will make you a bed. 

My cousins the balsam and cedar will help me.”

There was sunshine in man’s heart as he set out to explore his new world.  But soon he came to a deep, wide river.   “How will I ever cross the river?” man asked.  The trees laughed and laughed.  “Take my white skin,” said the birch.  “Sew it together with the muscles of the elm tree and you can make a boat that will carry you across the widest river.”

When the sun crossed the sky to his lodge in the west, man felt cold.  Then the balsam fir tree whispered to him, “Little brother, there is much sun fire in my heart.  Rub my branches together and you will make a fire.”  So the man made fire.  And that night he slept soundly on the branches of the great pine tree.  The north wind blew cold, but there was sunshine in the heart of man.

Now when Indian children ask how they can repay their friends, the trees, a wise man answers, “They do not ask for payment.  But you can give them care and attention.  You can give love and care to every plant and flower that makes your life beautiful.”