ADVANCEMENT CEREMONY

Daniel Boone Advancement

Circle Ten Council

This would work fine if your from Kentucky but if you are from Tennessee change it to Davy Crockett.  Or whoever your state celebrates for a hero.  CD

ARRANGEMENT: Assistant Cubmaster is dressed in Daniel Boone costume, complete with wooden rubber handgun. Cubmaster is in uniform.

DANIEL: Howdy, folks! My name is Dan'l Boone. I understand this is a good place to get me a mess of Bobcats.

CUBMASTER: You must be a stranger around here. This is a Cub Scout meeting and the only Bobcats around here are the Cubs who have earned the Bobcat badge. Would the following Cub Scouts and their parents please come forward.                       (Cubmaster relates story of Bobcat badge) (Daniel comments that sounds like a tall tale to me!  Cubmaster presents badges and pins to families and they return to their seats.)

DANIEL: Well, that was very interesting, but you must have that pack of Wolves I was told about.

CUBMASTER: No, Mr. Boone, our Wolves are the Cub Scouts who have climbed the trail of Scouting to the next advancement rank. (Cubmaster calls forward boys                     and parents to receive wolf rank and presents badges.)

DANIEL: Very impressive! But I don't see nary a single bear our there. (Shades eyes and looks into audience.)

CUBMASTER: Our Bears are a year older and wiser than our Wolves. They have learned to take care of knives and tools, learned how to tie knots, and even learned about you, Mr. Boone. (Cubmaster calls forward Bear recipients                  and their parents and presents badges.)

CUBMASTER: Would you like to see our Webelos get their awards?

DANIEL: What in tarnation is a Webelos? (Prompt boys in advance to yell, "We'll be loyal Scouts!")

DANIEL: Now, that I understand. I'm a loyal "Trail" Scout, too.

CUBMASTER: Webelos Scouts have learned about our government, know the rules of outdoor fire safety and have slept under the stars. (Cubmaster presents activity pins and Webelos badges.)

DANIEL: Well now, Cub Scouting sounds like a mighty fine way to raise up a young'un. Wish we had Cub Scouts when I was a lad. So long, now.

Jungle Book Advancement Ceremony

Erich, A Cubmaster, Eden Prairie, MN

People required:

Akela, the leader of the wolf pack (the Cubmaster)

Monkey Person 1

Monkey Person 2

Akela: The moon is full, just as it was long ago on that night in the jungle when Mowgli first joined the Seeonee wolf pack.  It has been many years since Mowgli returned from living with the wolves.  After he returned, he taught us many of the lessons he learned while in the jungle.  The most important was that the strength of the wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is the wolf.  That is why we are here tonight in this council ring.  In the jungle, Mowgli was protected by Bagheera, the panther, and was taught the ways of the jungle by Baloo, the great bear.  Tonight, we have young men who have walked the trails of the tiger, the bobcat, the wolf and the bear.  It is time to honor these young men.

Akela: Scouts you have learned the Cub Scout Promise and the Law of the Pack.  You have followed that law in your den, and you have learned many things.  Tonight.....

Monkey person 1:  Laws, laws, laws!  Rules, rules, rules!  What a drag!

Monkey person 2:  Man cubs!  Come with us to the tops of the trees.  Man cubs! Come with us and play.

Akela: Oh no!  The Bandar-log, the Monkey People!

Monkey person 1:  We have no laws or rules.  We are free!  Come and play!

Akela:  Silence!  Once, when Mowgli disobeyed Bagheera, his teacher, he was captured by the Monkey People, the Bandar-log.  The wolves despise the Monkey People because they have no law of the pack.  The Monkey People think they are so smart that they do not need laws.  But because they have no laws, they do not help each other.  Instead of following Akela and cooperating, they fight among themselves.  Because of this sorry behavior, the Monkey People have no pride, no strength of character, they aren't honest, they do not do their duty to God, and all the jungle knows it.

Monkey person 2:  Laws and rules!  Rules and laws!  Who needs all that!  Come and play!

Akela:  You are irresponsible monkeys!  These man cubs have learned better!  You useless monkeys!  You would rather have no laws and play in the treetops than even to see that your own friends have enough food.  You selfish monkeys!  You would only work to help yourself!

Monkey person 1:  Yeah!  Yeah!  Yeah!  Talk!  Talk!  Talk!  These boys would rather not bother with all that!  They really don't like all your pack laws and rules.

Monkey person 2:  Yeah man cubs!  You don't need to follow all those promises and rules and all that junk!  Come on and play!

Akela:  Silence Monkey People!  I will show you that these boys have learned better!  I will give them each a choice.

Tigers – Do you want to follow the trail of the pack? (They yell, YES)

Wolves – Do you want to follow the trail of the pack? (They yell, YES)

Bears – Do you want to follow the trail of the pack? (They yell, YES)

Webelos – Do you want to follow the trail of the pack? (They yell, YES)

Akela:  Man cubs, you have chosen wisely.  So that those useless Bandar-log will know what we expect of you, give the Cub-Scout sign with your right hand and repeat the Cub-Scout Promise with me.

I promise to do my best,
to do my duty to God and my country,
to help other people,
and to obey the Law of the Pack.

Akela:  So let us all now repeat the law of the pack.  Will all scouts that are here tonight please stand and give the scout sign and repeat the law of the pack with me?

The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The pack helps the scout grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill.

(Akela motions for audience to be seated.)

Akela:  Scouts of Pack XXX you have chosen wisely!  Let us tell these Monkey People to be gone with a good wolf howl!
(Akela leads pack in wolf howl.)

Pack Promotion Night

Erich, A Cubmaster, Eden Prairie, MN

Here is a whole series of promotion (graduation) ceremonies developed, as Erich said, from other sources.  You could do this at your spring pack picnic and promote everyone up to the next rank.  My pack presents each Cub his next book when he is promoted so the parents have it to check things off from camp, their summer vacation trips and whatever happens around the house.  Thank you Erich.  CD

Junior to Senior Webelos Promotion

People – Akela and Baloo

Akela:  Tonight I wish to honor our Webelos and recognize the fact that they are now the oldest scouts in our pack.  It will be their job to tell the stories of the pack to the younger boys.  They can tell them about camping, Pinewood Derby, meetings, advancement, games, and all the fun.  Baloo, please call up the Senior Webelos:

Baloo:  <<call up Webelos by name>>

Baloo:  Since you are the youth leaders of our pack, I want to leave you with a challenge.  Over the next year, help us find ways to make the pack even more fun.  Will the pack join me in the Cub Scout cheer?  After I say “Cub”, you reply “Scout”.

Akela:  As senior members of the pack, the Webelos now have the honor and privilege of helping with the rest of tonight’s ceremonies.

Bear to Webelos - Broken Arrow Ceremony

Equipment: An Arrow per boy with their name on it. 

Notch each arrow on the top and bottom about 3" apart.

People – Akela and Baloo

Akela:  Will the Bear scouts and their parents please come forward:

Akela:  As Bear Cubs, you have passed many tests and feats of skill. You have mastered the Bobcat, the Wolf and the Bear.  Now you seek entry to become a Den of Webelos.  To be a Webelos you must be brave and strong.  You will be required to meet tests far more difficult than any, which you have performed up to now.

Baloo: You and your family have worked together to develop the skills of the Wolf and Bear.  Together, you have strengthened your family and the Scouting Family.  You will now start on the Trail of the Webelos, your goal is the Arrow of Light.

Akela:  This group of arrows represents you, your family, your Leaders, and the Pack.  Without any of these people, Scouting would not be strong. Take this group of arrows.  Together, as a group, the arrows are strong.

Akela:  As you have noticed, your names are on the arrows.  When your arrow remains in the group, the strength of the group is added to it.  Without any of the other members, Scouting will break as easily as I break the arrow.

<<Break each boy's arrow.  Hand the point to the parents and the fletched end to the boy.>>

Baloo: Parents, you have received the head of the arrow.  This signifies that you and the Webelos Leaders will guide these scouts over the next two years. New Webelos, you have received the flight feathers.  This signifies your travels during the next two years.  Your journey will end in two years with most of you reaching the Arrow of Light.  At the end of that journey, you will have enabled this arrow to fly straight and true again.

Akela:  Are you ready to become Webelos?  When your name is called cross the bridge.

<< Cross the scouts over the bridge>>

Baloo: <<call up Bears>>

Wolf to Bear - Candle Ceremony

People – Akela and Baloo

Akela:  The Native American Indians believed in animal spirits.  These spirits helped the Indians and gave them special powers.  It was good to have the strength from many animal spirits.  But, each Indian also had a main spirit.  The Indian would not reveal who his guardian spirit was unless he was near death.

Baloo:  One advantage to spending time alone in the wilderness is that you might meet your spirit animal.  And, to meet your spirit animal is to make your life more complete.  An Indian might be canoeing alone across a lake when he spies a wolf on the shore.  And as the wolf looks into his eyes, he’ll just know, that that is his spirit animal.  Of course you can only meet your spirit animal when you are alone.

Akela:  The wolf gives us two strengths: wisdom and bravery.  The wolf is one of the smartest animals in the woods.  This wisdom will serve our braves well.  The wolf is also very loyal to the pack.  Because of this, the pack is much stronger than the wolf by itself.  Do we have any cubs that have earned the mark of the wolf?

Baloo:  Yes.  They have learned how to handle tools and how to display the flag; they know how to be healthy and safe.  They have learned to serve in the community and conserve energy.  They are physically active and like to read.  They have fun with their families and have collected useful and beautiful things.  They obey our country’s laws and worship God.

Akela:  Bring the wolves and their parents forward. 

Baloo: Will the Wolves of Den 5 please come forward.

Akela: As we gather around tonight the light is dim. 

<<Hand each boy a candle and have them light them>>

Akela:  Each of you has a spirit candle to light your way in life.  Each candle alone provides some light, but when you gather together as a den notice how bright it becomes.  <<have the boys gather together>>  As you go forward along the scouting trail you will need the help of other scouts, your parents, and your leaders.  You will also need to share your light with that of the other scouts in your den.  Are you ready to become Bears?  Please place your candles in the holder so we can all see the brightness in your spirits.  When your name is called you may cross the bridge.

<<Cross the Wolves over the bridge>>

Baloo:  <<Read off Wolves’ names>>

Tiger to Wolf – Cub Scout Colors Ceremony

Personnel:  Akela, two Webelos Scout “braves”, and a narrator (Baloo)

Equipment:

A tripod with a large cooking pot suspended over a fire.  A small pot fits inside the large one and contains a yellow Wolf neckerchief.  Pack dry ice around the small pot to give a smoking effect (smoke increases as water is added). 

Two small clear bottles, one filled with diluted yellow food coloring and the other with blue coloring.

Narrator:  Many, many moons ago the great chief Akela called a council to see what could be done to make his tribe the best of all tribes.  After many hours he called his two most trusted braves to the council fire.

<<Pause as two braves come to stand next to chief>>

He told the first brave to climb the mountain and tell the great eagle to fly high into the sky and bring back part of the beauty of the sun.  <<First brave leaves>> 

He told the second brave to go into the forest and tell the sparrow to fly high into the sky and bring back part of the sky. 

<<Second brave leaves and both return immediately, one with blue bottle, one with yellow, and stand by the tripod with bottles raised for all to see>>

Akela to first brave:  Pour some of the beauty of the sun into our council mixing pot.

<<First brave pours yellow liquid over dry ice, carefully to avoid hitting neckerchiefs in small pot>>

Akela to second brave:  Pour some of the beauty of the sky into our council mixing pot.

<<Second brave carefully pours blue liquid over dry ice>>

Akela:  From this day forward, blue will stand for truth and loyalty.  Yellow will stand for warm sunlight, happiness, and good cheer.  <<Stir pot, pull out neckerchief>>

Narrator:  And that is why the Cub Scouts use the colors blue and gold.  Tigers, you are now ready to become Wolves.  Will the Tigers and their parents please come forward.  When your name is called you may cross the bridge.

<<Tigers are called up>>