May 2005 Cub Scout Roundtable Issue Volume 11, Issue 10 June 2005 Theme Theme: Destination Parks Webelos: Traveler & Artist   Tiger Cub Activities ADVANCEMENT CEREMONIES Let the Compass Guide You Piedmont Council Props: Demonstration compass made of heavy cardboard. Parts can be done by same person or separated as shown. Cubmaster:       We look to the compass for our guide (Hold up Compass Prop), to point us in the right direction while hiking Tiger DL:   Similarly, we start guiding our Tiger Cubs onto the path of Cub Scouting. (Call boys and parents forward and present awards.) Lead Cheer Asst CM:    To the east, we find a Cub ready for his Bobcat Badge. (Call boy(s) and parents forward and present badge.) Lead Cheer Wolf DL:    To the South is the Wolf with his spirit of adventure. (Call boy(s) and parents forward and present awards.) Lead Cheer Bear DL:    To the West is the Bear hunting on the trail of Scouting. (Call boy(s) and parents forward and present awards.) Lead Cheer Webelos DL: To the North is the Webelos about to realize his boyhood dreams, alive with Scout Actions. (Call boy(s) and parents forward and present badge.) Lead Cheer Cubmaster:       Let the compass guide all of you on your trials and may you carry into your adult lives the ideals of Scouting. Lead Cheer for all Planting a Tree- Greater St. Louis Area Council The poem the Cubmaster reads before presenting the awards could be a fine Cubmaster’s Minute, too.  CD  Setting: A large tree, cut from cardboard and set firmly in a stand. A large green construction paper leaf for each boy who will receive an award. If desired, names can be written on the leaves. As each person receives his award, he tapes his leaf on the tree. CUBMASTER: What do we plant when we plant a tree? A thousand things that we daily see! The paper for books from which we learn, Tools to help us do a good turn, The wood for a Pinewood Derby car, For model planes that we can fly far, We plan the staff for the flag of the free, Yes, we plant all these when we plant a tree. But what do we plant when we plant a lad? With the help of high mother and his dad, We plant a Cub who’ll become a Scout, We plant ideas that will round him out, The silk, the games, the joy to be had, We plant a Scout when we plant a lad. (Cubmaster calls boys and parents forward to receive awards. As awards are presented, each boy tapes his leaf on the tree.) You have all helped make this tree more beautiful, and it is a part of you. Just as Mother Nature’s trees endure for many years, you have learned many things from your achievements, electives, and activity badges that will last you a lifetime. May you always stand straight and tall like a tree, and be a worthwhile resource of our country. What do we do when we plant a lad? We plant a Scout when we plant a lad. Top Of The Mountain San Gabriel Valley, Long Beach & Verdugo Hills Councils CM: I’d like to tell you a story that was first told by Ernest Thompson Seton, one of the founders of Scouting in America. There once was a high mountain that towered above a village. One day, the elder of the village asked the young men to start right after breakfast and to climb as high as they could. Their challenge was to climb until they were tired and then return with a twig from the place where they had turned back. Away they went, filled with enthusiasm. Soon the first boy came slowly back, carrying a piece of cactus. The elder smiled and said, “My boy, you barely got started.” I like to think that this boy is like a newly inducted Cub Scout. He has just barely started. An hour later, the second boy returned carrying a twig of sagebrush. “Well,” said the elder, “you reached a higher level and have done well for your age.” This boy is like the Cub Scout who has earned his Tiger or Bobcat badge. He has progressed on his journey and is ready to start climbing higher. (Present Tiger & Bobcat badges.) After another hour, the third boy came back. He held out a cottonwood sprig. “Good,” said the elder, “you reached the springs.” This might represent the Cub Scout who has reached the next level of his climb and has received his Wolf badge. (Present Wolf badges.) A while later, another boy came back with some cedar. The elder smiled and said, “Well done, my boy, you went halfway up.” This is like the Cub Scout who has progressed halfway up the advancement trail and earned his bear badge. (Present Bear badges.) Later in the afternoon, the fourth boy returned carrying a branch of pine. To him the elder said, “Good, you went to the third level. Keep on trying. Next year, you will surely reach the top.” The Cub Scout who has earned his Webelos badge is in sight of the top. (Present Webelos badges.) The sun was gone when the last boy returned. He approached the elder and held up his empty hand. He was radiant as he spoke. “My leader, there were no trees where I went. I saw no twigs, no living thing upon the peak. But far and away, I saw other mountains, and beyond them, the shining sea.” The elder’s face glowed as he said; “I knew it when it looked upon your face. It is written in your eyes, and it rings in your voice. My boy, you need no twigs for a token you have seen the glory of the mountain.” This boy who reached the peak is like the Webelos Scout who has reached the top – The Arrow of Light Award. But, beyond the top are the peaks of Boy Scouting that must be met and climbed to reach the shining sea beyond. I would like to now call the names of the Webelos Scouts and have their families present them their Arrow of Light Award. World Conservation Award Ceremony San Gabriel Valley, Long Beach & Verdugo Hills Councils Materials: World Conservation Award for each boy. Narrator: In his last letter to Scouts around the world, Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, wrote, “Try to leave the world better than you found it.” Den Leader: Today, we are honoring some Scouts who have worked hard to fulfill the requirements of the World Conservation Award. Will the following boys please come forward. (Call the names.) These boys have completed achievements and electives related to the outdoors in addition to completing a den conservation project. Would you like to explain your project to the pack? (Let boys share some of the details of the project.) Narrator: Thank you for helping make our world a better place for all of us.  (Present the awards.) Service Project Ideas San Gabriel Valley, Long Beach & Verdugo Hills Councils ü     Plant shrubs to provide cover for wildlife. ü     Plant grass seed on bare ground in parks, schools or church yards to prevent erosion ü     Plant tree seedling for shade, landscaping or ground cover ü     Make window boxes and plant flowers or plant tubs with trees or shrubs ü     Plant and maintain a flower garden in a park Cub Scout Mountain Baltimore Area Council I quickly added a Tiger level to this ceremony.  If you have a better idea, please Share (as in the Tiger motto) In a few years, I bet all the ceremonies will have been rewritten to have Tigers, too. CD Props:   ·       Cardboard mountain as shown. ·       Cub Scout: Glue a picture of a Cub Scout (or mountaineer) onto-some light cardboard backing. Cut out the general shape of the figure. Glue the figure onto a pinch-type clothespin. Make a separate figure for each rank. If you have several boys advancing to the same rank you may want to tag the figures with the boys’ names. Ceremony Preparation: Place the figures at the location on the mountain that represents their current rank. Place the badges on the mountain at the location that represents the rank they are advancing to. If you like to lower the lights for effect, a couple of candles will provide sufficient light for-this ceremony. Cubmaster: Many of our nation’s most spectacular mountain ranges can be found in National Parks.  I have before me what might be called a Cub Scout Mountain. The Bobcats start out down here (pointing) on level ground and, on this side of the mountain, as you go up there are several plateaus that represent-the ranks in Cub Scouting. The trail ends and the mountain is conquered when a Cub Scout earns his Arrow of Light Award. As in climbing a real mountain, it always looks like a long way to the top but each step along the path brings us closer to the top. A Cub Scout starts his climb at Tiger or Bobcat and before he knows it, he has reached the Wolf plateau, then the Bear, then the Webelos plateau, and finally the top – the Arrow of Light Award. Now it is time to honor the climbers among us. Will the following new Tigers and their parents please come forward (read list). Congratulations Tigers on starting up Cub Scout Mountain and welcome to our Pack. You have just reached the base of Cub Scout Mountain.  Next year you will begin your ascent. The way may seem hard but I am sure you will reach the top and have FUN while getting there.  The key to having fun is always remember the Tiger Motto which is - (Tigers respond.) That’s right – always Search, Discover and Share as you climb the mountain. To commemorate your start, have your parent(s) remove your badge from the mountain and present it to you and you place the climber I am giving you on the Tiger spot on the flat next to the mountain. (Cubmaster shakes the boys’ hands and presents them their “climbers.”)  Lead CHEER Will the following new Bobcats and their parents please come forward (read list). We want to welcome you new Bobcats and your parents into our Pack. To reach Cub Scout Mountain you have so far walked on rather level ground and now you will begin your ascent. The way may seem steep and long, but remember that many have gone before you and reached the top and I am sure you will reach it also. To ensure that you are starting out properly, please recite for me the Cub Scout Promise. (Bobcats respond.) Congratulations - you are well prepared to begin your climb. To commemorate your start, have your parents remove your badge from the mountain and present it to you and place your climber on the Bobcat plateau. (CM shakes boys’ hands and gives boys their “climbers.”)  Lead CHEER Will the following. Climbers who have reached the Wolf plateau and their parents please come forward (read list). While you are not yet half way up the mountain, you have made an excellent start. In some respects you have traveled the hardest distance, because as in climbing real mountains, if the beginning is steep, some climbers will not go on and will turn back before they even really get started. But you did not turn back. I can assure you that the fun you experienced on the, Wolf trail awaits you on the Bear trail. The real mountaineer will take a moment to rest at each plateau he reaches, but you should not. Earn some Arrow Points and then begin your ascent of the Bear trail. In commemoration of your having reached the Wolf rank, have your parent(s) remove your badge from the mountain and present it to you and you place your climber on the Wolf plateau of Cub Scout Mountain. (Cubmaster shakes each boy’s hand as they finish.) Lead CHEER Will the following climbers who have reached the Bear plateau and their parents please come forward (reads list of new Bears). You have come a long distance – you are over half way up Cub Scout Mountain, and the top is now in sight. You have come a long way and it would be foolish to turn back now and not go all the way to the top and earn the Arrow of light. You will continue to experience the fun that you had along the Wolf and Bear trails, but it will be a different fun because Webelos will be a new and different experience. Also, you should not rest at the Bear plateau, but instead earn some Arrow Points before you begin on the Webelos trail. In commemoration of your having reached the Bear rank, have your parent(s) remove your badge from Cub Scout Mountain and present it to you and. you place your “climber” on the Bear plateau (Cubmaster shakes each boy’s hand as they finish.) Lead CHEER The following climbers in the Pack are on the Webelos trail and the fun they have experienced and the things they have learned have resulted in their earning activity badges. Will the following climbers and their parents please come forward (read names and activity badges each has earned). Each step along this trail brings you closer to the top and I am confident each of you will reach the top. To commemorate your travels along the Webelos Trail, remove your badges from the mountain and place your climber where you are on the trail. (Cubmaster shakes each boy’s hand as they finish) Lead CHEER Will the following climbers and their parents please come ‘forward (read list of boys earning Webelos Badge). We do not have a plateau on our mountain for the Webelos Rank because unlike the other ranks, you have achieved, the requirements for this badge are identical to some of those required for the Arrow of Light. This rank is but a milestone along the trail and you, more than ever before, cannot rest here, but must press ever forward because the top is very close in sight for you. To fail now is unthinkable. However, I have a great deal of faith in you and am sure you will not fail and will reach the top. To commemorate your travels along the Webelos trail have your parents remove your badge from the mountain and present it to you and you place your climber in its Place (Cubmaster shakes each boy’s hand). Lead CHEER If you don’t have any boys who have achieved the Arrow this month or you have a special ceremony for awarding the Arrow of Light, pause here and say a few profound words about reaching the top and then move on. CD Finally, it is time to honor those climbers who have reached the top – those climbers who have earned Cub Scouting’s Arrow of Light Award. Not only is this Cub Scouting’s highest award, but also this is the only badge that can be taken into Scouting and worn on the Scout uniform. In actual mountain climbing, many might set out, but only the strongest, mentally and physically, will finish and reach the summit. Will the following climbers and their parents please come forward (reads list of new Arrow of Light recipients). You are to be congratulated for you have-reached the summit and conquered Cub Scout Mountain. You are now among the strongest climbers in .our Pack. Your travel to the summit along Cub Scouting’s trail has prepared you well for the adventures you will experience as a Scout.  It is every Cubmaster’s privilege to present the Arrow of Light Award and you should be very proud of yourself. To commemorate your reaching the summit and earning the Arrow of Light, have your parents remove your badge from the mountain and present it to you and place your climber at the top of Cub Scout Mountain. (Cubmaster shakes each boy’s hand as he finishes.) Lead CHEER Return to Top of Page - Click Here 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. 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