ADVANCEMENT CEREMONIES

JUNGLE BOOK
San Gabriel Valley Council

Set the scene in a simulated cave or jungle. Or have it outside under some trees. Dress in your best safari gear or even as Akela the wolf or Baloo the bear.

AKELA: The following man Cubs have shown themselves worthy of the Wolf rank in our Pack. They have learned how to handle tools and how to display the flag, they knows how to be healthy and safe. They have learned to serve in the community and to conserve energy. They are physically active and like to

care for books. He has fun with his family and has collected useful and beautiful things. He obeys our country's laws and worships God. The members of the pack want him to have the mark of the Wolf. Call wolf cubs and parents up (Hand out patches).

AKELA: The following man cubs learned from the kindly bear Baloo, the secret name of the trees, the call of the birds, and the language of the air. Just a learned the things that required a little more skill, so have these Cub Scouts, as they have achieved the Bear rank.

Call bear cubs and parents up (Hand out patches).

Animals Are Important In Cub Scouting
Great Salt Lake Council

PROPS: Large pictures of the badges of rank.

People have long admired and loved animals for their appearance, qualities, and character. The symbol of our century is an animal - the bald eagle. He is a beautiful bird and yet he is strong. Animals are important in Cub Scouting, too. (Display Bobcat card)

The Bobcat is a swift, skillful hunter, and the smallest of the wild cats. Bobcats in Scouting are the newest Scouts, who will learn skills and pursue the Wolf badge, will the following Cub Scout come forward to receive his Bobcat badge? (Award badge) (Display Wolf Card)

The Wolf works in a group to hunt. The Wolf is a loyal animal that keeps the same mate for life.

Wolves in scouting work in groups to learn leadership and develop skills. Will the following Cub Scout(s) come forward to receive his Wolf badge? (Award badge)

(Display Bear Card)

The Bear is a large creature that can be fierce if angered, but is normally peaceful and non-aggressive. Bears are bigger Cub Scouts who always show consideration to those smaller, and strive to live peacefully with others. Will the following Cub Scout comes forward to accept his Bear badge? (Award badge) (Display Webelos Card)

While earning the Naturalist activity badge, Webelos learn about the animals in our world and how they behave and how they help us. The Outdoorsman activity badge teaches Webelos how to protect the habitats of our animal kingdom. The following Cub Scout has earned his Webelos badge. Will (name) please come forward?

ADVANCEMENT TRIPOD
Sam Huston Area Council

Equipment: 3 poles, a piece of rope, the awards for the boys

Arrangements: Cubmaster in front of the audience

Cubmaster: Tonight we have several boys who are ready to receive their Bobcat badge. (Call forward the boys and their parents. Present the badges. Ask boys to hold one of the poles.) This pole represents the Bobcats who are just starting on the Cub Scout Trail. The Bobcats are one of the elements that make the Cub Scouting program successful. This pole, like the Bobcat, will not stand alone. (Ask the boys to stand the pole on end and let it go. It should be allowed to fall to the floor.)

Another part of the Cub Scout program is the boys who have advanced to the rank of Wolf. (call forward the boys and their parents. Present he badges.) The wolves are also an important part of the Cub Scout program. The boys have reached for this rank by completing 12 achievements.

(have the boys hold two of the poles.) These two poles represent the Bobcats and the Wolves of the Cub Scout program. (Ask the boys to try to stand these poles up by themselves. They should be allowed to fall to the floor.) Even with these two elements the Bobcats and Wolves are not strong enough to hold the Cub Scout program together.

Tonight we also have several boys who have earned the rank of Bear. (Call forward the boys and their parents. Present the badges.) Now we have three elements of the Cub Scout program— Bobcats, Wolves and Bears. (Ask the Bear Cubs to hold the three poles. Have them try to stand them up together but also let them fall to the floor.)

Even with the three elements, the Cub Scout program is not yet able stand alone. The rank of Webelos is to be awarded tonight to several boys who have worked hard to advance. (Call forward the boys and their parents. Present the badges.) Ask the Webelos to hold the three poles. Take the rope and work it around the poles using the tripods lashing. When the rope is secure, the poles should be able to stand alone. Now we have poles that represent the Bobcat, Wolf, Bear ranks and the rope that represents the Webelos rank. Each of these elements is important in the Cub Scouting program, but individually they will not be able to stand alone.

When they are all working together, then they will stand fast as a team. (the tripod should then stand alone.)

Bobcat Advancement:

The Test of the Zulu Boy
Longhorn Council

PERSONNEL: Cubmaster, Bobcat candidates and their parents.

EQUIPMENT: White adhesive tape, Bobcat badges, safety pins.

ARRANGEMENT: The Cubmaster brings boys and their parents forward.

CUBMASTER: (Boy's name) has successfully completed the test for Bobcat. Before I present him with of the Bobcat, let me tell you all a story of long ago, about the test young Zulu boys were given.

Before they  were allowed to become Scouts and warriors, Zulu boys had to pass a pretty tough examination. This is what they had to do:

When a boy would soon be old enough to be a warrior, he was taken aside and stripped of his clothing and painted white all over. He was given a shield and a small spear with which to protect himself and to kill small animals. He was then sent into the bush. If anyone saw him while he was white, he would hunt and kill the boy; and that white paint took about a month to wear off. It would not wash off.

So, for a month the boy had to hide in the bush and live as well as he could. He had to follow the tracks of the deer, and creep near enough to spear the animal to get food and clothing for himself. He had to make fire to cook with by rubbing two sticks together, he had no matches. He had to be careful not to let his fire smoke too much, or it would catch the eye of Scouts on the lookout for him. He had to be able to run long distances, to climb trees, and to swim rivers in order to escape from his pursuers. He had to be brave, and to stand up to a lion or any other wild animal that attacked him.

He had to know which plants were good to eat and which were poisonous. He had to make his own cooking pots out of tree bark or clay. He had to build himself a well hidden hut to live in. He had to take care that wherever he went, he left no tracks for his enemies to follow. If he snored when he was asleep, it would give him away to a keen?]eared enemy. So he learned to sleep with his mouth shut, and to breathe quietly through his nose.

For a month he had to live this life, sometimes in burning heat, sometimes in cold and rain. When at last the white stain had worn off, he was able to return to his village, where he was received with great joy and allowed to take his place among the young warriors of the tribe. He could go on to become a "ring?]kop" that is, a proven warrior, who was allowed to wear a ring on his head. Then he could possibly go on and earn the honorable title of wolf. But you can imagine that a good many boys who went out did not get through their white period at all. Some got killed by wild animals; some got killed by enemies and some died of starvation, cold, or drowning. It was only the best among them who succeeded.

Cub Scouting has its test also. With the help of your parents, you have completed the first test of a Cub Bobcat.

It is my pleasure and joy to present this badge and to call you a "Bobcat". (The Cubmaster give the badges to parents to pin on their sons.)

Are you now ready to follow the trail of the (Wolf, Bear, or Webelos). (The boys answer.)

You have answered that you are ready. Then seal that pledge by giving the Cub Scout Promise. (They do)

Let me now, as the leader of this tribe, give you a reminder of the tests that lay before you. (The Cubmaster places a strip of white adhesive tape on each boy's forehead.) Remember that some do not successfully complete the tests. In the Cub Scout Promise, you promised to do your best. If you always remember to do your best, you will successfully walk the trail of the (Wolf, Bear, or Webelos). Go now and do your best and return to me as an honorable (Wolf, Bear, or Webelos).