OPENING CEREMONIES

Say Something Nice

Sam Houston Area Council

Start a den meeting by saying something nice about someone else. Give this part of your meeting a special name. Not everyone needs to participate every time. Give the Scouts an opportunity to thank someone, offer encouragement or share kind words.

Planting Seed of Kindness Opening

Alice, Golden Empire Council

Background -

·         A picture made by boys showing  good soil, with rocky, dry soil along one side; several “seeds” drawn on paper

·         Watering pail or picture of rain 

·         Picture of sun 

·         Pictures of “crops” – flowers, wheat, sunflowers, etc. (Adjust number of seeds to the number of boys)

Narrator:             This month, we’ve been learning about Seeds of Kindness.  Let’s see what can happen to those seeds. The seed is an idea – we might hear about a service project from our den leader or a teacher.  If we decide to help, we might want to find out what we can do.

Cub Scout #1:      I heard about a canned food drive from my den leader, and I wanted to help.

Cub Scout #2:      My neighbor is old and has trouble keeping her lawn mowed and watered. I wondered it I could help.

Narrator:             Sometimes, when we hear about some service or see someone who needs help, we decide to try and find a way to do something. It’s like putting seeds in good soil, where they can grow.  But sometimes, we are busy or the problem seems too big for us to do anything about, so we decide we can’t help.  That’s like dropping a seed in rocky, dry soil, where it can’t grow.  It will just dry up and nothing will come of it.

Cub Scout #3:      I heard about the canned food drive, but I don’t have time to help – I have soccer practice, and a game on Saturday.

Cub Scout #4:      I asked my dad, but he said the local food bank will take care of the problem.

Narrator:             Where do you think these seeds ended up?  (Lets the audience decide where each boy should put his seed)  But just getting in the dirt doesn’t guarantee a seed will grow – it needs water and sunlight.  The water could be compared to a willingness to figure out a way to help, a way to deliver what someone else needs. 

Cub Scout #5:      I wanted to help with the food drive, too – I decided to ask my neighbors if they could help, so we would get even more cans!

Cub Scout #6: I   saw that my neighbor couldn’t take care of her lawn anymore, so I asked my dad if he could help me get the lawn mower started and figure out how to finish the job.

Narrator:             (holds up the watering can and adds the sun to the picture) If we use our imagination and ask other people to help, our “seeds of kindness” can keep growing.

Cub Scout #7:      When I went to pick up cans from my neighbors, one of them said they had a grandma who needed help from the food bank sometimes.  They said they were happy to help, and that made me feel good!

Cub Scout #8:      It was a lot of fun to find a way that I could help – I collected coats from my family, kids at school, and neighbors, and donated them to a clothing drive.  I had such a good time that I am going to do it again!  And it made me very glad that I have my own warm clothes for the winter.

Narrator:             So we discovered that “Seeds of Kindness” grow only when we each decide to do something for others. Then they can produce a crop of gratitude, and a desire to do more. We have learned to keep our eyes open for other opportunities to be kind.  (Put up the picture or drawing of flowers or a food crop) In the United States of America, we have a tradition of helping others.  Let us honor that tradition by pledging allegiance to our flag.

Planting Seeds …

Grand Teton Council

Set Up: Seven Cub Scouts with placards having appropriate picture son front and their parts on back in LARGE print.

Cub Scout #1:         In America, we plant seeds of kindness every day.  Our founding fathers thought all Americans should be treated equally.

Cub Scout #2:         I plant seeds of kindness when I go to school to learn.  Playing and Sharing with others in my school.

Cub Scout #3:         I plant seeds of kindness when I worship as I choose, and as I let other people worship as they want.

Cub Scout #4:         I plant seeds of kindness when I write an editorial to a newspaper praising the good things in my community.  All Americans are free to express their opinions. 

Cub Scout #5:         I plant seeds of kindness by living free and treating nature and others with respect.  All Americans are free, too.

Cub Scout #6:         I plant seeds of kindness by being proud to be an American.  All Americans should take pride in their country.

Cub Scout #7:         I plant seeds of kindness when I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America in a proper way.  Please stand and salute the flag and repeat the pledge with me.

Farmer's Welcome

San Gabriel Valley, Long Beach & Verdugo Hills Councils

(Cubmaster enters dressed in farmer‘s clothes. He could wear overalls or jeans with a plaid shirt, a straw hat, etc.)

Welcome, everyone , to the farm yard of Pack ______. I‘m Farmer _________, the Boss around here.  I‘m really glad you could come visit us tonight.

You know, on the farm there is plenty of work to do. Everyone in my family is busy planting seeds, harvesting crops, feeding the animals, and just keeping the farm running. But we are never too busy to help out neighbors in need, or help out at the local church or even raise the flag down at the town square.  We call that Spreading Seeds of Kindness.

That‘s one thing I like about the Cub Scouts. You are busy with school work, and earning all those fancy awards, and playing with your buddies, but you are never too busy to spread seeds of kindness and help when you‘re needed. I like that line in the Cub Scout Promise that says -

―..to do my best, to do my duty to God and my Country… .

You really know how to do your best and to do your duty, both to God and your Country. Will you please rise and reflect on how you can continue to do your duty to God and this great country as we salute the flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance?

GREETINGS

Capital Area Council

Set Up:          
The Den Chief explains that the audience is to respond by doing as the boys say and then introduces the ceremony.

The boys hold cards that spell out the word G-R-E-E-T-I-N-G-S. Each exposes his card as he speaks his line.

Cub Scout #1:        G - Glad to see you here tonight. Let's spread some Seeds of Kindness

Cub Scout #2:        R - Reach out your hand to a friend left or right.

Cub Scout #3:        E - Everyone smile and shake his hand,

Cub Scout #4:        E - Everybody smile and nod at another friend.

Cub Scout #5:        T - Together now, stand up on your feet,

Cub Scout #6:        I - I’d like for you all to take your seat.

Cub Scout #7:        N - Now that we're all friends, we'll start the show,

Cub Scout #8:        G - Good will is a feeling we get from sreading seeds of kindness

Cub Scout #9:        S - So now we say greetings to everyone.

All -    We've tried to sow the seeds of kindness  in all that we have done.   So Cubmaster, our program's begun.  

The boys motion for Cubmaster to come on stage

Helping Other People

Sam Houston Area Council

After the flags have been posted, but before the pledge, have parents or Den Chief/Den Leader read the following off of cards you have prepared.

Cub Scout #1:         Helping other people might be picking up a toy or a bottle that a boy dropped.

Cub Scout #2:         Helping other people might be playing with a younger brother or sister while mom is busy.

Cub Scout #3:         Helping other people might be telling a friend he did a great job when he did his best.

Cub Scout #4:         Helping other people might be shoveling a walk of someone not able.

Cub Scout #5:         Helping other people may be simple everyday things, even a smile, or difficult things like fighting for our country.

Cub Scout #6:         The people throughout history that have kept our country free helped other people, you and me. As we pledge our allegiance to the flag, let us be glad that others have helped other people. Cub Scout leads the pledge.

Building A Better World

Capital Area Council

11 Cub Scouts, each holding a card with a letter on the front and his line on the back.  Each speaker holds up his letter as he says his line.  Last line delivered by all.

Den leader introduces this Opening by stating – All this month we have been learning how a Cub Scouts can spread seeds of kindness and through these acts of kindness they can help build a better world.  We will now show you how Cub Scouts spreading seeds of kindness can help build a Better World -

Cub Scout #1:         B for BROTHERHOOD, boosting for each other's good

Cub Scout #2:         E for EVERY LAND to share in earth's riches everywhere

Cub Scout #3:         T for TRUSTFULNESS, trusting more and fearing less

Cub Scout #4:         T for TEAMWORK, for joining hands to put things through

Cub Scout #5:         E for EQUAL CHANCE for each nation to advance

Cub Scout #6:         R for REAL RESPECT in spite of race, creed, or sect.

Cub Scout #7:         W for WILL TO WORK for peace with faith and skill

Cub Scout #8:         O for OPPORTUNITY to keep our speech and action free

Cub Scout #9:         R for REVERENCE for a guiding providence

Cub Scout #10:      L for LOVE TO SPREAD around when need and bitterness are found

Cub Scout #11:      D for DIGNITY of man devoted to a better plan.

(All hold up letters)

Den leader -         There you have it - that is how you build A BETTER WORLD.

Farmer's Welcome

San Gabriel Valley, Long Beach & Verdugo Hills Councils

(Cubmaster enters dressed in farmer‘s clothes. He could wear overalls or jeans with a plaid shirt, a straw hat, etc.)

Welcome, everyone , to the farm yard of Pack ______. I‘m Farmer _________, the Boss around h e re . I‘m really glad you could come visit us tonight.

You know, on the farm there is plenty of work to do. Everyone in my family is busy planting seeds, harvesting crops, feeding the animals, and just keeping the farm running. But we are never too busy to help out neighbors in need, or help out at the local church or even raise the flag down at the town square.

That‘s one thing I like about the Cub Scouts. You are busy with school work, and earning all those fancy awards, and playing with your buddies, but you are never too busy to spread seeds of kindness and help when you‘re needed. I like that line in the Cub Scout Promise that says -

―..to do my best, to do my duty to God and my Country… .

You really know how to do your best and to do your duty, both to God and your Country. Will you please rise and reflect on how you can continue to do your duty to God and this great country as we salute the flag and say the Pledge of Allegiance?

Seeds of Kindness Opening

Grand Teton Council

Equipment: Cornucopia, Carrot seed packet, Carrots with tops on

Cubmaster: This is the time of year when crops have been gathered in for the harvest.  In the spring, seeds were planted (hold up seed packet), and in the fall, we see the results (hold up the carrots).  Just as small seeds become fruits and vegetables, all around us, we can plant other seeds - all year round – even as Cub Scouts.  Part of the Cub Scout Promise is “to help other people.”  So tonight we are going to plant seeds of kindness, seeds of caring, seeds of service.  One of the great things about our nation is the service that Americans give – to each other, and to those of other nations.  Let us celebrate this greatness by singing together, “No Man is an Island” (or substitute another song that your group would be familiar with, i.e., God Bless America, etc)

No Man is an Island

Grand Teton Council

No man is an island, no man stands alone
Each man's joy is joy to me
Each man's grief is my own
We need one another, so I will defend
Each man as my brother
Each man as my friend

No man is an island far out in the blue
We all look to One above
Who our strength doth renew
When I help my brother
Then I know that I plant the seeds
Of friends    that will never die

I saw the people gather
I heard the music start
The song that they were singing
Is ringing in my heart

No man is an island, no man stands alone
Each man's joy is joy to me
Each man's grief is my own
We need one another, so I will defend
Each man as my brother
Each man as my friend

AS A GOOD CITIZEN OPENING

Heart of America Council

Set Up: - Six Cub Scouts with placards with appropriate pictures on the front and their parts on back in LARGE print.

Cub Scout #1:         As a good citizen I will try to be helpful and kind.

Cub Scout #2:         I will strive to take good care of all property and practice safety and health rules.

Cub Scout #3:         I will practice thrift and good work habits.

Cub Scout #4:         I will show a respect for authority. I will be honest and dependable.

Cub Scout #5:         Fair play and good manners will be my goal.

Cub Scout #6:         I will take pride in achieving and be patriotic and loyal to my hometown and country.