ADVANCEMENT IDEAS

Immediate Recognition
Istrouma Area Council

As a Cub Scout completes achievements for Wolf or Bear, the den leader should make sure that a simple recognition ceremony is held in the den meeting. Use the Cub Scout Immediate Recognition Kit, No. 1804, which contains enough materials for a den of Cub Scouts for two years. This is a motivational device used to encourage each boy to complete the rank for his age.
Use a brief ceremony related to the monthly theme, or the one below:

Den Leader - We would like to tell you the story behind these wonderful beads. The custom of awarding beads started in the ancient tribe of Webelos. They were given to braves who did their best to help the tribe and others.
Den Chief - Many moon ago, when the animal world was ruled by wolves and bears, the braves of the Webelos tribe feared these strong beasts.
Den Leader - But some braves named (names of boys being recognized), still untried, decided that the best way to live without fear was to learn to understand the creatures of the forest.
Den Chief - So they went, disguised an animals, to live with the wolves and bears. The animals accepted them and all their brothers and called them "cub", just as if the braves were their own. This was according to the Law of the Pack.
Den Leader - For their bravery and friendliness to the beasts, they were given a leather thong with colored beads on it. It signified that he knew the ways of the tribe and did his best at everything without worrying if someone else did better. This is the law which the tribe borrowed from the animals and had the "cubs" learn.
(Ask den to form Living Circle and repeat Law of Pack.)
Den Chief - For doing your best in completing three achievements toward your (Wolf) (Bear) badge, I award you (names) this thong and this bead. May you always obey the Law of the Pack.

Advancement Ceremony
Greater St. Louis Area Council

Have various "animal tracks" available as each of the following are discussed.

Cubmaster: (In a secretive manner). We are gathered tonight to study all the details of the scene of the crime. The first animal we need to identify has the following characteristics: It is striped, orange and black, stalks prey, belongs to the cat family. From all the above details I believe we are desctibinh the Tiger family.
The next animal track we found was a fairly fresh one. The items known are it is red in color, spotted, has a short stubby tail, and belongs to the Lynx family. Could it be a Bobcat that was spotted hanging around here:
The next track was harder to tracde as it belongs to the Dog family. It loves to eat game and livestock, but especially loves to how. It is more commonly known as the Wolf.
This track was easy. It is larger in size than the other tracks. It is a mammal with long shaggy hair, and loves to eat fruit and insects. Our Bears are easy to spot.
This was the hardest of all the tracks. It has been here the longest so it was harder to identify. It made deeper grooves like it had more hanging on it. The identifying marks that made it easy to finally identify were its love of candy, sodas and junk food.. And the evidence that it is tall and gangly. Of course, it could only be a Webelos.
It greatly relieves my mind that all tracks have been identified and classified into groups. Everyone loves to solve a mystery.

Materials found in Baloo's Bugle may be used by Scouters for Scouting activities provided that USSSP, Baloo's Bugle and the original contributors are cited as the source of the material.