OPENING CEREMONIES
Music Magic (Opening Ceremony)
Setup: Have each Scout hold up a sign with the letter itself or a picture representing each letter on the front. Have their text on the back in BIG letters:
- Cub #1: M is for the Many instruments in our band and Pack.
- Cub #2: U is for Unison, we play our music together for the most fun.
- Cub #3: S is for Special and Sound – each instrument makes a special sound.
- Cub #4: I is for Instrument – We each have our own Instrument to play.
- Cub #5: C is for Cubmaster – our Cubmaster leads our band.
- Cub #6: M is for the Melody we hope you will enjoy.
- Cub #7: A is for Adults; we wouldn’t be here without the help of the Adults.
- Cub #8: G is for the Great music we will make together.
- Cub #9: I is for Imagine. Imagine you see beautiful visions when we play our music.
- Cub #10: C is for Concert – let’s begin our Concert by playing America the Beautiful.
America the Beautiful
(Use with above opening or by itself)
O beautiful for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties
Above the fruited plain!
America! America! God shed His grace on Thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
O beautiful for patriot dream
That sees beyond the years
Thine alabaster cities gleam
Undimmed by human tears!
America! America! God shed His grace on Thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea!
God Bless America
Use with an Opening Ceremony or as an opening ceremony. If sing as an Opening Ceremony, you may wish to introduce it with the following -
For our Music Magic Pack Meeting Opening tonight we are going to sing, “God Bless America,” by Irving Berlin. He lived from 1888 to 1989. He immigrated to New York City from Russia with his family when he was five years old. Young Irving sang songs on the street for money to help his family. Soon he was writing songs with a piano player friend. Irving wrote the lyrics, and his friend wrote the melodies. Later Berlin got a job as a "song plugger.”
“God Bless America,” America’s unofficial national anthem, was composed during the summer of 1918 at Camp Upton, located in Yaphank, Long Island, for Berlin’s Ziegfeld-style revue, “Yip, Yip, Yaphank.” "Make her victorious on land and foam, God Bless America..." ran the original lyric. However, Berlin decided that the solemn tone of "God Bless America" was somewhat out of keeping with the more comedic elements of the show and the song was laid aside.
In the fall of 1938, as war was again threatening Europe, Berlin decided to write a "peace" song. He recalled his "God Bless America" from twenty years earlier and made some alterations to reflect the different state of the world. Singer Kate Smith introduced the revised "God Bless America" during her radio broadcast on Armistice Day, 1938. The song was an immediate sensation; the sheet music was in great demand. Berlin soon established the God Bless America Fund, dedicating the royalties to the Boy and Girl Scouts of America.
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.
God Bless America,
Land that I love.
Stand beside her, and guide her
Thru the night with a light from above.
From the mountains, to the prairies,
To the oceans, white with foam
God bless America, My home sweet home
Making Magic
Southern NJ Council
PERSONNEL: Cubmaster, Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, Webelos.
EQUIPMENT: Magic rings, a sack, black and white scarves, hold-up signs for each speaker.
Cubmaster: "Color guard advance the colors."
- "I am a Bobcat. I know the magic of Scouting, 'Do Your Best'."
- "I am a Wolf. I know the secret of Scouting, I follow Akela."
- "I am a Bear. I know the secret of Scouting, 'Help Other People'."
- "I am a Webelos. I know the secret of Scouting. I can perform magic feats of skill. (Holds up two scarves) In my two hands I have a black and white scarf. I shall put the black and white scarves in the sack. I shall say the magic words. Hokus, pokus, eenie, beenie, jelly beenie..... (Pulls white scarf out 1st) See, the black scarf has changed to the white and the white has changed to the black."
Cubmaster: Boys, the magic to Cub scouting in our Pack is the three rings I have in my hands. You see them linked together as our Promise and Law of the Pack link us. But with magic the links can become individual circles as each of you are individual links in our Pack. Without all the links working together magic cannot be present."
Color guard present the flags of our Pack and Nation.
Salute
Pledge of Allegiance.
Magic Candle
Southern NJ Council
On head table are arranged magic candles, which should be lit as ceremony begins
Narrator: Our candle stands tall, straight, and white. It burns and gives forth inspiring light. As its light shines forth, you will see our colors blue and gold are regal as can be. As the blue appears, thing of truth and loyalty, the sky so blue, steadfastness and spirituality. When the gold shines forth, be of good cheer and think of happiness and sunlight so clear. As our candle's flame reaches toward the sky so blue, let us ask (our God) to give us wisdom to lead each boy straight and true. Mold each of us to be like our candles, straight and tall, and be inspired to give to God and our country our all.
To make "magic candles"
Use tall white candles. Drill 1/4" diameter holes every two inches down opposite sides of the candle. Place scraping of blue and gold crayons in the holes. Melt paraffin and whip with eggbeater. Cover candle with whipped paraffin using a fork to give the candle a rough decoration. As the white candle burns it will drip blue and gold wax decoratively down the side of the candle.)
Not Just Pieces of Colored Cloth
Baltimore Area Council
Props: Pieces of red, white, and blue cloth or paper (large enough so the audience can see what boys have in their hands), A large box with another smaller box inside it, An American flag in the smaller box, 3 to 5 Cub Scouts.
Paint the larger cardboard box all one color (it looks better). Inside that box place the smaller box. Inside the smaller box place the folded American flag, with the corners up so that the flag can be picked up easily. The box can be on the floor, on a chair or on a table.
Have one den member walk up to the box and drop BLUE colored strips into it.
The Cubmaster says: “The color blue is from the sky of America, the blue of loyalty and truth in American hearts.”
The second Cub walks up to the box and drops in the WHITE strips.
Cubmaster says: “The color white is for purity of heart and service to America.”
Now the third Cub Scout walks up to the box and drops the RED strips into it.
Cubmaster says: “The red is for the blood shed during America’s history and the proud glory of our flag.
Now two Cubs walk up to the box and slowly lift up the flag, while the Cubmaster says: “Together these bright colors and the things for which they stand, combine to make the pride of our hearts, the Flag of the United States of America.”
FYI: Any suitable dialogue is proper. Remember, when you have your opening ceremony you are NOT locked into having the flag brought up from the back of the room, saluting the flag and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. To fit with the theme sing “America the Beautiful” or “God Bless America.” Use your imagination.
