ADVANCEMENT CEREMONIES

Balloon Pop Ceremony
Greater St. Louis Area Council

Use this ceremony in memory of the First Hot Air Balloon Flight on June 5, 1793

• Put awards in a balloon and then blow the balloons up. Arrange the balloon in a fitting fashion on stage or table.
• Make three wooden or cardboard swords with a small pin on the end.
• Put the Wolf, Bear and Webelos emblems on the appropriate swords.
• Call each boy forward with his parents and present him with the appropriate sword and balloon.
• Have him pop the balloon.
• The award will fall out and can then be presented to the parents who in turn present it to their son(s).

You might want to put this one away for “Knights in Shining Armor,” the theme for November 2006

Cub Scout Baseball
Baltimore Area Council

Personnel:   Cubmaster

Prep:         A small baseball diamond on the floor in front of the audience.

Cubmaster: Tonight we’re going to play our version of a baseball game. Will these boys, who have earned their Tiger badges, and their parents please come forward and stand on the “on deck” circle. As you stand on the “on deck” circle you are at the beginning of our game, just as you are at the beginning of our Cub Scout trail. Parents accept your sons’ badges.

Will these boys who have earned their Bobcat badges and their parents please come forward and stand on first base. This represents the first stop on the Cub Scout trail. You worked hard to earn your Wolf, so keep up the good work. Parents, here are their badges.

Will the boys who have earned their Wolf badge and their parents please come forward. Your place on our diamond is at second base. This is the next important stop on the Scouting trail. Parents please accept your sons’ badges.

Will these boys who have earned their Bear badge and their parents, please come forward. Your spot is third base. You are almost “home.”  Keep working hard and you will have no trouble completing your trail. Parents, please accept your sons’ badges.

The next set of boys has scored big.  They have earned their Webelos badge.  Next time up I am sure they will hit home runs by earning their Arrow of Light Awards.  Then they will be on their way to the “majors” - Boy Scouting. Will these boys and their parents please come forward and take your place at home plate. Parents accept your sons badges.

Picnic Basket Advancement Ceremony
Baltimore Area Council

Props:  Picnic Basket, boys awards, paper plates with the boy’s names and what award he is to receive written on the plate.

The Cubmaster reaches in the picnic basket to see who has received awards. He pulls out a plate and reads the boy’s name.  The boy is instructed to come up front and receive his award.

The Great Spirit
Baltimore Area Council

Personnel:      Cubmaster, Akela, Great Spirit

Equipment:    Artificial campfire, tom-tom Setting: Curtain opens showing Akela sitting by campfire. Tom-tom is beating softly. Great Spirit is secluded off stage and not visible to audience.

Cubmaster:      Chief Akela of the Webelos Tribe, I have before me (number) Cub Scouts who have lived by the Cub Scout motto, kept the Cub Scout Promise and obeyed the Law of the Pack. They have each completed the requirements of their respective ranks. I now present and recommend each for his advancement.

Great Spirit:     Tonight we honor those Cub Scouts who have grown in knowledge and have achieved a higher rank in Cub Scouting. How have they grown in knowledge? In much the same manner as Akela. Akela was the big chief of the Webelos - tall, stalwart, straight as an arrow, swift as an antelope, brave as a lion. His father was the son of the great yellow sun. He was called the Arrow of Light . His mother, from whom he learned all those wondrous things that mothers know, was called Kind Eyes . When Akela was a young boy, he was taken on short trips into the forest among the great trees and the streams. Here from the Wolf he learned the language of the ground, the tracks, the fields, and the ways of food. From the Bear he learned the secret names of the trees, the calls of the birds and the language of the air. Just like Akela, you have learned much along your trail to advancement.

Akela: Cub Scouts, you have lived by the Cub Scout motto, kept the Cub Scout Promise, and obeyed the law of the Pack. I am happy to see you come before this pack to receive your badges.

(Curtain closes)

Cubmaster: Just as Akela s parents helped him as he grew, so have your parents helped you achieve your new rank. I know that they will be proud to share this honor with you. Will these boys and their parents come forward? (Call names, present badge to mother)

            Now I will ask that you boys give the Cub Scout sign and repeat after me:

            We boys now promise . . . to go back to our dens . . . and to do our very best . . . to work on electives . . . and to keep advancing regularly.

            Thank you and congratulations!