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Ceremonies for

Cub Scouts &

PacksMichelle HolcombCubmaster – Pack 713Farmers Branch, Texas

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Why?

• Everyone likes to receive recognition.• Make the cub experience meaningful

and memorable• Teach the ideals and goals of Scouting. • Focus attention on boys but also on

families, leaders, and volunteers.• All involved earn recognition for their

accomplishments. • Motivation to go on to the next award• Ceremonies get evrybodys attention!

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When?

• Opening ceremonies • Flag ceremonies • Induction ceremonies• Advancement ceremonies • Graduation or transition ceremonies • Recognition ceremonies• Closing ceremonies

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General

• These are ceremonies that we use all the time, so often in fact that they may have lost some of their luster as ceremonies

• Opening, Closing ceremonies come to mind

• Remember to make them special

• Are your opening, flag or closing ceremonies less ceremonious than they could be?

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Opening

• Opening ceremonies set the stage for the pack meeting and can relate to the monthly theme

• Have a specific den or group take turns being responsible for ceremonies

• Opening ceremony could also include a prayer

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Flag Ceremonies

• Flag ceremonies teach boys how to handle and display the American flag.

• Flag Retirement Ceremonies are an honor for a unit and are solemn and serious

• Set the tone for your scouts in this regard

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Closing

• Closing ceremonies bring the meeting to a close and send everyone home with inspirational ideas to remember.

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Special Occasions

• Religious Emblems• Scout Sunday• Community Service Awards

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Induction

• Induction ceremonies welcome new boys and their families into the pack

• How does your pack currently welcome new scouts?

• What was Nemo’s tank member ceremony like?

• What did he think of it?• How did it serve to

inspire him?

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Advancement

• Advancement ceremonies celebrate the completion of requirements for Tiger Cub, Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos ranks and the Arrow of Light Award.

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Bobcat

• Face Painting Ceremonies are VERY popular with the boys!

• Lets Try one!

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Rank Awards

• Rank Board or Rack– Symbolic moving of name

from one rank to the next

• Best done at Blue & Gold Banquet– So Gramma, Grampa and

the sibling can be there– So scout has a few months

to proudly wear his rank before bridging to the next level

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Arrow of Light

• Should be the “Biggest Deal” cub scout ceremony of all!

• Elements can include– Photo slide show– Display table for photos and arrows– Promise of Scouting– Parent Commitment to continue scouting– Last Pack recognition before crossing over to

Boy Scouts– Blue & Gold Ceremony is perfect point for this

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Transitions

• Graduation or transition ceremonies can be used when boys transition from one phase of the program to another on the Scouting trail.

• Bridging to next rank• Crossover to Troop

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Bridging

• Bridging is generally used to “crossover” from one rank to the next at the end of the scout year

• Recognition for advancement• Kick off for working on the next rank• Have your leaders do the next level of

training and bridge them too!• Book, Kerchief can be awarded at

bridging• Does your pack have a bridge?

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Crossover Ceremonies

• Order of the Arrow Chapters often will help with these

• Full Indian dress ceremony• This is a great time to have a pack

picnic, invite friends and families!• Some districts run district wide events• Some packs prefer to just do their own • Both are fine as long as it is meaningful

for the boy

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Crossover Ceremonies

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Recognition

• Recognition ceremonies are used to recognize leaders, den chiefs, boys, or family members for special service, activities, or tenure.

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Adult Recognition

• Don’t forget to ceremoniously recognize your adults too!

• Knots, Wood Badge Beads, Recognition for special service

• Again, when bridging, bridge your leaders too

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Adult Recognition

• Awards need not be official – – Think props!

• Try to recognize at least 2 leaders and 2 parents at every pack meeting!

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Charter Organization

• Each unit receives a Charter Certificate. • These are mailed to the executive

officer of the unit – usually the cubmaster or CC

• Make a point of presenting it (framed!) to your charter organization at one of THEIR events rather than one of yours.

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Service Stars

• Service stars are optional• Some units use them to recognize

adults and youth for years of service. • Special ceremony at Blue and Gold or at

Bridging can be used for this• Line everyone up in order of their total

years of service for fun

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BSA Booklet

• To download the PDF of the ceremony book– http://www.stgerald.org/uploads/DanBourne/ceremonies-for-

dens-and-packs.pdf