Tonight was the big night. It was the last Pack #1 Meeting that David will attend as a Cub Scout. Tonight he "crossed over" to Boy Scouts.Since we are in a Community Pack, our Webelos Den (yes, that's me as the Den Leader) was a two year den. Unlike other Packs that move boys up to Boy Scouts automatically when they become 11 years old, we graduate the boys as a group at the end of the school year.
So David, along with his fellow Webelos (Garrett Martin, Scott Ferree, and Austin Owens) all crossed over together. Next week, when they start attending meetings with their new Troop, they will be put into one patrol together. This helps the boys transition from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts.
The first part of our pack meeting was standard fare, with all the boys in the pack receiving their monthly awards. Because we had our Pinewood Derby event last month, there was also some spiffy trophies to hand out to the lucky winners.
Then the Arrow of Light (aka cross over ceremony) began. The four prospective Boy Scouts, were called up to the front and made to sit on a bear-skin rug. Nice touch. They were surrounded by animal skins, antlers, and indoor campfire. All this created a mood of anticipation for the cubs.
Then the Order of the Arrow (the honor society of Boy Scouts) came into the room, walking slowly in time with the beat of a drum. All the boys were dressed in Indian Regallia. The chief in the lead, was none other than Joshua (aka David's big brother). He's the one in the red headress.
The OA put on a great show. Talked about the journey the boys had made through the ranks of Cub Scouts. Wolf, Bear, and then Webelos. As they told their tale, they laid out stones across an imaginary river, and each boy was then asked to walk across the stones to re-enact their years in Cub Scouts.
Finally, the boys were ready to "cross over" to the other side (aka Boy Scouts). To which, weach boy and his parents walked across a wooden bridge. The parents were included, because they expect the parents to be as committed to Boy Scouts as they were to Cub Scouts. (I don't have any photos of this part because I was one of the parents!)
The boys were then presented with a ceremonial arrow. I must say that these arrows are way cool. They were hand-made by a man who lives in Ogden. He carves the wood himself, paints them, and then attaches a real arrow-head.
After the boys received their arrows, certificates, and their Arrow of Light patch (one of the only patches they are able to keep on their shirt as they move on to Boy Scouts) there were a few more treats in store.
Three of the boys were awarded with the BSA Super Acheiver Award, a special certificate given to Webelos that earn ALL 20 Activity Pins. Those awarded were: David, Garrett, & Scott.
Then, John Matson, our Cubmaster, presented each boy with a set of feathers to be hung on their arrows. This was a personal gift he made for the boys. Each feather in the set is symbolic: blue & yellow (Cub Scout colors), red & white (courage & truth in the Boy Scout oath), eagle feather (to encourage the boys become an Eagle Scout one day), and a piece of deer antler with the Arrow of Light painted on it.
Finally, Jim Johnston, Pack 1 Chartered Representative and OA Leader, presented the boys with beaded chokers he had personally made. Each choker was unique and the boys got to choose the one they wanted. Once the boys made their selection, an OA team member helped them put it on. (Lucky for David... that Joshua was his OA partner.)
Once the boys made their selection, an OA team member helped them put it on. (Lucky for David... that Joshua was his OA partner.)
The final step in the process was for the boys to cross over the bridge to the waiting members of Troop 1. On hand was Tom Hogan (Scoutmaster), Stu Parkinson (Assistant Scoutmaster), Andy Finlayson (Senior Patrol Leader), and Ryan Martin (First Class Scout & Webelos Den Chief). After shaking hands with the new scouts, they helped them take off the Webelos tarten neckerchief and put on the new Troop 1 neckerchief.
It's official now. These boys are now Boy Scouts! Here's a nice shot of all four boys posing with the cubmaster.
After the ceremony... we all celebrated with a Pack Pizza Party. Once Joshua was out of his OA costume and into regular street clothes, he wolfed down almost a whole pizza by himself. Looks like doing Native American Ceremonies can work up an appetite.
LauraLee Ferree (my assistant Den Leader & Scott's mom) honored me at the close of the meeting by presenting me with a big bouquet of flowers. She also passed along a Thank You card from the boys in my den. This was a nice surprize.
All in all, it was a great night. David and the other boys were just thrilled with the ceremony. They are all very excited and happy that they are finally Boy Scouts.
As for me, I have a few more months of "active duty". I have three boys in my den that make up my Junior Webelos (first year in the den). By the end of the summer, two of them may be ready to move up to Boy Scouts. And, in September the Bear Leaders will become the new Webelos Leaders for our pack.
