Cub Scout Bobcat Ceremonies

Bobcat Advancement Ceremony

Cubmaster: Will the following Boys please come up to the front?

Without the Cub Scout spirit the world is a very dark place. This candle stands for the Spirit of Scouting. There are many benefits to be gained from belonging to Cub Scouting. You will learn a great deal, you will have a chance to help others, you will be rewarded for your efforts, and you will have a lot of fun. The Cub Scout Promise is the basic principal of Cub Scouting. Will you repeat it with me?

(Cubmaster gives Cub Sign and begins Promise. Candidates join him)

Assistant Cubmaster: Just as the Cub Scout Promise is the basic principle of Cub Scouting, the Law of the pack is the fundamental rule governing Cub Scouting. Please give Cub Scout sign and repeat the Law of the Pack with me.

(Assistant Cubmaster gives Cub Scout Sign and leads boys in repeating Law of the Pack)

Cubmaster: Remember well the Promise and the Law of the Pack and use them as your guide for personal conduct in the years to come.

Assistant Cubmaster: There are other requirements which you have learned. Will each of you give me the Cub Scout handshake? (shake each of the Scouts hand using the Cub Scout Handshake)

Cubmaster: And now we ask that the parents of these Bobcat Candidates come forward to receive the badges for their sons. (Parents come forward and stand behind their sons.)

(Assistant Cubmaster presents Bobcat badges to parents)

Parents, please pin the Bobcat Badge upside down to your son's left pocket. This badge is to remain upside down until your son does his first good deed. At that time the Bobcat Badge can be turned over and permanently sewn on.

Parents play an important role in Cub Scouting. You will work with your sons on their achievements and electives. You will find that you will learn as well as your son, and in having fun with them will become a closer family. Parents as your boys have made a promise, I ask that you too make a promise. Please repeat after me:

Parents, you too have earned badges which represent the support you have given your sons. Please wear them proudly, just as we know your son will wear his proudly.

(To Boys) Congratulations and good Cub Scouting to you all. (Cubmaster Salutes Boys)

Parents and new Bobcats, you may return to your seats.

Cub Scout Spirit Bobcat Ceremony by Rick Clements

CUB SCOUT ADVANCEMENT, NATIVE AMERICAN THEME

• Akela (Cubmaster)
• Baloo (Asst. Cubmaster)

Props:

• Campfire
• Badges (with tape affixed to the card the badge is on)

Akela: The spirit of Cub Scouting burns here as it does in the hearts of Cub Scouts everywhere. The Cub Scout spirit is like our campfire. We must add wood to the fire or it will go out. In the same manner, we must add new boys to our pack, or the Cub Scout spirit will go out.

Baloo: We have (number) boys who have will join our pack.

Akela: Are they ready to join in the Cub Scout spirit?

Baloo: Yes, and they have learned the ways of our tribe. They have learned the Cub Scout Promise, the Law of the Pack and the Cub Scout Motto and their meanings. They have also learned the meaning and proper use of the Cub Scout Sign, Salute and Handshake. They know the meaning of Webelos. Will the following scouts please come forward with their parents to join in the Cub Scout spirit?

(Baloo lists the boys who are to receive the Bobcat badge.)

(Both Akela and Baloo hand the badge to parents and congratulate the Cubs with the Cub Scout handshake.)

Akela: Parents, would you please present the Bobcat badge to your son? Attach the badge to his uniform upside down with the tape. Once a good deed is done, the badge may be permanently attached right side up. The pin is for you as a reminder that Scouting is a family activity.

Baloo: Parents, you may sit down while these Bobcats stay with Akela and me by the campfire.

Akela: Will the new Bobcats join Baloo and me in saying the Cub Scout promise?

All:

Akela: Baloo will place your headband on your head with feathers indicating your new rank. As you continue on in our pack, you will receive more feathers to show your achievements. Pack (number) , let's give them a big hand as they rejoin their den.

Bobcat Ceremony Trail to Arrow of Light by Rick Clements

CUB SCOUT ADVANCEMENT, NATIVE AMERICAN THEME

• Akela (Cubmaster)
• Baloo (Asst. Cubmaster)
• One Webelos Scout
• One Bear Scout
• One Wolf Scout

Props:

• Oregon Trail scenery
• Badges (with tape affixed to the card the badge is on)

(Before the ceremony, Baloo explains to the Bobcats that when indicated, each will walk to the line of Scouts and Cubmaster and shake each person's hand. Akela is standing in front. Next to him are the Webelos Scout, the Bear Scout and lastly the Wolf Scout.)

Baloo: Will the following boys please join me in front?

(Baloo lists the names of the boys who are to receive their Bobcat badge.)

Akela: As settlers moved west along the Oregon Trail, they followed a trail blazed by others who came before them. Just as those settlers followed others on the Oregon Trail, our Cub Scouts too follow others on the Cub Scout Trail.

(Baloo starts first Bobcat along the trail of Cubs.)

Wolf Cub: I have earned my Wolf Badge. Now I'm working toward earning my Bear badge. (Wolf Cub shakes Bobcat's hand using the Cub Scout handshake.)

Bear Cub: I have earned my Bear Badge. Now I'm working toward earning my Webelos Badge. (Bear Cub shakes Bobcat's hand using the Cub Scout handshake.)

Webelos: I have earned my Webelos Badge. Now I'm working on earning my Arrow of Light. (Webelos Cub shakes Bobcat's hand using the Cub Scout handshake.)

Akela: Welcome to the Scouting campfire. (Akela shakes Bobcat's hand using the Cub Scout handshake.)

Akela: These Cub Scouts represent the trail toward the Arrow of Light, the highest rank in Cub Scouts. No matter where they started their journey, they all started with the Bobcat. You may be called on to travel a trail that other Cubs in our pack haven't yet traveled. When the settlers traveled such a trail, they looked for help from the Indians. When you travel such a trail, your parents and leaders will be there to help you.

Baloo: Will the parents of these new Bobcats please join us at the fire now? I would like to thank the Cub Scouts who have welcomed these Bobcats. They may return to their dens now.

(Hand a Bobcat badge to each set of parents.)

Akela: Please attach the Bobcat badge, upside down, to the left pocket of your son's uniform. Once he performs a good dead, the badge may be attached to his uniform right side up. Pack (number) , let's congratulate these Bobcats with a hearty cheer!

The Cat in the Hat Bobcat Ceremony

The boys did not know.
They did not have a clue.
They were missing the fun.
But the Cubmaster knew.

The Cubmaster knew
that the boys would have fun.
They could laugh, they could learn.
They could sing, they could run.

"The trouble with boys is",
the Cubmaster saw,
"they don't know the Promise,
they don't know the Pack Law."

So he packed up a box,
with streamers and fluff,
with patches and pictures
and Derby car stuff.

"To recruit some new Scouts",
the Cubmaster knows,
"is just what is needed
to make the Pack grow!"

The table was spread out
with Cub Scout portents,
cool crafts and wild patches,
souvenirs from events!

"Cub Scouting is great",
cried out the Cubmaster.
"Come on over to me
not too slow, run faster!"

"You can sign up right here,
join Cub Scouts right now.
You'll have fun with your friends",
the Cubmaster did vow.

So sign up you did,
joining up with the Pack;
went to meet with your Den,
do some crafts, have some snack.

You learned some new things,
the Scout sign, the Scout 'shake.
And the Law of the Pack,
the Cub Promise you make.

You watched and you learned,
you recited the Law.
"The Promise was easy!",
You said to your Paw.

The time came for Pack Night.
What would he ask me?
Would I say them alone?
I felt weak in the knees!

I drew in my breath
as I started to speak.
First the Law of the Pack.
Then the Promise, so weak.

The Cubmaster said,
"Say it loud, say it bold!"
We're proud to be Cub Scouts!
Let the whole world be told!

So I drew in some air
and stood nice and straight.
I rocked back on my heels
and did not even wait.

I said the Cub Promise
with vigor and style!
Said the Law of the Pack
without shame, with a smile!

Now we are Cub Scouts.
Brand new Bobcats are we!
We'll give Cub Scouts our all,
have great fun, you will see!

-- Thanks to Bill Dunn, Cubmaster Pack 339, Port Jefferson Station, NY (with a sincere apology to Dr. Seuss!)

JUNGLE BOOK CEREMONY FOR ACCEPTING NEW CUBS

People required:

• Akela, the leader of the wolf pack (the Cubmaster)
• Shere Khan, the evil tiger

Props:

• Can of Sterno (the sterno may be placed in a mock campfire so that the can is not visible)
• Candles for each boy
• Matches to light Sterno

Hints:

• Because Shere Khan is not seen by the audience and may be slightly farther away than Akela and the cubs, he should have a very loud voice. If you are using a microphone but only have one, give it to Shere Khan.
• The easiest way to attach the badges to the boys is to have the badge stapled to the small cardboard card it comes with. Make a small slit in the cardboard so that the card may be slipped over the button on the pocket of the shirt. Do this ahead of time! The cardboard is quite hard and requires a knife to cut the slit. Have some straight pins for backup in case the boy has not yet been able to get a uniform (they are often sold out at the beginning of the year) and is not wearing a shirt that has a button on it.
• Have a spare Bobcat badge or two on hand for boys that pop up after the badges have been ordered (this can also save you from having to do another Bobcat ceremony next pack meeting). If you use a spare badge, make sure that a replacement badge is ordered in the cub's name. Otherwise, his records at the council headquarters will not be current!
• If you are using this ceremony for the first time, practice the wolf howl by using it as a spirit cheer at the beginning of the pack meeting.
• Dim the lighting at the beginning of the ceremony for better atmosphere and so that the Sterno and candles will show up better.

Akela: The moon is full, just as it was long ago on that night in the jungle when Mowgli first joined the Seeonee wolf pack. It has been many years since Mowgli returned from living with the wolves. After he returned, he taught us many of the lessons he learned while in the jungle. The most important was that the strength of the wolf is the pack, and the strength of the pack is the wolf. That is why we are here tonight in this council ring. Tonight we have many young boys who want to join this pack. After they have joined, they will have the strength of the pack, and the pack will gain from their strength. But before they join, we must be sure that they know the Promise of the Cubs, the Law of the Pack, and the signs that we use. So let us begin. Parents, bring forward these man cubs.

(Akela calls out the names of the bobcat candidates. Parents and bobcat candidates come forward and face the rest of the pack.)

Akela: First, you boys have studied the Cub Scout promise. Are you boys ready to make that promise now in front of the pack?

(Akela shakes head in yes motion. Boys should also shake their heads yes.)

(Shere Khan now interrupts from an unseen place offstage.)

Shere Khan: The man-cubs are mine! Give them to me!

Akela: Shere Khan! The Evil One! Mowgli knew you in the jungle as an evil tiger. And you tried to catch him whenever you could. We know that you still hunt man-cubs, even here in Pack ___. You may not still be a real tiger, but the Evil One still hunts, doesn't he?

Shere Khan: The man-cubs are mine! Give them to me!

Akela: Silence, Shere Khan, you evil one! Mowgli knew you as an evil tiger, but these boys will meet you in other disguises.

They will meet you as drugs.
They will meet you as street gangs.
They will meet you as vandalism.
They will meet you as lying.
They will meet you as dirty language.
They will meet you as cheating in school.

Akela: You will try to tell them that because their eyes and hair and skin come in all the colors of God's good earth that some of them are better than others. But they will learn from the strength of the pack that this is another of your lies. You will try to tell them because God has given them different gifts, that some of them are better than others. Another evil lie. Yes, some will be stronger, some will be faster, some will be taller, some will be more nimble, some will be more clever, some will be more patient, and some will have other special gifts. But when we join their different gifts together within their dens and within the whole pack, they will learn the power that working together can bring to them. They will learn that through the strength of being different but still working together, they never have to fear you. But before he left the jungle, Mowgli had to fight with you by himself, alone and without the strength of the pack. But Mowgli also knew the secret of the red flower, which he used to defeat you when he had to fight you by himself. So tonight, in addition to the strength of the pack, we will also give these boys the secret of the red flower, so that even by themselves, they will be able to stand against you.

(Light can of sterno, give each boy a candle. Have each boy come forward and light his candle from the sterno can.)

Akela: Mowgli had to use the red flower to defeat Shere Khan. Tonight, you have received your own red flower. But since Shere Khan no longer stalks you boys in the form of a tiger, the secret of the red flower must be even stronger than just the secret of fire. The secret of the red flower is just this: all the darkness in the world cannot stand against the light of one red flower. After tonight, you will carry the light of the red flower inside of you. The light of your red flower will come from the five things you are about to promise. You will promise to:

1. Do your best
2. Do your duty to God
3. Do your duty to your country
4. Help other people
5. And obey the Law of the Pack.

As you keep the parts of this promise, the fire of the red flower will burn brightly within you, and Shere Khan will not dare come close to that flame. Are you ready to make the promise to yourself, your parents, and to the pack?

(Akela shakes head in yes motion. Boys should also shake their heads yes.)

Akela: Then hold your red flower in your left hand, give the Cub-Scout sign with your right hand and repeat the Cub-Scout Promise with me.

I promise to do my best,
to do my duty to God and my country,
to help other people,
and to obey the Law of the Pack.

Akela: The last thing you promised was to obey the law of the pack. This is the law that binds us all together. So let us all now repeat the law of the pack. Will all scouts that are here tonight please stand, give the scout sign and repeat the law of the pack with me.

The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The pack helps the scout grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill.

(Akela motions for audience to be seated.)

Akela: Through the five parts of the Cub Scout promise, you now have the flame of the red flower burning within you. Since you have this flame within you, you no longer need the red flower of your candle to defeat Shere Khan. So blow out your candles now.

(Collect candles.)

Akela: You are now Bobcats in this pack. You have promised to help other people. Helping other people is called a doing a good turn. So that the pack can see that you are living up to your promise to help other people, we are going to put your bobcat rank on upside down by turning you upside down. You may turn your rank around after you have done a good turn. When the pack sees your rank right side up, they will know that you are helping others.

(Akela asks each Cub in turn if he wants to be flipped. If he says yes, Akela and his assistant turn the Cub upside-down while parents pin on rank.)

Akela: Pack ___! Look well on your new brothers and know them.

Shere Khan: The man-cubs are mine! Give them to me!

Akela: Silence and be gone evil one! These boys now have the strength of the pack and the secret of the red flower. They have no need to fear you. Pack ___! Let us welcome them to the pack with a good wolf howl!

(Akela leads pack in wolf howl.)

Akela's Scale

EQUIPMENT: Ceremonial Board consisting of arrow with three candles on a balance, Bobcat pins and advancement certificates.

CUBMASTER: Will the candidates and their parents please come forward and face the pack. (They do so.) You boys and your parents have come to be inducted into our Cub Scout family as members of Pack _____. You are ready to start your adventure along Akela's trail, together with your friends and their parents."

Here is the arrow (points to ceremonial board) that points the way along the trail. The awards you can earn along the trail are: the Wolf, the Bear, the Webelos and the Arrow of Light awards. The parts of the Cub Scout program that cannot be seen are the value of things you will learn and the good times you will have.

This is the scale of Akela. Both the parents and the Cub Scouts are important to keep the scale in balance.

(To Den Chief): (Name), will you light the candle representing the Cub Scouts. (Candle on feather)

(To Den Leader): (Name), will you light the candle for the parents. (Points to the candle on the arrow point.)

If the boy does not do his part, the scale is out of balance and the program goes downhill. (Removes candle representing boys, then replaces it.) On the other hand, if the parents part is taken away, the scale is out of balance in the other direction and the Cub Scout loses his way along Akela's trail. (Removes candle representing parents, then replaces it.)

So, you see, to keep the Cub Scout program in perfect balance, both Cub Scouts and parents must take part in the activities by coming to all meetings, following the leaders, and advancing from point to point along Akela's trail.

Now, boys, give the Cub Scout sign, and repeat the Promise with me. (They repeat Cub Scout Promise.)

And, parents, will you please repeat the following: We, as parents, will do our best...to aid and assist our son... in his Cub Scout activities. We will encourage him with enthusiasm... criticize him with fairness... and judge him with lenience. And, realizing that the Cub Scout program... is one of equal participation for boys and parents... we will assist as we are able... in serving as leaders, advisors or workers.

Up the Steps in Cub Scouting

When a boy becomes a Cub Scout he starts on a upward trail. I say upward because as he grows older, he advances in Cub Scouting. A boy does not join a Cub Scout pack and then wait around for four years to become a Boy Scout. With the help of his parents and leaders he will work and earn various badges which are marks of achievement. Tonight we have (number) Cub Scouts with their parents who have completed the requirements for badges of advancement in rank. Will Cub Scouts (names) please come forward with your parents and join me at our awards table.

Here we have Cub Scouts (names) who became Bobcats in our pack in (month). They, along with their parents, have been working very hard to reach their second step. Parents, as I present these Wolf badges to you, pin them on the left side of the Bobcat badge.

Next we have (names), who along with their families, have been working on the third step, which requires more skill and knowledge. Parents, as I present this Bear badge to you, pin it on the right side of the Bobcat badge.

Congratulations to all of you, keep up the fine work, and wear your badges proudly so everyone can see that you are on the upward trail. With the same effort that you have shown thus far, we are sure that you will attain our highest award, the Arrow of Light.

Wolves and Bears, how about a cheer for our new brothers!

A Ceremony for Former Tiger Cubs

EQUIPMENT: Tiger Cub Emblem, Bobcat Badge and Card.

CUBMASTER: A very important part of our Pack is the special program we have for the boys in the first grade...our Tiger Cub Group. Today, one of our Cubs who was (were) a part of the Tiger Cub program has completed another step in the Scouting Adventure. We are very happy to present the Bobcat Badge to (list names).

Will Cub Scout(s) and his (their) parents please come forward. (After participants are assembled...)

As a Tiger Cub you practiced their motto, "Search, Discover, Share." You have continued to practice it along with our Cub Motto, "Do Your Best." You have worked hard with your parents to complete the achievements necessary to earn your first badge of rank in Cub Scouting - the Bobcat Badge.

I am very happy to present this Badge and the card indicating that you are a Bobcat Cub Scout(s) your parents to pin on your uniform. I know that they will be very proud to give it to you.

Congratulations!