AOLceremony

Arrow Of Light script

(The three principles - Chief "Takachsin," Medicine Man "Weuchsowagam," and Guide "Witschindin" - take their places. Traditionally, if possible, Chief at the North, Medicine Man at the West and Guide at the east. Light the three high AOL candles. Lights out.)

(Whoever is the Guide is the one who presents the awards.)

CHIEF: Cub Scouts, leaders, parents, and guests; my brothers, Weuchsowagam, the Medicine Man, Witschindin, the Guide, and I, Takachsin, the Chieftain, bring you greetings and salutations.

MEDICINE MAN: In the early part of the year, young Scouts will be found who have met the challenges of Akela and are ready to progress to the next level. We have come to present the highest honor of Cub Scouts: The Arrow of Light. But before this can happen, there must be a journey through our memories.

GUIDE: Many moons ago, you entered the Cub Pack. The first challenges you encountered were from the Bobcat clan. As you met them, you learned what it means to be a Cub, the Law of the Pack, and the three words that would inspire you to meet all other challenges: Do Your Best. (Light candle.)

Having started on the trail, you joined the Tiger clan, to search, discover, and share. You completed five challenges, harder than the Bobcat tests, in each of three categories – family, den, and "go see it." (Light candle.)

You next sought to join the Wolf clan. Here you were met with twelve challenges, harder than the Bobcat and Tiger tests; but with the cleverness of the Wolf itself, you met them and continued on your journey. (Light candle.)

MEDICINE MAN: Now the trail became darker and fainter as you came to the Bear clan. Again twelve challenges were presented before you. As you met them, your knowledge grew and your spirit strengthened. It was this strength of spirit, like the Bear, that prompted you to move onward. (Light candle.)

CHIEF: As you neared the summit, you joined the Webelos clan, choosing your group name, the ______. The time of your testing had begun. In the _____ clan you began to learn about Scouting. Just as you learned the ways of the brave as a Bobcat, Tiger, Wolf, and Bear, as a member of the Webelos you learned the ways of the warrior, and passed the highest test of all: You proved yourself qualified to wear the Arrow of Light, the highest award in Cub Scouting.

(To other principles) Let the Arrow of Light be conferred upon them.

GUIDE: (to Chief) Wait, Brother Takachsin! Before presenting this most high honor, all must hear its legend so they may understand and appreciate what is to be received.

CHIEF: (to Medicine Man) Brother Weuchsowagam, let the legend of the Arrow of Light be known to all present.

MEDICINE MAN: In the ages past, when the Nations spread across the land, there was a young member of one tribe called Akela. Akela wished to be a warrior as were the older men of his tribe, but no one would consider him so. "Little Akela, he is too young to join the hunt," they would say. "Too slow to run with the Bobcat clan. Not clever enough to hunt with the Wolf clan. Such a young one is not strong enough to join the Bear clan." No matter how hard Akela worked, all ways were barred to him. But the Aged Chieftain of the tribe saw Akela differently than the rest. "The spirit of this young one burns brighter than the largest fire. Akela has served his brethren well for one of his age. The time will come when the tribe will need only that which Akela can give."

One night in the fall during the harvest, a party of warriors was canoeing back to their village after a hunt. On this night, the fog rolled thick across the river. The fog was so heavy, the river path back to the village was hidden from view. A nearby river path to the right led to a roaring chasm. The warriors did not know the safe path to take and were trapped.

Akela had been practicing his hunting skills in the hills above the river and had seen the danger to the canoe. He wrapped an arrow in a skin, set it aflame, and shot it into the sky toward the safe river path. The warriors in the canoe saw the flaming arrow through the fog and followed it toward the safe river path and the village.

The warriors went to the Chieftain saying, "We were trapped on the river and the Highfather sent an Arrow of Light through the sky to guide us." The Chieftain smiled and said, "The sign which led you to safety came not from the heavens but from one who you thought was too young to do anything." He brought Akela forward to the surprise of the warriors.

"Akela has proved himself worthy to wear the name of warrior. He has aided his brothers in their time of greatest need. Hereafter, all young members of our tribe shall become warriors only after meeting the challenges of the Arrow of Light. Let them each be filled with the spirit of Akela and follow his example of unselfish service to our brethren." And it was made so and carried through to the present day as you stand before us now, ready to receive the Arrow of Light.

GUIDE: (names of those receiving the Arrow Of Light), come forward, with your parents.

CHIEF: Before this honor is conferred upon you, I must see your devotion to the high ideals of Scouting. Therefore, I ask you and the Boy Scouts to all now raise your right hand to the Scout sign and repeat with me the Scout Oath.

(Arrow-Of-Light recipients and Boy Scouts raise right hand in the sign of the Boy Scout, followed by principles, and recite the Scout Oath.)

GUIDE: Having met all of its challenges, it is our duty and privilege to award to you the highest Cub Scout honor: the Arrow of Light.

(Give to each of the Cubs receiving the Arrow the card with the parents pin attached thereto.) On your card there is a parent's pin. Please pin that on one of your parents.

(To parents) Because of the support and guidance you have given, I give the Arrow of Light to you to present. (Gives the Arrow of Light patches to the parents.)

(Omit if not done or change if different. The previous ones are listed here.) It is tradition for the Den Leader to present a token of rememberance of this occasion.

• This has the adult leader's knot pasted to it. The Arrow Of Light is carried throughout your life; may the skills you learned guide you therethrough. As a boy, you will wear the Arrow on your uniform. As a man, it is worn in the form of a square knot above your right pocket. May this knot be on your uniform when you guide your sons through Scouting.
• This photo was taken east of Gilroy on the winter solstice. It has the sun setting over Mt. Madonna, where we hold our annual Pack campout. Gilroy is in the foreground, where our Pack is based. The Arrow Of Light is superimposed thereon. On the back I have written a note to each of you.

(presents token)

(Lights on.)

(If not all Cubs are crossing into Boy Scouts, at this point have them all take their seats.)

MEDICINE MAN: Will those Cub Scouts who are crossing into Boy Scouts come forward. (Have them form a line approaching the bridge.)

CHIEF: This ceremony marks an end of a journey. But as this journey ends, another is just beginning. Here at the summit of Cub Scouting you have found the start of a new trail. This trail is a pathway that leads to the realm of our brothers in the sky, the Eagles.

MEDICINE MAN: But the trail will also be long and difficult. As you journey, you must keep the spirit of Akela strong within each of you. It will give you strength and guidance as you move onward.

(The Scout troop takes position on the other side of the bridge.)

GUIDE: The time has come for you to begin on this new trail, to join the clan of the eagles: The Scout Troop. Each of you are about to cross the bridge.

MEDICINE MAN: As the night is a bridge between each day, let this be a bridge for each of you to the fellowship of Scouting. Your Troop Guide will address you. (Troop Guide addresses the group.)

(Boy Scouts remove the Cub Scout neckerchiefs, blue shoulder tabs, and caps and places them into bags.)

CHIEF: The Cub Scout articles are put away, but never forgotten.

(One at a time, the names are called by a Boy Scout to cross the bridge. Boy Scouts present them with their cap, handbook, green shoulder tabs, and neckerchief. All Boy Scouts shake hands using the ceremonial Scout Handshake.)

CHIEF: I will close by reminding you to keep Akela's spirit alive. Let it ignite a spark within each of you that will fan into a fire as you grow. We challenge all the Cub Scouts present to continue on your trail and strive to reach the summit, the Arrow of Light. May the great master of all Scouts be with you until this story is read again.