Ceremonies for Cub Scout Packs

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Ceremonies
for
Cub Scouts
& Packs
Michelle Holcomb
Cubmaster – Pack 713
Farmers 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