Sound Bites & Snap Shots

Tonight’s Blue & Gold Banquet held special significance.  It was Walker’s last pack meeting and event as a cub scout.  His den was given the responsibility and honor of marking the colors.

The banquet is a fun family event for both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.  The Center is decorated festively and everyone shares a catered meal before the award ceremonies begin.

Mason is fortunate to have two leaders for his Wolf den, a somewhat feisty and active bunch. 

At a recent meeting, the den leaders took a photo of everyone for the cards the Wolves are receiving here. 

Mason happened to have the red bandana that night and decided to play the toreador. 

The “war paint” on Mason’s face is actually two arrowhead patches he earned for scout electives. Phil and Kenny make the meetings fun and guide the boys toward the completion of badges, belt loops and electives.

Another significant moment of the meeting happened when our cub master passed the proverbial baton or, in this case, the microphone, to Bill.  He is Pack 330’s new cub master and this was his first official meeting as its leader. I might appear biased but Bill has a gift for leading kids.  He is incredibly motivational, can work with children of all temperaments, is organized, passionate, caring and kind.  I’m excited to see the pack blossom under his leadership.

Then it was time for the moment Walker had been waiting for—the awarding of the Arrow of Light.  The Arrow of Light is the highest award a Cub Scout can achieve.  Among the requirements are demonstrating knowledge about the Boy Scout Oath and Promise, earning at least a handful of activity badges, attending a Boy Scout meeting and other activities, and participating in a Boy Scout overnight. 

In the ceremony, their den leader swiped their cheeks with face paint and each color had a specific significance. 

The other moms and I pinned the Arrow of Light bar on their shirts

and then Walker pinned an Arrow of Light pin on me.

Lastly, Walker’s den leader walked him across the bridge for the official crossover.  After the ceremony, the bridge was flipped and the new Boy Scouts signed the bridge just like all the Scouts who had crossed before them. 

He and the other former Webelos were received by the Boy Scouts and given an embossed leather patch with the unit number to wear on their belts. 

Then the Boy Scout Leaders and Boy Scouts put on their new green epaulets and gave them their new Boy Scout bandana and slider. 

Finally, the boys recited the Oath and Promise for the first time as official Boy Scouts. 

Gene, the Scout Master, welcomed the boys to the Troop. He has a gentle and kind demeanor and a no-nonsense policy about scouting.  Walker is going to learn a lot over the next few years from Gene and the other Boy Scouts.

Before the ceremony concluded, Walker wanted to recognize his den leader and the cub master with engraved plaques.  Phil was an organized leader who put a lot of time into the meetings and outings for the boys for all five years.

Steve had a passion for scouting and taught the boys a lot about being respectful scouts.  He worked hard to run structured meetings and to follow scout formalities.  

One of the best things about the crossing over ceremony is the anticipation it builds for the younger scouts who someday experience the same right of passage.