AWESOME Arrow of Light Night

                                                                                                                             Tonight's Pack Meeting was an Arrow of Light Ceremony to recognize a couple of boys in the Webelos den that have gone the extra mile to earn the Arrow of Light award. It was celebrated by a special presentation and 45 minute show put on by our Unit Commissioner, Denis McLaughlin, and a group of volunteers from the Grizzly district's Order of the Arrow.

Michael Skogen was awarded his Webelos badge, several pins, a compass point, some activity segments...and last, but not least--his Arrow of Light award.

The program began with a pounding drumbeat.  Our storytellers wove Native American folklore into the highlights of a Cub Scout's journey through the scouting program.  The highest honor in Cub Scouts is given to the "young braves" that go the extra mile and dare to enter the eagle's lair.  Their work hard, willingness to live the scout law, and doing good to those that they are around--helps them earn the privilege of receiving the Arrow of Light.

                                                               

Akelas, parents, and grandparents stood with the boys receiving the honor.  Their faces were painted and many were recognized for belonging to the "bald" eagles' den.

(Even Mike's grandpas and uncle received special attention for their contribution and commitment to him.)  Our Arrow of Light hosts marked the faces of the recipient and his family members as a sign of "arrival".













                                          As our Indian tellers explained, the Cub Scout is ready to move on and become a Boy Scout.  His Webelos scarf is removed from his uniform and it is thrown into the fire that does not consume it.  It will be replaced with a Boy Scout scarf after the crossing over the bridge.  

                                                   Everything is symbolic in the transition of the boy becoming a young man.

After the bridge crossing and welcome from the new Boy Scout leaders, Lone White Eagle gave the new boy scout some words of advice and admonishment.  If you live your life that is in harmony with the principles and values that were shared tonight..life may not be easy, but it will be rewarding.

There was an arrow given to remind the scout of this awesome night.  The head was made from obsidian from Crator's of the Moon and fashioned in the traditional manner.  What a great reminder of a wonderful evening.

Congratulations goes out to ALL the boys who earned LOADS of awards this summer.  All the Webelos' earned 2-3 pins each.  Braden Eibert earned 3 silver arrow points, and all of the boys received segments for attending day camp and articipating in the pack swim night.

There was a lot of whooping and hollering tonight, and all the boys in the audience were very impressed with the program!  I asked several of them what they thought about having their own when the time came and not a single one said they weren't interested!  The kids made rain sticks and totem poles for their gathering activity.  Thanks to the Webelos den for leading the flag ceremony and providing the yummy refreshments!

**Parents:  all of the awards that were handed out tonight had "badge magic" on the back of them.  That's for easier application and adhering to the uniform.  Simply peel the paper off the back of the patch and place on uniform.

American Indian History Night

Cub Scouts and Families!! Make sure you mark your calendars for the upcoming Pack Meeting, to be held on the 21st of August. The boys will be getting lots of awards and their patches from Day Camp. It is going to be a very special night, as it is an authentic Arrow of Light Ceremony to honor 2 of the boys who will be moving on to Boy Scouts. It starts at 6:30pm and is for families.

Tonight, the Wolves and Bears learned about the Spokane Indians and how they had more in common with the plains tribes then the coastal tribes. "Spokane" is an Indian word that means "Children of the Sun" (Bears Elective 24a). Pretty appropriate in this weather, right?

We had a conversation about the different styles of homes that the Indians built, depending on which part of the country they were in. The boys made Tepees (Bears Elective 24c; Wolf Elective 10e) by folding paper and creating the funnel shape. They used skewers to imitate the branches and poles that supported the cylindrical shape. They created a plains landscape, drawing a river, and adding grasses and twigs for a fire and shrubs (Bears Achievement 21d).

The wolves joined us tonight. They were able to sign a couple of things off from their books as well (Wolf Elective 10).

The Bears played two Indian games. The first one they had to hold their left foot in their left hand and try and knock their opponent out of the circle on the grass.

The person who won that round had to arm wrestle the winner from the other round (Bear Elective 24b). We learned that their games are very similar to our own childhood favorites!

The boys used many of the Indian symbols or picture words on their tepees (Wolf Elective 10f). They will be on display at the Arrow of Light ceremony that is coming up on Tuesday, August 21st. We are going to have a real life Order of the Arrow ceremony performed by Dennis McLaughlin. It should be a real treat!

The Webelos were off on a Nature Hike and finished the Forester section. Way to go boys!!!