Materials required:

• troop neckerchiefs

• green shoulder loops

• bridge

• AOL Plaque

• Pack coin

AOL Ceremony Script:

Looking Back on Your Journey Through Pack 541

CUBMASTER

Every spring, young braves are found who have met the challenges of Akela and are ready to become warriors. My fellow leaders and I have watched this den and have found such braves among you. We have come together to present each of you with the highest Cub Scout honor – the Arrow of Light. But first you must look back on your journey through Cub Scouting.

TIGER DEN LEADER

The first challenges you encountered were from the Bobcat. Then the Tiger Den. As you met them, you learned what it means to be a Cub Scout. You learned the Law of the Pack and three words that would inspire you to meet all your future Cub Scout challenges: Do Your Best!

WOLF DEN LEADER

You next sought to join the Wolf Den. Here you were met with 12 challenges, each harder than the ones before. With the cleverness and perseverance of the Wolf, you met each challenge and continued on your journey.

BEAR DEN LEADER

The trail became harder and more difficult as you came to be a member of the Bear Den. Again, 12 challenges were before you. As you met each of these challenges, your knowledge grew and your spirit strengthened. It was this strength of spirit, like the bear, that prompted you to move onward.

WEBELOS DEN LEADER

As you neared the summit, you joined the Webelos Den. Your challenges took a new turn as you began to learn about Boy Scouting. Just as you learned the ways of the brave as Bobcat, Tiger, Wolf and Bear, you began to learn the ways of the warrior.

AOL DEN LEADER

In time you earned the Webelos badge, blazing the rest of the trail on your own. Now at last you have reached the summit and the end of your Cub Scout journey.

***

The Story of Akela and the Arrow of Light

CUBMASTER – Paul

Before receiving this most high honor, these Webelos must first hear its legend, so they understand the history of the Arrow of Light.

AOL LEADER – Raj

Long ago there was a young brave named Akela. Akela wished to be a warrior as the older men of his tribe were, 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 Bobcats, not clever enough to hunt with the Wolves. Such a young one is not strong enough to join the Bears.” No matter how hard Akela worked, all the ways were barred to him. But the old chief 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 brothers well for one of his age. The time will come when the tribe will need only that which Akela can give.”

AOL LEADER – Pankaj

One night during the fall 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 safe river path back to the village was hidden from view. A nearby river path led to a roaring waterfall. The warriors did not know the safe path to take and were trapped.

AOL LEADER – Raj

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 to the river path and the village.

AOL LEADER – Pankaj

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

AOL LEADER – Raj

The chief declared, “Akela has proven 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 be filled with the spirit of Akela and follow his example of unselfish service to our brothers.”

And it was made so and carried through to the present day as you Webelos stand before us now, ready to receive the Arrow of Light. ***

CUBMASTER – Paul

With so much symbolism built into the Arrow of Light, we thought it appropriate to take a few minutes to explain the symbolism so that we understand what it is the boys will be wearing on the chest, close to their heart.

The prominent colors of the Arrow of Light are blue and gold. The color blue represents the spirit of Cub Scouting The color gold represents the warm rays of the sun.

AOL LEADER – Raj

The arrow is symbolic of everything that is straight and true. Just as a Scout should be straight and true in his life and to himself. The arrow points the way of the Scouting trail.

AOL LEADER – Pankaj

At the base of the arrow are three feathers. The three feathers represent the three groups which support and uphold the Scout: his den leaders, his parents, and his pack.

CUBMASTER – Paul

At the tip of the arrow is a sharp point, reminding the Scout that he must always remain sharp, alert and aware.

AOL LEADER – Raj

The arch is the sun rising at daybreak, the start of a new time in scouting and in life. The arch, in its entirety as a circle, represents the sun as the Scout is a source of light for those around him, and the full circle is a reminder that the spirit of Scouting is never ending.

AOL LEADER – Pankaj

The seven rays represent the seven days of the week. A reminder that the Scout should do his best every day.

CUBMASTER – Paul

These boys have finished the requirements for the Arrow of Light. However, before receiving the highest honor in Cub Scouting, these boys must show to the world that they follow the seven great virtues of life. These seven virtues are symbolized by the seven rays on the Arrow of Light award.

1. AOL1 (Raj) – Yellow from the sun is for wisdom. Wisdom is not measured by what you know. It is measured by how you use what you know.

2. AOL2 (Pankaj) – Blue from the sky is for courage. Courage does not mean you have no fear of danger. Courage means that you can face danger in spite of your fear.

3. WEBELOS (Morgan) – Purple from the lilac flower is for self-control. Self-control means knowing when to stop and when not to start at all. It means choosing the right path rather than merely following others.

4. BEAR (Robert) – Green from the tall mountain trees is for justice. Justice is being fair and true in your dealings with others. It means defending the rights and honor of those who cannot defend themselves.

5. WOLF (Hilson) – White from the winter snow is for faith. Faith includes a belief in God and a reverence for that which is sacred. You demonstrated your faith by how you live your life.

6. TIGER (Darrel) – Orange from the sunset is for hope. Hope means cheerfully looking toward the future and working hard to make that future as good as it can be.

7. LION (Heather) – Red from the wild rose is for love. Love of family, love of home, love of fellow mankind, love of God and love of country. Love means caring for others as you do yourself.

CUBMASTER

By earning your Arrow of Light award, you have proven commitment to these seven great virtues and your completion of the Arrow of Light requirements. As you leave Cub Scouts, it is our hope that you may continue to be an Arrow of Light to those around you.

Will the parents of these Webelos please come forward and stand behind your son at this time. Because of your support and guidance through this journey, we would like each of you to be a part of this scouting achievement.

{Pause until parents are on stage}

On behalf of Pack 541, it is my privilege to award each of you the highest Cub Scout honor: The Arrow of Light Award. These scouts will also receive an Arrow of Light patch, which is the only Cub Scout patch allowed to be worn on a Boy Scout uniform. These awards are a gift from all of us in Pack 541. I will also give you the Cub Scout handshake one last time.

{Have first scout come forward to table - announce name/Cub Scout hand shake, have them go around the back to the end of the line}.

{Pause for group photo after all scouts get arrows}

Parents and scouts please be seated.

CUBMASTER

This ceremony marks the end of your Cub Scout Journey.

Congratulations to all of you!

We have several Troop representatives here to welcome our scouts to their new adventure in Boys Scouting. We’d like to start by welcoming Troop 36 to the stage.

(Den Leaders bring bridge forward on stage if needed to use as part of bridging ceremony for crossing over)

(Troop 36 presentation)

We’d now like to invite Troop 235 to the stage.

(Troop 235 presentation)

Thank you for coming this evening. This concludes our program.

Sample of Letter from a Den Leader to his AOL Scouts

(Written by Dr. Eugene Chen)

Congratulations on achieving Cub Scouting's highest rank, the Arrow of Light award! You've discovered that being a Scout is not only great fun but also full of lessons on how to take care of yourself and how to be an honorable man.

Many you'll be taking the next step--to become a Boy Scout. That's a great decision! Truly, the rewards and fun times only get better and better.

In the years ahead in Scouting you will make some of the best friends you will ever have. Some of the Scouts you're growing up with today will be part of your life forever. Treat them well. Be willing to learn from them and listen to them. And when you have a chance to lead, remember that the best leader is also a servant, helping those who follow to do their best and have a great time. After all, the most important thing in the world is how you get along with other people.

Take your time on your journey toward Eagle. Becoming an Eagle is not just for getting into a good college. It's not a destination you set in your "life GPS" and then try to take the shortest route. It's the journey that counts! Every knot you tie wrong the first time, every hike where you get blisters, every burned piece of french toast teaches you something about yourself--that you can do great things for the world if you're willing to keep trying. And if you can keep trying while keeping a smile on your face, you have solved life's greatest mystery--how to be happy no matter what comes your way.

One last thing: remember to thank those leaders who have helped you in Scouting. You don't know this yet, but you'll forever remember some of them as the greatest men and women you ever met. You might not have a chance to thank them later, so do it now. Just a simple smile and "thank you for being my leader" will be like treasure to them.

The Scout Motto is "Be Prepared" for good reason. It's telling you not just what you should do but what's going to happen if you stay in Scouting. You're going to "Be Prepared" for life, with great, lifelong friends, great lessons on how to stick with it, and great leaders who show you the way!

Congratulations on taking the next step in Scouting!