Old Ephraim Cubs: Ceremonies

Webelos Face Painting Ceremony

Found at http://www.oocities.org/pagedavies/paint.htm#pww

Materials: Blue, Yellow and Red Paint, Webelos Badges, Safety Pins

Indian Drummer begins soft, slow rhythmic beat.

Cubmaster: Webelos stands for "We'll Be Loyal Scouts."

Would the following Scouts and their parent please come forward.

Read Scouts names.

Cubmaster: The sign of the Webelos Scout signifies a major step on the Cub Scout Trail. Just as Indian boys became warriors and were painted in the colors of their tribe, we will paint you with the colors of Scouting.

Do you want to wear the sign of the Webelos, please say "yes".

Cubs: Yes

Cubmaster: You are well on your way along the Cub Scout Trail to reach the honor of the Arrow of Light, and eventually start the Boy Scout trail to seek the sign of the Eagle.

To help you along your journey, we will give you the sign of the Webelos.

The blue W across your nose is for strength as you work on the Arrow of Light.
(Paint a large W From ear to ear across the bridge of nose)

The yellow on your chin and forehead is the color of sunlight and will light your way along the Scouting Trail.
(Paint a yellow triangle on chin pointing down and on forehead pointing up)

The red stands for fire so that you have a burning desire to explore new areas.
(Paint red stripes on each side of the chin and forehead triangles and under the W on each cheek)

All of these colors together form the Webelos symbol. You should be very proud to wear it.

I will present your badge to your parent who will pin it to your uniform when you go back to your seat.

Congratulations to you and your family on completing this part of the Cub Scout Trail.

Generic Ceremonies Creator

I got this "All Purpose, All Occasion, Do Anything, Generic Ceremonies Creator" from UNPC AUG 2012 Pow Wow Handouts, which was apparently taken from SCCC 2001 Pow Wow:

Directions for use:
     Choose one or more phrases from each list.
     Add your own personal words for each occasion.
     Assemble the props called for as you choose.
     Conduct the successful ceremony.

1. "Would the following please come forward?"
     Cub Scout               Leader           Special Event Chairman
     Webelos Scout        Parent            Special Guest
     Den

2. (After the above have assembled) - "Before you is:"
     a candle          a drum            a bucket          a branch
     a flashlight       a scout book      Akela              a neckerchief
     a car key        a box                 your leader       a bridge
     a tripod          a picture             a trail               etc.

3. "This represents:"
     the Spirit of Scouting          good deeds               your future
     your accomplishments        our community           our pack
     fun and adventure              goodwill                     our dedication
     your advancements            our church                 the family
     your den                            the world                  character

4. "You have earned this award by:"
     completing achievement     helping others            doing your best
     helping our pack               having a birthday        being the best ___
     helping boys grow            helping with ___         being a denner
   serving for ___ years selling the most ___    etc.

5. "Please accept this award and continue to:"
     help the pack go               grow strong              give goodwill
     do your best                     come to meetings      work hard
     follow Akela                     be the best you         help your son

6. "Would the rest of the Pack join me in congratulations for this award."

Use a tasteful applause

Big Deal Arrow of Light Ceremony Format

All advancement ceremonies should feel big, special, and entertaining (although not necessarily long). Be sure your Arrow of Light ceremony is SO big (as in a big deal), SO special, and SO entertaining that it is set apart from the rest and is very much looked forward to by the recipients as well as the audience! All advancement ceremonies will take some planning, and the Arrow of Light ceremony will deserve a little extra preparation.

For this reason, it is my opinion that if you do painted face ceremonies for other rank advancements, it should not be used also for Arrow of Light. Arrow of Light ceremonies should stand out as much more special than other rank awards.

This Big Deal Ceremony Format is from a link I think you will want to subscribe to if you are a Cubmaster, because it also has some wonderfully creative ceremonies already written, including the wonderful Captain Jack Sp'arrow of Light Ceremony demonstrated at our April's Roundtable: arrowoflightdoneright.blogspot.com On the date I write this post, the home page has the formula on it. Please check out the blog and look for "Why do we use advancement scouting?", as the format (called Basic Format on their page) is toward the bottom of this page.

If you have searched around that blog and can't find it, I have copied it onto a googledoc, but be clear that I am not the author of this recipe. This is the basic DIY recipe from the aforementioned blog for a very entertaining advancement ceremony!