About Cub ceremonies
Tom Petrik (EC92@AOL.COM)
Thu, 8 May 1997 13:14:30 -0400
Having just sat through a two hour Pack meeting, I discourage everyone else
from using the "bridge" idea for every change in Cubbing. This Pack handed
out awards to leaders (I thought that was a major part of what B&G are for?),
then to youth (including Arrow of Light at this late date?), then proceeded
to make one bridge which was used by Tigers joining Cubs, Wolves becoming
Bears, Bears becoming Webelos, because otherwise they would be "left out"
first year to second year Webelos, then took it all apart for the Boy Scouts
to take over and form a new bridge and do their crossover (again, this late
in the year? Why weren't they already gone?).
By that point, a bridge and its significance was lost. Adults talked about
symbolism to youth who were tired of sitting and didn't care. Any meaning was
gone. Any attempt at silencing them was gone, too.
To make it worse, the youth were crossed over by 3-5 boys and about a dozen
adults, with the adults running the ceremony and reading everything.
Sllooowlyy. That meant that it gave the impression of going from a pack run
by adults to a troop run by adults. Really encourages the younger Cubs to
continue. Really shows the change in the programs and develops interest in
moving up.
Anyways, I hope an outsider's impression will encourage any of you who are
thinking about it to come up with something else.
-Petrik
Terry Howerton Sakima Group, Inc. SCOUTER Magazine Kansas City |
