 Cub Scouting Corner
by Don DeYoung
Senior Writer, Webmaster of Cub
Resources
The following Pack project is one of those rare opportunities for your entire pack
to share in an experience that joins the spirituality of nature with the Cub Scouting
experience. It starts with a ceremony presented by the Cubmaster at a Pack meeting early
in the Scouting year. Then, each Den participates in the project during the year and
finally the project ends at a campfire ceremony during your Family Camping experience at
the conclusion of the Scouting year.
All that is required is that Akela become familiar with this ‘true’ story,
and that he/she find a sturdy staff during a personal journey in the wilderness. The
description and content of the story should be modified to match local Pack customs and
your staff’s general appearance.
PRESENTATION
OF THE STAVE
(Akela speaks)
Many seasons ago, the Great Spirit decided to give the Webelos Tribe a small gift. He
asked one of Mother Earth’s great alder trees to produce a strong walking staff
suitable for the Great Akela, chief of the Webelos Tribe.
Not wanting to disappoint the Great Spirit, the mightiest of the alder trees set out to
create the staff as one of her branches. Many seasons passed as the alder produced the
strongest, most well-formed and balanced branch that she could. It was truly a fine staff,
suitable for Akela, chief of the Webelos.
When Mighty Alder had completed her task, she summoned the Wood-bore from the forest to
decorate her staff in a manner that would please the Great Spirit. Using her strong jaws,
the Wood-bore shaped and molded the staff. She created the swirling and ever-changing
patterns of nature along it’s entire length.
When Wood-bore had completed her fine work, she removed the branch from Mighty Alder,
and set it out upon the strong currents of the river named Stanislaus, on it’s long
journey to the Webelos tribe.
Stanislaus felt honored to be the one chosen to deliver the staff to Akela. He
‘did his best’ to finely smooth the staff that Mighty Alder and Wood-bore had
created.
He carried it in his currents beyond the canyon of the Mi Wok, and into the path of
Akela as he walked the river's shore in search of wily Rainbows.
When Akela saw the staff, he immediately recognized it as a gift from the Great Spirit.
The fine work of Mighty Alder, Wood-bore, and Stanislaus had formed a staff like no other.
He plucked the staff from the surging Stanislaus, and returned it to the tribal lodge of
the Webelos.
Akela was humbled by this fine gift and wanted to give the Great Spirit a gift in
return but could think of nothing as fine as this wonderful staff.
And so it was that Akela asked his Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and Webelos to continue the
work that Mighty Alder, Wood-bore, and Stanislaus had begun. For he could think of no
greater gift than to return the Staff of Akela to the Great Spirit... carrying upon it the
mark of the Webelos Tribe.
(end of ceremony)
A
GIFT FOR THE GREAT SPIRIT:
THE RETURN OF THE STAVE
(Setting: Cubs and families gathered
around a roaring summer campfire)
(Akela speaks)
The seasons have passed, and the Earth is again warmed by the Great Spirit's fire.
Small trout fill the streams, and the young fawns follow their parents in search of new
clover blooms. Now too, the Webelos Tribe gathers here in Mother Earth's forest to present
our gift to the Great Spirit. Would the tribal elders please bring our gift forward.
(Unit leaders or parents bring Akela's Staff forward)
Many moons have crossed the heavens since the Great Spirit has given us this wonderful
gift, borne of Mother Earth. During this time, our braves have worked hard to follow the
path of Akela. They have shared in many adventures,
and have learned many new things.
And, as we search our souls, we can see that our spirits have grown too. We have a
better understanding of our Earth, and her nature, and how all living things are a part of
her, and are also a part of us. We can now see that God, the Great Spirit, has placed us
all on Mother Earth so that we might learn of her wonders and prove our worthiness to him,
our families, and to each other.
(Akela holds staff high)
During these past months, we have prepared this special gift. It is the Staff of Akela,
Chief of the Webelos Tribe. We have proudly added to it the symbols of each of our Dens...
and ourselves. It now contains a small piece of our spirit. It symbolizes that which we
are, and that which we will be...
We present it to you now, and in doing so, we complete a circle of nature.
(Akela carefully places the staff into the fire)
I would like all of our Cubs to raise their hands showing the Cub Scout Sign, and
recite the “Law of the Pack” with me:
The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.
The Cub Cub gives goodwill.
(Akela asks for a moment of silence, and returns to his seat.)
Preparing the Staff
IN YOUR DEN
(An activity for each Den in your Pack)
Each month, Akela will honor a Den with the Staff of Akela at a Pack meeting. To choose
the Den, Akela will ask the assembled Pack a question regarding some aspect of the story
or about Cub Scouting in general. The Cub that successfully answers the question will be
ceremoniously awarded the staff to bring back to his Den brothers. The members of that Den
should then seek to add their mark the work of Great Alder, Wood-bore, and Stanislaus
during the coming month’s Den meetings.
Some guidelines in preparing the staff:
- Remember, the objective of this project is to add the spirit of your Den to the staff.
- Let the boys decide how to decorate the staff, and perform the work themselves.
- Make it simple.
- Fit the job into an advancement exercise for the following:
- Wolf
Achievement 5 – “Tools for fixing and building”
Elective 3 – “Make it yourself”
Elective 10 – “Native American Lore”
- Bear
Achievement 19 – “Shavings and Chips” and “Whittling Chip”
Achievement 20 – “Sawdust and Nails”
Achievement 22 – “Tying it all up”
Elective 9 – “Art”
- Webelos
Craftsman (tools)
Outdoorsman (knots)
- Focus the Cubs on natural decorations, i.e. leather thongs, wood beads, shells,
feathers, etc.
- A little paint is OK, but NOT a lot.
- Supervised whittling is OK for Bears and Webelos that have earned the Whittling Chip
card.
- Supervised decoration with a wood burning tool is also OK.
- If you forget to bring it back the Council Fire, you will have to deal with the Great
Spirit yourself!
After performing their work on the staff, the Den’s braves should present it back
to Akela at the next tribal council of the Webelos Tribe (the Pack meeting). This should
be done with a simple ceremony composed by the Den. Akela will then pass it on to another
Den until all Dens have had a chance to work on the staff.
On the morning following the campfire ceremony, some of the ashes from the campfire may
be collected and packaged in small containers such as leather satchels or film containers.
At the next Pack meeting the ashes can be presented to each boy as a symbol of his
participation.
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