a simple crossover ceremony...

[kahits 10]

We have two Webelos that are going to crossover at our meeting, on Monday. One has already received his AOL, and the other is coming without. I have a bridge that I can use, but it sits up pretty high, and our meeting space does not have that much head room. I'm curious if any of you have a simple, yet meaningful, ceremony that we can use to put loops and a neckerchief on these 5th graders, that we might consider. There will be nobody from either of their packs in attendance, so it will be just their parents and the troop.

[Stosh 3452]

KISS :^)

 

The more elaborate one makes the issue the more complicated the expectations seem to demand. Can't these boys "cross over" from one side of the room to the other without crossing some bridge? Can a boy go "up a rank" without having to climb some step kind of podium?

 

The really important issues is to to something that makes these two boys feel special. Have the boy with his parents stand on one side of the room. Dad/Mom takes off the necker/loops and he prepares to walk away. If there was a Den Chief, he should be there to escort the boy across the room/bridge or whatever. His name is then announced and his new SPL puts his new necker on and welcomes him, the ASP puts on the loops and welcomes him, then the SM welcomes him with the handshake and introduces him to all the adult leaders. Then he is individually introduced to everyone in the troop by the TG. He has had a DC, SPL, ASPL, SM and TG all taking a personal interest in the boy to make sure he has had a lot of contact with the new troop. Once the process is complete. Stop and pause! Then bring the next boy over so that there is no one's attention diverted on something other than the next boy coming over. If he has a new PL and patrol to join rather than a NSP, this group should be the first contact he has after the adult leadership and the PL should walk with him as the TG makes further introductions.

 

Ceremony? Don't really need anything formal, just a heartfelt welcome is all that is really necessary.

[Lisabob 13]

If you want some sort of a "bridge" without actually having a physical one, use your boy scouts in two lines. Have the new scouts "cross" by walking between the two lines while your scouts give them a scout salute, or clap wildly, or whatever you find most suitable. Have their parents remove their cub necker and loops prior to crossing, and have the SPL meet them at the far end with their new paraphernalia. I saw a cub pack do something like this once and it went over quite well.