Baden-Powell Promotion Cerem= ony

Introduction:

Tonight we are celebrating the conclusion of our Scouting year. As many of you know, Scouting started in England in 1907 when Lord Robert Baden-Pow= ell took 7 boys to Brownsea Island for a camping experiment. But the roots of Scouting go even farther back. In 1899, Baden-Powell was a Colonel in the British Army fighting the Dutch Boe= rs in South Africa. Colonel Baden-Powell was in charge of a town called <= st1:place w:st=3D"on">Mafeking. I= t was under siege by the Boers. The Boers shelled the town every day except Sunda= ys. When that happened, everyone had to hide in trenches until the shelling stopped. Baden-Powell noticed that the last ones into the trenches and the first ones out were the young boys. He needed to keep these young lads from doing risky things and getting wounded. So he organized them into a Boys Co= rps. They ran messages from Headquarters to the troops and citizens, and they practiced Army Scouting skills. This helped him enforce discipline on them = in a way that they could accept.

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The food was running out, the Boer force was 10 times the size of the British force, but Baden-Powell used his cunning to h= old the town for 217 days, until British reinforcements could arrive and rescue= the town from the Boers. When he got back to England, he found himself a Nation= al hero and a small book he had written for the Army, "Aids to Scouting", was being used by British boys to play games of scouting. He remembered those boys in Mafeking and what his Boys C= orps did for them. He rewrote his book into "Scouting for Boys" in 1908 and Boy Scouting was born.

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The tradition Baden-Powell started in Mafeking, we are continuing tonight. When the boys in Mafeking le= arned their scouting skills, they were rewarded with a promotion in rank. So too, do Cub Scouts, after showing their abilities in certain skills, earn their ranks of Bobcat, Wolf, Bear and Webelos. Our Scouts have learned many new skills this year. We will now reward there efforts by promoting them to their new ranks= for this next Scouting year.

Tiger Promotion:

Would the follow= ing Scouts and their Parents please step forward, and to the left side of the bridge (read names of Tiger Scouts). Would the Wolf Den Leader please step forward and to the right side of the bridge. Sco= uts, you have completed the First Grade and have shown yourselves ready to become Wolf Scouts. Wear your new uniform and neckerchief proudly like all Scouts = have for the last 97 years.

(Call the name of each Scout as he crosses the bridge. The Wolf Den Leader places a Wolf Neckerchief around his neck. When= all are across, ask audience to Applaud.)

Wolf Promotion:

Would the following Scouts and their Wolf Den Le= ader please step forward, and to the left side of the bridge (read names of Wolf Scouts). Would the Bear Den Leader please step forward and to the right sid= e of the bridge. Scouts, you have learned new skills = and have shown yourselves ready to become Bear Scouts. Wear your new rank and n= eckerchief proudly like all Scouts have for the last 97 years.

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(Remove Wolf neckerchiefs, call the name of each Scout as he crosses the bridge. The Bear Den Leader places a Bear Neckerchief around his neck. When all are across, ask audienc= e to Applaud.) =

Bear Promotion:

Would the follow= ing Scouts and their Bear Den Leader please step forward, and to the left side = of the bridge (read names of Bear Scouts). Would the First Year Webelos Den Le= ader please step forward and to the right side of the bridge= .

Scouts, you have learned new skills and have sho= wn yourselves ready to become First Year Webelos Scouts. Wear your new rank and neckerchief proudly like all Scouts.

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(Remove Bear neckerchiefs, call the name of each Scout as he crosses the bridge. The First Year Webelos Den Leader places a Webelos Neckerchief around his neck. When all are acros= s, ask audience to applaud.)

Webelos Promotion:

Would the follow= ing Scouts and their Webelos Den Leader please step forward, and to the left si= de of the bridge (read names of Bear Scouts). Would the Second Year Webelos Den Leader please step forward and to the right side of the bridge.

Scouts, you have learned new skills and have sho= wn yourselves ready to become Second Year Webelos Scouts. Wear your Webelos Co= lors proudly like all Scouts have for the last 97 years.

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(Hand each Scout his Webelos Colors, call the na= me of each Scout as he crosses the bridge. The Second Year Webelos Den Leader = pins the Webelos Colors on the uniform shirt arm. When all are across, ask audie= nce to applaud.) =

Arrow of Light Bridging:

Our final recognition this evening is for our Scouts who are leaving Cub Scouting for= the new adventure of the Boy Scout program. Would the following Scouts and their Webelos Den Leaders please step forward, and to the left side of the bridge (read names of Bear Scouts). Would representatives of the Boy Scout Troops please step forward and to the right side of the bridge= .

(Introduce the leaders representing the Boy Scout Troops present for the Bridging)

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Scouts, you have learned the skills of Cub Scouting and have shown yourselves ready to become Boy Scouts. As you cross this bridge to enter the great adventure that awaits y= ou in Boy Scouts, we wish you fun, and safety and great achievement in your efforts. Wear your Boy Scout Uniform proudly like all Scouts have for the l= ast 97 years.

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To commemorate this evening we present you with = your Arrow Sash, to display your ranks and achievements as a Cub Scout.

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(Hand each Scout his Arrow Sash, call the name of each Scout as he crosses the bridge. The appropriate Boy Scout leader shakes his hand, places a Boy Scout neckerchief around his neck, if appropriate. W= hen all are across, ask audience to applaud.)