Ceremonies - Arrow of Light

Arrow of Light Ceremony CM: The final and highest rank of Cub Scouting is the Arrow of Light.  To earn it a boy must be a member of his den for at least six months since turning 10 years old and have earned the Webelos Rank.  He must have earned the Fitness, Readyman, and Citizen Acitivity Pins and five more for a total of eight.  He must know the Boy Scout Oath and Scout Law from memory as well as the Boy Scout slogan, motto, sign and salute.  He must have participated in a Webelos overnight campout or a Webelos day hike.  He must have visited a Boy Scout troop with his parents and den and taken part in a Boy Scout outdoor activity. CA: There are Webelos Scouts among us tonight who have earned Cub Scouting's highest award.  Would (insert names) and their parents please come forward and stand here facing the audience.  (Assistant Cubmaster escorts the Scouts and their parents to the stand next to the ceremony table, facing the audience, with the parents standing behind their Scout.) CM: The Arrow of Light is much more difficult to obtain than a belt loop, an Activity Pin or even one of the other rank patches.  To obtain this award, these scouts have met a number of requirements, including completion of eight activity pins, participation in camps, hikes and Boy Scout activities, the memorization of the Scout Oath and the Scout Law, and the commitment to live by the principles.  Webelos Scouts will you please stand at attention, salute your audience and recite the Scout Oath and Scout Law in unison,  (Cubmaster steps to the front to face the Scouts, salutes and leads) On my honor, I will do my best; To do my duty to God and my Country and to obey the Scout Law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight. A Scout is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent. Thank you.  As you can see on the candle holder, the Arrow of Light symbol is made up of an arrow which points the way to a good life and a rising sun which symbolized the constant new challenges provided by Scouting and by life itself.  The seven candles in the emblem represent the seven rays in the Arrow of Light symbol you see before you. CA: (Cubmaster lights the first candle) This first ray represents Wisdom.  Having wisdom doesn't mean that a person is smarter than others.  It means that he uses what he knows to live a better life. (Cubmaster lights the second candle) This ray represents Courage.  Courage does not mean you have no fear of danger.  It means that you can face danger despite your lights the third candle) The third ray stands for self-control.  Self-control means being able to stop when you have had enough of something and being able to choose your own path instead of merely following others. (Cubmaster lights the fourth candle) The fourth ray stands for Justice.  Justice means being fair with others we play and work with, regardless of who they are. (Cubmaster lights fifth candle) The fifth ray represents Faith.  Faith includes belief in God, and in things we cannot see, but feel are true. (Cubmaster lights the sixth candle) This candle represents Hope.  Hope means to look forward to good things you believe will happen.  You hope for better things tomorrow, but at the same time you work hard today to make them happen. (Cubmaster lights the seventh candle) The last candle and the last ray of the sun of the Arrow of Light symbol stands for Love.  There are many kinds of love.  Love of family, home, fellow men, God, and Country.  Every kind of love is important for a full and happy life. CM: You will find that living by these seven virtues can lead to a happy life.  The Arrow of Light is a significant achievement.  The Boy Scouts of America recognize it as such.  When you become a Boy Scout, you continue to wear the Arrow of Light on your uniform.  When you become an adult leader, you wear a square knot, which represents the Arrow of Light on your uniform. You've completed all the requirements for your Arrow of Light Badge and have completed the Cub Scout Trail.  It is my pleasure to award you your Arrow of Light badge to your parents, who have been your Akela in completing these requirements.  Parents, please award this badge to your son and congratulate him on a 'Job Well Done.' (Assistant Cubmaster awards boys their certificates, and presents the parents with the Arrow of Light badge.  Parents pin it on their sons.  Then present the mother's pin to the boy and have him pin his mother or father) Receive now the mark of the Arrow of Light, a Yellow mark, symbolizing light from the blazing sun above us, lighting our way through life.  (Assistant Cubmaster marks each boy with Yellow face paint).