Arrow Of Light

True Like The Arrow

AKELA: Who are these people that have come to our council fire?

ASSISTANT: I bring Cub Scouts and their families and a tribe of Webelos seeking their Arrow of Light.

AKELA: I welcome my brothers and their families in Scouting to our council fire. I AM THE SPIRIT OF AKELA. I am the spirit who has led you through your growth as a Tiger Cub, Cub Scout and Webelos. I am the spirit that once asked you to seek the blue of the sky as well as the yellow from the sun. These things you have done. I am the spirit that asked the unseen Bear to guide you in your many tasks. I am the spirit that welcomed the new Tribes of Webelos.

(Pause) I now call on the Great Spirit, to watch over us as we light our council fire.

Tonight I will test certain Webelos to see if they are worthy to earn their Arrow of Light and to cross the bridge and become Boy Scouts.

(Assistant hands an arrow).

A Scout must be true, just as this arrow shaft is true, If the shaft is not straight and true but bent and warped, the arrow will waver and miss its target. A Scout, like the arrow, must be true in order to follow the path that Akela has set before him. At the end of this path is the Scouts Target, his highest honor, the Eagle.

Along this trail the Scout will be aided by many people his parents, his Scout Master, and his fellow Scouts. But it will be his decision on how well he will follow the trail. The Scout can follow the trail straight and true like the arrow or he can waver and miss his target. Webelos, you have one more test. (picks up one of the formal arrows). I will test your Arrow of Light to see if you are worthy to advance. If you are worthy I will call your name, you will step forward and reach for your Arrow of Light. In reaching for your arrow you show your willingness to continue on the trail towards Scouting's highest award, the Eagle.

Test an arrow, break it and throw it on the ground saying; "Not worthy." Test another arrow, find it worthy and call Scouts name. Repeat for as many graduating Webelos.

(To test the arrow, hold it above you and bend it a little. Inspect it's length looking for trueness. The arrows you break need to be scored in the middle to insure that they break.)

AKELA: Mr. Scoutmaster, these Webelos have met the challenge and have passed the test. Are you ready to receive them into the Boy Scouts?