Ceremonies - Bear

Painted Bear Ceremony

CHARACTERS: 
AKELA - Cubmaster
BALOO - Assistant Cubmaster
DRUMMER - a Cub Scout

MATERIALS:  Brown and green tempera paints, Bear badges and certificates, safety pins, parent’s pins.

(DRUMMER begins slow, rhythmic beat).

AKELA: Tonight we are honoring some Cub Scouts who have reached a new rank. They have worked hard to take on the sign of the bear. Will the following Scouts and their parents please come forward.

(BALOO reads the names of the Bear candidates. They assemble in a line with the Scout in front and parents behind).

AKELA: You are all well onto the Cub Scout trail to reach the honor of the Arrow of Light in Cub Scouting, and eventually, start the Boy Scout trail to seek the sign of the Eagle.

To help you continue on your journey, we will now inscribe you with the sign of the bear.

(While AKELA recites the following, BALOO paints two brown round eyes on each Scout’s forehead, above his eyes).

AKELA: To help you see along this trail, I am giving you the eyes of the bear. When the achievements become hard, these eyes will guide you over the rough spots.

(BALOO then paints a line down each Scout’s nose).

AKELA: The nose of the bear. Imagine for a minutes with me. Let us walk in the forest. Smell the fresh air, the dirt, the trees. Smell the smoke from the campfire, dinner cooking outside. All these new adventures are waiting for you in the final part of your Cub Scout trail and along the Boy Scout trail towards Eagle.

(BALOO then paints rounded bear ears on the cheeks of each Scout).

AKELA: The ears of the bear. Others may try to mislead you and cause you to stray from the trail. Do not hear them. Listen only to the call of the Eagle.

(BALOO paints a curved mouth on each Scout’s chin).

AKELA: The mouth of the bear. Bears know good from bad and so do you by now. The Cub Scout Promise has taught you to do your duty to God, and to your country, and to others. (BALOO paints green triangles on both cheeks).

AKELA: The trail is getting steeper and harder. Not everyone will finish, Follow this guideline so no harm will come to you along the trail.

(BALOO presents the Bear badges to each Scout’s parent and the parent pin to the Scout. The parent pins the Bear badge onto the Scout’s uniform shirt, and the Scout, in turn, pins the parent pin onto his parent).

AKELA: Congratulations to you and your family for your hard work.

(AKELA and BALOO then shake each Scout’s and each parent’s hand).