NOTE: THIS SCRIPT HAS BEEN EDITED FOR USE BY TROOP 316 FROM A "SIMPLE AND MEANINGFUL" CEREMONY SUBMITTED BY TROOP 333 OF THE HIAWATHA SEAWAY COUNCIL OF CENTRAL AND NORTHERN NEW YORK.
Materials:
- 1 - Symbolic bridge
- 1 - Troop flag with flagpost
- 2 - Candles and candle holders
- 1 - Box of matches
- 1 - Set red shoulder flashes for each Webelos Scout
- 1 - Troop neckerchief for each Webelos Scout
Personnel:
- Scoutmaster
- New Patrol Assistant Scoutmaster
- Senior Patrol Leader
- Assistant Senior Patrol Leader
- Graduating Webelos (and their parents)
Setting:
The room is darkened.
A symbolic bridge is set up joining the Webelos Scout side of the bridge to the Boy Scout side of the bridge.
The New Patrol Assistant Scoutmaster, the Anaconda Patrol, and the Lightning Patrol are assembled in a "half-horseshoe" formation on the Boy Scout side of the bridge, prepared to greet the Webelos Scouts as they bridge over from the Webelos Scout side of the bridge to the Boy Scout side of the bridge.
The Senior Patrol Leader and the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader are standing at the middle of the symbolic bridge.
The troop flag is mounted in its flagpost on the Boy Scout side of the bridge.
A single candle is burning on a table on the Webelos Scout side of the bridge.
A second candle is standing unlit on the table well away from the burning candle.
A box of matches is placed on the table next to the second candle.
The Scoutmaster is standing beside the burning candle.
The Webelos Scouts are lined up near the Scoutmaster.
The parents of the Webelos Scouts are lined up behind them, holding the red shoulder flashes and Troop neckerchief for their sons.
Ceremony:
The Scoutmaster says:
"The flame you see before you represents knowledge. You Webelos Scouts who are bridging over to Boy Scouts have demonstrated a hunger for knowledge. The Scouting program will afford you with a knowledge that will serve you well as you walk the sometimes difficult road to manhood."
The Scoutmaster takes up another candle from the table where the flame representing knowledge sits and holds it near the flame but does not light it yet.
The Scoutmaster says:
"The flame of knowledge never goes out as long as there are people who are willing to seek knowledge. It burns as a bright beacon, casting its rays to guide us as we seek to better understand God's world."
The Scoutmaster lights the second candle, saying:
"This candle represents a youth's desire for knowledge. Each of you Webelos Scouts here with me tonight is that youth."
The Scoutmaster hands the newly-lit candle to the nearest Webelos Scout, saying:
"I ask each of youto hold this candle to demonstrate that it is your desire tocontinue building upon your Scouting knowledge."
The Scoutmaster places the candle in the hand of the closest Webelos Scout.
The Scoutmaster says:
"Hold this solemn flame for a moment and then transfer this flame to the next Webelos Scout. Hand it around from boy to boy until it reaches the last one of you in line who will return it to me."
As the flame is transferred from Webelos Scout to Webelos Scout, the Scoutmaster continues talking tothe assembly, saying:
"Knowledge, once gained, must be shared. Each Boy Scout must pass on to other Scouts what he has learned. As you Webelos Scouts grow more experienced in Scouting, we will ask you to begin to return to Scouting some of what you have received from it. Work diligently as you travel the trail to Eagle Scout and you will learn much that you can share with the others who come after you. Remember, you will receive from Scouting only what you put into it. I challenge you to work hard so that you will have much to give back."
When the candle has made its way back to the Scoutmaster, he places the second candle in a holder that was placed well away from the original flame.
After a moment, the Scoutmaster blows out the second candle.
NOTE: The flame representing knowledge is left burning as long as possible.
The Scoutmaster says:
"See how easily the flame representing a youth's desire for knowledge was extinguished. How easily may our desire for knowledge be extinguished by a breeze of laziness? Don't let laziness extinguish the flame of knowledge that burns in your own mind. Cherish knowledge by doing your best, by asking questions when you don't understand, and by living up to the Scout Oath and Law."
[Pause for effect.]
"But, notice how the flame representing knowledge is still lit. From it you may always re-light your own flame should the breeze of laziness blow too hard and snuff out your own flame. Never stop learning. Never give the breeze of laziness a chance to blow out your desire for knowledge."
Now the Senior Patrol Leader, who has been standing in the middle of the symbolic bridge with the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader, calls across to the Webelos Scouts and their parents:
"Troop 316 invites the Webelos Scouts and their parents to join us on the Boy Scout side of Scouting by crossing over the symbolic bridge."
The FIRST Webelos Scout steps up onto the symbolic bridge.
The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader stops the Webelos Scout at the middle of the bridge.
The parents of the Webelos Scout join their son at the symbolic bridge.
The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader removes the OLD blue shoulder flashes from the uniform of the Webelos Scout.
The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader then gives the OLD blue shoulder flashes to the parents of the Webelos Scout in exchange for the NEW red shoulder flashes.
The Assistant Senior Patrol Leader fastens the NEW red shoulder flashes on the uniform of the Webelos Scout.
After the NEW red shoulder flashes are in place, the Senior Patrol Leader turns up the collar of the Webelos Scout's uniform.
The Senior Patrol Leader then takes the NEW Troop neckerchief from the parents of the Webelos Scout.
The Senior Patrol Leader then places the NEW Troop neckerchief OVER the Webelos Scout's OLD neckerchief.
The Senior Patrol Leader then removes the Webelos Scout's slide from the OLD neckerchief.
The Senior Patrol Leader then puts the Webelos Scout's slide on the NEW Troop neckerchief.
The Senior Patrol Leader then slides away the OLD neckerchief.
The Senior Patrol Leader hands the OLD neckerchief off to the Webelos Scout's parents.
As the Senior Patrol Leader removes the OLD neckerchief, the Scoutmaster says:
"Notice that we removed the Webelos Scouts neckerchief after we've placed the Boy Scout neckerchief on the Scout. We do this to indicate that there is no break in a boy's Scouting career."
The new Boy Scout then crosses to the Boy Scout side of the bridge.
The parents of the new Boy Scout join their son on the Boy Scout side of the bridge.
The new Boy Scout and his parents are welcomed by the New Patrol Assistant Scoutmaster, the Anaconda Patrol, and the Lightning Patrol.
Then the new Boy Scout takes his place at the end of the horseshoe.
The parents of the new Boy Scout take their place behind their son.
The neckerchief ceremony is repeated, without the Scoutmaster's explanation of this ceremony, for each of the other Webelos Scouts.
When all the Webelos Scouts have bridged over as new Boy Scouts with their parents, the Senior Patrol Leader and the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader cross to the Boy Scout side of the bridge and take their places at the end of the horseshoe.
The New Patrol Assistant Scoutmaster says:
"I ask each of the new Boy Scouts to take hold of the Troop flag with their left hand and raise the Scout sign with their right."
As the new Boy Scouts take hold of the Troop flag with their left hand and raise the Scout sign with their right hand, the New Patrol Assistant Scoutmaster says:
"Repeat with me the Scout Oath."
The New Patrol Assistant Scoutmaster then leads the new Boy Scouts in the Scout Oath:
"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."
After the Scout Oath is recited, the Webelos Crossover ceremony is over.
Last Revised 03/05/02