Arrow of Light: Indiana Jones

Here is the Arrow of Light ceremony we did for my own son and another boy in my den.  The idea for the activities and the basic elements of the script are taken from this great blog called Arrow of Light Done Right. There are several different high action type Arrow of Light ceremonies there.   I rewrote most of the script to fit our needs and  make it more entwined with scouting and scouting values.

Instructions to how to make a toy whip, like the one we for this ceremony can be found on my blog HERE. 

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Narrator:  We have a special presentation to make tonight.  We will start with the telling of the story of a great explorer named Indiana Jones.  In the spirit of a true scout, Indiana Jones showed courage in the face of danger, and calm and cool in the face of challenges.    The training boys receive in cub scouts give them similar skills to face danger and challenges.  Tonight we have two scouts that have advanced through three years of cub scouting, and have satisfied the requirements to earn the highest: The Arrow of Light.   

_________________, please come forward.  Like the explorer Indiana Jones, these young men have acquired great skills.  Tonight they will face three challenges to show they are truly worthy of the great honor of the Arrow of Light. First they must wear proper explorer attire.  (give each boy a hat, whip, jacket,  for each). 

Challenge #1 Balance Beam Cross

Narrator:  The first challenge is the balance beam cross.  Indiana Jones had to cross many difficult passes to achieve his goals.  

*Scouts walk a balance beam while scouts shoot marshmallows at them, or hit them with pool noodles or nerf balls*

Well done! Remember Scouts, a scout must constantly balance school, family, hobbies and faith, choosing wisely how to spend his time and not allowing himself to be distracted by unworthy things.

Challenge #2 Rope Swing

Narrator: The second challenge is the rope swing.  Indiana Jones used his whip to swing across unfortunately placed bottomless pits, to save his life. 

*Scouts complete the swinging challenge (a rope tied to the basketball hoop) across the wild animal pit. (stuffed animals in a hula hoop or infant pool) *

Nice work scouts! That was a close one!  Remember scouts, living the standards of the scout law, standards like being Honest, Helpful and Obedient, helps you avoid many of the pitfalls of life.

Challenge #3 Temple Run

Narrator:  The Final Challenge is the temple run. Indiana Jones risked his life entering the temple to get to his goal, because he knew the prize found there was worth any sacrifice. 

*Scouts complete the temple run challenge.  They run down the aisle, around obstacles, while other scouts shoot q-tips at them with straws, chased by a large yoga ball. At the end of the aisle they grab the arrow*

Good work! Remember scouts, there is great value in setting goals and working towards the prize of becoming an Eagle Scout.   

The Arrow of Light you have earned has several symbols.   The arrow is straight and narrow, reminding you to live your life straight and true.  The point of the arrow is similar to the compass point found on the scout symbol, a point that directs you on the true path of Eagle Scout. The compass always helps you know the right way to go, the values you have learned in cub scouts and at church will always help to point you the right way.  Your Arrow of Light patch also has seven rays of the sun, these rays may remind you of the seven days of the week, that each new day, is a day to do your best. 

Congratulations Scouts!  

*The Narrator now invites the parents forward and the cub master will award the Arrow of Light patch to the boys and pins to the parents.

 

Indiana Jones hat and whip.

The temple run.

Swinging across the pit.

The balance beam walk.

I am getting ready to do a new scout visit today and thought some of you might  be interested in the Welcome Letter I give to all new Webelos Parents. Obviously you'd need to change the information to match your calendar and goals. Note that is for an LDS scouting unit.


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Welcome to Webelos

The goal of Webelos (short for “We’ll Be Loyal Scouts”) is to prepare a boy to enter Boy Scouting.

your scout will need:
•    Webelos Book ($8.99)
•    Blue or Tan Scout shirt ($24.99+)
•    Webelos neckerchief ($7.99)
•    Neckerchief slide (the official slide ($4.99) or a homemade one)
•    Webelos colors ($4.99) or Webelos hat ($12.99) (to display badges)
•    Long Pants (if participating in a flag ceremony)

Awards:

Activity Badges (pins): 20 different badges are available for a boy to earn in his time in Webelos.  Our den will cover 13 of them.  A boy can earn 3 at camp (in July) and 3 at Cub-o-Ree (in September) and must work on the Fitness Badge at home.  Aquanaut will not be covered but may be done with parents. A boy may earn all 20 badges, but it is NOT required.  Boys earning all 20 badges at the time of Arrow of Light may earn the Super 20 patch.

Religious Knot: If not already awarded, a Webelos should complete his religious knot.  The religious knot is earned by completing the activities in the Faith in God book that have a knot symbol by them.

Webelos Rank Badge:  Earned 3-6 months after entering Webelos.  Boys must have finished Fitness (to be completed at home), Citizen and one other. He also must demonstrate the scout salute, sign, handshake, oath, law, motto and slogan and have earned the Religious Knot. There are a few other requirements, all outlined in detail in the Webelos book.

Compass Point Emblem: After receiving the Webelos Rank, a Webelos can earn the Compass Point Emblem after completing seven Activity Badges.  For each additional 4 badges completed, he will be awarded a compass point, up to a total of three compass points.

Arrow of Light:  Earned after being active in Webelos for a year. A Webelo must understand the Scout Oath, Promise, 12 Points of the Scout Law, motto, slogan, sign, salute, handshake, scout uniform and square knot.  He must complete at least 7 Activity Badges and
go on a day hike with the den. He must also meet with the Scoutmaster, and a few other requirements as outlined in the Webelos Handbook.

How you can help your Scout to be successful:
•    Make sure he comes to meetings. 
•    Help him obtain and wear the correct uniform and display patches and awards when earned.
•    Help him bring and keep track of his Webelos handbook and Faith in God books
•    Check your email/calendars for home assignments, reminders and up-coming dates.
•    Finish home assignments and send us emails, texts or notes to let us know when things are completed.
•    Communicate with us any concerns or conflicts.
•    Be familiar with what is in the Handbook. Things like camping and traveling help boys with requirements.
•    Practice the Scout motto, oath, etc. at home. Quiz him when he least expects it.
Things that MUST be finished at home:
•    An adult member of the family must read the Webelos Scout Parent Guide (pgs 1-22) and sign in the book on page 49 #1 when complete (During the first month or two).
•    The Fitness Badge (p.246) must be finished in the first 6 months that a boy is in Webelos. 
•    The Religious Knot requires a lot of family involvement, including teaching a FHE lesson.
•    Family Member Badge has several requirements that can only be done at home, including attending four family meetings and inspecting your home for hazards.
•    For Outdoorsman a boy must sleep in a tent that he has helped pitch.
•    The Athlete badge requires a boy to practice and improve in several areas over a 30 day period.

Some things Your Webelos is probably already doing, that can help pass of Webelos requirements:
•    Artist badge: sculpting clay, or making an art construction
•    Communicator: emailing a friend, search the internet
•    Craftsman: building his space/pinewood derby vehicle
•    Family Member: Clean the house for a month, do the family’s laundry 2x
•    Handyman: wash a car, inflate bike wheels, take care of the lawn
•    Naturalist: visit a museum or zoo
•    Outdoorsman: cook and clean up a meal while camping
•    Scholar: have good grades and attendance in school, take part in a school activity
•    Showman: play a tune on an instrument, attend a play
•    Sportsman: If your scout is participating in a sport, he’s probably already filled the requirement for that sport’s belt loop.
•    Traveler: take a trip by car, bus, boat, or plane.  Help pack for a two day or longer trip.

Belt Loops and Pins

We will be earning a few belt loops including: communicator, language or math, a team sport, an individual sport and computers.   But there are many, many, more available for your boy to earn if he would like.  You can learn about them by Goggling “cub scout belt loops”.  If your Webelos has met the requirements for a belt loop or pin, just let one of the Webelos Leaders know.

Meeting Times

Our den meetings are _________________ at ________________________.  There will be no den meetings the week of Pack Meeting, which is usually the 3rd Wednesday of the month.  Occasionally we will take some field trips or do some Saturday hikes, which we will let you know about in advance.    When there is a 5th Thursday in a month, we will focus on Faith in God at that meeting.

Faith in God

There are many things that we are doing in Webelos that cross over with the Faith in God program.  When there is a 5th Thursday in a month, we will focus on Faith in God activities. 

Webelos Leaders

Contact Info:

The Vision Quest: An Arrow of Light Ceremony 

Written for Great Salt Lake Council Pack 4838

Participants:  Cub Master, Seven Adult (or older scout) Leaders

Props Needed:  seven feathers, animal ‘costumes’,  a “forest”

Aprox. Running Time:  less than 10 minutes

Cub Master: I would like to call forward     (scout name(s))      to stand before the pack.  (The boys come forward)  For three years these young men have been learning the way of the true scout.  They have followed Akela and they have done all that has been required of them in the spirit of the scout motto “Do your best”. 

Now they have been called here to be presented the highest award that can be giving in Cub Scouting – The Arrow of Light.  

But before I award them this honor, there is one more thing I will ask them to do.  In the cultures of the American Plans Indians, when a boy grows into a man, he is asked to go on a vision quest, out into the wilderness, to ponder all that he has learned and all that he has yet to learn.  

So before you are given your award,  I ask you    (scout name(s))      to go into the forest and think about the qualities it takes to be a true scout. 

*At this point the Cub Master takes the boys to a “forest”.  Perhaps some fake trees or forest sounds can set the scene. 

Cub Master: Stay here in the forest and think about the qualities it takes to be a true scout. Bring me a feather for each quality you learn.  When you have seven feathers, you may return to me again.

 *Cub Master walks away and leaves the boys standing there.  After a moment has past, the first animal appears.   The animals should be played by scout leader or older scout. “Animal” costumes can be as simple as a head band with ears. Each animal hands the boys a feather as they visit them.

Bobcat: I am the Bobcat.  From me, a scout learns the quality of Self Control.  A new scout learns to obey Akela, and to get along with the other scouts in his den. Self-control isn't limited to the control of one's temper, but control of one's self in all things: eating, playing, and even working and talking.

Wolf: I am the Wolf.  During his days as a Wolf, a scout learns the quality of Courage. Trying new things can be frightening, but scouts face down their fears. Having courage doesn’t mean you have no fear, it means you do what is necessary in spite of your fear. 

Bear: I am the Bear.  A bear scout learns the quality of Justice.  Doing activities with other boys in his den teaches a scout to always play fair and to be kind. Justice is the practice of dealing fairly with everyone without prejudice or regard to race, color, or religion.

Owl:   I am the owl. As a boy became an experience scout, he learns the quality of Wisdom.  A scout opens his mind and makes an effort to learn new things.   But Wisdom is not just gaining knowledge; Wisdom is also knowing how to use your knowledge for a good purpose. 

Buffalo: I am the buffalo. A scout works on developing the quality of Faith. Through earning his religious knot and working on his Faith in God, a scout’s faith is strengthened.  Remember, if you have faith, you hope for things which are not seen, but are true.

Mountain Lion:  I am the mountain lion. A scout looks towards the future with the quality of Hope.  Having hope means to expect with confidence.  Always hope for better things to come. A man without hope is of little good to himself or his community. 

Eagle: I am the eagle. As the last of your animal visitors, I will tell you of the last and most important of all qualities of a true scout. This quality is Love.  A scout has love for his family, love for his fellowman, love for country and love for God.  All these loves are necessary for a happy life, and will motivate you to live a life full of charity.

*After a moment, if the scouts do not return on their own, the Cub Master calls out to the boys and asks them to return.

Cub Master: Have you learned the seven qualities of a true scout?  

*While the boys answer the Cub Master collects the seven feathers.These feathers are symbolically the feathers on the arrow that they receive. 

Cub Master: You have done well! These seven qualities are represented on your arrow of light badge as the seven rays radiating out of the rising sun. The sun is rising because your journey as a scout is only just beginning.  For the rest of your journey, you will wear the Arrow of Light to remind you. As you proceed towards your Eagle, strive to develop these qualities in your life.

Would the parents of these young men please come forward?  

(Continue to present the awards)