Arrow Of Light

(Light firepot or candle)

In time, you earned the Webelos badge, blazing the rest of the trail on your own.

Now at last you have reached the summit and the end of this journey.

(To other principles) Let the Arrow of Light be conferred upon them.

GUIDE: (to Chief) Wait Brother Takachsin! Before receiving this most high honor, they must hear its legend so they may understand and appreciate what they are to receive.

CHIEF: (to Medicine Man) Brother Weuchsowagam, let the legend of the Arrow of Light be known to all present.

MEDICINE MAN: (Moves forward) In the ages past, when the Nations of the red man spread across the land, there was a young member of one tribe called Akela. Akela wished to be a warrior as the older men of his tribe were, but no one would consider him so. "Little Akela, he is too young to join the hunt," they would say. "Too slow to run with the Bobcat clan, not clever enough to hunt with the Wolf clan. Such a young one is not strong enough to join the Bear clan." No matter how hard Akela worked, all ways were barred to him. But the Aged Chieftain of the tribe saw Akela differently than the rest. "The spirit of this young one burns brighter than the largest fire. Akela has served his brethren well for one of his age. The time will come when the tribe will need only that which Akela can give."

One night in the fall during the harvest, a party of warriors was canoeing back to their village after a hunt. On this night, the fog rolled thick across the river. The fog was so heavy, the river path back to the village was hidden from view. A nearby river path to the right led to a roaring chasm. The warriors did not know the safe path to take and were trapped.

Akela had been practicing his hunting skills in the hills above the river and had seen the danger to the canoe. He wrapped an arrow in a skin, set it aflame, and shot it into the sky toward the safe river path. The warriors in the canoe saw the flaming arrow through the fog and followed it to the river path and the village.

The warriors went to the Chieftain saying, "We were trapped on the river and the Highfather sent an Arrow of Light through the sky to guide us." The Chieftain smiled and said, "The sign that led you to safety came not from the heavens but from one who you thought was too young to do anything." He brought Akela forward to the

surprise of the warriors.

"Akela has proved himself worthy to wear the name of warrior. He has aided his

brothers in their time of greatest need. Hereafter, all young members of our tribe shall become warriors only after meeting the challenges of the Arrow of Light. Let them each be filled with the spirit of Akela and follow his example of unselfish service to our brethren." And it was made so and carried through to the present day as you Webelos stand before us now, ready to receive the Arrow of Light.

GUIDE: Will the following Webelos an their parents please stand before us as your names are called. (As Guide recites or reads names, the Medicine Man should direct Webelos to make a line across the southern end of the circle. Parents should stand behind their son(s).)