Miscellaneous Ceremony

THE TWELVE MONTHS OF SCOUTING

For this ceremony, which emphasizes the need for a year-round program, you will need the following items:

1 Large candle in holder

12 Candles in a piece of wood or a log

Matches

The current Annual Program Helps, which includes the Annual Program Planning Chart.

Light the large candle, then have someone turn out all the lights. Tell the group that the lighted candle represents the Spirit of Cub Scouting and explain that the other twelve candles represent the 12 months of the year of an active American boy.

Then, using the current Cub Scout Annual Program Helps Chart, give the name of each month and the theme and activity badge which your Pack has chosen to use. As you do this, light each candle in turn. When all twelve candles are lit, say something like this:

You noticed the increase brightness in the room as we lighted each candle. This is what happens when wise leaders plan a full, 12 month program of activities for the Cub Scouts.

Some short-sighted Packs, however, take a summer vacation (Snuff out candles 6, 7, and 8). They no longer have a full program. And, when they shut down for the summer months, they are usually late getting started in the fall. (Snuff out the 9th candle).

Summer shut-down can eliminate 1/4 of a boy's Cub Scout program, just as we have eliminated 1/4 of the light in this room.

Only by planning a 12 month program and sticking to that plan, can your Cub Scouts get the full benefit of total, year round fun and adventure.

Won't you leaders provide a planned program, on a year round basis?