Akelas Life Ceremony

This Ceremony is meant for Cub Scouts.

one lit candle
six other candles

Dim lights and light the one candle.
Akela is at the back of the room.

If no scouts are at a specific rank, light the candle, but say there are none at that point on the trail.

(Akela walks to the front of the room)

Narrator: Akela was the chief of the Webelos tribe; tall, stalwart, straight as an arrow, swift as an antelope, brave as a lion - he was fierce to an enemy but kind to a brother. Many trophies hung in his teepee. His father was the son of the great yellow sun in the sky. He was called the "Arrow Of Light". His mother, from whom he learned those wondrous things that mothers know, was called "Kind Eyes".

When he was very young, he played in the safety of the village. His first animal friends were the Lion Cubs that visited the tribe.

(Akela lights the Lion candle)
Akela: From the signs along the Lion trail, I see the following scouts are ready for advancement in the Lion Clan of Akela's tribe.
(Akela calls the names of the scouts receiving Lion adventures and rank badges. They come forward and stand before the campfire. Akela presents awards.)

Narrator: As he grew, he began to understand the signs and calls of the Webelos tribe. Playing close to the village, he learned to tumble and have fun from Tiger Cubs that lived there.

(Akela lights the Tiger candle)
Akela: With this candle, representing the "Spirit of Akela" we light the trail of the Tiger. From the signs along the Tiger trail, I see the following scouts are ready for advancement in the Tiger Clan of Akela's tribe.
(Akela calls the names of the scouts receiving Tiger adventures and rank badges. They come forward and stand before the campfire. Akela presents awards.)

Narrator: Then Akela was taken on little trips to the forest among the great trees and streams. Here, from the Wolf, he learned the language of the ground; the tracks and the ways to food.

(Akela lights the Wolf candle)
Akela: From the signs along the Wolf trail, I see these scouts are ready for advancement in the Wolf Clan of Akela's tribe.
(Akela calls the scouts receiving Wolf rank badges and adventure loops. They come forward and stand before the campfire. Akela presents awards.)

Narrator: Then from the big, kindly bears, he learned the secret names of the trees, the calls of the birds, the language of the air.

(Akela lights the Bear candle)
Akela: From the signs along the Bear trail I see the following braves are ready for advancement in the Bear Clan of Akela's tribe.
(Akela calls scouts receiving Bear rank badges and adventure loops)

Narrator: But before he could become a Scouting Brave on his own, he had to prove himself by trying out new skills, performing certain tasks and passing tests of accomplishment.

(Akela lights the Webelos candle)
Akela: From the signs along the Webelos trail, I see that the following braves have shown their skills in many different ways.
(He calls scouts receiving adventure pins.)

(If any Webelos are earning their rank badge)
Akela: By demonstrating skills and character, these scouts have earned their Webelos rank.
(Call names of scouts and present Webelos rank.)

Narrator: After a time, Akela was allowed to go on outings with the braves of his tribe. He saw how strong they were and how they worked together to hunt game and survive in the wilds. He decided that was the life for him and pushed himself harder to pass the highest test of all.

(Akela lights the Arrow of Light candle)
Akela: From the signs further down the Webelos trail, I see that the following scouts have proven themselves worthy to wear the "Arrow of Light", the highest award in Akela's tribe.
(He calls forward the scouts who have earned the Arrow of Light Award.)

Akela: From the four winds, Akela hears that you scouts are doing well along the trails that will lead you through Scouting and the highest trail of all, that of Eagle.
Now will all Cub Scouts stand and repeat with me the Scout Promise.