New Cub Scout Welcome Ceremony

This Ceremony is meant for Cub Scouts.

A burning fire.
A few sticks for each new scout.

Prepare a campfire outside or a fake fire inside if you really have to. Have a stack of sticks well away from the fire, but in front of the audience to the right.

Use this at the beginning or end of your first Pack meeting in September.

Akela: (standing by the stack of wood on the right) At this time, I would like all scouts that are new to Pack [number] to please come up here with me.

This fire represents the life of our Pack. As you can see, it is burning fairly well, but it is beginning to fade a bit. This fire needs new wood, new fuel to burn bright, just as our Pack needs new scouts to be strong and full of life.

I would like each of you to take 2 or 3 sticks from this pile and hold onto them.

Those sticks you have in your hands represent your energy, your eagerness, and your excitement to be part of this Pack. I bet you know what I want you to do with those sticks, and I bet you are very excited to do it! But, think about what will happen.

(Akela should now walk a bit closer to the fire, but still well away from it. The scouts will soon line up in front of him but there may be some jostling.)

When you toss your sticks on the fire, what will happen?
(the fire will burn brighter, the sticks will be burned, ...)
Just as those sticks will make the fire hotter, bigger, stronger, and full of life, having you in our Pack will make us stronger and more full of life.

Before you add your sticks to the fire, decide in your head and heart if you really want to join our Pack and learn our secrets and go on our adventures.

When you have decided to join, come and stand right here in front of me and make a single line behind the scout in front of you.

(As the scouts scramble to make a line, keep it safe.)

After you add your sticks to the fire, stand by Baloo.
(Baloo should be on the left of the fire and makes sure scouts stay well away from the fire)

(When all are finished)
Akela: Congratulations, you are now all part of the life of Pack [number].
Pack, please stand and make the Cub Scout sign.
Join me in the Scout Promise.
Join me in the Scout Law.
Two!

Now, how about a gigantic Pack [number] cheer for our new scout friends?

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You could soak the sticks in a copper chloride solution so they create blue-green flames when added to the fire. See Campfire Dude for other campfire magic.