The House of Payne: Cub Scout Blue and Gold

February 10, 2008

Cub Scout Blue and Gold

Every year, Cub Scout Packs around the world celebrate the Blue and Gold. It is usually a nice dinner that honors cub scouting and the accomplishments of the cub scouts. The biggest emphasis is placed on the Senior Webelos who have now earned the right to cross over the bridge to Boy Scouting.

Last night was our big night! Sam was very happy to participate in his very first Blue and Gold dinner. He, along with the seven other boys in his den, earned the rank of Tiger! We will spend the rest of the year working on belt loops. We have also almost finished our special Leave No Trace award! This is a hard working group of 6 and 7 year olds!!!

Kevin was old hat at this Blue and Gold thing... He and all the boys in his den earned the rank of Wolf. His den will now be in hot pursuit of the ever coveted silver arrow heads to sew on their shirts. (Man I wish I could sew... The seamstress makes a fortune over my incompetence!)

Finally, came Andrew. When we first signed Andrew up for Cub Scouts 5 years ago, it seemed it would be an eternity before he would become a Senior Webelo. Those 5th grade boys seemed to tower over my tiny first grader. I remember taking picutes for a friend at Andrew's first Blue and Gold. I got teary as her son earned his Arrow of Light then proceeded across the bridge to Boy Scouting. In the blink of an eye, I became the mother who watched her baby cross over that bridge that is only about 3 feet long but represents a much longer journey.

Here is Andrew after receiving his Arrow of Light. This is the highest award a Cub Scout can earn. It is also the only patch from Cub Scouting that a Boy Scout wears on his uniform. It is a real honor and a symbol of a lot of hard work from Andrew, his den leader and his parents.

After recieving their patch, the boys also received a very special arrow. Andrew's leader chose an absolutely beautiful arrow to mark this special occation...

After the Arrow of Light came the moment of the crossing from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts... Here he is on the bridge. He has been stripped of all things Webelo. His blue epelets have been replaced by Boy Scout Red and on his shirt pocket he has removed his Webelos patch and replaced it with the Rank of Scout. This is the first rank in the world of Boy Scouting and he has already earned it.

He is welcomed by his fellow troop mates and adorned with a new necker chief and slide...

Check out how cool this neckerchief is... I am not sure what it says, but it is all written in Japanese! Way too cool!!! Really, I think it says something like Troop 112 and I know the last fancy kanji says Okinawa:)

Scott has not been a den leader, but he has joined the Webelos on various campouts and outings when he could. He was also aloud to cross over the bridge where he was received with a new neckerchief and slide too! He LOVED it and has been waiting a VERY long time for this moment!!

Does he look the same as he did all those years ago when he crossed to Boy Scouts, Bo??? OK... maybe Andrew's picture is a little more accurate an account of how he would have looked!!!