This ceremony is derived from the legend of how the Boy Scouts of America began on the streets of London when William Boyce lost his way in the fog while on a stop over on his way to Africa.
Preparation:
Materials:
- Bobcat Badge for each Scout
- Parents Pin for each Scout’s parent
- Challenge coin for each Scout (optional)
Staging:
- Conduct the ceremony in a location where all attendees can see and hear it.
- Place each Bobcat award and the challenge coins (if used) on a table where it can be easily accessed by both the Cubmaster and Asst. Cubmaster / Den Leader during the ceremony but does not obstruct the view of the audience or access for the participants.
Ceremony
ACTOR
Cubmaster:
RECITE / ACTIONS
Welcome Scouts and families of Pack _______! Today/Tonight we have ____ Scout(s) who have earned their Bobcat rank.
NOTES
Asst. Cubmaster / Den Leader:
Will the following Scout(s) please join us here at the front of the room:
<Read the names of the Scouts that will receive their Bobcat>
The following Scout(s) have earned the Bobcat rank but are unable to join us today/tonight:
<Read the names of the Scouts that have earned Bobcat but are not present>
Wait for Scouts to arrive. Have them stand in a row facing the audience. If any new Bobcats are not present, read their names.
Cubmaster:
Bobcat is the beginning of every Scout’s journey along the Scouting trail. In honor of this important achievement, we will share with you the story of the beginning of the Scouting journey here in the United States of America.
Asst. Cubmaster / Den Leader:
What follows is the story of a chance encounter between William Boyce, the founder of Scouting in America, and an unknown English Scout on the streets of London.
Cubmaster:
The legend says that William Boyce stopped over in London, England on his way to Africa. He was out and about one day when the London fog set in and he lost his way.
Asst. Cubmaster / Den Leader:
A boy noticed Mr. Boyce casting about as if looking for something familiar, a landmark by which he could find his way. The young man approached Mr. Boyce and offered to help him find his way back to his hotel. The boy led Mr. Boyce through the foggy streets of London and they were soon back at his hotel.
Cubmaster:
Mr. Boyce was relieved to be back at his hotel and grateful to the boy that had helped him. As was the custom of the day, he offered the boy a coin as thanks for his efforts but the reward was refused.
(OPTIONAL)
Hold the Challenge Coin up for all to see.
Asst. Cubmaster / Den Leader:
“No, thank you.” replied the boy. “You see, I am a Boy Scout and I cannot accept a reward for doing a good deed where it is needed.”
Cubmaster:
This intrigued William Boyce so he asked the Scout about the Boy Scouts and where he could get more information. Before they parted ways, he once again thanked the Scout but he failed to get the young man’s name.
Asst. Cubmaster / Den Leader:
It was this encounter, this simple good deed, that brought Scouting to America. A few minutes of a Scout’s time that shaped the lives of millions of Americans through more than 100 years.
— OPTIONAL IF CHALLENGE COIN IS USED —
Cubmaster:
Since the beginning of the Boy Scouts of America, Scouts have woken up in the morning and placed a coin like this one in their left pocket. While the coin remained in their left pocket, it would serve as a reminder to them to do a good deed, a good turn, that day. Once the Scout performed a good deed, they would secretly transfer the coin to their right pocket where it was a reminder of the good they had brought into the world that day through their simple act of service and kindness.
Hold a coin up for all to see.
Asst. Cubmaster / Den Leader:
Scout(s), place this coin in your left pocket just as the first Scouts of the Boy Scouts of America did more than 100 years ago.
<If a Scout does not have pockets, they should hold the coin in their left hand>
Cubmaster distributes a coin to each Scout.
— END OPTIONAL CHALLENGE COIN SECTION —
Cubmaster:
In honor of your achievement and to mark the beginning of your Scouting journey, we will reenact that chance encounter on the foggy streets of London so many years ago. Each of you will be that unknown Scout to whom we owe so much.
Asst. Cubmaster / Den Leader:
Scout(s), please go to your parents / family and guide them back here so they can share in your achievement just as they shared in your journey to earn it.
Wait for the Scout(s) to return with their parents / families.
Cubmaster:
Scout(s), you have reenacted the good deed of the unknown Scout so you may now transfer your coin to your right pocket.
(OPTIONAL)
Read only if challenge coin is used.
Cubmaster:
Parents / Families, please take the Bobcat badge your Scout has earned and attach it, upside down, to their left pocket using the parent’s pin. It is a tradition of our pack that the badge remains upside down until your Scout has completed a good turn. At that time, you may sew the badge onto your Scout’s uniform right-side up and you may wear the parent’s pin proudly to all of our pack’s meetings and functions.
Asst. Cubmaster / Den Leader distribute Bobcat badge and parent’s pin to parents / families.
Asst. Cubmaster / Den Leader:
Pack ________, please welcome our newest Bobcat(s) with <Grand Howl or favorite cheer>.
Participants return to their seats.
There is a related Cubmaster / Scoutmaster Minute that builds off of this ceremony but may alternately be used as a stand-alone minute that drives home the importance of the daily good turn.
