These Ceremony ideas are from the Scouts-L mailing list. -srt
Date: Tue, 28 Nov 1995 23:23:03 -0700
From: CHUCK BRAMLET <chuckb@AZTEC.ASU.EDU>
Subject: Another Opening Ceremony
Here is something that my Webelos Den used as an opening flag ceremony for a pack meeting. It was adapted from one of the Cub Scout books, maybe "The How-To Book". Bill and Gary, (and others), you may use it in your Web pages.
I divided it up for five speakers, because I only had five who would participate. It can be divided up for any other number of speakers that you have.
'GATORS OPENING FLAG CEREMONY FOR PACK MEETING
SPEAKER 1:
Our country's first official flag had 13 stars and 13 stripes, one star and one stripe for
each of the first 13 states. In 1795 two more states joined the union and a new flag was
made having 15 stars and 15 stripes. It was this new flag, which Francis Scott Key called
the "Star Spangled Banner", that was flying over Fort McHenry when the British
bombarded the fort during the War of 1812.
SPEAKER 2:
It was during the latter part of August, 1814, that a Dr. William Beans was captured by
the British Army. Francis Scott Key, a young Baltimore lawyer, decided to go to General
Ross of the British army to plead for the release of his friend.
SPEAKER 3:
Going to Chesapeake Bay where the British fleet was massed, Key was kindly received by the
British. General Ross consented to release Dr. Beans, but because the British were
planning an attack on Fort McHenry, held the American party on the ship.
SPEAKER 4:
The British fleet poured a blazing shower of shells onto the fort all through the night of
September 13, 1814. Standing at the rail of the British battleship during the bombardment,
Key could see from time to time, by the glare from the rockets, that the American Flag
still flew over the Fort.
SPEAKER 5:
It was at the moment of "the dawn's early light", with the Flag still waving
triumphantly over the fort, that Francis Scott Key was inspired to write the poem that
became our national anthem.
Let us now welcome our "Star Spangled Banner". Ladies and gentlemen, please stand for the flag of the United States of America.
[continue with normal opening.]
YiS,
Chuck Bramlet, ASM Troop 323
Thunderbird District, Grand Canyon Council, Phoenix, Az.
Please E-mail any replies to: >> chuckb@aztec.asu.edu <<
Date: Mon, 6 Jun 1994 10:49:30 -0500
From: Gerald Demontgny
Subject: Re: Jungle Theme
> I have found that the Cubs really enjoy these openings and have used the > "Old" jungle ceremonies at least once a month. The Cubs like to have the > ceremony with the lights dimmed and a "campfire" [read fake campfire] > burning in the middle of the room. The construction of a artificial moon > to hang in the meeting hall also adds atmosphere. I say "old" jungle > ceremonies since the new handbook and changed the jungle ceremonies a lot, > and I preferred the "old" ceremonies.
Q: What do you mean by old ceremonies. I was a cub from 1961 to 1964? The ceremonies I do with my cubs seemed to be the same? However, my memory is less than perfect, and I would be interested in hearing how they have changed. By the way, our regular meetings begin with the cubs going to their 'lairs', sixers and seconders taking dues, marking off books --this is different from when I was a cub, as I recall being called from the circle to the centre to place my dues in an upturned cub hat below the totem-- then we call "Inspection", and two the leaders proceed to inspect the sixes, scoring them on a score sheet we deveoped.
Then we dim the lights in the gym, and I begin the ceremony leading up to the grand
howl.
"Tis midnight in the jungle , and time for the pack to meet, come wolves of every
colour and gather at the council seat".
Rotating I point to each six, who respond, "We are the --red or other colour--
wolves Akela".
Then I yell "Pack Pack Pack", and the boys assemble. On a good night I do not
have to give voice commands, but simply put out my right arm horizontally, and the boys
form into a parade circle.
The duty six is then asked to get the totem which is placed at the front of the hall
with the flag stand.
The totem is brought back to the circle, with the sixer entering the circle through the
space he/she occupied.
Using a simple nod of the head the sixer leads the pack through the grand howl.
"Akela, we'll do our best",
Sixer: "Do your best",
Pack: "We'll do our best".
[ This is what we call the third Alylmer Version, because the Scout's Canada version has the sixer chant "DYB, DYB, DYB, DYB", and the pack respond,"DOB, DOB, DOB, DOB". We usually try to do the Scout's Canada version at our closing. ]
After the grand howl, the duty sixer and second, proceed to the the front of the hall to the flag stand. We then break the flag, they proceed two steps closer to the circle and we sing O'Canada. They then return to the circle, and the sixer or second leads the pack in a prayer which they have choosen from our book --non-denominational, of general religious significance.
Once this more formal ceremony is completed a leader awards the good hunter pennant following from the inspection, and then we break into a fast game, followed by the nights activities.
On a different note, our pack has just returned from a weekend camp at Lac Philippe in the Gatineau park Quebec. It was what we call an area camp, or which in other geographic locations outside the National Capital region would be called a regional camp. We had 143 cubs, representing 11 packs. Our group had a marvelous time complete with cave exploration --guided and with safety equipment:helmets-- swimming, wide games, campfires, songs, etc. The weather, unlike years past was perfect. Our cubs were delighted with the caves, and had the opportunity to overcome a lot of secret fears, not aided at all by our junior leader who told them the horrifying story of the six footed cave demon!
Oh, yes another note on the Jungle Book. We begin every year by reading the first two chapters. They cannot be got through in a go as they are fairly long. This year our junior leader organized a light show using cardboard cutouts and silhouettes of wolves, fires, man-cubs --Mowgli-- which were turned off and on when needed. Anyhow, we have come to the end of our regular season, other than a summer BBQ at my place for cubs and their families.
gdemontg@ccs.carleton.ca
Last edited: April 13, 2004
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