AOL ceremony?

[gcan]

We want to give the boys certificates and gold arrows (If I can find cheap arrows to spray paint). But having seen this exactly once before, I'm kinda flying blind. How have you all made the ceremony special? What have you given the boys that's worthy of displaying next to all dad's sports trophies?

Is the AOl ceremony seperate, or presented to each boy after the rest of his awards?

[Eagle92]

Gcan,

My OA chapter has several different AOL/Crossover ceremonies that we do depending upon what the unit wants, and who is available(try having 3 unit AOL/Crossovers in the same nite!). So ask what the local OA chapter can do for you. Cubs love the "Indians."

 

As for what to give, I've seen plagues in the shape of the AOL award with their name, pack, and date. I've seen arrows made with stone heads and hand painted imitation eagle feathers with bands corresponding to the ranks earned, their name, and pack number. Thinking about it, I am losing track of all things I've seen.

 

Most important thing is make the ceremony memorable for the youth receiving the award. Also make is inspiring for those cubs still in the pack so they want to get the AOL.

 

good luck

[SctDad]

This is something that I recieved in the mail once

 

Cut a 30" x 30" peice of plywood.

Covered it in Cub blue material.

Cut quarter round trim, painted it gold and trimmed out the edges

Purchased some arrows with feathers (on-line).

Turned the whole thing diagnally so it looks like a large rank badge.

With wood dowels as standoffs mounted the arrow

Got all the boys awards/patches from their parents(Tiger to Web 2 ) including beltloops and mounted them on the plaque.

 

At the top had a plate made " Presented to XXXX in commemoration of his years at BSA Pack XXX"

 

 

I think it sounds like a good gift.

[scottteng]

Our troop works closely with a large pack helping them with the crossover ceremony Other troops that boys are crossing over to come and help. Our SM wears a hat in the pack so we cancel our meeting and just do the crossover that week. It is held outdoors we have a large bonfire and a bridge for them to cross At the end of the regular pack meeting parents and other cubs who want to watch go to the viewing area while the Webelos are taken on a hike by guides from the troop with Tiki torches. They meander all over the grounds of the CO then are brought to the boy scout trail where there are smudge pots with the 12 points of the scout law. The guides read the point and the explanation. They then go to the back of the open area where there are other scouts and the Webelos shoot their "flaming" arrow out into the field. We use light sticks taped to the arrows after setting the field on fire a few years back. The Webelos then proceed to the bridge bonfire area where they are in front of all the guests then they call for akela to come. After akela in full native American regalia is escorted in by boy scouts with tiki torches akela calls each boys name to cross over announces him as he crosses and which troop is receiving him. The troops do their thing usually changing epaulets and neckers. Akela gives a short talk about watching the cubs grow and looking forward to next years crop and departs. The ceremony takes a while to do but is very impressive we usually have boys from 4-5 different packs participating along with probably the same number of troops.

[SctDad]

I went to Lowes today and looked at some wood, I found that the 30" by 30" would be HUGE. You can find some 24" X 24" plywood already cut to size. Nice and large, and plenty of room for awards.

 

Just thought I would pass on that info.

[diogenes]

We just did one for a Weblos from our pack. We've been combining award ceremonies for the pack and troop so the can help support each other, so this seemed a "normal" ceremony. The older Scouts had built a bridge in the cultural halll where we meet, and we had the Cubs and Scouts sit on different sides. After focusing on the Scouts and their awards, we slipped into the AOL/bridging ceremony by making a big deal about not having enough scouts. The SM crossed the bridge to the Cub side and asked Akela. The Weblos was told that AoL was not earned lightly, and he would be tested. Akela and other leaders spoke for him that he was ready, and the Weblos was challenged. Just when he thought he was done (he got the AoL), he had to face challenges as he crossed the bridge to Scouting. Every step of the way he was blocked and chellenegd by a Scout, telling the SM that the Weblos could not cross because he was missing something (uniform items). This allowed Scout leaders (boys and adults) to give him his Scout uniform one piece at a time, and advance one step at a time, until he crossed the bridge and was welcomed by all the Scouts. It was not Shakespeare by any means, but the Weblos definitely took the challenges serious and felt like he had accomplished something significant by the end and felt like he belonged. He had a big grin that only a true Scout could have.

 

This helped us do two things:

1. Avoid making the Aol feel like a kiddie award (I played up the significance, especially with the knot for adults, and as the only AoL adult present I was the one making the fuss about challenging the boy)

2. The older boys were able to welcome him without resorting to their weird ideas of hazing.

 

[baschram645]

Gcan,

We use this ceremony. You can find it at www.wahshashe.org You can modify it as needed. Painted arrows and/or certificates are all nice. The last thing is to make sure that the entire scout troop is on hand to greet the new scouts. Our OA chapter has its own ceremony team and the scouts put alot of effort into their ceremonies. Check with your DE to see if there is a ceremony team available.

 

[gcan]

thanks for the great ideas! i really like the bridge 'challenge'- maybe we could 'challenge' each boy as they go across with some tenent of the scout law?

 

I like the plaque idea, too...

[Eagle92]

Another idea abut challenges, challenge the cubs not receing the AOL to strive and get the award, using those who are as examples. Once the Webelos crossover and take the Scout Oath and are given loops, book, nekcer, etc. The ceremony team usually recognizes all Eagle Scouts in the audience and challenges the new scouts to climb the trail to Eagle.

[shortridge]

The ceremony team usually recognizes all Eagle Scouts in the audience and challenges the new scouts to climb the trail to Eagle.

 

I like that idea. Just make sure there are some Eagles in the audience before you ask them to stand up...

[Eagle92]

If I'm there and the Head Adult singer for the drum is at the ceremony, there is Hopefully once the paperwork comes back form national the head youth singer will be able to stand up as well

[Novice_Cubmaster]

GCAN - in our pack, we made "real" looking arrows one year for our AOL plaques.

 

We got a dozen stone arrowheads at a local rock & gemstone shop and turkey feathers from Hobby Lobby. Then stained some 1/4 inch dowels dark brown, lashed on the arrowheads, and crazy-glued on the feathers. They looked really cool.

 

LOL when we bought the arrowheads - they were made by real Indians - in India. Word of warning - they were also really sharp.

 

Congrats to your cubs for earning their AOL.

 

NC

[diogenes]

Doing challenges based on the Scout Law would be good. It'd also take a long bridge (and/or small steps) to get all 12 points in there, but the idea is good. I figure the main point is in using the challenges to help make the transition feel real, and become real. Boys like to feel that they've really earned something, especially if it involves feeling like an (young) adult instead of a "little boy". All the better if he can be publicly recognized for this.

 

Make sure the lad really knows the Oath and the Law before the ceremony if you plan to include them. Mine gave it his best shot but ended up needing a literal "good turn" from the older Scouts as they turned around the chalkboard with the Oath and Law posters on the back to where he could see them.

[Karen_216]

We purchase arrows online and also get the names embossed on leather thongs. That is something that could be done by the boys them selves- stamp their own piece of leather with their name. We have a Dad that makes plaques and that we attach the arrows to and then add the name. Makes a nice keepsake.

We do use a cheaper arrow to break and do a broken arrow ceremony. Boys used to be given an arrow and then Cubmaster would break each one and give back, We dont' do that any more. We give them their arrow on the plaque.

Another thing I've heard done is to use paint of different colors and then to put on a lave and mark each rank and elective earned individually with a stripe. Lots of work when you have lots of boys.

Another thing we started for each boy that moved on is to burn their names on the crossover bridge . Our woodworking Dad rebuilt this last year for us as well. The leader puts the den number and all the names of the boys on it.I'd like to put a symbol for those earning AOL next to the name.

there are a number of websites out there we researched and found arrows at. Also try a Sportsman shop/ gunshop, they have arrows of various kinds.

[resqman]

I attended an AOL last year to recieve new members into the troop. The Pack had the rising Webelos build their own shadow boxes to display their awards. Basically all you need is some 1x4 lumber. Cut miter corners to make a box. Set the blade of your saw one third the depth of the wood and cut a groove 1/4 inch back from the edge of the 1x4 to set the glass in. A piece of 1/4" luan plywood for the back and your good to go.

 

The shadow boxes were deep enough that PWD cars just fit between the glass and the back. The boxes were about 30 inches long and about 12"-16" tall. There were two standoffs to support an arrow. The back was covered with cloth. Some were Cub Scout uniform blue but some were marron or black. All the badges, patches, and other awards were affixed to the cloth covered back.

 

When my den bridged, the adults made arrow boards out of shelf board. We had metal plates engraved with their name, pack #, and date. The arrow was supported by 2 cup hooks. We ordered arrows from a native american who made them. We placed colored pony beads on leather thongs to represent the various ranks, arrow points, etc and then tied some feathers to the end of the leather thong. The thongs were tied to the arrow.

 

I purchased a shadow box from the scout store to display his patches and awards.

 

If we were doing it over, I prefer having one shadow box for the arrow, PWD cars and awards. I can see where over time where things may get seperated and lost. With everything in one shadowbox, it is all contained.