The Spirit of Cub Scouts

Last Saturday night, I had the opportunity to witness a new chapter begin in the story of one of our local Cub Scout Packs. As young Scouts began new paths on the Trail to Eagle, and their uniforms populated with pins, badges and lanyards during an elaborate tribal and ritualistic ceremony, I was able to bear witness to the very threads of a Pack coming alive.

With the orange skies over the Citta Lake painting the backdrop, parents and siblings looked on as their Cub Scouts performed classic skits of yesteryear and humored the audience with timeless gaffe whose delivery could only be perfected by voice of a 6-year-old. And then, as each rank took to the stage, and their achievements recognized, the true meaning of Scouting shown bright in the dim light of dusk.

But what caught my attention the most was in the background; behind the scenes and out of sight. As a Pack wrought in tradition, the execution of the ceremony almost seemed effortless. The hours of planning and preparation; Memorizing scripts, and buying food and supplies. And even as a brand new Cubmaster would perform his first acts in his new role on the stage, and as he rehearsed his lines for a final time, a dead battery on a wireless mic nearly jeopardized the whole operation. Would it not have been for the preparedness of a fellow Scout leader, and a last second switch, the ceremony might have lost an edge to its impact.

During the ceremony, complete with tiki torches, campfires, tepees and Native American costuming, a small group of onlookers passed by the campfire ring. The small visiting pack took in the spectacle in awe as they were quietly escorted away from the event. I walked with them for a few minutes and listened to the comments and fascination. They asked what it took to bring that into their own unit. The answer came from one of their own; the Commissioner for their unit. “Adult participation.”

Two words and very impacting. And a truth that resonates through the culture of the Pack in everything they do.

When a boy makes Eagle, we make it a point to recognize that the success of that Scout is a direct representation of the success of the adults he surrounds himself with. The same can be said, but rarely is, for the Tiger who advances to Wolves, or the Bear that advances to Webelos. This is a Pack that recognizes this fact and empowers its people to make a difference. It’s a culture that evolves and becomes viral and spreads to Packs, Troops and Crews that surround it.

That night, I saw a new chapter begin for this Pack and a shift towards new and exciting leadership. And with every action came evidence of long time traditions established by the leaders of the past, and yet an excited anticipation for the innovations and progress of the future.

In one year from now, we will bear witness once again, to the product of a culture of excellence and the adults who make it happen.