The end of the Scouting year has come for me. Our Cub Scout Pack had a cross-over ceremony to promote each den level to their next level. I am a big fan of ceremonies in scouting and in life in general.
For our Cub Scout Ceremony we had the typical bridge. We did the typical neckerchief change. This time around, I place a decorated drum on one side of the bridge. I instructed the Scouts to declare their year an end, by striking the drum once before crossing the bridge. Ahhhh… I think it added that extra little bit to make it EXTRAORDINARY!
It’s important for all of us to have some sort of ceremony when we change or end something. When I recently left a job, the office organized a get together at one of the local bar&grills. When I received my MBA, the university recognized our hard work through a commencement ceremony and my family through a party.
You might think, it’s not that big of a deal. I know I completed the task and that’s all I need. You might want to rethink that thought. There is POWER to the ceremony. The act of self recognition or even the event of closure has a big impact on your psyche.
A funeral is a ceremony. It’s really not for the deceased. It’s for the rest of us for closure and celebration of life.
The last part of the Cub Scout Cross-over was a change of command ceremony. I stepped down from being the Cubmaster. So I created a ceremony to remove the Akela headdress from me. My wife removed it from me and the wife of our new Cubmaster put it on the new Cubmaster. Involving the wives symbolized their behind the scene support. I think the ceremony gives a couple of meanings for the Pack. First, the Pack now knows who is running the show and second, the new Cubmaster has formally been given his authority. I made up an oath to go along with the transition as well.
When we give kids their ranks or their awards, we should not just put it in a plastic baggy and hand it to them. If we, as adults, don’t make it a big deal, the kids won’t think it’s a big deal either.
Make events EXTRAORDINARY!!
Lead by Example,
Scouter Steve