“Arrow of Light is the final badge of rank in Cub Scouting for 5th graders and is designed to prepare Cub Scouts to join a Scouts BSA Troop.
Arrow of Light Scouts and their families should be familiar and comfortable with the youth and adult leaders of the Scouts BSA troop, their role in the troop and troop activities, and feel excited about beginning this new adventure. The passage from a pack to a troop should be smooth, with no time lost in between. The crossover ceremony should clearly signify the transition to a new level of Scouting.
The key factor to a strong Arrow of Light to Scouts BSA transition is the ongoing working relationship of the leaders of a Cub Scout pack, the Arrow of Light den leader, and the adult leaders of the Scouts BSA troop. Ideally, a chartered organization would have a pack and a troop with leaders who work together to help prepare Arrow of Light Scouts into a Scouts BSA troop the same way schools move students from elementary school to middle school.
By planning and coordinating their efforts, the pack and troop can help make the Arrow of Light -to-Scout transition seamless and give all Arrow of Light Scouts a chance to experience the fun and excitement of joining a Scouts BSA troop.
Arrow of Light Required Adventures
To earn the Arrow of Light badge of rank a Cub Scout must earn the six required Adventures and at least two elective Adventures. The required Adventures are based on the aims of Scouting: character & leadership, personal fitness, and citizenship, and the areas of importance: the outdoors, safety, family & reverence. The required Adventures for Arrow of Light have requirements that prepare Cub Scouts for Scouts BSA. Below are the links to the requirements for the Arrow of Light required Adventures.
BOBCAT – (CHARACTER & LEADERSHIP) – Bobcat is designed to be the first required Adventure earned, it does not have to be the first Adventure earned. Within the requirements, Cub Scouts learn about Scouts BSA by creating a patrol, learning the Scouts BSA handshake and salute, and visiting a Scouts BSA Troop. This visit to the Scouts BSA Troop should be done as soon as possible to allow Cub Scouts and their parents to become familiar with Scouts BSA and ideally the troop they will join.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURER – (OUTDOORS) – Arrow of Light Scouts are introduced to the Scout Outdoor Essentials. They are required to go camping, this can be as a den or with a Scouts BSA Troop.
PERSONAL FITNESS – This is the first Adventure in Cub Scouting where Scouts are required to track their progress. Tracking progress for personal fitness and other activities is common in the Scouts BSA advancement program.
CITIZENSHIP– This Adventure Arrow of Light Scouts learn how to plan a service project using the SAFE checklist and start to track their service hours. Tracking service hours is a common requirement in the Scouts BSA advancement program.
FIRST AID – Based on feedback from Scouts BSA leaders there was a strong desire for new Scouts who are joining a Scouts BSA troop to have first aid skills. In addition to first-aid Arrow of Light Scouts learn about personal safety awareness.
DUTY TO GOD (FAMILY & REVERENCE) – To prepare Arrow of Light Scouts for a board of review they are asked in this Adventure to verbalize how they incorporate the value of duty to god into their lives.
Pack Responsibilities
It should be the goal of the Cubmaster and Arrow of Light den leader to have each Scout continue their Scouting experience. Pack and den leaders can use these tips:
- First thing is to develop a working relationship with the leadership of a Scouts BSA troop or troops in the community. Most troops should have either an assistant Scoutmaster or a committee member assigned to new Scouts. Your unit commissioner can help put you in contact with troop leaders.
- Ensure that Arrow of Light Scouts visit a Scouts BSA Troop as early as possible, this is a requirement for the required Bobcat Adventure.
- Work with troop leaders to secure den chiefs, with a focus on Arrow of Light dens.
- Work with troop leaders to get assistance with delivering Arrow of Light required and elective Adventures.
- Invite the Scoutmaster and troop youth leaders to special pack activities. This will help create familiarity and a level of comfort for the Arrow of Light Scouts and their parents as they ease into the troop.
- Plan a meaningful crossover ceremony. Include troop leadership to be present to accept the Arrow of Light Scouts as they graduate.
- If a troop does not exist in your community, discuss with the head of the pack’s chartered organization about the possibility of organizing a troop. An Arrow of Light den can form the nucleus of a new troop.
Troop Responsibilities
The transition from an Arrow of Light den to a Scouts BSA troop is an important stage in the Scouting journey. It is crucial that Scout leaders do everything they can to make the process as seamless and inviting as possible for Webelos and their parents, including:
- Become familiar with the requirements for the six Arrow of Light required Adventures.
- Schedule and prepare for Arrow of Lights Scouts to visit the Troop meeting as soon as possible (start of the school/program year).
- Select Scouts to serve as den chiefs for each Arrow of Light den. Arrange for den chief training.
- Serve as a resource for overnight activities. The troop can be of service to provide equipment, leadership, and logistics for Arrow of Light den or pack campouts.
- Conduct an orientation for parents when Arrow of Light Scouts are visiting the Troop to explain the difference between Cub Scouting and Scouts BSA and how the Arrow of Light badge or rank will help prepare them for joining Scouts BSA. Include information on Summer Camp to allow families to prepare financially and take advantage of fundraising opportunities.
- Arrow of Light den campouts with a Scout troop should show Arrow of Light Scouts and their parents what to expect when they move into the troop. The Arrow of Light den and troop should cook and camp by patrol and use skills that the Arrow of Light Scouts can participate in.
- Provide each Arrow of Light Scouts and their parents with a copy of the troop’s activities for the upcoming year.
- Get to know the parents and leaders in the Arrow of Light den. Have personal one-on-one discussions about how they can be of service to the troop when their child joins.
- Work with the Cubmaster and Arrow of Light den leader in planning a meaningful crossover ceremony.
Unit Commissioner Responsibilities
The unit commissioner is the connecting link in the chain between the troop and the pack. Often, the same unit commissioner will serve both a pack and troop in the same community, making them a great resource for assisting in the Arrow of Light-to-Scout transition.
Unit commissioners can use these tips to help Arrow of Light Scouts continue in Scouting:
- Be a catalyst in developing good relationships between troop and pack leaders.
- Promote communication by scheduling a meeting of key volunteers.
- Help plan an Arrow of Light den visit to a troop meeting and other joint activities.
- Keep the pack and troop on schedule as plans develop for the crossover ceremony.
- Attend the crossover ceremony.
- Be sure new Scouts have completed a Scouts BSA application, that they have a copy of the troop’s activities, and that they know when and where the troop meets.
- Work with the Arrow of Light den leader to follow up on youth who did not join a troop. Make sure they are invited to join a troop.
- Be sure Arrow of Light Scouts join a troop in time to prepare for Scout summer camp.
District Arrow of Light Transition Chair
Another key role for a successful Arrow of Light-to-Scout transition is the district Arrow of Light transition chair. This person is a member of the district membership committee and is charged with making sure every Arrow of Light Scout is given an opportunity to join a troop. A district Arrow of Light transition chair can use these tips to help Arrow of Light scouts take the next step and bridge into a Scouts BSA troop:
- Ensure that Cub Scout Packs properly have their Cub Scouts registered as Arrow of Light and in Arrow of Light dens in Scoutbook.
- Coach Cubmasters and Arrow of Light den leaders in the transition process at roundtables, training courses, and through personal contact.
- Report to the membership committee chair and keep the district committee informed.
- Track and maintain records of Arrow of Light dens and which Troops the dens are working with and plan to join by using a wall chart that lists the transition record of each den.
- Work with unit commissioners to follow up on Arrow of Light Scouts who have not joined a troop.
- Work toward 100 percent Arrow of Light transition.
Arrow of Light-to-Scout Plan
Key:
- CM-Cubmaster
- PLC-Patrol leaders’ council
- SM-Scoutmaster
- SPL-Senior patrol leader
- TCC-Troop committee chair
- TG-Troop guide
- TMC-Troop membership chair
- AOLDL-Arrow of Light den leader
August | Person Responsible | ||
1 | Get names, addresses, and telephone numbers of Arrow of Light Scouts. Record the information on the Arrow of Light Scout Tracking form. | TMC, OALDL, CM | |
2 | Plan a joint Scout troop/Arrow of Light den camping trip for October. | SM, PLC, CM, WDL | |
3 | Schedule the Arrow of Light den visit to the Scouts BSA Troop to complete the Bobcat Adventure requirement. | OALDL, SM, TMC | |
4 | Select a den chief for each Arrow of Light den. | SM, SPL, CM | |
September | Person Responsible | ||
1 | Mail a letter of introduction from the Scout troop to Arrow of Light families. | TMC, SM | |
2 | Put Arrow of Light Scouts on the mailing list to receive the troop newsletter. | TMC | |
3 | Continue planning the joint camping trip for October. | SM, PLC, CM, AOLDL | |
October | Person Responsible | ||
1 | Conduct the joint camping trip with the Arrow of Light den. | SM, TMC, SPL, CM, AOLDL | |
November | Person Responsible | ||
1 | Assist Arrow of Light Den Leader with Adventures at den meetings. | SM, TMC, SPL | |
2 | Have den chiefs attend a local council or district training course. | SM | |
December | Person Responsible | ||
1 | Confirm the date, time, and location for the Arrow of Light crossover ceremony | SM, TMC, SPL, CM, AOLDL | |
2 | Inform Arrow of Light parents of the dates, location, and costs for Summer Camp. | SM, TMC | |
January | Person Responsible | ||
1 | Finalized plans for Arrow of Light crossover | SM, SPL, CM, AOLDL | |
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February | Person Responsible | ||
1 | Recommended time to hold cross-over ceremony. | SM, CM, SPL, TMC | |
2 | Get new Scouts actively involved with the troop through troop activities. | TMC, SM, CM | |
3 | Recruit parents of new Scouts to become assistant Scoutmasters or troop committee members. | TCC, SM | |
March | Person Responsible | ||
1 | Plan a troop activity for new Scouts to get them involved with their new troop. | PLC, SM, TMC, TG | |
April | Person Responsible | ||
1 | Conduct summer camp orientation to encourage troop involvement. | SM | |
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3 | Sponsor a troop activity for the new Scouts. | SM, TMC, TG, PLC | |
May | Person Responsible | ||
1 | Work closely with new Scouts and parents during their transition to a troop, ensuring their needs are met and that their move has been natural and fun. | TMC | |
2 | Work on rank advancement with new Scouts. | SM, SPL, TG | |
June | Person Responsible | ||
1 | Ensure that all new Scouts attend summer camp. | TMC, SM | |
July | Person Responsible | ||
1 | Work closely with new Scouts and parents during their transition to a troop, ensuring their needs are met and that their move has been natural and fun. | TMC | |
2 | Work on rank advancement with new Scouts. | SM, SPL, TG | |
