Morrison, IL, Pack 328 held its Cub Scout Awards presentation and Crossover Ceremony, on Thursday, March 15, 2023, at Morrison United Methodist Church, 200 W. Lincolnway. The 6:00 p.m. event began with a Flag Ceremony and recitations of the Cub Scout Law and Scout Promise.
The youth were presented individual achievement insignia and recognition items. Patches and pins record the several Adventures required to progress to the next rank.
Left-to-right is Cub Master Marshall Blevins; Ayden; Tommy; Bobby; Isaac; Brinkley; Den Leader Linda Anderson. Tony Belha also is a Den Leader.
Two youths arrived that night as Webelos who had completed requirements for the highest rank of Cub Scouts: “Arrow of Light.” Isaac and Brinkley are identified by tan shirts, plaid neckerchiefs, and different-level neck slides. They brought unique distinctions to the local Cub Scout program.
Isaac was the only Lion Cub Scout when he was in kindergarten. Starting at a young age enabled him to become the first youth to progress from Lion to Arrow of Light, as a six-year Scout. He is a recognized “Super Achiever,” having earned every Adventure Loop for all those ranks.
Brinkley is a recognized “Trailblazer,” as the first female Cub Scout in Pack 328. In third grade she joined as a Bear and reached reached the highest rank, Arrow of Light, as a fifth grader. It is a recent policy with Boy Scouts of America to have single-gender troops. If a Scouts BSA Troop of five-or-more girls should form in the future, Brinkley could join.
Together, these enthusiastic young people literally “crossed over,” bridging to the Scouts BSA program.
Forty-four-year Scout BSA Troop Leader Eric Anderson and four Scouts initiated them.
Anderson explained the change in uniform, as his Scouts assisted. The first Scout removed Isaac and Brinkley’s Cub Scout slide and neckerchief. The second and third boys placed a red neckerchief around Isaac’s and Brinkley’s necks and held it in place with a Boy Scout slide. New numerals (9 and 6) were given, and Anderson showed where they should be sewn onto the tan shirt, after 3, 2, and 8 are removed. Isaac already had his green, shoulder epaulet loops to be used at the Scouts BSA level. A First Level Scout patch, said Anderson, should be sewn onto the shirt pocket. The fourth Scout presented new editions of Scouts BSA Handbook for Boys and Scouts BSA Handbook for Girls, respectively.
Anderson noted the Handbook has places to record future ranks and when they were achieved, so the information can be evaluated as a Scout advances. Eagle Scout rank is the highest achievement.
The celebration and bridging ended with a variety of individual and team games, ie., magnetized darts, Twister, and hula hoops; conversation; cupcakes.
Anderson makes Rank name signs for every currently-active boy in Troop 96. When they reach a new Rank, their name sign is moved right, under a new title. Eagle Scout recipients’ signs stay in place at the far right of this display. The Southside School fifth grader will work on his first Scouts BSA Rank during the last week of March. 2023.
