Monrovia Pack 66 Inducts 11 Young Cub Scouts Who Earn Their Bobcat Badge

Monrovia Pack 66 Inducts 11 Young Cub Scouts Who Earn Their Bobcat Badge

Tonight, November 19th, 2015 at Monrovia First Presbyterian Church, Monrovia Cub Scout Pack 66 inducted 11 new Bobcats into the Packs ranks.

These 11 young cubs have completed the requirements for the Bobcat badge and have worked very hard since they joined. Regardless of his age or grade when joining Cub Scouts, a boy must earn his Bobcat badge before he can advance. Bobcat requirements include learning the Cub Scout Motto, Cub Scout Promise, and the Law of the Pack. In addition, the boy must be able to demonstrate the Cub Scout sign, salute and handshake. The Bobcat badge is pinned to the boy’s uniform upside down and must remain that way until the scout does a good deed. This is their moment of recognition of that hard work. The Bobcat badge is an important part of the Cub Scout Trail; it is the foundation upon which a boy begins his trek toward the Arrow of Light, Cub Scouting’s highest award, equal only to the Eagle Scout Award. The new Bobcats are as follows: Maxwell R., Christopher H., Elan G., Eric T., Gavin G., Corbin L., Joe V., Lucas G., Matthew P., and Adrian G.

Boy’s you’ve accomplished the first step in Cub Scouting. In all things there is always a first....the first stone laid in a new building, the first step across a bridge. The first is sometimes the hardest, but that’s because it lays the foundation or the strength for what follows. The Bobcat badge is your foundation. The trail of Scouting lies ahead of you, but don’t be afraid. You won’t have to do it alone. You’ll have lots of help from your Akela, Akela can be your parents, your den leader; even I your Cub Master will help you along the trail, helping you become successful.

As a symbol of your achievement and of becoming a member of Pack 66 you will be given the colors which are the spirit of Cub Scouting: Blue, Yellow, White Red and Green. BLUE is from the sky. The paw print of the Bobcat on your forehead is the spirit of the bobcat. This reminds you to do your best on the Cub Scout Trail. YELLOW is from the sun. The marks under your eyes will help you see the light of the Cub Scout trail and they symbolize the bright spirit of Cub Scouting. WHITE is for purity. The mark on your nose helps you know right from wrong as you go along the Cub Scout trail. RED is for courage. The mark on your chin reminds you to always speak the truth. GREEN stands for the spirit of nature. The marks on each cheek will guide you to live in harmony with the great outdoors. To assist with tonight’s ceremony, Greater Los Angeles Area Council Camp Director Matthew Halsig told the heroing tale of Lord Baden Powell and was the orator for the Bobcat induction.

Tonight one more special young man was honored, Elias M. Elias M. earned his Arrow of Light, the highest rank in Cub Scouting. It represents the conclusion of the Cub Scout’s journey through the elementary school Cub Scout program, and the beginning of the journey into Boy Scouting.

The Arrow of Light is much more difficult to obtain than a belt loop, an activity badge or even one of the other rank patches. For Elias to be eligible for the award, he was active in his WeBelos Cobra Den for at least six months and have earned the WeBelos Badge. He must be knowledgeable of the requirements to become a Boy Scout including the oath, law, slogan, and motto as well as understanding the significance of the First Class Scout badge and uniform. The ceremony is in essence a coming of age ceremony symbolizing that Cub Scouts are now ready to become Boy Scouts. Elias, congratulations in earning the Arrow of Light you have shown that you have done your best. I challenge you to continue your high level of achievement as a Boy Scout.

Looking ahead to December, the monthly pack-wide meeting will be held December 17th at 7 p.m. at Monrovia First Presbyterian Church. If you know a boy aged first-fifth grade who is interested in scouting, call Cub Master Mark Peters at 626-485-1032 or Asst. Cub Master Erick Bonilla at 626-442-7224 for more information.