Crossing the Bridge from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts

Cub Scout Pack 20 of Maplewood and South Orange held its Blue and Gold Banquet on Sunday evening. Seven Webelos (We'll Be Loyal Scouts) Scouts received the highest award in Cub Scouts -- the arrow of light -- and graduated to Boy Scouts as troop leaders, family members and friends gathered for support.

The ceremony began with the presentation of colors, and included the presentation of awards from the Pack’s Pinewood Derby. The Arrow of Light and Bridge Ceremony marked a graduation ceremony for the Webelos who completed the requirements of the Wolf and Bear.

Graduating Webelos Scout, Andrei Figdor thanked his leaders, Mario Merlino and Jose Fuentes: “Because of your commitment to us and the Pack, we are now ready for this special day as we officially become Boy Scouts and leave the Pack 20.”

The boys looked back at many of the activities held during their den meetings, including science, engineering, woodcraft and lifesaving.

“We played marbles, went on nighttime hikes, and even learned to change a tire,” said Nick Merlino, another graduating Webelos.

“Then of course there were multiple , Raingutter Regattas, and of course many camp outs,” added scout . “Why you prepared us so well that we even camped out in the snow during a Nor’easter. Now we are definitely ready for anything. When’s the next hurricane? Bring it on!”

Pack 20 leaders Norm Francis, Jeff Bryant and Yvette Holowczak conducted the Arrow of Light Ceremony/Bridging Ceremony. The ceremony included a story of the Arrow of Light and the lighting of various candles before the boys crossed the bridge from Cub Scouts to.   

The ceremony came to a close after Scoutmasters from Troop 5, Troop 21 and Troop 60 welcomed their new Scouts.

To the men who volunteered over the past five years to prepare them for this graduation, Stephen Lehren said, “Mario and Jose, we will never forget our years together, the friendships we have made and the amazing experiences we have shared. Thank you from all of us, your loyal scouts.”

The graduating Arrow of Light Webelos Scouts were: Andrei Figdor, Max Goldstein, Nicholas Merlino, David Strachan, Mateo Fuentes, Stephen Lehren, Ryan Saurborn.

The evening included awards to Cub Scouts in each of the dens of Pack 20, Tigers, Wolves, Bears (Clinton, Jefferson and South Mountain), and Webelos I.

Stephen Lehren took home a first-place trophy for winning the Pinewood Derby, with trophies also awarded to Mateo Fuentes (2^nd place), Justin Bleasdale (3^rd place), Connor Daws (4^th place); Jeffrey Bryant, funniest design and Pack favorite; Ethan Chestnut-Stein, best design.

Den level winners were also awarded.

Garret Diegan won the Pack’s Raingutter Regatta. Ryan Donaty (2^nd place), William Hoffman (3^rd place), Max Goldstein (most creative and pack favorite), Andrei Figdor (funniest design), Justin Bleasdale (best design) and Owen Masters (best maritime theme) were also recognized.

Popcorn sales help fund many of the activities of the Scouts. This year, Pack’s 20 top salesmen were Christopher Arevalo, Nathan Perlman and Mateo Appelgren.