The Story of the Climb (Crossover ceremony for cub scouts)

I came across a message yesterday which has a universal moral that I think would be good for all kids to hear.

I got the chance to be a visitor at the crossover ceremony for a very well organized cub scout pack.  This is where the cubs move from one rank to the next, it is an annual event.  The parents are recognized as well since that the boys DO need their help and encouragement to get through these ranks.  Sometimes I think that they should have a ceremony where the parents of school kids are given an award (or at least positive recognition) for all those hours of help they give their kids during the school years!

I loved the story which was read at this ceremony, I found it on the website and I copied and modified it to that which was read at the ceremony for all to see.  Originally this came from the indians.org website - which has a neat section on Indian Literature where the Climbing the Mountain story came from.  Of course this story applies equally to both indians and squaws!!!!!

The Story of the Climb

One night, during the Fall season of the year, the Chief called all the boys together and said to them, "Now, boys, you are of the proper age to accept this challenge, and you may now all go out tomorrow and seek to climb that mountain with my blessings. Start right after breakfast, and each of you, go as far as you can, and, when you are tired, come back, but you must bring back a twig from the place where you turned."   The boys were so excited they could hardly sleep that night.   The next morning, away they all went, full of hope and dreams.

Soon a very young boy come slowly back, puffing and sweating all the way. As he stood before his Chief, he showed in his hand, that he held a piece of green Beavertail Cactus. "My boy," the Chief smiled, "I can see you reached the foot of the mountain. This is from the desert at the mountain foot.  You have done well."   THESE ARE THE TIGER CUBS

Another hour passed, and a second boy returned. He held a young Cottonwood sapling. "Good work," said the Chief, "you climbed the mountain up as far as the springs! Very good!"   THESE ARE THE WOLVES

Later in the afternoon, one arrived with an Incense Cedar frond. "Well done, my boy," said the Chief. "You made it half way up! You have seen the heart of the mountain. Very good job."  THESE ARE THE BEARS

An hour after that, one came with a branch of Ponderosa Pine, and to him the Chief said, "Good job. You went to the third life zone. It looks like you made it three quarters of the way. I bet if you keep trying, next year you will undoubtedly reach the top!"   THESE ARE THE FIRST YEAR WEBELOS

The sun was low, and even the Chief was starting to worry a bit. There were many pitfalls on that mountain to overcome, and the last of his boys was still outside of camp. Could a Grizzly Bear have ambushed him? Or maybe he fell off a tall rock facing somewhere, never to be heard from again ? Maybe he had lost his way, or ran out of water.

As it happened, just when the Chief was to send out a search party to look for the boy, he was at last returned. He was a tall, splendid boy of noble character; everyone already knew he was marked to be successful in life. He approached the Chief and held out his hand. It was empty, but his face was glowing with happiness when the boy said, "My Chief, there were no trees where I came from. I saw no twigs, no living thing up on that peak. And far away I could see the glorious sight of the sun shining off other mountains and the sea."

Now the old man's face started to glow too! He turned around, and said, "I knew it! I just knew it when I looked upon your face. You have been all the way to the top! It was written in your eyes! It rings in your voice! And it is alive in the way you carry your body! My boy, you need no twigs for token. You have felt the uplift in your spirit because you have seen the glory of the mountain!"   THESE ARE THE SECOND YEAR WEBELOS

Dearest Scouts, keep this in mind, that the badges that are offered you for your achievements, are not "prizes" to be "won".  These badges, are just tokens, of what you have done, and where you have been. Remember this, that as fun as these badges are to earn, they are just twigs collected from the trail, to show how far you got, during your climb to manhood.

This photo is the order of the arrow scout dancing in Indian Costume around a bonfire.  To the right is the arrow of light (yet to be lit) and the cross over bridge.

Aussie Kim

Comments

[LA Sue]

Wow! That was great! It's just like I was there!