Arrow of Light/Scout Rank

[Mrw]

We had two new to scouting boys join our troop this year. One came back the next week fully ready to earn Scout. The other one, might be a few weeks.

[coneyraven]

I agree, it shouldn't take long at all, in fact, one of the three had the oath memorized by the end of last Wednesdays meeting while the other two were well on their way....I expect them all to reach that point within the next couple of weeks.

[scoutaholic]

I agree, it shouldn't take long at all, in fact, one of the three had the oath memorized by the end of last Wednesdays meeting while the other two were well on their way....I expect them all to reach that point within the next couple of weeks.

Remember, memorizing is not required for Scout. They don't have to have it memorized until they earn Tenderfoot, which will take at-least a month.

[Craft Lady]

Not only is the scout badge, a Boy Scout Badge that has to be earned separately from the AOL, but it is the first opportunity that the new scout has to participate in a scoutmaster conference (a parallel dows not exist in Cub Scouting). It certainly sets the stage for the rest of the Scouts career.

I repesctfully disagree with the statement that it is the first oppertunity that the new scout has to participate in a scout master confrence.

Here is one of the requiremtents from the AOL:

After you have completed all five of the above requirements, and after a talk with your Webelos den leader, arrange to visit, with your parent or guardian, a meeting of a Boy Scout troop you think you might like to join. Have a conference with the Scoutmaster. (taken from http://www.geocities.com/~pack215/arrow-of-light.html)

That was the same wording my son's book. So they do have a SM confrence before getting the AOL.

Now that being said I have no issue with another one being done to get the Scout rank. My son's was a week or two after he joined. It was more about how was he fitting in then anything.

For his troop it was pretty much an automatic he had to do the pamplet on how to protect your child from child abuse, and the SMC basically.

However it is very different for a boy that has his AOL or a boy that comes in off the street. To my son it wasn't like a rank it was not that big of a deal. To my nephew it was a major deal. My nephew had never been in Cub Scouts. He joined 5 months before my son. He was floored when he came out for a visit that my son already had his scout rank. We had to explain that many of the requirements for the scout rank my son had to do for his AOL. So while they were new to my nephew they were things my son had been working on for a while.

Jennifer

[MDEagle]

What's nice about the Scout badge is that it gives an opportunity for recognition at the new Scout's very first COH. They get to be called up to the front, soak in the hearty applause by the Troop parents/adults, and get to pin on the "Mother's Pin."

How stupendous is that for a boy who may only have been in the Troop for a month?

Aside from basking in the reflected glory of my own son's achievements, seeing the new Scouts get their Scout badge is my favorite COH moment. They are so excited.

[Hubert]

They get to be called up to the front, soak in the hearty applause by the Troop parents/adults, and get to pin on the "Mother's Pin."

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Theres a pin?? I didnt know that...I never got one........I never got that chance to give my mom one. Only pin I know as mothers pin is for Eagle.

[Mrw]

Our troop has never done mother's pin either. Doesn't seem to have bothered anyone.

[scoutaholic]

They get to be called up to the front, soak in the hearty applause by the Troop parents/adults, and get to pin on the "Mother's Pin.".

Theres a pin?? I didnt know that...I never got one........I never got that chance to give my mom one. Only pin I know as mothers pin is for Eagle.

There is a pin for each of the boy scout ranks. Look for them in your local scout shop. They may not call them 'mothers pins', I think they just call them 'miniature'.

Some troops use them and some don't. Some parents want them, and some don't care. My ASM is a single father, and is proud to have a complete collection of 'mothers' pins from his son's Eagle trail.

[Hubert]

Thats really cool. Im glad they have something for the parents. It is a nice way to show how proud they are of their boy.

[Lynda J]

I am very very proud of both of my "mothers pin" ribbons, Cub and Boy. I wear them any time I have the chance. Especially at COH. I also wear them to District event.
I am only short the Eagle on my Boy Scout ribbon. But that is coming.

I think all troops should present parents pens. I think it is a wonderful way for a boy to shop appreciation to a parent.

[ronin718]

Our troop uses them. When the boy receives his Scout badge at his first CoH, his mother (normally) is also given a ribbon with the troop logo attached. This ribbon is worn to each CoH and the pins are attached in a progressive manner up the ribbon.

Mother's pins have been a Scouting tradition for as long as I can remember. I know I pinned them on my mom when I was a young'un.

[MDEagle]

Wow, I learn something new here just about every day. I thought the "Mother's Pins" were universal.

We also had them in Cubs. Our local custom is that there's a length of Red White and Blue ribbon pinnned to the parent's shirt/blouse, and all of the Scouts previous advancement pins are on it. When they boy gets his advancement recognition at COH, he adds the pin to the collection on the ribbon.

It's a really sweet moment, although as pointed out earlier, now it's not just Mothers who receive the pins.

[scoutaholic]

In our area, I haven't seen any traditions where the troop/pack supplies a ribbon for the parents pins. If the parent hasn't gotten their own ribbon or something, then they just pin it on the lapel or shirt collar.

Years ago, my mother had 4 boys and realized early that she would need room for bunches of pins. She bought a ribbon wide enough for two rows of pins and tied a knot in it to make it a necklace. She put the cub pins below the knot and the boy scout pins in rows above the knot. My row of pins (from bobcat to AOL & scout to Eagle) is the 3rd row, so the inside edge of the left side. She has 3 rows with all the pins similar to mine, and one row that goes from bobcat to Life. (My youngest brother stopped at life).

Our local scout shop carries a ribbon for the mothers pins. It has colored ribbons sewn together into a necklace with blue & gold on the right side, and red & green on the left. My wife has this ribbon, and just assigned one boy to each side. A neighbor lady has the same ribbon, and has 5 complete sets of pins on it. Probably the heaviest necklace she ever wore, but also the one that means the most to her.

[jr56]

My council has ribbons for this also. It's a very nice gesture for the mothers of the boys.