Ian crossed over from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts last night. I have been reflecting on the last five years and our journey through Cub Scouts. Yes, our journey. It started on
this day, when Ian crossed into Cub Scouts as a Tiger.
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| Receiving symbolic paint from his den leader |
Ian's Tiger year was so special. I was his den leader and spent the year hauling Fiona around in my sling while Shane and Evie tagged along. We
moved at the end of the year, which was so sad. We really loved our old pack.
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| Shaking hands with our Cubmaster: Chief Fauxpauxwannahaha |
I was unable to continue as a leader for Ian's Wolf year because I had a new Tiger, Shane (
here is a link to a picture of them). Scouts helped us adjust to our new home and led us to meeting new people. Ian was so shy our first year here and it wasn't until our first
Blue and Gold ceremony that he felt confident. By the end of the year, Daniel was born and I was ready to
pass the responsibility of scouting off to Mark.
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| Arrow of Light Award: Each stripe represents an accomplishment-he got them all |
The next year, Ian's Bear year, he finally had a friend. Mark and I were so involved as Shane's leaders we were starting to
burn out! But there was still so much
fun to be had we stuck it out. One of Ian's biggest accomplishments his Bear year was earning his
World Conservation Award. I was pleased to see that Ian was really internalizing scouting values and growing up to be such a wonderful boy.
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| Waiting to Cross the Bridge |
Ian's Webelos year really saw him grow in mind, body, and spirit. He started having so much fun going to
summer camp and
camping with the pack during the year. He made more friends. He started working on earning all 20 activity badges and discovered his
inner showman. His happiest moment came when he placed first in the
Pinewood Derby.
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| Being welcomed by the Boy Scouts |
By the time he entered his
second Webelos year, Ian had learned so much. Not just the regular topics that kids learn in Cub Scouts (like knot-tying and birdhouse building), but really important lessons in
human nature. He and I had so many conversations about what motivates people to act the way they do and what we can do in our own lives to manage people and how they effect us. The day he earned his
Super 20 award was one of my favorites. We worked so hard together to get all those requirements done.
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| The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step... |
And now he is done. At least with the Cub Scout part of his journey. Now he is a Boy Scout and is ready to start a new journey.
