Scouts receive Arrow of Light award

" style="max-width:250px;" />Seven Webelos from Sisters Cub Scout Pack 139 earned the highest award in the Cub Scouting program this month.Seven Webelos from Sisters Cub Scout Pack 139 earned the highest award in the Cub Scouting program this month.

The Arrow of Light award was presented at a special pack ceremony on November 17. This prestigious honor is the culmination of Cub Scouts before boys cross over to join Boy Scouts.

"The Arrow of Light award displays a universal symbol for the sun and, below it, an arrow," according to scouting literature. "The seven rays of the sun stand for the each day of the week. They remind us to do our best every day as we follow the arrow that leads to Boy Scouting."

To earn the Arrow of Light award, each Webelos must be active in their den, show knowledge of the requirements to become a Boy Scout, participate in campouts and complete eight activity badges.

Four of the activity badges are required: Fitness, Citizen, Readyman (courage and character), and Outdoorsman. The remaining four electives (of 16 options) included Traveler, Scientist, Engineer and Forester.

The Webelos also earned the Leave No Trace award which attests to their learning to protect the environment for future generations.

"Earning the Arrow of Light Award required a little more than one year to complete," said den leader David Schlatter. "However, during their four-plus years in Cub Scouts our boys performed various service projects including raking leaves for persons in need within the community. Additionally, they were actively involved in fundraising each year for Pack 139."

Pack 139 has been a very active pack, and parents are significantly engaged.

"What made our group unique was parental involvement, especially the fathers," Schlatter said. "Each dad/boy in our den led one of the eight activity badge achievements. This support was typical in each year of our scouting experience. We stuck together and accomplished a goal. And it was fun, too!"

The group went to Scout camp together each summer and planned their own friend campouts and backpacking trips.

"This was the best part, Schlatter said. "Applying our scouting lessons and relationships to real life in the outdoors and working together to have fun. Memorable moments indeed.

For more information, contact Cubmaster Swen Petterson at 549-4499.