A Georgia Girl in Germany

Benjamin had his first Cub Scout Blue & Gold Banquet last Sunday. They boys were supposed to each make a cake to bring for design competition and dessert. Of course, Benjamin wanted a strawberry cake with strawberry frosting (his favorite). However, since we’d spent five hours in the ER last Saturday (he has/had scarlet fever), I didn’t have the requisite time to bake the cake to allow it to cool before frosting it. Benjamin still wanted to MAKE a cake, so after we picked up Zachary from his weekend campout, we strolled through the commissary and I did my best to convince him that a pre-made cake would be just as good. I even offered to buy THREE packages of the pre-formed letters so he could write whatever message he wanted on the cake. After contemplating my proposal while we shopped two aisles, he agreed on gold flowers and blue letters -- perfect for the BLUE and GOLD banquet. Whew! This mamma was thrilled! I think his creation turned out wonderfully: “Happy Blue and Gold Cub Scouts.”

The Cub Scout pack asked Zachary’s Boy Scout troop to present the colors and to provide the guest speaker, so Zachary got to sit with his troop instead of with us. Here he is with his scoutmaster. He enjoyed the evening, especially sitting at the head table with other -- more mature -- scouts.

Benjamin enjoyed playing with the blue and gold balloons that they were handing out when we arrived. Fortunately, they didn’t cause too much of a distraction for him.

Benjamin earned his Bobcat and Tiger ranks at the banquet. Bobcat has to be earned before any other rank, no matter when you join Cub Scouts, so he’d been working hard to learn the Cub Scout Promise and the Law of the Pack (the two most difficult of the eight requirements). During the Bobcat advancement ceremony, I painted his face to recognize his accomplishments. Blue is from the sky -- The blue paw print of the Bobcat on his forehead is the spirit of the bobcat and to remind him to do his best on the Cub Scout Trail. Yellow is from the sun -- The yellow marks under his eyes will help him see the light of the Cub Scout Trail and symbolize the bright spirit of Cub Scouting. White on his nose is for purity and to help him know right from wrong as he goes along the Cub Scout Trail. The red mark on his chin is for courage to always speak the truth. The green mark on each cheek symbolizes the spirit of nature to guide the Cub Scout in living in harmony with the great outdoors.

I think he enjoyed painting a white dot on my nose to represent me guiding him along the Cub Scout path.

After we sat back down, his den leader presented Benjamin with his Bobcat and Tiger patches. He wears both of them upside down until he does a “good turn” and earns the right to permanently wear them right-side-up. His Bobcat patch is unique because it has the year 2010 on it to recognize that he earned his Bobcat during the 100th anniversary year of Boy Scouting.

When it was time to go, all three kids gathered a few balloon bouquets to bring home. Xynthia had some strong thoughts about whether all the balloons would make it home with us (they didn’t). Overall, the ceremony was very well-done, and Benjamin seemed proud to have earned his Bobcat and Tiger ranks. I’m very proud of him too!

Labels: Benjamin, Cub Scouts, MacKenzie, Zachary