Garrett's Arrow of Light

Tonight was Garrett's last Cub Scout pack meeting. Actually, he aged out of Cub Scouts last month, but with him having a summer birthday when they don't do pack meetings, he had to wait an extra month. He finally received his Arrow of Light award (after a few months of confusion down at the scout office!) and he crossed the bridge over to 11 year-old scouts.

 

After he crossed over, he got to sign his name to the bridge.

 The pack activity was Turtle races, so all the boys got to make their own wooden turtle.

 After attaching them to a string tied to the far end of the room, they would slowly inch the turtle to them by tugging on the string. It really was slow going! Garrett's turtle came in second place, but the pack leader added a three second delay to the winner's turtle (which was his son's) because he had been able to practice beforehand at home. So he declared Garrett the winner. (Luckily, the other little boy is Garrett's best friend, so there were no hard feelings!)

 Garrett has worked hard for the past three years progressing through Cub Scouts. In this last pack meeting, along with his Arrow of Light, he earned a belt loop and pin for badminton, his first ever summertime pack award, his final year outdoor activity pin, his three compass points to put on his compass badge, and his Super Achiever 20 patch and certificate for earning all 20 of the Webelos badges. These were his final cubby awards!

After we got home, we went to add his pins to his Cub Scout wall hanging and he and Owen sat together admiring all his things and remembering all that he had to do to earn each one. Owen was giddy with excitement as Garrett pointed out all the different things Owen would have the chance to earn as soon as he turns 8 in  a couple of months. Owen made a goal to earn at LEAST as many as Garrett, if not more! It was fun watching the two of them so excited together, but I also got a little tired just listening to the two of them talk about all the work Owen was going to have to do and remembering all the Mommy work that goes into helping your young guy in scouts.

It's a good thing they're worth it!