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Arrow of Light

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5th Grade

Arrow of Light

Arrow of Light Scouts are 5th graders working towards the Arrow of Light rank. If a fourth-grade Cub Scout has completed the Webelos rank, they may begin to work on the Arrow of Light. The Arrow of Light rank is earned by completing five adventures as described below.

Path to Advancement

Bobcat (Prerequisite)

No matter the age a boy or girl joins Cub Scouts, the Bobcat badge is the first rank that must be earned in order to advance to Tiger, Wolf, Bear, or Webelos.

  1. Learn and say the Scout Oath, with help if needed.
  2. Learn and say the Scout Law, with help if needed.
  3. Show the Cub Scout sign. Tell what it means.
  4. Show the Cub Scout handshake. Tell what it means.
  5. Say the Cub Scout motto. Tell what it means.
  6. Show the Cub Scout salute. Tell what it means.
  7. With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide—Bobcat Requirements

Building a Better World

Complete the following requirements.

  1. Explain the history of the United States flag. Show how to properly display the flag in public, and help lead a flag ceremony.
  2. Learn about and describe your rights and duties as a citizen, and explain what it means to be loyal to your country.
  3. Discuss in your Webelos den the term “rule of law,” and talk about how it applies to you in your everyday life.
  4. Meet with a government or community leader, and learn about his or her role in your community. Discuss with the leader an important issue facing your community.
  5. Show that you are an active leader by planning an activity for your den without your den leader’s help. Ask your den leader for approval first.
  6. Do at least one of these:
    1. Learn about Scouting in another part of the world. With the help of your parent, guardian, or den leader, pick one country where Scouting exists, and research its Scouting program.
    2. Set up an exhibit at a pack meeting to share information about the World Friendship Fund.
    3. Under the supervision of your parent, guardian, or den leader, connect with a Scout in another country during an event such as Jamboree on the Air or Jamboree-on-the-Internet or by other means
    4. Learn about energy use in your community and in other parts of the world.
    5. Identify one energy problem in your community, and find out what has caused it.

Duty to God in Action

Complete Requirements 1 and 2 and at least two others.

  1. Discuss with your parent, guardian, den leader, or other caring adult what it means to do your duty to God. Tell how you do your duty to God in your daily life.
  2. Under the direction of your parent, guardian, or religious or spiritual leader, do an act of service for someone in your family, neighborhood, or community. Talk about your service with your family. Tell your family how it related to doing your duty to God.
  3. Earn the religious emblem of your faith that is appropriate for your age, if you have not done so already.
  4. With your parent, guardian, or religious or spiritual leader, discuss and make a plan to do two things you think will help you better do your duty to God. Do these things for a month.
  5. Discuss with your family how the Scout Oath and Scout Law relate to your beliefs about duty to God.
  6. For at least a month, pray or reverently meditate each day as taught by your family or faith community.

Outdoor Adventurer

Complete Option A or Option B.

  • Option A
    1. With the help of your den leader or family, plan and participate in a campout.
    2. On arrival at the campout, with your den and den leader or family, determine where to set up your tent. Demonstrate knowledge of what makes a good tent site and what makes a bad one. Set up your tent without help from an adult.
    3. Once your tents are set up, discuss with your den and den leader or family what actions you should take in the case of the following extreme weather events:
      1. Severe rainstorm causing flooding
      2. Severe thunderstorm with lightning or tornadoes
      3. Fire, earthquake, or other disaster that will require evacuation. Discuss what you have done to minimize as much danger as possible.
    4. Show how to tie a bowline. Explain when this knot should be used and why. Teach it to another Scout who is not a Webelos Scout.
    5. Recite the Outdoor Code and the Leave No Trace Principles for Kids from memory. Talk about how you can demonstrate them while you are working on your Arrow of Light. After one outing, list the things you did to follow the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace.
  • Option B
    1. With the help of your den leader or family, plan and participate in an outdoor activity.
    2. Discuss with your den or family what actions you should take in the case of the following extreme weather events:
      1. Severe rainstorm causing flooding
      2. Severe thunderstorm with lightning or tornadoes
      3. Fire, earthquake, or other disaster that will require evacuation. Discuss what you have done to minimize as much danger as possible.
    3. Show how to tie a bowline. Explain when this knot should be used and why. Teach it to another Scout who is not a Webelos Scout.
    4. Recite the Outdoor Code and the Leave No Trace Principles for Kids from memory. Talk about how you can demonstrate them while you are working on your Arrow of Light. After one outing, list the things you did to follow the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace.

Scouting Adventure

Complete the following Requirements.

  1. Prepare yourself to join a troop by completing at least a-c below:
    1. Repeat from memory the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan. In your own words, explain their meanings to your den leader, parent, or guardian.
    2. Explain what Scout spirit is. Describe for your den leader, parent, or guardian some ways you have shown Scout spirit by conducting yourself according to the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan.
    3. Give the Scout sign, salute, and handshake. Explain when to use each.
    4. Describe the First Class Scout badge, and tell what each part stands for. Explain the significance of the First Class Scout badge.
    5. Repeat from memory the Pledge of Allegiance. In your own words, explain its meaning
  2. Visit a troop meeting with your parent or guardian and, if possible, with your den members and leaders. After the meeting, do the following:
    1. Describe how the Scouts in the troop provide its leadership.
    2. Describe the four steps of Scout advancement.
    3. Describe ranks in Scouting and how they are earned.
    4. Describe what merit badges are and how they are earned.
  3. Practice the patrol method in your den for one month by doing the following:
    1. Explain the patrol method. Describe the types of patrols that might be part of a  troop.
    2. Hold an election to choose the patrol leader.
    3. Develop a patrol name and emblem (if your den does not already have one), as well as a patrol flag and yell. Explain how a patrol name, emblem, flag, and yell create patrol spirit.
    4. As a patrol, make plans to participate in a troop’s campout or other outdoor activity.
  4. With your Webelos den leader, parent, or guardian, participate in a troop’s campout or other outdoor activity. Use the patrol method while on the outing.
  5. Do the following:
    1. Show how to tie a square knot, two half hitches, and a taut-line hitch. Explain how each knot is used.
    2. Show the proper care of a rope by learning how to whip and fuse the ends of different kinds of rope.
  6. Demonstrate your knowledge of the pocketknife safety rules and the pocketknife pledge. If you have not already done so, earn your Whittling Chip card.

Elective Adventures (1 Required)

To earn the Arrow of Light rank, you must complete one elective adventure of your den or family’s choosing. Please refer to your Webelos handbook or scouting.org for more information.

  • Adventures in Science
  • Aquanaut
  • Art Explosion
  • Aware and Care
  • Build It
  • Build My Own Hero
  • Castaway
  • Earth Rocks!
  • Engineer
  • Fix It
  • Game Design
  • Into the Wild
  • Into the Woods
  • Looking Back, Looking Forward
  • Maestro!
  • Moviemaking
  • Project Family
  • Sports

Cyber Chip

With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide and earn the Cyber Chip award for your age.*

* If your family does not have Internet access at home AND you do not have ready Internet access at school or another public place or via a mobile device, the Cyber Chip portion of this requirement may be waived by your parent or guardian.

Items Needed

Shirt
Purchase
Handbook
Purchase
Hat
Purchase
Neckerchief
Purchase
Neckerchief Slide
Purchase
Uniform Badge Placement
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