MANUAL

CHAPTER 12
CHAPTER 12
Beaver Scout Ceremonies
In Scouting, many ceremonies may have quite a history to them and still play an
important and traditional part in our programs today.
CEREMONIAL FORMATION
The basic formation for all Beaver Scout ceremonies is Riverbanks, the two straight
(more or less) lines on either side of an imaginary river.
The “Build a Dam” formation is used in informal activity situations. When “Build a
Dam” is called, youth and Scouters join hands to form a circle.
THE CEREMONIES OF THE
BEAVER SCOUT COLONY
• Opening Ceremony
• Closing Ceremony
• Badge Presentation Ceremony
• Investiture & Tail Ceremony
• Formal Campfire
• Northern Lights Tails Ceremony
& Quest Launch
• Swim-up
(Advancement) Ceremony
• North Star Award
Presentation Ceremony
THE CEREMONIES
All ceremonies presented here will follow the same explanation format so that you
can fully understand the significance and meaning of these ceremonies. They are
presented in the following format:
• Introduction: Each ceremony will first be introduced and the purpose clearly
explained so you can understand the importance of the ceremony.
• Requirements: The required elements of the ceremony will be clearly defined.
These are the points that must be included in the ceremony in order to ensure
continuity in the program across Scouts Canada. We want those youth who move
to Groups in others parts of their province or another part of Canada to fit in and
immediately recognize what is going on, regardless of where they are in Canada.
• Procedure: The basic procedure of the ceremony will be described. Regardless
of an additional theme or special location, the outlined procedure should be
consistent in every Colony across the country.
OPENING CEREMONY
Introduction
The Opening Ceremony is used at the beginning of weekly meetings. It can also
be used to signal the beginning of any gathering of Beaver Scouts. The Opening
Ceremony helps Beaver Scouts with the transition from home to Beaver Scout
meeting and signals that everything is ready to begin.
Requirements and Procedure
All Beaver Scouts and Scouters take part in the Opening Ceremony. To start the
ceremony, a Scouter stands in the middle of the Pond (meeting place) next to Big
Brown Beaver, holds out both arms in front of him or her (spread wide) and yells
“Riverbanks!” At this signal, the Beaver Scouts form two lines (Riverbanks formation),
one off each of the Scouter’s arms.
The Scouter then calls out, “Turn in!” At this command, the Beaver Scouts turn in
towards the centre of the river, so that the two lines are facing each other.
The White Tail Beaver who is leading the ceremony stretches out his or her arms
sideways, and then lowers them, saying “Chopping Positions!” At this signal, all Beaver
Scouts take the chopping position: feet on floor and body in crouching position, with
elbows touching knees, forearms straight up and both hands in Beaver Sign (position
representing paws on tree trunks).
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