Star Wars Arrow of Light

My son got his cub scout Arrow of Light award the other day. We had a lot of fun in the pack, putting together a Star Wars theme Arrow of Light ceremony, which the boys loved. (Unfortunately, I think the parents had no idea what was going on. Microphones probably would've been a good idea.)

We copied the idea from the guys who run this blog: http://arrowoflightdoneright.blogspot.com/ We changed a few of the activities to suit the needs of our pack.

Our cubmaster also added his own flare by adding words of wisdom from Yoda, which he collected from youtube clips. So here's our little script if you're interested:

Arrow of Light Saber Ceremony

 

Props needed:

robes or capes for Padawans

Star Wars music

fishing pole

object to lift with fishing pole

2 large sheets of cardboard for trash compactor (about 5' x 3')

paper and plastic recycling materials for the trash compactor

light sabers

mirror covered with post-it note temptations

4 large pieces of cardboard (about 4' x 4' or smaller)

Dry ice

 

Other Preparation:

Notify Scout leader and members of troop to attend in uniform.

 

Gathering Activities:

 

Disabilities awareness: Luke Skywalker lost a hand in his fight with Darth Vader. How hard would it be to put on a shirt without your hands working properly? Have boys put on big gloves then try to button up a large men’s shirt.

 

Welcome

Flag Ceremony

Prayer

 

[Start Intro Music, fairly loud—track #1]

 

Narrator: A long time ago….well, okay, maybe not THAT long ago…In a galaxy far, far away. Okay, truth be told…it was actually TWO DAYS BEFORE THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW! [pause for confused chuckling] and it wasn’t that far away. It was actually very close…. Perhaps even…. Right here…hmm?

 

It is a period of civil unrest and the battle between BAD and GOOD is more fierce than ever.

 

Yoda: To be a Jedi is to face the truth, and choose. Give off light, or darkness, Padawan. Be a candle, or the night, Padawan. But choose.

Narrator: As candidates for graduation from the Jedi Academy Arrow of Light-Saber, you must join in this fight and choose which side you will serve: The Good, or the Bad

[invite candidates up for initiation]

 

First Challenge:Jedi Costumes

Narrator: You must figure out how to put on your Jedi costume.

 

Yoda: Not as easy as it looks, hmmm? Do not be afraid. If no mistake you have made, yet losing you are . . . a different game you should play.

 

Narrator: To be a good Padawan Scout, you must try new things. You must not be afraid to make mistakes.

 

Second Challenge: Trash compactor- find laser guns

Narrator: Each Padawan Scouter must find a hidden light saber. You will be like Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia when they were trapped in the trash compactor. You will have to look through the disgusting, dirty trash to find your hidden light saber.

 

Yoda: Scared of the trash are you? That is good. Named must your fear be before banish it you can.

 

Narrator: Overcoming your fears is one of the most important things to improve yourself and grow. If you don’t, you will just get stuck. But how do you do it? First, as Yoda says, you have to stop avoiding your fear.

 

[Play Star Wars music.]

 

[The garbage masher is made of two sheets of 4x8 cardboard, with 3 or 4 boys on each side. The light sabers are hidden among paper and plastic garbage piled deep. Tell the boys to move in SLOWLY, as they will want to smash the candidate scouts as soon as possible. J Each Padawan Learner must find a hidden laser gun.]

 

Third Challenge: Master the Use of the Force

[Play Star Wars music.]

 

Narrator: Now each Padawan Scouter must come forward to prove he can use the force to lift an object. Luke Skywalker got his X-wing fighter stuck in a swamp. He had to lift it out with the force. Now you must use the force to lift this object. [point to whatever we brought to lift.]

 

Yoda: Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size, do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Foce, and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you.

 

[Call each boy up individually to pretend to use the force in order to lift an object. After he lifts the object, he can receive his awards if he has any.]

 

[On a table, place a large bowl or bin with hot water and dry ice to make the fog effect. Place a toy Star Wars aircraft or other object in the bowl. Attach fishing line to the aircraft then thread it straight up and over something and off to the side out of view, where someone can pull on the fishing pole and cause the aircraft to lift while the scouts ‘use the force’. From the audience, this has a very funny visual effect.]

 

Narrator: The force in Star Wars is pretend, but we have a real force in our lives. That force is the Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost might not help us to lift heavy objects, but He can help us tell right from wrong. He will help us remember what we’ve learned. He can also lead us to serve others and warn us when we are in danger.

 

 

Fourth Challenge: Confronting Evil

[Play Star Wars music. Bring out mirror covered with post-it notes that list fears and temptations.]

 

Narrator: Inside the cave on Yoda’s home planet, Luke Skywalker battled his own bad feelings and fears. To be your best self, you must learn to overcome temptations and think positively.

 

Yoda: You will find only what you bring in.

 

Narrator: What Yoda means is that our thoughts can influence the way we interpret the world around us. If we think negatively, we will see more bad in the world. If we think positively, we will see more good in the world.

 

The Padawan Scouts will now come forward. Each Scout must confront evil and remove it from his view.

 

[Have scouts remove post-it notes. Then scouts can read each one and describe how they would deal with each situation.]

 

Narrator: Congratulations, Padawan Scouts. You have overcome the dark side. Now you can see you are your own best selves.

 

Fifth Challenge: Crossing the Swamp

Narrator: Luke Skywalker had to live in a swamp for a while. As boy scouts, you also must learn to overcome challenging situations. Today, we have turned the other side of the gym floor into a swamp. You must use your teamwork skills to get across without sinking and dying in the muddy water.

 

Yoda: Do not fear the yucky, muddy water. Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.

 

[Give each team 2 boards or pieces of cardboard. The boys must stand on one board while moving the other board in front of them. Then each boy must move over to the second board. As they stand on the second board, they move the first board forward. Repeat this process until they have made their way across the gym floor.]

 

Narrator: It’s important as you grow older that you learn to work well with other people. That’s what teamwork means.

 

Advancement Ceremony

Present scouts with the Arrow of Light award.

 

The Arrow of Light award is the highest achievement in cub scouting. It represents a lot of effort on the part of the scout, his leaders, and his family. As a scout earns the arrow of light, he is prepared to serve the world as a boy scout.

 

Send the scouts to be welcomed by the Boy Scout leaders and troop.