
Campfire Opening
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Cub Scouts of Pack ___. We are gathered here for our graduation campfire. This is a special occasion, a special tradition which has special memories! At the first Boy Scout camp, on Brownsea Island, Baden-Powell and the boys were winding down at the last campfire. Baden-Powell during the campfire told the boys that a campfire was a special time of fellowship, spirituality, and good fun. He told the boys that he wouldn't be around forever, and that to keep the spirit of this time alive, he invited them to take some of the campfire ashes, when they cooled, and to spread them on all the future campfires they would be at. This way the spirit of the first scout camp would live on forever.
To help start our campfire this evening I've brought with me ashes from last years campfire! These ashes contain the memories of that campfire and the fun we had. By adding them to our campfire this year we will build new memories of our campfire this year! I ask that all scouts take a few moments to think of the good times you've had in Cub Scouting!
(Have a moment of silence to let the boys reflect) I need your help in starting the campfire! Yell after me everything I say! (Hold the bag of ashes up and face each of the directions (N, E, S, W) and yell out the following to add mystery to the fire lighting.)
Leader Shouts: Boys Shout:
(Face to the North)
To the North we call... To the North we call...
Spirit Red Spirit Red
Thy Hunger must be Fed Thy Hunger must be Fed
(Face to the East)
To the East we call... To the East we call...
Spirit Hot Spirit Hot
Forget us not Forget us not
(Face to the South)
To the South we call... To the South we call...
Spirit Gold Spirit Gold
As the year grows old As the year grows old
Keep us from the cold Keep us from the cold
(Face to the West)
To the West we call... To the West we call...
Spirit White Spirit White
In the darkness of the night In the darkness of the night
Be our shining light Be our shining light
(Pour the ashes over the campfire. Use one of the many 'magic campfire' starts to ignite the campfire. If it takes a few seconds for the fire to ignite, have the boys chant 'Cub Scouts' loudly saying it is the Spirit of Scouting that lights our fire.) I now declare the camp fire open!
-- Source: 1997 WLACC Pow Wow Book