Swimming-up

The Swimming-up ceremony formally recognizes the occasion when a Beaver leaves Beavers and joins Cubs. 

In Chapter 8 of the Beaver story, Friends of the Forest, you’ll find a description of the transition to Cubs.

Ideally, the movement from one section to another is very momentous. Beaver and Cub leaders work together to make it a successful, meaningful experience for all Beavers involved. Arrange a joint meeting with Pack Scouters to discuss the best way to introduce Busy Beavers to Cubbing.

If more Beavers apply for membership in a Cub pack than the pack can handle, start another pack. Explore the matter with the group committee and Service Scouter.

It’s important to be sure that your Beavers are excited and happy about swimming up to the pack. Remember that the colony has not lost a Beaver; it has produced a Beaver who is about to become a good hunter in the pack. It’s a time for all Beavers to share in the happiness of the occasion.

Leaders may present Beavers who will be moving up to Cubs with the scrapbook of all the material which summarizes their growth in the Beaver program.

Keeo can tell them about the six system, the Cub salute, the Grand Howl and how the Old Wolves got their names from the Jungle Book. Keeo can also tell them about the Cub program. (Chapter 7 describes how Keeo can link Busy Beavers to Cubs.) Cub and Beaver leaders decide whether or not to read the Jungle Book to the Busy Beavers before Swim-up. Perhaps they will introduce it by reading the first chapter.

Here’s an important detail to remember... Keeo does not instruct the Beavers in the Cub Promise and Law. This important job is reserved for the Akela of the Cub pack.

Finally, invite parents or guardians to attend the ceremony. Ensure they have bought a Cub uniform. On this occasion, the Busy Beavers wear the Cub uniform under the Beaver vest and neckerchief.

The ceremony begins with the colony in the river formation, and the pack at ease in the parade circle, leaving an opening facing the colony. Parents of the Beavers who are swimming up are invited to join the ceremony and stand in the position outlined in the diagram below.

When everyone is in position, a Beaver leader steps into the centre of the river and leads the Beavers in the opening ceremony, after which the colony again forms River Banks, as in the diagram. A Beaver leader calls out the names of the Beavers who are swimming up. As his or her name is called, each Beaver stands facing the Beaver leaders (position #1). A Beaver leader says: “Busy Beavers, I hope you will remember your Promise. Once again I ask you to join with me in the Beaver Promise.”

The Beavers reaffirm their promise together: “I promise to love God and help take care of the world.”

The Beaver leader says: “Busy Beavers, we wish you a happy life and a new sharing time as you do your best in the Cub pack.”

The Beavers now shake hands with the leaders and then, escorted by Keeo, walk (swim) up the river formed by their colony, to stand facing the Cub leaders and the pack (position #2). The parents move up to stand behind their child. When they are in position, the lights are switched off, briefly flicked on again to represent the magic light featured in Friends of the Forest, then switched off again. While the lights are off, parents help the children remove their Beaver uniforms (hat, vest). Parents then return to

their places and the lights go on.

Akela walks up to the new Tenderpads, shakes their hands and welcomes them into the pack. If the colony uses the Beaver neckerchief, Akela can present the Tenderpads with the pack neckerchief as a welcome. Akela asks the children to make the Beaver salute, then to straighten out the two fingers to make the Cub salute. Akela returns the salute. Introductions should not be necessary because the children have already met the Cub

leaders and sixers.

Akela calls the sixers to take the new Tenderpads to their positions in the circle with their sixes. To welcome them, the pack, possibly led by Keeo, does the Grand Howl.

The Grand Howl concludes the Swimming-up ceremony but the evening may continue with a sing-song around the campfire and some refreshments.

If the new Tenderpads have visited the Cub pack several times before the Swimming-up ceremony and Akela feels they are ready, he may choose to invest them into the pack at this time.