Ceremonies help bring structure to Beaver Scouts and help them to have a sense of belonging in the Colony. They know what to do and what to expect.
Opening and Closing Ceremonies
The first Ceremony that Beaver Scouts participate in is the Tail Slap. This is the Opening Ceremony. Every meeting is started with a Tail Slap to represent the coming together of the Beaver Scouts at the Pond for their adventures.
To signal the end of our time for adventuring Beaver Scouts will participate in the Lodging. This is the Closing Ceremony. At this time any badges, certificates and awards are presented, and during the ceremony we thank everyone for joining in our adventures.
Tail Slap
Leader calls "River Banks" and all Beaver Scouts and Scouters form into two lines to mark the banks of a river.
Leader calls "Build a Dam" and all join hands to close the ends of the river and form a circle to represent the Beaver Scout Pond.
Leader says "Shhhhh" and all crouch down in Chopping Position (crouched down, standing on their feet with both hands making the Beaver Scout sign)
Leader calls "Who are we?" All others reply "Beavers, Beavers, Beavers"
Leader calls "What do we do?" All others reply "Sharing, Sharing, Sharing"
All call out "Whaaooooo" while slowly standing up, then jumping and slapping hands once behind to back to represent the slapping of the beaver tail.
Leader will lead the Beaver Scouts in the Beaver Scout Promise and Law in repeat after me style.
Leader says "Lodging" and all sit in Lodging position (sitting criss cross) to start the meeting.
Lodging
Leader calls "River Banks" and all Beaver Scouts and Scouters form into two lines to mark the banks of a river.
Leader calls "Build a Dam" and all join hands to close the ends of the river and form a circle to represent the Beaver Scout Pond.
Leader says "Shhhhh" and all crouch down in Chopping Position (crouched down, standing on their feet with both hands making the Beaver Scout sign)
Leader says "Sleeping, Sleeping Sleeping, Goodnight Beavers and busy building tomorrow" all give a "tail slap" by bringing their hand flat against the floor in front of them.
Leader says "Goodnight ____" (mentioning each Scouter in turn, and any guests, going around the pond) and all give a tail slap for each in turn calling out "Goodnight" with the Leader.
A final yell of "Goodnight Beavers" with a GIANT tail slap is given to thank all the Beaver Scouts for joining us in our adventures.
Investiture Ceremony
When a youth joins Beaver Scouts he/she is a "Kit". This is the term for a young beaver. Kits may wear the Beaver Scout hat and vest, but do not wear the neckerchief or any additional badges. To become invested and formally welcomed into the Group, a Kit must know the Beaver Scout Promise, Law, Motto and the Beaver Scout Salute.
A special ceremony is held where parents and families are invited to formally welcome the Kits as Eager Beavers into the Group. Beaver Scouts is a family friendly group and parents are encouraged to take part in the Investiture Ceremony with their Beaver Scout to show the support of the family is still available to the new Eager Beavers.
Tail Ceremony
There are 4 tail levels in the Beaver Scout program. They are a physical recognition of a child's growth and development. A Beaver Scout progresses through the levels according to their age and/or their school grade.
To signify their growth, Beaver Scouts are presented with their new tail at the Tail Ceremony, a special ceremony to celebrate the growth of all the Beaver Scouts in the Colony.
At the 91st we generally hold 2 Tail Ceremonies a year, one at the start in conjunction with the Investiture Ceremony, where all Beaver Scouts are presented with their new tail colour for the year and one midyear in conjunction with the Northern Lights Quest Ceremony, where the Brown and Blue Tail Beaver Scouts are presented with a new tail to signify they are getting ready for their new level come September, and the White Tails are presented with the Northern Lights Symbol to signify they have started their Quest towards the North Star Award and preparing to swim up to Cub Scouts.
Swimming-Up Ceremony
This ceremony marks a special occasion in a young child's life because this is the moment they are ready to leave the Beaver Scout Colony at the Pond and take the first BIG step toward becoming a Cub Scout and joining the Cub Scout Pack in the Jungle for new adventures. Parents are invited to attend this ceremony in the spring.
Swim Up is generally done in the spring, near the end of the year, along with the Cub Scouts moving up ceremony. White Tail Beaver Scouts can wear the Cub Scout uniform under their Beaver Scout vest. During the ceremony White Tail Beaver Scouts will remove their Beaver Scout uniform leaving the Cub Scout uniform to represent the transformation from a beaver to a wolf cub. This Ceremony is the Beaver Scouts chance to formally say their goodbye to their Beaver Scout friends and the Pond, and to be welcomed by the Cub Scout Pack, which is led by Akela, and invited to join the Pack in the Jungle for new, exciting adventures.