Cub Scouts at Pack 367 bridge over to Boy Scouts

Valley Stream’s Cub Scout Pack 367 held its annual Blue and Gold ceremony on March 5, a celebration aimed at honoring the founding of the Cub Scout program, recognizing scouts’ achievements, and awarding those moving up in rank. A crowd of family members and friends gathered at the Holy Name of Mary school to watch and show their support.

Cub Scouts range in grade level from kindergarten to fifth grade and each grade corresponds to a rank. The youngest rank is kindergarten: Lion Cub, followed by first grade: Tiger; second grade: Wolf, third: Bear; fourth: Webelos, and finally fifth grade: Arrow of Light. During the ceremony, thirteen 5th grade graduating scouts were awarded their Arrow of Light — the highest recognition of a Cub Scout – marking their move up to the Scouts BSA troop.

The Blue and Gold ceremony features a bridging ceremony during which graduating scouts walk across a bridge, epitomizing their stepping over to the next stage of scouting.

Cub Scout and Arrow of Light recipient Christopher Castillo, 11, said the Cub Scout program taught him about “friendship, teamwork and being prepared.”

“I discovered the beauty of nature,” said Castillo, 11, who joined Pack 367 as a kindergartner. “It felt so fast—the years.”