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A project of Scouter Liam Morland

Documents: Scout Investiture Ceremony

Scout Investiture Ceremony

Making a meaningful start to Scouting

By Scouter Liam Morland, 1998

The investiture ceremony is the time when a Scout, by means of the words of
the Scout Promise, publicly announces their commitment to the Scout Law. At
the ceremony, the Scout makes the Promise to the Scouts and Scouters of
their troop and to all the Scouts of the world. It is once the candidate has
made the promise that they is a Scout.

The investiture is the beginning of a special time in a young person's life.

Scout-aged children are entering the stage of life when they desire to break
away from their parents, find out about the world, and try to shape their own
identity in it. It is Scouting's desire that a major part of the identity that these
young people form is that of being a Scout.

For most Scouts, making the Scout Promise means making a commitment
that their parents have not. Because of this, the point of making the Promise is
an act of breaking away from their parents; of asserting a separate identity. If
young people have the opportunity to safely break away from their parents,
they will not feel the need to break away in other, less-safe ways, such as by
joining teen gangs or by the use of drugs. In support of this, parents should
not be present at the investiture ceremony.

The setting of an investiture ceremony should reflect the importance of the

commitment, yet be familiar so that it feels safe. The ideal setting is at a
nighttime campfire out-of-doors at camp. The campfire could also be held at
the end of a day event. Suitable indoor locations include in a local Scout
museum, in a church (for religiously closed groups), or other places that are
special. The place were regular Scout meetings take place is the last choice,
due to it not being at all a special place. Wherever the ceremony is held,
efforts can be made through the use of things such as candles to make the
setting special. A campfire at camp is the best.
The campfire can be in the centre of the horseshoe so that it lights the face of
the Scoutmaster. All are wearing the Scout uniform and perhaps their
campfire blankets. The ceremony should be dignified, but not solemn. The
Scoutmaster's expression should be welcoming and friendly, yet filled with a
sense of importance and excitement.

There are many possibilities for the use of candles to enhance a ceremony. A
yellow candle, representing Wolf Cubs, can be used by the new Scout to light
a green candle, representing Scouts. This represents the transition for one
section to the next. (People new to Scouting can use a white candle instead.)
Candles can also be lit as parts of the Promise are recited. When elaborating
ceremonies in this way, it is important to keep them simple enough that they
have real significant for the Scouts.

There is much debate about whether multiple candidates should be invested

one at a time, or all at once. If the are invested one at a time, all the attention
is focused on the candidate's individual commitment, however, the ceremony
will not feel as special if each Scouts sees others going through it before they
do. To solve this problem, the candidates should gather at a place away from
sight and hearing of the ceremony until they are called, one at a time, to be
invested.

The Ceremony
The troop is assembled in a horseshoe. There is a Flag Bearer holding the
troop flag standing to the left of the Scoutmaster. The candidates for
investiture are at a place away from sight and hearing of the horseshoe. The
Scoutmaster briefly reminds the troop of what will happen in the ceremony
then sends the Patrol Leader to bring the first candidate.

Scoutmaster
Patrol Leader, bring the [first|next] candidate for investiture.

The candidate's Patrol Leader fetches the candidate and leads them to
the front of the horseshoe. As the candidate approaches the horseshoe,
the Scoutmaster calls the troop to alert. The candidate stands centred at
the front of the horseshoe, facing the Scoutmaster. The PL stands
behind and to the right of the candidate.

In 1907, Lord Baden Powell of Gilwell led the first Scout Camp on
Brownsea Island, starting a movement that has spread to the entire
world. Since that time, hundreds of millions of people around the world
 have committed themselves to becoming better people by making the
Scout Promise. Candidate's name, do you wish to join them?

Candidate
Yes.
Scoutmaster
Please recite the Scout Promise and Law after me. Troop, Scout Sign.

The Flag Bearer lowers the troop flag to horizontal between the
Scoutmaster and the candidate. The Scoutmaster and the candidate
place their left hands on the flag. All make the Scout Sign. The
Scoutmaster leads the Promise and Law line by line; the candidate
repeats after them.

Scoutmaster and candidate

On my Honour, I promise,
That I will do my best,
To do my Duty to God and the Queen,
To help other people at all times,
And to carry out the spirit of the Scout Law:

A Scout is Helpful and Trustworthy,

Kind and Cheerful,
Considerate and Clean,
And wise in the use of all resources.

Scoutmaster
Troop, steady.

Everyone returns to alert, the flag is returned. The Scoutmaster puts on

the Scout's shoulder knots one at a time.

I give you one shoulder knot to represent your duties to other people; to
help them, to get along with them, to be part of building a better world.

I give you a second shoulder knot to represent your duties to yourself; to

develop yourself physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, and
spiritually so that you will be a better person.

Both of these duties are bound together by the Scouting Spirit and the
Scout Law both of which guide your life.
 Shaking Scout's hand:

Welcome, Pioneer Scout. Troop at ease. Shake hands with your Patrol
Leader then go clockwise around the circle shaking everyone's hand.

If there is another candidate to be invested, the Scoutmaster directs their

Patrol Leader to bring them. The ceremony repeats for all the candidates. The
ceremony is followed by a celebration, such as a campfire with skits and
songs. The Scouter's Five at the end of the campfire can be tied to the
investiture in some way.

Comments? Please email

Scoutdocs
A project of Scouter Liam Morland