Blue & Gold Banquet Planning
Cub Scouts usually celebrate the anniversary of scouting in February with one of their biggest events of the year: the Blue and Gold Banquet. It could be used to honor the pack's anniversary, as a thank you to leaders and parents, a chance to give out important awards and as motivation or inspiration to Cub Scouts. Blue and gold are Cub Scout official colors. Using the Boy Scouts of America's yearly theme and Cub Scouting's many resources for the banquet makes planning easier. Does this Spark an idea?
Planning
The Boy Scouts of America says most packs spend at least two months planning the Blue and Gold Banquet. That amount of time gives leaders time to find a location big enough to hold the banquet as the event is not only attended by the scouts, but also their families and even former members of the pack. Some pack leaders may select another person, possibly a parent, to take over planning. The "Cub Scout Leader How-To Book" contains a detailed planning guide. It is customary to send the pack's Cub Scouts and their families a written invitation, and not rely on commonly forgetful eight to 10-year-olds to remember.
Theme
The Boy Scouts of America has a theme each year for the Blue and Gold Banquet. The yearly publication "Cub Scout Program Helps" is an invaluable resource for Blue and Gold Banquet planning. It can be accessed online. For example, for the February 2010 theme of the Boy Scouts of America's 100th anniversary, "Cub Scout Programs Helps" suggested birthday games and birthday cakes for each den to celebrate.
Decorations
Leaders can decorate for the Blue and Gold banquet with, appropriately, blue and gold, or decorations to go along with the theme. The theme usually lends itself to decor, such as in 2008, when the theme was Chinese New Year. Décor could have included paper lanterns, a blue and gold banner with Chinese characters and red tablecloths. The tables should be decorated with centerpieces, again, to go along with the theme or something like blue and gold balloons. In pack or den meetings prior to the Blue and Gold, dens could create centerpieces to go along with the theme.
Food
Some packs ask a separate person, probably a parent, to chair a food committee. The banquet could be a potluck with families given assignments to go with the theme. Pack leaders could also provide the food, again, to go along with the theme, or depending on budget, have it catered.
Program
The Blue and Gold Banquet is the pack meeting for February and should include all the events a regular pack meeting does, such as the flag ceremony, the den's regular monthly awards and advancements and special observances like the Webelos Scout Bridging Ceremony or even an Arrow of Light ceremony. The banquet could also include a special short program. For example, former pack members who have gone on to become Eagle Scouts could be part of the program. Another possibility is a slide show of the pack's activities over the past year. The entire banquet should be one to 1.5 hours, therefore the program should be short and lively.
Tags: Gold Banquet, Blue Gold Banquet, with theme, along with, along with theme, Blue Gold, Scouts America
