How to Make a Webelos Arrow

The Arrow of Light ceremony is a Boy Scout tradition.

The Arrow of Light is an important rite of passage to boy scouts as they proceed through the ranks of Cub Scouting. Marking the ceremony in which the award is presented with something more special than a certificate causes the scouts feel like they have accomplished something worthwhile, and that is important. Many years later, many former boy scouts still retain their Webelos Arrow of Light as a significant reminder of the challenges they overcame to get to where they are. This significance makes the duty of producing these special arrows all the more important, as the arrow will be a display and presentation piece for years to come.

Things You'll Need

• Aluminum tube of the same diameter as the arrow shaft
• Electric drill
• Drills
• Wooden arrow
• 1/8-inch cotton rope
• Razor blade
• Beeswax

Instructions

1. Position the aluminum tube on a flat surface, and then drill a 1/8-inch hole 1/4 of an inch from both ends with the electric drill, being careful to avoid misshaping the tube.

2. Remove the head from the arrow, if necessary. It is best for safety purposes to avoid using an arrow which has a collapsible or razor head. A practice tip is much safer for these purposes.

3. Insert one end of the cotton rope into the first hole of the aluminum tube, and wrap the rope around the aluminum tube tightly. It should form a cocoon around the tube that you cannot see the aluminum tube under. Thread the cotton rope into the hole at the other end of the aluminum tube after the tube has been wrapped.

4. Slide the tube with the cotton rope over the tip of the arrow. It will be a very tight fit, and you may have to work at it for a few minutes. The extra length of cotton rope left inside the aluminum tube will serve to hold the tube itself in place while the arrow shaft holds the cotton rope, preventing it from unwinding. The tube with the rope needs to be centered in the middle of the arrow.

5. Reinstall the arrow tip, and then use a razor blade to trim any cotton rope that may have slipped out from between the arrow shaft and the aluminum tube.

6. Apply beeswax to the rope by rubbing a block of the material on the cotton rope once the arrow is fully constructed. This will prevent the cotton rope from burning through before the ceremony is completed.

Tips & Warnings

• Extinguish the arrow immediately following the ceremony with a wet rag to prevent damage to the arrow or burn through the rope.

• Use care when using the razor blade so that you do not cut yourself.

• Use a practice archery tip as the point of the arrow rather than a broad head or razor tip. While they might look more exciting, they can be extremely dangerous, even if the points are filed down flat.

References

• "Cub Scout Leader How-to Book"; Boy Scouts of America; 1988
• "Cub Scout Leader How-to Book: Successful Ideas to Add Sparkle to Den and Pack Activities"; Boy Scouts of America; 1999