How to Make the Arrow for the Arrow of Light Award
The Arrow of Light Award is the highest honor a Cub Scout can earn. This award is the culmination of five years of hard work and is often presented in conjunction with the boy's graduation into a Boy Scout troop. A boy who has earned his Arrow of Light is often presented with a plaque in honor of this achievement. Some Cub Scout packs also have an arrow firing ceremony. If your pack needs the a supply of the yellow and blue arrows for their ceremony, making your own is much less expensive than purchasing pre-made arrows.
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Instructions
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Cut 1/4-inch diameter wooden dowels to 2-foot lengths. Cut a 1/2-inch deep notch in one end of the dowels.
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Place a bead of hot glue inside the notch on the dowel. Slide a stone arrowhead, available at rock and mineral stores, into the notch. Hold in place until the glue dries.
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Wrap twine or leather cording around the junction of arrowhead and shaft, disguising the area that is glued. Tie the ends of the cording together and trim the ends off.
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Cut a blue-dyed feather and yellow-dyed feather up the center of the central vane. Most feathers have a groove running up this vane; use the groove as a guide when cutting. Cut the two blue feather halves and one of the yellow feather halves to a 3- to 4-inch length.
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Place a bead of hot glue up the vane of each of the three feather halves. Glue the feathers to the opposite end of the shaft from the arrowhead, spacing them evenly around the dowel. Hold each feather in place until the glue dries.
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Tips & Warnings
If you are having trouble locating arrowheads or feathers in your area, contact your scouting district office. Representatives there can often tell you the names of nearby suppliers.
Paint the dowel any desired color prior to constructing the arrow, or leave it plain.
Arrow of Light ceremonies often take place during the scouting birthday celebration in February. Start the arrows in fall so you have time to finish them all before the ceremony.
Remind the Scouts that their arrows are not toys and that they must treat the arrows with both caution and respect.
References
- Photo Credit indian arrowhead image by Jim Mills from Fotolia.com
