Knot of the Week: Arrow of Light Award

Week-14-Knot

When you see a
fellow Scouter wearing this red, green, and yellow knot, what does it tell you?

For us, it’s a
sign that this Scouter was dedicated to the program from a very young age. So
dedicated, in fact, that he earned the
Arrow
of Light Award
, the pinnacle of Cub Scouting, before he even turned 12
years old.

And did you know
that it’s one of just two items a Scouter may wear on his uniform from his days as a
Cub Scout?(The other is the youth religious award knot.) Also, it’s one of just a handful of square knots that have a de
facto age requirement—another is the Eagle Scout Award—because you can only
earn them as a youth.

Boys who earn
the Arrow of Light hone their outdoor skills, get physically fit, and
understand and practice the values of Scouting. It signifies they’ve completed
all of the requirements for a Scout badge and are permitted to join a Boy Scout
troop.

We don’t look at
the Arrow of Light as the culmination of a Cub Scout journey. Instead, we see
it as the beginning of a Scouting adventure.

Chime In: Do you have the Arrow of Light award?
What does it mean to you? What is your favorite Cub Scout memory? Let us know by adding your comment below.

CORRECTION: The article previously stated that the Arrow of Light is the only award from Cub Scouts that can be worn on an adult uniform. Thanks to Jon for pointing out that the religious award fits those criteria as well. 


About Bryan Wendell 3282 Articles
Bryan Wendell, an Eagle Scout, is the founder of Bryan on Scouting and a contributing writer.