Blue and Gold  

Most Cub Scouts celebrate Scouting Anniversary Week with a celebration called the blue and gold banquet. In nearly all packs, the annual blue and gold banquet, which is often the pack meeting for February, is the highlight of the year. It brings families together for an evening of fun and inspiration.

The purpose of the blue and gold banquet is to celebrate the pack's anniversary, recognize pack leaders and other adults who have been instrumental in the pack's success, and inspire the leaders, Scouts, and parents. Packs often like to invite former members and other Scouting or community leaders to take part in the annual blue and gold banquet.

The banquet program must appeal to boys as well as adults. The evening can be conducted as a regular pack meeting (with songs, skits, stunts, and awards), or it can be something different and a little more special. Your pack may choose to bring in outside entertainment, such as a magician or storyteller, or have a video or slide presentation of the activities the pack participated in over the previous year. Choose a master of ceremonies who will keep the evening moving and enjoyable for all.

Careful planning is necessary for the banquet to be successful. Most packs begin planning at least two months in advance. The pack committee should recruit a banquet chair, who in turn may select others to carry out the responsibilities of the program, such as making physical arrangements, handling invitations, choosing a theme, etc. Try to involve as many people as possible, but avoid giving den leaders too many additional responsibilities because it may distract them from their duties to their dens.

A detailed plan for the blue and gold banquet, including a planning calendar, sample agenda, and suggested program activities, is available in the Cub Scout Leader How-To Book.