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Description

Plan a special moment to welcome new Squirrels to your Drey (and the worldwide
Scout family) as they make their Promise

Resources

Equipment:
Membership Award badge
Scarf
Woggle (optional)
Group name tape (optional)
Local Scout badges (optional)
Any other items to give out (optional)
Something to mark lines (optional)

Instructions

What is an investiture?

Investiture is a special time where someone makes their Scout Promise, and becomes a member of both their group, and
the worldwide Scout family. Some people call these Promise ceremonies and it’s often known as being ‘invested’.
Parents/carers are often invited to watch the special occasion.

Traditionally, people will make the Scout sign while they’re making their Promise and the person leading the ceremony will
often shake their hand afterwards, using the Scout handshake.

When new Squirrels have settled in and decided they want to stay, they will make their Squirrel Scout Promise, which is the
same as the Beaver Scout Promise. They’re welcomed to Squirrels, and become a member of both their Drey (the name for
a Squirrel group) and the worldwide Scout family.

They’ll get their Membership Award. This is a purple badge with a picture of the fleur-de-lis – an international
symbol that’s worn by Scouts all over the world. They may get some other local badges too, to show where their group is
located.

They’ll also get their scarf, which they can proudly wear, to show which Scout Group their Squirrel Drey is part of. You may
want to give them something else, like a certificate or a gift representing Squirrels, to mark the occasion.

How do I run an investiture?

It's up to you how you run your investiture, and your Drey might have its own special way of doing things. We've put a
suggestion below, but you can do what works for your Drey and for your new Squirrel.

The important thing is that it should feel like a special moment for the new Squirrel, and that they will enjoy it and feel
comfortable. We’d recommend getting the whole Drey involved, so everyone has a part to play in helping the new Squirrel
feel welcome and part of the group. Why not include a special song or game, or have a special story. You could also get
creative and use art or props – things to represent the squirrel animal, or the tree or drey (nest) where they live.

Everyone could say their Promise together, at the same time as the new Squirrel – a chance to renew their Promise at the
same time. Or the new Squirrel could take the spotlight and say it by themselves. Instead of using the Scout sign
throughout, everyone could have fun learning some actions for each part of the Promise – this will probably help them
remember it too.

The new Squirrel can make their Promise in way that works best for them, whether they want to sign, repeat each part after
the person leading the ceremony, or even just nodding to agree to each part of the Promise.
We talk about investing one new Squirrel here, but you can invest more than one person at the same time, and this might
help new Squirrels feel more comfortable.

Before you begin

Give the Squirrel and their parents/carers plenty of time to look at the different Promises they can choose from and
decide which one is right for them. The beginning of every version is the same, and they can choose which ending is
right for them. Make sure you know what version they’ve chosen.

Chat to the new Squirrel about how they want to make their Promise.

Make sure everything is ready before the investiture begins.

This includes preparing badges. You’ll need a Membership Award badge, and any local badges you may be using (to show
your Group, District, County/Area or Region). There might also be a Group name tape. They also need a scarf. Rolling the
scarf beforehand and tying with a friendship knot or woggle, will save you some time and make things a bit easier.
If you’re using the example below, you’ll need to hide the scarf somewhere in the meeting place. Make sure the area is
going to be safe for searching.

If you’re inside, think about what furniture or other items are around, particularly anything that is stacked. You could mark
out the shape of a tree on the ground, to make this more visual and show everyone where to be.

An example investiture

Where is the scarf hiding?

1. Talk about how today is a special day, because a new Squirrel is making their Promise.
Can everyone remember what a Promise is? A promise is a set of words that mean something to you, which you try to
follow every day. Who can remember what things they got when they made their Promise? They’ll have got their
Membership Award badge and their scarf.

2. The person leading the session can explain that their scarf is hiding somewhere in the meeting place, and we all need
to help find it.
Make sure everyone understands what area they are searching, and that adults and helpers are on hand to make sure
everyone searches safely.

3. Everyone can have fun searching high and low to find the hidden scarf!
Squirrels are great at finding things – they bury nuts all over the place, and manage to find them again ages later!

Climb the tree

1. Talk about where Squirrels live. They like to live high up in the trees.

2. Everyone should sit or stand in two lines, facing each other, to make the trunk of the tree. The new Squirrel should
stand at the bottom of the tree, with a helper. The person leading the ceremony should stand at the top of the tree.

3. The person leading the investiture can ask the new Squirrel if they’re ready to make their Promise and climb the tree.

4. The helper can help them to make the Scout sign.
Help them find their right hand, and use their thumb to hold down their little finger. Then, stretch out their other fingers so
they point straight upwards. They should turn their hand, so their palm is facing forwards. Why not get everyone to join in
and make the Scout sign together.

5. The person leading the ceremony can read out each part of the Promise, for the new Squirrel to repeat. After each
part, they can take a step, hop or jump up the tree.

6. When they’ve said all their Promise and got to the top of the tree, the person leading the investiture can give them
their scarf and badge(s). They could shake hands using the Scout handshake (using the left hand).
Badges can easily get lost. So, after the welcome rhyme/song, they could put them away safely until the end of the session,
or give them to their parent/carer if they’re there.

Welcome rhyme

1. Everyone can say a special rhyme or song to welcome the new Squirrel. You could have some fun actions to go along
with this too! We have included this rhyme below.

2. Everyone could shake hands with each other, using the Scout handshake (using our left hands). Squirrels could have
fun trying to make sure they’ve shaken hands with everyone.

Welcome rhyme

Here’s an example of a rhyme you could use.

Welcome [name] to our Drey
We’re so glad you’ve come to stay
Now you are a Squirrel too
There’ll be lots of fun for you!
Here are some actions you could use, but everyone could have fun making up their own.
Welcome [name]
(pretend to hug) ...
to our Drey
(stretch arms out wide)
We’re so glad
(thumbs up)
you’ve come to stay
(point to ground)
Now you are a Squirrel too
(wiggle)
There’ll be lots of fun for you!
(spin around)

Reflection

This activity gave everyone the chance to welcome a new Squirrel to the group. It's also a nice opportunity for everyone torefl ect on when they made their Promise.

Where is the scarf hiding?

Can your remember making your Squirrel Scout Promise? Can you remember any of the words?
What is a promise? A promise is a set of words that mean something to you, which you try to follow every day.
Why do you think Scouts wear a scarf?

Climb the tree

Why is it good to have a promise?
What did it feel like to make your promise?

Welcome rhyme

How did it feel being welcomed to the group?
Why is it good to welcome new people to the group?

Make it accessible

Investitures should always be tailored to the individual making their Promise – there’s no one size fi ts all here. Welcomepeople in a way that makes them feel happy; for example, if someone doesn’t like touching others, don’t ask them to shakehands. People can make their Promise however they like, whether they want to sign, repeat each part after the personleading the ceremony, or say the Promise at the same time as a friend. Some people may want a quiet space for theirInvestiture. Chat with everyone about how they’d like to make their Promise, and which version they've chosen.
Make sure you’ve given the new Squirrel and their parent/carer time before their investiture, to chat about the differentPromises and decide which one they want to choose.

Take it further

Everyone can remind themselves about their promise at home and think about how they can follow it every day.

Youth Shaped guidance

Everyone could share ideas about how to make the new Squirrel feel welcome and part of the group. The new Squirrel canhelp to decide how they'll make their Promise.

Tags

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Badge Links

• Membership - Promise