HENLAWSON — On Sunday, May 23, 2010, Chapmanville Boy Scout Troop 28 was honored to hold a formal Cross-Over Ceremony during Chapmanville Cub Scout Pack 28’s recent Blue and Gold Ceremony at Chief Logan State Park. Eight young men were recognized by their peers for their advancement to the next level of scouting, transitioning from Webelos Scouts to Boy Scouts.

Often you will hear that a Webelos to Scout transition is the process of getting a boy to join any troop. In order to define a successful transition, a Webelos Scout must not only find a troop that he can join, but find a troop that he likes and one that meets his and his families’ needs. It must fit him and help him find success throughout his Boy Scout experience on his way to becoming an Eagle Scout. The Cross-Over Ceremony is a rite of passage making the transition from Cub Scouts to Boy Scouts.

Webelos crossing over were Dakota James Conley, Derek Michael Fowler, Chaseton C. Ghee, Robert Brycen Kuenzel, Kristian Leslie, Joshua Grove Miller, Christopher Gage Russell and Stephen Tyler Varney. As each Webelos Scout, along with his parents, left Cub Scout Pack 28 and their Webelos Leader Rob Kuenzel, they walked across a wooden bridge where they were met on the other side by Boy Scout Troop 28 Scoutmaster Mike Bledsoe, who welcomed each scout and his family into Troop 28.

Troop 28 Senior Patrol Leader Zeb Vance introduced Assistant Scoutmasters Michael Bledsoe, Chad Phipps and Jerry Dingess to each new Scout. Assistant Scoutmaster Bledsoe presented each scout with a certificate of advancement and Assistant Scoutmasters Phipps and Dingess divested each Scout of his blue Cub Scout epaulets and replaced them with green Boy Scout epaulets, which represent the Scout Oath and Law. The new Boy Scouts were formed into Troop formation with their new Troop and all recited and pledged the Scout Oath and Law. Four of the Webelos, Dakota J. Conley, Chaseton Ghee, Brycen Kuenzel and Chris Russell, earned the highest rank in Cub Scouting, the Arrow of Light.

Any Boy (ages 11-17), whether or not you are involved in sports, and if you are interested in learning, enjoying and experiencing an adventure of a lifetime, call Chapmanville Troop 28 Scoutmaster Bledsoe at 304-855-6922.