Scouts BSA Sign, Salute, and Handshake

Before the meeting: 

1. Become familiar with the Scouts BSA sign, salute, and handshake. 
   • Scouts BSA sign – raise your right arm to shoulder height with your elbow bent at a right angle. Cover the nail of your pinky with your thumb and hold the three middle fingers of your hand upward and together. Your thumb and little finger touching represent the bond Scouts have throughout the world. The three fingers stand for the three parts of the Scout Oath: duty to God and country, duty to others and duty to self.  Like the Cub Scout sign, when the sign is raised, it’s a silent reminder to follow the Scout Oath and the Scout Law by respectfully quieting down and listening. Nobody needs to yell, “Signs up!” The sign says it all.  From this point forward Arrow of Light Scouts give the Scouts BSA sign and not the Cub Scout sign. 
   • Scouts BSA Salute – Form the Scout sign with your right hand, then finish the salute by bringing that hand up, palm down, until your forefinger touches the brim of your hat or the tip of your right eyebrow. The Scout salute is a form of greeting that also shows respect. Use it to salute the flag of the United States of America. You may also salute other Scouts and Scout leaders. 
   • Scouts BSA Handshake – This is a regular handshake but done with the left hand instead of the right.   Learn more about this tradition by reading Aaron on Scouting blog “Why is the Scout handshake done with the left hand?” 
2. Identify a safe area free of obstacles to conduct a relay race. 
3. Write each of the following on two of the index cards so that you’ll have two sets of three cards each. 
   • Scouts BSA Sign 
   • Scouts BSA Salute 
   • Scouts BSA Handshake 

During the meeting: 

1. Explain to Cub Scouts that the sign, salute, and handshake for Scouts BSA is different than for Cub Scouts and today they will be learning a practicing.  
2. Give the Arrow of Light patrol leader the six cards and have them stand 60 feet from the starting line. 
3. Divide Cub Scouts into two teams and have them gather behind a starting line  
4. Tell Cub Scouts that when you say go, they will take turns running over to the Arrow of Light patrol leader. The Arrow of Light patrol leader will hold up one of the cards and Cub Scouts will demonstrate what is written on the card. After they have correctly demonstrated it, they will run back and tag the next person on their team. 
5. Continue playing the game until all Cub Scouts have had a turn. 
6. The team that finishes first will be the winner.