Making the Arrow of Light - Time Line

Today I am going to look at the time line of making the arrow.

I'm going to start off with saying...it's not cheap.    If you have people who can do any of these steps, I'd highly recommend asking them if they would be willing to donate their time.

The boys usually cross over in late February.   I would highly recommend starting making the plaques in November or December.

This is my ideal time line:

November

• Talk to the Den leader to determine how many boys have the potential to earn the arrow of light.   Also check with the Weblos 1 leader, to see if any boys are crossing over early.

December

• Order Arrows from Northwest Archery.   
  They take 1-2 weeks to arrive from the time your check arrives.
• Order Wood for plaques
  It takes about 2 weeks from the time of the order, until your wood has been molded.   If a parent is going to do the molding on their own time, you may need to order the wood even earlier as they don't do this as a full time job.
• Check the supplies which have been handed down from the year before.   Buy anything that is missing.

January

• Have parents double check the spelling of their sons names, in preparation for the making of the brass name plates.
• Take the wood to a trophy shop to have the Arrow of Light engraved into the wood.   We used Northwest Trophy & Awards in Bellevue.
• Take the list of boys names to the trophy shop, to arrange the making of the brass name plates.
• Start collecting information on what the boys need painted on their arrows.   While you cannot paint the full arrow until the very end as the boys can earn new Activity Badges, you can always get started with what was completed as Tigers, Wolfs & Bears.
• Once the wood is lasered you can sand and stain/finish the wood.   If you want, you can have a "sanding party" with the Weblos 1 boys.   This could even help them with an achievement for their Craftsman Activity Badge.

February

• Choose a cut off day for the last day the boys can earn Activity Badges
• Tape the arrows, in preparation for painting
• Paint the arrows, leaving the last yellow Arrow of Light band free until the cutoff day.
• Attach the brass name plates to the plaques
• Attach the arrows to the plaque