Cubs

Promise and Law
The Cub Scout Programme
Badges
Behaviour
Uniform
Ceremonies
Inspection
Important Facts
More Information
Investiture

General

Cub Scouts were introduced by Lord Baden-Powell in 1916. They were an addition to Scouts which started nearly 10 years earlier. Baden-Powell created Cubs because the younger brothers of the Scouts kept pestering their siblings, by saying that they wanted to join in the fun and excitement too.

Cub Scouts was originally trialled as junior scouts with a programme rather like that of a watered-down Scout programme but then became Wolf Cubs giving
Cubs their own identity and programme.

Grand howl picture

Cub Scouts is for boys and girls aged between 8 and 10 1/2 years and is based on a book called ‘The Jungle Book’ by Rudyard Kipling. You have probably seen the video by Walt Disney; if not try watching it as it is great or if you are really feeling brave then read the book, but be warned, as it is a lot darker than the film.

The idea of becoming a Cub, apart from to have fun and make friends, is to encourage the physical, mental and spiritual development of young boys and girls so that they may make a positive contribution to society.

Cub Scouts enjoy all sorts of fun and adventure; all under the careful supervision of police checked, trained and warranted leaders. Activities in an average programme include:

Camping in tents, cooking (on fires at camp & on stoves for badges), archery, canoeing, swimming, first aid, exploring, outings, games, days out, experiencing different cultures, visiting police/fire stations and much more.

Cub Island: http://www2.scouts.org.uk/cubs/ - Find out more about Cubs and play some exciting games

Cubs used to be known as Wolf Cubs and used a logo similar to that of the above. The concept of Wolf Cubs helps explain the connection to the jungle book. The Advance Party Report (1966) decided that Wolf Cubs should be renamed Cub Scouts to help bring Cubs together with the rest of the group.

Cubs then adopted the Flur-de-lye like Scouts but with a red background until this was replaced with the world badge, we now know, in 1973.

Promise and Law

The Cub Scout Promise:

"I promise that I will do my best, to do my duty to God and to the Queen, to help other people, and to keep the Cub Scout Law"

The Cub Scout Law:

"Cub Scouts always do their best, think of others before themselves, and do a good turn every day"

The Cub Scout Motto:

"Be Prepared"

The Cub Scout Programme

The Cub Scout programme is built around 7 zones, these are:

Outdoor Scouting: enjoy the life outdoors, sample adventurous activities & learn new Scouting skills

Fitness: understand how the body works, know how to keep fit & healthy, take part in a variety of fitness activities

Discovering the world around you: Discover how things work, explore the natural world

Creative: Develop creative skills and self-expression, try something new

Beliefs & Attitudes: Grow in their faith, develop understanding of other peoples faiths, put the Promise & Law into practice

Caring & Community: Look after yourself, help other people, explore the local community

Global: Increase awareness of the world and its environment, find out about other countries and their people, understand problems people face around the world

Badges

Go to the Cub's badge section for details of badges

Behaviour

Cub Scouts are expected to behave in a certain way. The Cubs have helped produce the following 'Code of Conduct'

Do not swear
Do not take the Mickey out of people
Keep your hands to yourself
Listen to what Leaders say
Do not talk over other people
Raise their hand before asking questions

Cub Scouts are awarded points for their six for acts of good behaviour and can lose points for really bad behaviour. A prize is awarded to the six with the most points at the end of each term.

Ceremonies

Grand Howl takes place at the beginning and end of a meeting. Cub Scouts is of course based on the Jungle Book. Traditionally, the wolves all sat around the council rock in a circle and when Akela took his or her place on the rock they all threw up their heads and howled their welcome to him or her. Today, when Akela calls PACK! - PACK! - PACK! the Cubs all respond with a prolonged PACK! in unison as they form a circle around Akela. All Cubs should be at ease. When Akela lowers his or her hands, all invested Cubs squat down and put their hands between their legs with their index and middle finger of each hand touching the floor.

Grand Howl

The Cubs should then throw up their head and howl. But the howl actually means something, the call of the pack is 'We'll do our best!'. Altogether the Cubs should howl making each syllable loud and long:

"Ah-kay-la! We-e-e-e-ll do-o-o-o o-o-u-u-r BEST!"

The word 'best' should be yelled loud and short, and all together; at the same time the cubs should spring to their feet and stand at the alert.

The duty Sixer should then call to the six:

"Cubs do you best!"

to which all Cubs reply:

"We will do our best!"

After the word 'best', all Cubs should salute Akela to which he or she will salute back.

There should be no fidgeting during the course of Grand Howl.

Flag Break is performed after Grand Howl by the duty sixer. At the beginning of a meeting the flag is folded such that it will be revealed when a cord is pulled. The duty Sixer will break the flag, step back 3 paces and then salute the flag. The other Cubs and Leaders will also salute the flag.

Flag Down is performed at the end of the meeting. The duty sixer will lower the flag to half mast (so that it is not touching the floor) and then nod to the flag (the other Cubs and leaders do not nod to the flag)

Investiture

Inspection

An quick uniform inspection is carried out at the beginning of each meeting. Regardless of the weather, full uniform is expected for Grand Howl (this means the Cub Jumper is required even if it is hot) and other important ceremonies. After inspection, jumpers and neckers may be removed, if desired, for the activities of the meeting.

Points are awarded using the following criteria:

1 Point for being present.
1 Pont for having the Cub bag and Powerpack
1 Point for general appearance.
1 Point for correctly rolled and ironed necker worn with the gold side on the right from the point of view of the wearer. Woggle to be present.
1 Point for the wearing of the cub jumper; jumper should be clean and ironed.
1 Point for having clean hands and face.
2 Extra Points for being able to tie the correct knot of the evening
2 Extra Points for badges of the uniform being located in the correct place and stitched adequately and neatly.
5 Extra Points for excelled general appearance at the discretion of the leader.

Uniform Inspection need only take a few minutes at the beginning of the meeting. After Grand Howl, the Cubs are asked to return to their layers (six corners). The Sixer (or Second if the Sixer is away) will fill in the attendance record and check that his or her six are ready for inspection. The sixer will approach a leader and tell them that "Red* six are ready for inspection" The leader and the sixer will approach the six. The six will line up in a straight line at ease with the Sixer and one end and the Second at the other. The Sixer will bring his Six to alert by saying "Reds* alert". After the six is at alert, points will be awarded to the six using the criteria detailed above.

( * replace with the colour of the six)

Uniform

Cub Scouts are proud of their smart uniform; please click here for uniform requirements

Important Facts

Important facts about being a Cub Scout at 2nd Newbury Scout Group

Meeting place: At the Scout Hut on West Street, click here for directions

Meeting time: The Cub Pack meets every Thursday from 6.30pm and finishes at 8pm

Age: You can join Cubs straight after your 8th birthday and can start going to Scouts when you are 10½. If you are already a Beaver Scout you can start coming to Cubs up to 3 months before you are 8 years old

More Information

If you want to find out for yourself what we get up to, please click here to receive our joining in pack.

Typical Camp Kit List. What you should and shouldn't bring to camp
How to Fold a Necker. How to fold and iron and necker properly.
Naming the Cub Uniform. Where to sew the name-tapes in a cub uniform
Knots. See and learn the knots a cub should be able to tie

Investiture

Here are 2 cubs being invested into the pack: