Cubs

What is Cub Scouting?

(Information for Cubs, Parents and Leaders)

Cub Scouting started officially in 1916 when "Junior Scouts" became "Wolf Cubs". The original activities were constantly being changed and developed until, in 1966, a number of major changes were introduced into the Scout movement as a whole and "Wolf Cubs" became "Cub Scouts". New Activity badges were added to the Training Scheme with the emphasis now on the individual to reach their own level dependant on their individual talents and abilities.

True to the original ideas of Robert Baden-Powell, Cub Scouting still seeks to meet the Aim of The Scout Association to encourage the physical, mental and spiritual development of young people so that they may take a constructive place in society. By offering Adventure and Challenge through the Progressive Training Scheme that leads the young Cub Scout through a series of tasks and duties that will test and extend their individual abilities and prepare them for their move into the Scouts.

Cub Scouts are youngsters usually aged between 8 and 10½ years old who are members of a Cub Scout Pack. The Cub Scout Leader runs the Pack with a team of Assistants who all give their time freely and have had special training to help them do an effective job. Because Cub Scouting, by tradition, has adapted many ideas from Rudyard Kipling's "The Jungle Book" many of the Leaders are known to the youngsters by the names of the animals in this book.

The youngsters usually call the Cub Scout Leader Akela, and other Adults may be Baloo, Bagheera or Kaa. The Adult Leaders are responsible for planning and running the programme of games and activities for Pack meetings and special outings and events. The youngsters work in small groups called Sixes which are led by older Cub Scouts called Sixers.

The Cub Pack has several simple ceremonies, one of which is the Investiture to which you may be invited, when your youngster will be asked to make a promise.

The Cub Scout Promise is :-

I promise that I will do my best,

to do my duty to God, and to the King,

to help other people,

and to keep the Cub Scout Law.

The Cub Scout Promise is adaptable to suit the religious beliefs of the individual Cub Scout and their parents. The Cub Scouts are a multi-cultural, multi-faith organisation as are all the Sections of the Scouts from the Beaver Scouts through to the Explorer Scouts and beyond.

An alternative promise is available for those with no affirmed faith or humanists :-

I promise that I will do my best,

to uphold our Scout values,

to do my duty to the King,

to help other people,

and to keep the Cub Scout Law.

They will also be asked to try and keep the Cub Scout Law which is :-

Cub Scouts always do their best,

think of others before themselves,

and do a good turn every day.

What do Cub Scouts really do?

Cub Scouts will enjoy a great deal of fun and adventure whilst in the Pack. They will also have opportunities to gain awards and badges. These awards are given in recognition of the effort made by each youngster at their own level of development and understanding. The Cub Scout Programme includes such activities as :

• Camping

• Caring for the environment

• Model making

• Cooking

• First Aid

• Exploring

• Helping others

The Training Programme.

The five stages of the progressive training in the Cub Scout Section are :-

• The Cub Scout Membership and Joining In Badges

• The Cub Challenges

• The Activity Badges

• Group Awards

There is also a special Chief Scout's Silver Award for Cub Scouts over 9½ years old. The progressive awards are supported by a large number of Activity Badges which the Cub Scouts can achieve. They cover a wide variety of subjects. Details of all these awards and badges can be found in your youngsters Cub Scout Handbook if you have one or online at www.scouts.org.uk/supportresources and click on the Cubs link.

You may ask the question – "How do I find out about these activities/events?".

The program is on this website and we also have our facebook page 1st Cheriton Cubs which you are invited to join. It is a closed group page..

We are very organized with a new program of activities and events issued 4 times a year. All the most up to date information can be found on this website. However, if at any time you are not sure about the arrangements for a Pack activity, do have a chat with the Leaders after a Pack meeting or call one of them on the numbers below:

Bill – 07966 465 276 Jonny – 07976 268 954 Matt 07796132266 John 07941543569

The Cub Scout Pack meets regularly. The Pack is often taken out on visits in connection with the programme of activities. Sometimes the Cub Scout Leader invites visitors to speak to the Pack, like a local Police Officer or Fireman.

Our Cub Scout Pack has links with other Cub Scout Packs locally and throughout the County. They will occasionally join together for special Cub Scout events such as District Camps or County or Area Activities.

What do Cub Scouts wear?

Scouting is a uniformed movement & Cub Scouts have a smart practical uniform comprising of a mint green sweatshirt and a Scout Group scarf. There is also a woggle to hold the scarf in place. School trousers or navy long trousers are perfect. School shoes or walking/hiking boots and an optional group shirt complete the uniform.

Where to buy?

Uniform items can be bought from the below shops and websites. Please note that we strongly recommend you go somewhere you can try the Uniform on as the sizes do seem quite variable.

Shop4Scouts Ltd

The Scouting Centre, Shepway Close, Folkestone, Kent, CT19 5SJ. Tel: 01303 246324

Open times:

Monday to Friday 10am to 4pm, Tuesday 10am to 8.30pm (school term time only), Saturday 10am to 2pm (school term time only)

Channel Uniforms Ltd

118 Sandgate Road, Folkestone, Kent, CT20 2BW Tel: 01303 487075 or 01303 847185

Open times:

Sunday and Monday – Closed., Tuesday – Friday 9.30 – 5.00pm, Saturday 10.00 – 4.00pm

Or Online at

http://shop.scouts.org.uk/

Except the group shirt which can be ordered from Jacquie Wood on 07847335855 or email 1stcheriton@gmail.com

Subscriptions

At 1st Cheriton we work with a Standing Orders for Subscriptions

Whilst your child is a Cub ( new child) for the first four weeks you can pay for 4 weeks in cash @ £3.50 a week allowing to see if he likes coming to our meetings.

The weekly payment will cover for his insurance while on the premises, payment must be done attendance or non-attendance and has the child will not be insured and would breaking our insurance terms if we're not receiving subs for the complete period a child is with us.

After 4 weeks could I please ask you to set up the Standing Order for £10 per month at your earliest convenience or on your pay day and this will be collected monthly.

Once you have set up the Standing Order if you could let the leader know and we can advise the Treasurer who checks the bank statements and confirms back to us it is all been done.

We do have two options:

Full annual subscription of £120.00 by cheque or cash

Or

12 monthly continual payments by standing order of £10.00 per month

(Until your child no longer attends the Group)

Beavers coming up to Cubs, information is given to the treasurer by the sectional leader and subs are transferred.

Position of badges on uniform