About the 1st Moonee Ponds Cub Scout Pack

- Information for Parents

Cub Scouts (ages 7.5 to 10.5)

Cub Scouts are boys and girls between the ages of eight and eleven. The objective of the Cub Scout program is to provide a group environment which is intellectually stimulating, physically vital and directed towards satisfying the child’s basic need to face and overcome challenges.

The activities are based on the natural sense of fun and enthusiasm of the age group and thus the training is achieved largely through games, interaction in small groups and activities.

Cub Scouts comprise a Pack which is limited to 24 Cub Scouts of four Sixes except in special circumstances. Cub Scout Sixes are led by a Sixer. A Sixer is generally one of the older Cub Scouts and is appointed by the Cub Scout Leader in consultation with other Leaders because of known leadership qualities. The Sixer is liked and respected by others in the Six. A Sixer is identified by two stripes on the left pocket of their uniform. A Sixer is helped by a Second (a helper) who is identified by a single stripe.
A Second is also one of the older Cub Scouts and is appointed by the Leaders in consultation with the Sixer concerned. Some leadership qualities have been shown by the Second to be appointed, and he/she stands in for the Sixer and benefits from working with the Sixer.

Cub Scout adult Leaders are known by names such as Baloo and Bagheera which are derived from the Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling. Since children of Cub Scout age have a lively imagination believing in things from Superman to Red Indians, the program of the Cub Scouts Section has its background in Kipling's Jungle Book. Unlike many things that children believe in the " Jungle Book" provides excitement and action combined with a strict moral code of the Jungle Law. There is development from one skill to another (training expressed in all stories of Mowgli), there is physical fitness, love of nature, self-reliance, obedience, loyalty and courtesy. Therefore all parts of Scouting philosophy can find illustration in the" Jungle Book".

THE CUB SCOUT LAW

Cub Scouts are loyal and obedient.
Cub Scouts do not give in to themselves.

THE CUB SCOUT PROMISE

There are two versions of the Cub Scout Promise. Individuals (with the assistance of parents) may choose to use either of the following Promises

On my honour
I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to my God, and
To the Queen of Australia
To help other people, and
To the live by the Cub Scout Law

or

On my honour
I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to my God, and
To Australia
To help other people, and
To the live by the Cub Scout Law

Program Style

The major feature of the Cub Scout program is catering for the tastes and enthusiasm of the young child presenting a program that is based on their natural developments tied together with a code of morals.

The Cub Scout Law and Promise are a fundamental part of the Program and help to guide the child in becoming a good citizen.

Types of Activities

Cub Scout activities should be short and wrapped up in the spirit of make-believe. Games of every sort should be played to ensure balanced training. Leaders use general Pack games, inter-Six games, sense-training games, relays and games that help in the practice of Boomerang tests. Stories, in particular Kipling’s Jungle Book as mentioned above and other similar stories that involve adventure, romance, humour, history, religious stories etc., are used and help Cub Scouts to more easily understand the meaning of their Promise and Law through analogy, stories and plays. Play acting such as charades also allows the children to use their imagination freely. Handcrafts are another important activity of Cub Scouts and aim to help children use their fingers and their head to satisfy their creative instinct and to encourage hobbies in their spare time at home.

Pack Meeting

This is held once a week in the Group Hall or Church or other hall by arrangement and starts with the Grand Howl and flag ceremony and may be followed by a short talk, a jungle play, a yarn, games and prayers. The Grand Howl is a universal yell used by Cub Scouts all over the world. It is a greeting to their Leader and a challenge for each Cub Scout to do their best to keep the Cub Scout Promise. It is also the highest form of appreciation a Pack can pay to any visitor or friend.

Ceremonies

Aside from the Grand Howl as mentioned before, other ceremonies include a flag parade which is conducted at the opening and closing of a Pack meeting. There is also an investiture for new Cub Scouts that involves them reciting the Cub Scout Law and then making the Scout sign and repeating the Cub Scout Promise after the Pack Leader. Other ceremonies include Badge presentations and a "Going Up Ceremony" from the Cub Scout Pack to the Scout Troop.

How Cubbing Began

Once there was a child just like you, who had four brothers. During weekends and holidays they would sleep out in a tent, climb trees, sail boats and enjoy the outdoors. When this child grew up he joined the Army and became a Major General. His name was Robert Baden-Powell.

He was a great hero in Africa where he saved the town of Mafeking from an attack, which lasted 217 days. He had so few soldiers with him that he had to use boys to help with first aid, to carry messages and do other jobs. He was pleased to see they could always be relied on.

When Baden-Powell returned to England he found boys reading the book he had written to help Army Scouts. So he took some of them on a camp to Brownsea Island and wrote them a book of their own called “Scouting for Boys”. There were lots of other boys who wanted to be Scouts, too, but they were too young. So Baden-Powell started a new section for them and called them Wolf Cubs - using ideas he got from “The Jungle Book” by Rudyard Kipling. Lord Baden-Powell of Gilwell Died many years ago in 1941, but each year on “Founder’s Day” his birthday 22nd February, we remember how he started Scouting and Cubbing for millions of boys and girls in over 100 countries around the world today.

Cub Scout's Award Scheme

Click HERE for information on the Cub Scout Award Scheme.