Moving on from Beavers to Cubs?

Moving on from the Beaver Colony to the Cub Pack is a big step. This guide lets you know what expect and to help you help us and your child in the transition from the youngest group in the Scouting movement (6-8 years) to those who are older (8-10½ years old).

What happens?

At Cubs, they will be introduced to the whole Cub pack and placed in a six (which comprises an older Cub, the sixer, an assistant, the seconder, and about 4 other Cubs). One of the Cubs in the six will be asked to guide the new Cub. Assigning a Cub to a six will depend on striking a balance between the age range and boys vs girls.

After about 3-5 weeks of a Beaver visiting the Cub Pack, they will be asked if they would like to make their Cub Scout promise. When this occurs, parents will be invited into the hall at the end of a Cub meeting and the new Cub Scout will hold the Cub Pack flag, make the Scout sign and make their promise, led by the Cub Scout Leader. Photos are taken and everyone applauds!

What is the same and what is different?

Although the underlying principles of Scouting are exactly the same, Cubs is not the same as Beavers. Cubs do include fun, games and sport activities. But the types of games are deliberately mixed up into team games, knock-out games or place Cubs in pairs. Cubs are expected to stretch them and doing things which need more effort, appropriately challenging and being more self-reliant. The most popular of these are nights away – which may be for a night away to start with, but increasing to a long weekend away (the need to look after one’s own kit, to co-operate in sharing a tent, to take part in outdoor pursuits as a part of the camp experience – but still in a safe environment – no axes, knives, cross country orienteering, open water swimming etc – that’s for Scouts!). Typically, Cubs will be invited to camp twice a year – a weekend camp for Cubs alone (which may with alongside Cubs from another Group) and a weekend camp alongside Scouts.

Badges

The objective is that a Cub should aim to reach the Chief Scout Silver Award, which is the highest award that a Cub Scout can achieve. This requires 6 Challenge Badges to be gained. A Challenge Badge is offered each term, so over the course of 5 terms (plus a camp or two for the Outdoor Challenge) every Cub will have the opportunity to work for the Silver Award. Many of the requirements for the Challenge Badges are included as a part of the activity badges (the round ones, worn on the left arm!). As well as the cycle of Challenge Badges, there is a complimentary cycle of activity badges) which also rotates over a 5-term period. Badges often require things to be done at Cubs during the weekly meeting, things to be done at camp or on a hike, or things to be done at home (and either certified by a parent, or brought in the following week or so). Yes, I know it sounds a bit like homework, but that’s what some of the badges requires! There is however no set standard. The most important thing is that the Cub tries their best and the Cub Scout Leader has a lot of discretion.

What do the Leaders Expect from Cubs?

A Cub is expected to take more responsibility for themselves and Cub Pack nights are more formal than Beaver Colony nights: Cubs are expected to be able to keep still and/or quiet when asked to. We often mix up noisy/boisterous stuff with quiet/thinking stuff. Cubs are expected to wear their uniform properly – in particular wearing scarves correctly and badges sewn on when they have been awarded – and in the right places!

Sixers and seconders are expected to help the leadership team and other Cubs and to represent their six in an occasional pack forum. Cubs are expected to arrive on-time (just before) 6.30pm and leave the HQ quickly and (relatively) quietly after their meeting.

In order to gain badges, Cubs must attend regularly. Cub Scouts is not a social club where it is
acceptable to drop in/drop out.

Poor behaviour does need sanctions. The Cub Pack forum initiated a “yellow card, red card system”. If behaviour of a cub is becoming unacceptable or challenging then said cub will be asked to sit out for 5 minutes, if bad behaviour is repeated throughout an evening then it will result in a yellow card being issued by the leader to the cub concerned and parents informed, two yellow cards in one term will result in the cub being suspended for the following week.