Cub Scouts (Australia)

Cub Scouts is the section of Scouts Australia for boys and girls aged 8 to 11 (inclusive), often known simply as 'Cubs'. The Cub Scout section follows after Joey Scouts and is before Scouts. Cub Scouts wear a uniform shirt with navy blue panels, and yellow shoulders.[2]

Scouts Australia
Country	Australia
Founded	1908
Founder	Lord Baden Powell
Membership	84 000 [1]

The Cub Scout section draws largely from the Jungle Book. Leaders are usually given names based on characters from the story, such as Akela, Bagheera or Baloo.

Pack organisation

The Cub Scout Unit is usually composed of several adult leaders, and several packs of approximately six children. The leader of a six is called a Patrol Leader, an older cub scout in the pack. Second in command of a six is a Assistant Patrol Leader. Each week the sixes take turns to be in charge of some of the packs activities, such as selecting some of the games to play, and taking charge of the parade. Each six wears a distinctive colour patch on their uniform based on the six Wolf Cubs from the Jungle Book: Tawney Fur, Black Plume, Grey Brother, Red Fang, White Claw, and Brown Tip.

Since 2020, Sixers are now Patrol Leaders and Seconds are now Assistant Patrol Leaders.

Pack councils

The Pack Council is an informal meeting of Leaders and the Patrol Leaders, and often Assistant Patrol Leaders (although any member of the pack can be invited), to discuss things such as schedules for the following term, what activities or camp were liked or disliked during the term, and what the pack would like to try in the future.

Ideals

Cub Scout Promise

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

or

On my honor
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 live by the Cub Scout Law

Cub Scout Law

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

Cub Scout Prayer

Help us Oh Lord, to serve you day by day
To do our duty, and enjoy our play.
To keep the Cub Scout Promise, and to rest,
Happy that we have tried to do our best.
Amen

[3]

Badgework

Achievement Badges

There are 34 different Achievement Badges that cub scouts can complete, arranged into five different categories; Arts and Literature, Nature, Science and Technology, Sports and Recreation and Our World. Each badge has two levels, and either can be completed on their own. Achievement badges are worn on the right sleeve of the uniform.

Boomerangs

There are three levels of boomerangs - the bronze, silver and gold boomerangs. These boomerangs are obtained by completing mandatory sections in The Cub Scout Record Book, and a selection of elective activities. As a general guideline, the bronze boomerang is completed by cub scouts of eight years of age, the silver by cub scouts nine years of age, and the gold by cub scouts 10 years of age. Boomerang badges are worn on the left sleeve of the uniform.

Grey Wolf Award

Formerly called the Yellow Cord, this is the highest level badge a cub scout can earn, and is akin to the Promise Challenge for Joeys, Australian Scout Medallion for Scouts, Queen Scout Award for Venturers, or Baden Powell Scout Award for Rovers. The requirement for this badge, which is the transition phase to becoming a Scout, is leadership of the Cub Scout pack.

It involves being awarded the Gold Boomerang, attending a series of outdoor activities, two pack councils, 4 x Level 2 Achievement badges with one from each of the different categories, a Special Interest Badge (six options) and a resource or game that can be presented to your pack.

The badge consists of a wolf's head superimposed on an orange and blue boarded diamond, and is placed on the left sleeve on the uniform.

The Grey Wolf Award may be worn on the Scout Shirt until the Scout achieves their Pioneer Badge.[4]

Grey Wolf Hike

The Grey Wolf hike is a hike taken by cub scouts that want to obtain the Grey Wolf Award. They have to plan and lead a walk, with at least 3 cubs following along, for a minimum of 2 km and for approximately 2 hours. This hike is one of the biggest challenges and one of the most important things needed to complete the Grey Wolf Award.

See also

• Cub Scout

References

1. WOSM Asia-Pacific Region Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 14 December 2006
2. Accessed 17 July 2013
3. The Cub Scout Record Book. The Scout Association of Australia. 2010. ISBN 1920745211.
4. The Cub Scout Record Book. The Scout Association of Australia. 2010. ISBN 1920745211.