Cub Scouts (8-10.5)

Who are Cubs?

For Cubs, excitement and adventure are key. Easily recognised by their distinctive green sweatshirts, their programme offers a huge variety of activities surrounding areas of fitness, global and beliefs; whilst allowing them to be creative and get involved in their local communities.

What do Cubs get up to?

Being a Cub is all about growing and learning in small but mighty ways. Every week they gather in groups called Cub Packs.

When do we meet?

We meet on Thursday nights in term time 6pm-7.30pm.

Going on adventures

Race down a river. Tell stories by torchlight. Fall asleep beneath the stars. You’ll spend plenty of time in the great outdoors. Together, you might build a den in your local park, or create an edible raft out of sweets, or go on a moonlit hike.

Learning new skills

Cubs learn by doing, and so will you. Some of the skills you develop will be practical, like knowing how to cook a delicious meal or give someone first aid. Others will allow you to become a master at your chosen hobby, or help you to succeed in whichever job you decide to do when you grow up. But the most important skills you’ll learn at Cubs are the ones that will make you feel confident and happy in your own skin. We call these character skills, and they include things like integrity – which means being honest and doing what you think is right – and initiative – which means knowing how to take the lead on something without being asked. Whatever skills you’d like to learn, it’s all about having the courage to try new things and learn from them.

Helping others

Cubs work as a team to help other people. Together, you’ll learn about global issues and what we can all do to help solve them. You’ll also make an impact in your own community, through activities such as campaigning to save your local library, collecting donations for a foodbank, or planting trees in a neighbouring park.

What does a Cub Pack look like?

Our Cub Pack is led by Cub Leader Dawn (Rikki). Other adult volunteers are on hand to supervise activities, share their skills and keep everyone safe.

Within their Pack, Cubs are also part of a Six. A Six is a smaller group of Cubs, headed up by a Sixer and a Seconder. Sixers and Seconders are Cub Scouts who are chosen to take on leadership responsibilities, such as welcoming new people to the Pack, being extra helpful on camp, or taking charge of a particular game or activity.

Promises and ceremonies

As well as enjoying plenty of adventures, being a Cub is about going on a journey to understand who you are and what you stand for. When you join the Pack, you’ll explore these ideas by making a promise. A promise is a set of words that mean something to you, which you try to follow everyday.

Making the promise is a big celebration within the Pack. Every time a new Cub decides to join permanently, they chat through their promise with their Cub leader before saying it out loud in front of their fellow Cubs. Family and friends might come along to see this, too. The process is known as being ‘invested’ into Cubs, and it usually takes place a few weeks into your Cub experience, once you’ve had time to settle in.

Everyone is unique but there are some things all Cubs agree on – such as the importance of treating everyone in the Pack with kindness, and doing their best to care for the community and wider world in which they live. Cubs make a promise to do their best to make a positive contribution to society. Depending on their own beliefs, they might also promise to live by their faith.

All about badges

Animal lover – check. Book worm – check. Photographer – check. Footballer – check. Daredevil – check. You name it, we’ve got a badge for it – over 200 of them actually. Cubs work together on badges at their weekly meetings, away at camps and events or at home. Badges are easy to earn and you don’t need anyone special to sign them off.

There’s never any pressure to do badges. Cubs can do as many or as few as they like. But for those up for a challenge, there are loads of exciting badges to aim for, with the highest award being the Chief Scout Silver Award.

Where do they go?

Here’s where to sew on all of your hard earned badges

How to join

Lots of young people want to join Cubs and you might have to wait for a space to become available before you can start your journey.

On your first night at Cubs, you’ll be taking part in lots of activities, and should just wear something you feel comfortable in.

Eventually, you’ll get your own Cubs uniform to wear to meetings and on trips and nights away. Wearing a uniform is comfy and practical. It means no one feels uncomfortable or left out and helps everyone to feel a part of the Pack. It also gives you a place to show off all the Cub badges you earn.