Cubs

Who are Cubs?

Cubs are young people aged 8 to 10½ who:

• Master new skills and try new things
• Have fun and go on adventures
• Make friends
• Are curious about the world around them
• Help others and make a difference, in their own communities and beyond

Every week, they gather in groups called Cub Packs to take part in lots of interesting and challenging activities – achieving anything they set their minds to, and having lots of fun along the way.

What do Cubs do?

Being a Cub is all about growing and learning in small but mighty ways. Here are some of the things you’ll get up to with your new friends.

Going on adventures

Race down a river. Tell stories by torchlight. Fall asleep beneath the stars. Alongside your Pack, 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 through your hometown. And even though you might not be ready to climb Mount Everest just yet, you’re guaranteed to have plenty of adventures on your own doorstop, because being a Cub is all about making the most of what you have, wherever and whoever you are.

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.

The Cub Pack

Historically, 8 to 10 year olds within the Scouts were known as ‘Wolf Cubs’. Although this term is no longer used, its influence can still be felt, with many of the everyday words and phrases Cubs still use today originating from old traditions.

For example, Cub groups are called ‘Packs’ and Cub leaders are traditionally called Akela after the wise leader of the wolf pack in Rudyard Kipling’s novel, The Jungle Book. 

Most Cub packs have an opening and closing ceremony – something that they do at the beginning and end of every meeting to kick things off and wind them down.  Some Cub packs use a traditional greeting called the ‘Grand Howl’ to do this. 

All Cubs are members of the global Scout family. Closer to home, they’re also part of a wider local Scout Group, alongside Beavers (aged 6 to 8) and Scouts (aged 10 ½ to 14). When they’re older, they can join Explorers (for 14 to 18 year olds) and – eventually – Scout Network (for our young adult members aged 18 to 25). 

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.

The bigger Scout family

There are Scouts all over the world. From the rainy rainforests of the Amazon to the smallest of the Scottish Isles, Cubs are a part of this worldwide Scout family. Closer to home, they’re also part of their wider local Scout Group, alongside Beavers (aged 6 to 8), and Scouts (aged 10 1/2 to 14). When they’re older, they can also join Explorers (for young people aged 14 to 18) and Scout Network (for young people aged 18-25). Although both of these are closely associated with the younger sections, they are not part of the local Scout Group.

The Cub Promise

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.

Cubs choose the promise that best suits them. There are a number of versions of the promise to choose from. 

Badges, Awards & Uniform

Badges and Awards

Our badges and awards are part of what makes us Scouts. And Scouts love earning them!

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. 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, such as the Chief Scout’s Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. These are the highest awards that Beavers, Cubs and Scouts can earn. And for those going even further, the Queen’s Scout Award is the top achievement for young people in Scouts.

Visit https://www.scouts.org.uk/cubs/activity-badges/ and https://www.scouts.org.uk/cubs/awards/ to find out more about each of the badges and what you have to do to earn them. You can also buy a handy badge book from the local scout store or online. Sometimes we also share resources on our Facebook Group or on our website.

Cub Uniform

Once you’ve had time to settle in, you’ll get your own uniform to wear during meetings and on trips away.

For Cubs, the uniform consists of a green sweatshirt with your badges sewn on which they pair with their Troop or Group scarf. They might wear blue uniform trousers or a skirt, or they might save their uniform bottoms for special occasions like awards ceremonies and public events – choosing to wear something more casual with their shirt during the week. 

Uniforms can either be bought from Leicestershire Scout Shop, National Scout Store, online at another supplier, or you may find a second-hand uniform on sites like eBay, Facebook.

How to Join!

Cubs is open to all, and adjustments can always be made locally to make sure everyone can join in the fun. You don’t need to have been a Beaver Scout or involved in Scouting before. If you have any questions about accessibility, it’s best to chat with your local leader as soon as possible. By being upfront about additional needs from the start, parents/carers can work in partnership with local leaders to make sure their young person has the best experience possible. More information on specific adjustments can be found at https://www.scouts.org.uk/accessibility-at-the-scouts/

Contact Us

If you are interested in joining us, click below. You will need to let us know some basic information to help us get back to you.

Response

We will be in touch to arrange next steps. If there is space at 1st Markfield Cubs and you are of the right age, we will confirm your space and make arrangements for your child.

If we do not currently have any space available, we will ask whether you would like to join our waiting list. We may also provide you with other local groups contact information.

Moving up from 1st Markfield Beavers?

If you are moving up from 1st Markfield Beavers, you don’t need to contact us. You will likely be completing the ‘Moving On Award’. This means you will attend both Beavers and Cubs for at least 3 weeks. This helps to familiarise yourself with Cubs, whilst providing the opportunity to finish off any outstanding badge work at Beavers. This may not be required or suitable for everyone, so please speak to your Beaver Leader in the first instance.

Your first night

During your first night, we will introduce you to our Cub Pack and introduce you to some of our usual games and activities. You should start to learn your Cub Scout promise ahead of your investiture. You don’t need to wear anything special on your first night.

Investiture

After 5-6 weeks from starting at Cubs, you will be invested. This is were you will make your Cub Scout promise, receive your necker and joining badges, and will officially have joined 1st Markfield Scout Group and worldwide scouting. Family and friends will also be invited to the investiture.