37th Bournemouth 

Scout Group

 

8 to 10½ years

Develop new skills. Soar to great heights. Being a Cub opens up a whole other world.


"You don't need to go to the ends of the earth, you don't need to climb Everest to have a great adventure, it's invariably on our doorstep." - Bear Grylls - Chief Scout

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.

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What do Cubs get up to?

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.

What does a Cub Pack look like?

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).

Each Pack is made up of young people aged 8 to 10, led by an adult Cub leader traditionally nicknamed Akela after the wise leader of the wolf pack in Rudyard Kipling’s novel, The Jungle Book.

As well as the Cub leader, other adults are on hand to supervise activities, share their skills and keep everyone safe. Other young people aged 14 to 18 might help out, too. These are Explorer Scouts taking part in the Explorer Scout Young Leader programme. 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.

Cubs choose the Promise that best suits them.



Versions of the Cub Scouts Promise (in Alphabetical order)


The Cub Scout Promise for members who are Atheist or of no faith background

I promise that I will do my best
to uphold our Scout values, to do my duty to The King,
to help other people
and to keep the Cub Scout Law.

The Cub Scout Promise for members who are Buddhist

I promise that I will do my best
to seek refuge in the Triple Gem, to do my duty to The King,
to act with compassion towards all life
and to keep the Cub Scout Law.

The Cub Scout Promise for members who are Christian

I promise that I will do my best
to do my duty to God and to The King,
to help other people
and to keep the Cub Scout Law.

The Cub Scout Promise for members who are Hindu

I promise that I will do my best
to follow my dharma and do my duty to The King,
to act with compassion towards all life
and to keep the Cub Scout Law.

The Cub Scout Promise for members who are Humanist

I promise that I will do my best
to uphold our Scout values, to do my duty to The King
to help other people
and to keep the Cub Scout Law.

The Cub Scout Promise for members who are Jewish

I promise that I will do my best
to do my duty to God and to The King,
to help other people
and to keep the Cub Scout Law.

The Cub Scout Promise for members who are Muslim

I promise that I will do my best
to do my duty to Allah and then to The King,
to help other people
and to keep the Cub Scout Law.

This information shows the Scout Promise written in Arabic, including the line 'Duty to God and The Queen'. An updated version referencing The King will be available soon. Download the Promise in Arabic.

The Cub Scout Promise for members who are Sikh

I promise that I will do my best
to do my duty to Waheguru and to The King,
to help other people
and to keep the Cub Scout Law.


Making the Promise using Makaton

Makaton is a language programme that uses symbols, signs, and speech to enable people to communicate, while encouraging language development. It’s especially used by people who find communication difficult, for example, some people with learning disabilities.

Please note that this resource still references her late Majesty The Queen. Updated versions referencing His Majesty The King will be available soon.


Find out more about Makaton
Download the Cub Scout Promise in Makaton


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How to join

/uniform/cubs-uniformThe first step to becoming a Cub with the 37th Bournemouth is to contact us. We'll let you know if spaces are available or if you'll have to wait a short while. Getting in touch slightly before the prospective Cub reaches the age of 8 might be useful. We will be happy to tell you if spaces are available and where and when the group meets.

Cubs is open to all, and adjustments can always be made locally to make sure everyone can join in the fun. 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. The Scout Group publishes guides on supporting those with additional needs, and specific adjustments you can read them here and here .


Is there a waiting list?

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



What should I wear?

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 Cub uniform to wear to meetings and camps. 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 badges you earn.

For Cubs, the uniform consists of a green sweatshirt with your badges sewn on and a coloured scarf or ‘necker’ to represent your local group. There are lots of other optional accessories you can wear such as hats, hoodies, navy blue trousers or shorts. Uniform can either be bought from the Scout Association online shop - Scout Store - or from a local supplier. If you’re not sure where to start, we can give you more information about what to buy and where to buy it.  Visit our Cubs uniform and badge placement page to find out more. If you’re not sure where to start, we will be happy to give you more information about what to buy and where to buy it.



How much does it cost?

The cost of going to Beavers at the 37th is currently £12.50 per calendar month. Trips, camps and activities that take place away from the usual meeting place are usually charged separately, but they are kept affordable.

Cubs is designed to be an accessible and affordable way for young people to learn lots of new skills through a single membership. Nobody should feel excluded from Cub activities because of money worries. If they’re concerned about costs, adults should speak to their local leader in confidence, to see what they can do to help. In most cases, support is available to make sure nobody misses out.


If you would like a young person to join our Cub Pack, please visit the Contact page and fill in the form at the foot of the page and email it to us at info@37thscouts.org.

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T:
07783 065814
S:
E:
A:

Annunciation Church Hall

218 Charminster Road

Bournemouth

BH8 9RW

 
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The Scout Association is incorporated by Royal Charter. Bournemouth Scouts is a Registered charity - Charity Number 1128103