Cub School

At the beginning of the Cub year, we need to do "Cub School" to teach the new youth about Cub Scouts and how it is different than Beavers. The ceremonies are all discussed in detail in the Scouter Manual that can be found on the Scouts Canada website.

Over the course of the first few meetings, the following should be introduced:

• Review of the Wolf Cub Promise, and the Wolf Cub Law. This is what used to be Tenderpad Requirement No. 1.
• Review and practice of Rock Circle and Grand Howl. This is what used to be Tenderpad Requirement No. 2.
• Review the Wolf Cub Salute and the Wolf Cub Handshake and the the Wolf Cub Motto. This is what used to be Tenderpad Requirement No. 3.
• Tell the story of Baden Powell and how he started Cubbing and Scouting. This is what used to be Tenderpad Requirement No. 4. Some good information on Baden Powell can be found in the Scouter Manual or in The Cub Book which every Cub had before the change to the Canadian Path.
• Explain who the Scouters are and how they get their names from the Jungle Book.
• Expectations about bringing dues.
• Expectations about wearing full uniforms to all meeting and weekly Inspection.
• Introduction to the Personal Achievement and Outdoor Adventure Skills badges.
• Discuss the Code of conduct and Respect. Discuss what is appropriate in a meeting and use this as a base when you develop a Pack Code of Conduct.
• Explain how the lairs work. Don’t necessarily assign them yet, but explain how they work.
• Explain how investiture works and when it will happen.
• Explain how Leap-up works and when it will happen.

Grand Howl

The procedure to perform the Grand Howl is detailed on page 161 of the Scouter Manual. The procedure is standard across the Country. Explain to the youth what the components of the Grand Howl mean: They are welcoming Akela (Ah-Kay-La we'll do our best), followed by "DYB, DYB, DYB, DYB" (Do Your Best) and the response "We'll DOB, DOB, DOB, DOB" (Do Our Best). Have a youth who is in full uniform lead the Grand Howl, and insist that the salutes are done correctly by all youth.

The Wolf Cub Promise

The Wolf Cub Promise is:

• I promise to do my best
• To love and serve God,
• to do my duty to the Queen;
• To keep the law of the Wolf Cub pack,
• And to do a good turn for somebody every day.

I promise to do my best

When you promise to do something, it means you will try your hardest to keep your word. Doing your best also means that, when you are doing something important like helping someone with a job or playing a game, you will not give up if it gets tough. You'll stick with it as best you can. Sometimes you may make a mistake. That just means you will try even harder the next time and keep on doing your best every day.

To love and serve God

While there are many different faiths and ways to worship God, all faiths teach the importance of love, caring and respect for others. When you can take the words of your own faith and put them into daily practice, you are showing how to love and serve God.

To do my duty to the Queen

When you belong to a group like a family, a pack or a country, you need to follow certain rules that help people live and get along together.

Queen Elizabeth is our Queen and the laws of Canada are made in her name. The Queen represents our country and all its people, and the crown she wears is the symbol of authority. We do our duty to the Queen and our country by obeying the law.

When we obey the traffic safety laws and respect other people's property, we are doing our duty to the Queen and all Canadians. Whenever we do something to help make Canada a better country, like protecting our environment and helping others, we are also doing our duty to the Queen.

To keep the law of the Wolf Cub Pack

The law of the Wolf Cub Pack says "The Cub respects the Old Wolf; The Cub respects himself / herself". When Mowgli lived with the wolves in the jungle, he learned that they had to hunt together and follow the directions of Akela, the Old Wolf, if they were going to survive. Obeying the law helps the pack stay together and have fun.

And to do a good turn for somebody every day

Doing a good turn means helping someone just for the sake of helping, without expecting a reward. A good turn can be a big one like saving someone's life, or a small one like smiling at someone or doing the dishes without being asked. Usually, we only have chances to do small good turns, but we have lots of chances to do them because there are so many good turns that need to be done.

Wolf Cub Motto

The Wolf Cub Motto is "Do Your Best”.

It reminds us that we have promised to always do our best, according to our own personal abilities. In Cubs, winning and losing does not matter. The personal effort you put into trying new things is what really counts.

Wolf Cub Law

The Wolf Cub Law is "The Cub respects the Old Wolf; The Cub respects himself/herself.”

When Mowgli lived with the wolves in the jungle, he learned that they had to hunt together and follow the directions of Akela (the Old Wolf) if they were going to survive. The Old Wolf represents the Cubs and the pack. Obeying the law helps the pack stay together, be successful, and to have fun.

Imagine what your pack would be like if all the Cubs did just what they felt like doing. There would be lots of noise and running around, but not much else. You wouldn't get a chance to do neat things like going on hikes, camping, crafts and finding out what teamwork is all about.

That's why, in your Cub pack (and in a real wolf pack) all the Cubs and young wolves need to do their share to follow the Old Wolf and listen to what he (or she) says. When you do your share, you are respecting Akela (the Old Wolf) and helping the pack stay together and have fun doing things.

Respect

While Scouts is not a military organization, there certainly needs to be some discipline and respect. The Cub Law reads “The Cub respects the Old Wolf; The Cub respects himself/herself.” The Old Wolf in this context is anyone in authority, whether it be a parent, Scouter or a Howler.

Salute

• Two finger cub sign (two together straight up) – hand goes up, the mouth goes closed, and put up your hand in a cub salute. Be quiet and waiting for instruction. This is a straightened form of the curved fingers used in Beavers (Beaver teeth). In Scouts, they use three fingers.
• Two finger salute (two spread at forehead) – permission to enter rock circle, during ceremonies, etc.

The salute is a very old form of greeting. Long ago when people greeted each other, they held up their right hand with the palm forward to show that they had no weapon in it. The salute is also a sign of respect and friendship for a Scouter or another Cub or Scout. When you salute a Scouter or another Cub or Scout you use a special sign. You hold up your right hand with two fingers spread out to look like the pointed ears of a wolf.

Handshake

Lord Baden-Powell, the founder of Cubbing and Scouting, once met an African chief who greeted him by shaking hands with the left hand. The chief explained that the left handshake was a sign of trust, because you would lay down your shield to do so. Today, Cubs and Scouts shake hands with the left hand. It is a sign that they are all members of the Worldwide Scouting family.

A few things more things

• “Pack” - stop what you are doing and pay attention.
• “Pack Pack Pack” - assemble around the Scouter making the call.