East Belfast District Cub Scouts
Cub Scouting is for young people aged 8 years and over. Members often move up to Cubs from our younger Beaver Scout Section, but others choose to join the Cub Section directly as their first experience of what Scouting has on offer. Cubs stay in the Section for 2-3 years before moving on to the Scout Troop between the ages of 10-11 years.
There are more than 200 Cub Scouts in East Belfast, divided between the 12 Packs active across our District. At present, most members are boys although 28th Pack has become the first Cub Pack in East Belfast to welcome girls into Cub Scouting. Each Cub Scout Pack is made up of a number of 'sixes' (usually with 5-7 Cubs) each led by one of the senior Cubs, the 'sixer' assisted by a 'seconder'.
Cub Scouting began in 1916, when Baden Powell established a section then known as 'Wolf Cubs' for the younger brothers of those boys already in the Scout Troops he had set up. Cub Scout Leaders still take their names from characters mentioned in Kipling's Jungle Book. The Leader of each Pack is called Akela and the assistants have names such as Baloo, Kaa or Bagherra. Many Packs often have Explorer Scouts too helping out as young Leaders as part of their own Duke of Edinburgh's Award or other Service Awards.
So what exactly do Cub Scouts do? Most Packs meet one night a week but there are lots of other activities at weekends throughout the year as well. Pack Nights are a lively and exciting mix of games and badgework. Cub Scouts complete a series of Challenge Awards and Activity Badges as well as taking part in sporting activities, craft, drama, teamwork, initiative challenges, theme nights, conservation nights and visits throughout the local community. Outdoor activities feature strongly in the programme. Most Packs in East Belfast District have an annual weekend camp, several hold more than one each year and from time to time there are additional opportunities to attend camps organised by the District, such as the District Millennium Camp, or at Northern Ireland level, such as the camp held at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre to mark Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee in 2002. There are opportunities to build shelters, cook on an open fire, and join in the singing around the campfire as well as experiencing a range of activities such as climbing, abseiling, pioneering and canoeing.
In East Belfast District, we have two Assistant District Commissioners (Cub Scouts), John and Suzi. As well as being there mainly to support and encourage the Cub Leaders in East District, John and Suzi organise various competitions and events throughout the year for East's 200 Cubs, ranging from Mountain Biking, to Cross-Country Running, 5-a-side football, to roller-blade hockey and the District Quiz. Cubs from East Belfast , together with those from the other 4 Districts in Belfast, also take part in events and competitions organised by Belfast County, including the annual swimming gala and County Flag competition, organised by our Assistant County Commissioner, Paula.
New members are always welcome! To find out where the nearest Pack to you is based, follow this link:
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Contact John or Suzi with comments or ideas for future Cub Scout events: eastbelfast@yahoo.com |
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