Here you will find answers to some of your questions about the new programme, and ideas how to have a smooth transition to the new scheme.
There are also additional questions and answers that have arisen during the launches.
Cub Scout Leaders Guide to Transition
What has Changed?
The main difference is the emphasis given within the programme. Yes, there are awards and badges but the most important badge within Cub Scouting is the Joining In Badge. This badge shows that the young person has joined in a balance programme of activities over a time period. What is not important is the number of awards achieved!
As with Beaver Scouts, Scouts and Explorer Scouts, Cub Scouts will have the opportunity to work for and gain Activity Badges, and some Challenges leading to a top award for Cub Scouts - the Chief Scouts Silver Award. The structure to gain this top award is similar in all Sections and will help reinforce the message that this is part of a complete programme from 6 to 25 years old.
The Balance Programme
A Balanced Programme is one, that over a period of time, draws an appropriate number of activities from all the Programme Zones. It explores and uses the full range of methods and demonstrates the underlying ways of working.
So the three elements of a Balance Programme are:
- The Programme Zones
- The methods used
- The underlying ways of working
For Cub Scouts, the Programme Zones are:
- Outdoor Scouting
- Fitness
- Discovering the world around you
- Creative
- Beliefs & Attitudes
- Caring & Community
- Global
The Methods Used are:
- Games
- Making Things
- Singing, Stories & Drama
- Visits & Visitors
- Outdoors
- Activities with others
- Help other people
- Themes
- Prayer. Worship & Reflection
- Team Challenges
- Try new things
The Underlying Ways of Working are:
- fun
- getting on with others
- activity
- keeping the Promise
- personal development
- working together
- responsibility
The Cub Scout Programme
Here are the frequently used terms in Cub Scouting:
| Membership Award | Helps the young person to understand the commitment they are making when they make the Promise and become a member of the Movement. |
| Joining in Award | Recognises a young persons participation in the Balanced Programme. |
| Challenges | Awards that challenge young people to use the skills that they have learnt through participation in the Balanced Programme. It may be achieved individually or in other groupings. |
| Top Award | The Chief Scouts Silver Award. A Cub Scout must gain the Outdoor Challenge plus two other Challenges and complete a personal challenge to achieve this award. |
| Activity Badges | An optional part of the scheme appealing to the widest range of interests and skills. |
| Group Awards | Awards that encourage Groups or Sections to jointly plan and implement a short term project on a specific theme. |
| Moving on Award | Helps ease the transfer of a young person from one Section to the next. |
What Awards and Badges are there?
Cub Scouts have a range of awards to gain in the programme, they are:
| The Challenges | The Top Award | Activity Badges | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Creative Fitness Global Caring |
The Chief Scouts Silver Award | Adventure Air Activities Animal Carer Art Athletics Book Reader Camper Chef Collector Communicator Cyclist DIY |
Emergency Aid Entertainer Equestrian My Faith Global Conservation Hobbies Home Help Home Safety Local Knowledge Martial Arts |
Naturalist Navigator Personal Safety Physical Recreation Road Safety Scientist Skater Sports Enthusiast Water Activities World Faiths |
Activity Badges
The Activity Badges have been amended and updated. It would be inappropriate for a Cub Scout to take a new Activity Badge which they have already earned from the old scheme. However it is still permissible to achieve any number of Hobbies and Collectors Badges. Your Cub Scouts can wear both styles of old and new badges on their uniform, both on the left sleeve.
In addition Cub Scouts may also gain a number of other awards:
Staged Activity Badges (Available to Members 6-18 years of age)
- IT
- Musician
- Swimmer
- Nights Away
Group Awards (Achieved through working with other Sections)
- Faith
- Environment
- International
How do we move our young people on from the current scheme to the new?
As we move on from the current Cub Scout programme to the new it is important that we recognise the achievements already made by young people. Outlined below is a suggestion of how one can move into the new scheme. If you want to work it differently - then please do! You should be fair and generous to your Cub Scouts. No young person should lose out or move backwards because of the changeover. If in doubt, be generous.
| Cub Scouts | Old Programme | New Programme |
|---|---|---|
| All | Participation badges can be awarded to reflect an appropriate number of years a Young Person has been involved in Scouting | |
| Sarah | Just invested | Should complete all the requirements to gain the Chief Scouts Silver Award |
| Tim | Gained the Cub Scout Award | Should complete at least two of the Challenges, of which one must be the Outdoor challenge, and a personal challenge to gain the Chief Scouts Silver Award |
| Chris | Gained the Adventure Award | Should complete one more Challenge and a personal challenge to gain the Chief Scouts Silver Award |
| Colin | Gained the Adventure Crest Award | Should complete a personal challenge to gain the Chief Scouts Silver Award |
Can Cub Scouts wear old and new badges on their uniform?
Yes. Wear badges for the current award scheme below the Challenge Badges.
What new resources are there to help us run the programme?
A range of materials have been produced to support the programme and these are outlines below:
- Scouting essentials... The Handbook for every adult in Scouting
- Pack Essentials
- Pack Programmes
- Record Cards
- The Cub Scout Powerpack ... Young Persons Resource
- Nights away...The Handbook for Residential Experiences
- Programme essentials ... Free Resource issued at Launch
Are any of the current resources still relevant?
Cub Scouts can keep the Jungle Book theme. There will also be lots of relevant, good programme ideas contained within the current resources. If a programme plan works well for your pack, continue to use it.
How long should the changeover take?
You will need to plan the change over to the new programme. UK Headquarters will continue to support the current programme until the end of 2003. You should change over once you are comfortable with the operation of the new scheme and the necessary materials e.g. badges are available locally to support you.
What support is there for me?
Your Group Scout Leader, Assistant District Commissioner and District Commissioner are all there to help you plan your Pack's transition to the new Programme.
Other support:
- The new range of publications
- Articles in Scouting Magazine
- Pages on ScoutBase UK (http://www.scoutbase.org.uk)
- District leaders Meetings
