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The philosophy underpinning the programme is that every Cub Scout should participate in a Balanced Programme over a period of time.

In Scouting, the word programme has a wide interpretation. Programme is not just about the activities that Scouts can take part in (almost anything from abseiling to zorbing). It is also how we do these activities (the Methods) and why we do them (values deriving from the Scout Promise). Every time we plan an activity for our Cub Scouts we should also consider how we might organise the activity and why we are doing it.

What we offer to young people in the Cub Scout Section is a Balanced Programme; a range of activities, events and experiences built around six Programme Zones.

The programme is balanced in the same way a diet is balanced, not by precise measurements and timings but by simlpy ensuring that over a given period (a month or a term for example) that there is something from each Zone in the Programme.

Programme Zones split the whole programme into manageable areas. Each Zone represents a different development area in a young person's life. There are six Programme Zones in Cub Scouting. They are:

• Beliefs and Attitudes
• Community
• Fitness
• Creative
• Global
• Outdoor and Adventure

A Balanced Programme will draw ideas from each of them overtime. This may take the form of an event or activity, as it might be a specific Activity Badge or Challenge.

more about Programme Zones...

As part of the Balanced Programme across the Programme Zones, you should aim to use a variety of methods with the Pack. They will make your meetings more interested and appeal to more of your Cub Scouts.

In addition to the Zones and Methods, there is also a third element to the Balanced Programme. Put simply, it identifies what people might expect to see if they walked into a Pack meeting. We need to be aware of it as it very much reflects the experience of being a Cub Scout.

The Cub Scout Balanced Programme Checker is a resource to help Leaders plan a Balanced Programme using all the Programme Zones and a variety of Methods. This can also be used retrospectively to check how balanced the programme is over a period of time.

Download the Cub Scout Balanced Programme Checker