Cubs

Upholland Cub Scouts for 8-10½ year old boys and girls

Our Cub Scout pack meets on Fridays from 7-8.30pm. We have lots of games, challenges, crafts, cooking, visits and start to join in and learn adventurous outdoor activities. We have camps and residential weekends either nearby, at Scout Activity centres in Lancashire and Cheshire or in the Yorkshire Dales or Lake District.

We also join in with other Cub packs at Ormskirk District or West Lancashire County Scout events.

Because our Scout group is sponsored by all three churches in Upholland our members will be encouraged to support them at their services and events.

Camping trips have been part of Scouts since the very beginning. We’ve records of Upholland Cubs and Scouts camping in the 1920’s and have photos of our Scouts camping at Dawlish in 1946!

Cubs will aim to have at least one camping trip each year.

What do Cub Scouts do?

Being a Cub is about growing up and learning with friends old and new. You’ll may be in Cubs with some of your old friends from Beaver Scouts. You might be in the Cub pack your older brother or sister was in, or even your dad!

Adventures

Maybe you’ll canoe on a lake or sail in our sailing boat. Or tell stories by torchlight. Or fall asleep under the stars. Or build a den or a model raft. Or go up your first hill or even mountain. Or explore our local history that there’s so much of in Upholland. Or toast marshmallows over an open fire. Or earn Scout badges.

Skills

We learn by doing and watching others. You might cook something. Or learn first aid. Or find your way about on maps. Or tell us about your hobby. Or bring your mum or dad along to see what you do. Whatever skills you do it’s about joining in, trying new things and getting better! You’ll learn how to work with other boys and girls and how to help each other.

Helping others

Helping others is part of Cub Scouts. We might learn about important things like pollution, nature, global heating and what’s being done to make things better for when you grow up. We might help plant some trees, or help our Beaver Scouts finish a project they have started.

Who leads a Cub Scout Pack?

Every pack has young people aged 8-10½ years, there will always be 2 adults when we are indoors and extra adults when we go outdoors away from our usual home.

Leaders will wear a uniform, will have been trained for their role and have been cleared to work as a volunteer with children. Sometimes other adults will come along to help. They may be Cub Scout mums or dads or maybe someone with special skills or interests they want to pass on. There may be Explorer Scouts helping as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award.

At meeting nights

Making models at a Cub Pack evening

All sections in Scouts [Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts] have some sort of opening and closing activity at the start and end of their sessions.

We’ll all wear a simple uniform which sets us out as members of a worldwide movement. Cub Scout uniform is a green sweatshirt which is comfortable, durable and easy to wash! And we’ll wear a scarf or neckerchief which is unique to us so everyone will know we’re from Upholland Scouts, one of the longest established (and best!) Scout Groups in Lancashire.

Soon after you start in any section in Scouts, you’ll be asked to make a simple promise.

This might be “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”.

You’ll get your scarf and first badges when you make this promise. If parents have a faith background and are encouraging their child in their faith there are slightly different promises you may want to use.

Scouts is not a religious organisation and young people of any, or no, faith can join and fully participate. However one of our aims is to promote the development of young people and this can include their own faith life.

We have well established behaviour standards-you’ll find these elsewhere on this website but they include – manners, politeness and listening, which we believe are important.

How to join

Lots of people want to join Upholland Scouts. We’re a popular group and now the only uniformed organisation in Upholland. You might have to wait for a space before you can start. If you can’t make Fridays then you can find other groups in neighbouring villages on www.scouts.org.uk

If your child has additional needs then please be upfront about these from the start. We need to know about them to keep your child safe and to try and ensure they have the best possible experience.

On your first night at Cubs you’ll be joining in lots of activities- either wear your Beaver Scout uniform if you’ve moved up (and it still fits!) or wear something you feel comfortable in like sportswear and trainers. Don’t forget we might be outside!

Parents and carers

Upholland Scouts is a semi-autonomous voluntary organisation registered with and complying with the rules and standards of The Scout Association. Parents and carers have a role and position in the group. Every parent and carer is a de-facto member of the groups’ governing body-the Scout Group Council. Day to day activities are run by our Trustees and our Officers. All are volunteers with many other responsibilities who give their time and skills freely to Scouting.

And when you’re 10½. Our brilliant Scout Troop will be waiting to welcome you there also on Fridays and your journey continues!