{"alias":"contentPage","byline":null,"standfirst":null,"content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EAlmost as soon as Scouts began, there was a clamouring of younger voices wanting to join in with the activities and adventures that it offered.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn \u0027How a lady can train the Cubs\u0027 from January 1915, Vera Barclay wrote: \u0022...since nobody would organise them and their enthusiasm into a recognised body and allow them to wear shorts and sling water-bottles across their little backs, they had, perforce, to form themselves into squads and drill each other on the village green; and cut themselves \u201Cstaves\u201D from the hazel bushes and whistle with their fingers.\u0022\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAs early as 1910, there are reports of Scout volunteers running \u0022training squads\u0022 or \u0022Junior Scouts\u0022 for these younger boys, with activities being run by some of their more senior Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn January 1914, Headquarters Gazette published an article called\u003Cspan\u003E \u0022\u003C/span\u003EWolf Cubs or Young Scouts \u2013 How to train them\u0022. This\u003Cem\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E\u00A0\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/em\u003Esummarised the new section, Cubs, and its rules.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15705/wolf-cub-and-wolf.jpg","width":524,"height":365,"altText":"Illustration of a Wolf Cub crouching down in uniform next to a wolf howling","caption":"One early tradition which remains part of many modern Cub meetings is the Grand Howl.","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EThe programme was a reduced version of the Scouts, with no specific activities for the younger boys.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBaden-Powell was able to reflect that, in January 1914, he had: \u0022stated my belief\u2026that a junior branch of the Scout Movement would supply a much felt want. We started the Wolf Cubs and there are already 10,000 of them. So I need not worry you with further comment on them.\u0022\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch3\u003E\u2018Boys want noise - let them have it\u2019\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ERobert Baden-Powell placed an emphasis on the need for a different approach to be taken in the running of a Cub Pack.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt shouldn\u2019t be an easier or watered down version of Scouts. He saw the age range covered by Cubs as being a crucial developmental point in a young person\u2019s life.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"quoteText":"The age is the turning point from the child into a boy, while the Scout age is that of the boy turning to a lad and from the lad into the man. There are some primary points which need to be recognised by those interested in the Cub training.","attribution":"Robert Baden-Powell","gridType":"quote","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EHe wanted the Pack to be seen as a happy family, filled with laughter.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHe recognised this age groups need for play, stating: \u0022Boys want noise \u2013 let them have it. When they play, let them play heartily, if the Cubmaster has the sense to organise his programme that way.\u0022\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15695/cubs-1916-grand-howl-1024x724.jpg","width":1024,"height":724,"altText":"A group of Cubs wearing their uniform crouch in a circle while two leaders look over them","caption":"Two Lady Cubmasters leading a Grand Howl, 1916.","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003E\u2018Pushing On\u2019\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDespite being at the height of the First World War, Scouts was planning for the future.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn April 1916, Baden-Powell announced: \u0022The need for the development of the Wolf Cub Movement is becoming more urgent every day.\u0022\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe first Cubmasters Conference was scheduled for 24 June 1916, with the programme covering topics such as \u2018How far is the Patrol System suitable for Cubs?\u2019, \u2018Can good and bad little boys be mixed?\u2019 and \u2018The future organisation of the Cub Movement\u2019.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOver the summer and autumn of 1916 developments, such as additions to the Cub Law, the introduction of a new range of proficiency badges and the invention of a totem pole to show pack achievements, started to hint at the direction of the new programme.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15680/wolf-cub-badges.jpg","width":1109,"height":979,"altText":"A collection of red, yellow, blue and green Wolf Cub badges","caption":"The original Wolf Cub programme included 12 activity badges.","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EThere was also talk of the long awaited \u2018Wolf Cub Handbook\u2019. \u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe biggest development however, was the appointment of a member of staff to organised Cub Work.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022/about-us/our-history/our-online-exhibitions/scouting-personalities/vera-barclay/\u0022 title=\u0022Vera Barclay\u0022\u003EVera Barclay\u003C/a\u003E, who by this point had over 4 years experience of Scouts, was appointed as Assistant Secretary for Wolf Cubs.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn October 1916, Baden-Powell announced: \u0022The Wolf Cub Movement for training boys on Scout lines between the ages of eight and eleven has been under experiment for the past two years, and results have shown that possibilities, perhaps greater than those which we had originally anticipated, underlie it.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022The Council have therefore determined to go forward with it and to give it every encouragement as a valuable step in character training for the younger boy.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u0022It has been put on to an official standing in the Boy Scout Association, its officers recognised and its rules ratified.\u0022\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWith the ratification of the Wolf Cubs section came some new changes, including what skills and knowledge a Wolf Cub must have to attain their first and second stars.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15704/1916-cubs-signalling-1024x750.jpg","width":1024,"height":750,"altText":"Black and white photo of three young Cubs wearing uniform while signalling with white flags","caption":"Wolf Cubs demonstrating signalling skills, 1916.","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EAmongst much anticipation \u2018The Wolf Cubs Handbook\u2019 was launched on 29 November 1916.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EUnlike \u2018Scouting for Boys\u2019, which was written for a youth audience, the Wolf Cub Handbook tried to appeal to boys, Cubs and the volunteers.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EVera worked closely with Baden-Powell to create exciting content, drawing on her practical experience of working with Cubs.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe handbook was closely inspired by Rudyard Kipling\u2019s The Jungle Book, suggesting games and activities inspired by the stories.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15706/wolf-cub-handbook-34-1024x225.jpg","width":1024,"height":225,"altText":"Illustration of two young wolf cubs walking in a line behind two adult wolf cubs","caption":"As in The Jungle Book, human Wolf Cubs are lead by Akela, the chief Wolf.","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EOn the 16 December 1916, the newly revamped Wolf Cubs were given a formal launch at Caxton Hall in London.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe displays included gymnastics, first aid, signalling and knitting, the latter an activity which contributed to a Cub attaining his War Service Badge.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe Cubs had formally arrived!\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/15707/1916-cubs-first-aid-768x1130.jpg","width":768,"height":1130,"altText":"Black and white photo of a Cub demonstrating first aid skills by putting another Cub\u0027s arm in a sling","caption":"Wolf Cubs demonstrating first aid skills, 1916.","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EFollowing this fanfare, the Cubs section went from strength to strength.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBy the end of the First World War had over 37,000 members.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EToday it\u2019s UK Scouts\u0027 biggest section, with over 158,000 members.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":"","pageType":null,"location":null,"browserTitle":"","versionDate":"10 August 2023","reviewDate":"22/04/2022","redirectUrl":"","id":76086,"nodeName":"The origins of the Wolf Cubs","title":"The origins of the Wolf 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