Queen's Venturer Award

Okay, I'm being persuaded about a Cub Pack Leader Award, or whatever you want to call it.

RakelaK, have you ever thought about becoming a trainer? You seem to have your program planning down to a "T", done well in advance just as it should be. Your retention rate speaks to the no. 1 growth strategy: an excellent program. Teaching Scouting skills in Cubs as you do should motivate any Cub leaders to step up their program.

Teaching others what you do might improve their programs significantly. Also, you and your leadership team should be recognized for your incredible retention rate. Well done, and as a new cub leader this fall (I've been in Beavers for two years, and now have a foot in both places), I would love to learn at the feet of a master. You guys really seem to know what you are doing. I'll pm you with some questions, if you don't mind.

It's on my to-do list Angus.

Several years ago I inherited a Cub Pack that was in shambles. No grand howls, no inspections, no badge work (the Cubs got badges... they leaders at the time were just reading the handbook to the Cubs and asking if they knew what the requirements meant... and if they did, they got a badge. Weee)

My oldest entered that system just as all those leaders were leaving. And good riddance.

Both of my boys have moved on to Scouts. They have 10 and 8 years as youth members. my oldest is working towards his CSA this year.

But for me... Cubs is the level I feel I can contribute best to.

And 1% of the success of our program comes from my own experience as a Cub/Scout (and the fact that my Group Commissioner was actually my Scout leader 35 years ago)

But 99% of our success come from my team. My "Kaa" has been a leader for over 40 years. He's forgotten more than most new leaders have learned. My Bagheera was actually one of my Kaa's Cubs 20+ years ago. He wears his CSA pin with pride. And knows what Scouting is all about. My "Raksha" is a gem. She was one of the first female Scouts registered in the region 5 years before SC became officially co-ed. She was one of the first females in the region to earn her Chief Scout Award. She still wears the same uniform she wore when she was a youth member. (wish I could brag about that ) And her Chief Scout Award is there on her sleeve for all the World to see. And my "Baloo" is a former military tank commander.. a former trainer in both strategic planning and organization. As a civilian he still works part time as a lecturer at RMC teaching Canadian Military History (definitely the guy to have around at Remembrance Day) His military background is why we are organized and why our planning works out so well. It is a total team effort. They come in with program ideas... and as Akela... I see that we get the time, resources and people to make those plans happen.

It has nothing to do with me... it's all about the team.

We haven't had our first meeting yet and we've grown Pack numbers [EDIT: turns out its 33%] 25% over last year.

And our first 4 meetings leading up to Investiture Night are all 'bring-a-friend' nights.

So time will tell where we end up.

We have dyslexic kids, autistic kids, hyper-active kids, goth kids, quiet kids, jock kids, computer kids... and all them get the same thing.... smiles, games, songs, skits, jokes, pranks, activities, FUN and STRUCTURE. All done in the spirit of Scouting. Their accomplishments are never compared to each other. If one Cub earns 4 badges in a week, 1 Cub earned one and 7 Cubs earned no badges but they helped their Mom carry in groceries or they helped their neighbour weed his garden... all those accomplishments get equal celebration from me. And we end with the same message "Stay in Scouting... it just gets to be more fun the longer you stay in."

And that's about the best I can do.

What we've done in terms of higher cub awards is twofold:

1 - Over the summer, we have an "Akela Challenge." The requirements including earning a badge from every star category, walking, running or boating a combined 50km, earning two awards doing something substaintial for someone else (ie, putting some allowance away to charity or helping someone in the community) and preparing a presentation on what they did in the summer. The top cub gets to hold on to Akela's fang.

2 - This year, we've introduced a new award, the "Hunter Cub, " essentially, the pack specialty badge. We use the pack speciality badge as a requirement for scub camps. Our scout troop, and our group in general, is moving back toward lightweight camping which demands a very good knowledge of camping, good self-awareness and a good degree of discpline. To earn our pack specialty badge, cubs have to do a lot: demonstrate that they have packed all of their kit for at least three camps, conduct three marches with all their kit (of 1, 2, and 3 kms), show a good knowldge of fire safety and camp routine, among other things. Cubs who get the badge also get to wear a set of pacing beads and get to do some really cool stuff with the scouts. Plus it's something fun to work towards during the year.

3 - Rakelak - there's a good chance I've studied under your Baloo. Small world!

I'm not sure how I feel about a higher cub award. Personally, I like how the CSA and QVA are set up - as individual achievement awards, not "ranks" (as th Eagle Scout is). Perhaps one of the greatest things I picked up form scouting was that leadership or authority is not conferred from rank or status but form one's own actions - oddly enough, my scout leaders were almost all NCOs in the Royal Montreal Regiment, and we were definitely one of the most democratic troops I've ever seen. The CSA and QVA are an individual challenge which encourage personal development.

The main probelm with a higher cub award is that cubs, by virtue of their age, are limited in their independence and range of activities. As such, the validity and extent of what can be achieved in an individual achievement award is also limited. Still, having some sort of prerequisite to do scub camps is good - it ensures that scub camps are more adventurous and challenging by ensuring that cubs are prepared.

John, I don't know whether to say 'good for you' or 'I am so, so, so sorry and I feel you pain' I kid, I kid... easy Baloo, down..heel.

We once tried to get our Cubs to do a self driven summer outdoor challenge produced by the Saskatchewan council. I couldn't find that anymore, but I did find something similar (identical?) by the Manitoba council. See attached.

oddly enough, my scout leaders were almost all NCOs in the Royal Montreal Regiment...

Interesting statement. I was a young Officer in the RMR starting with LCol Taylor-Kennedy and going up to Hon.Col. Rhett Lawson, who was Captain of my Honour Guaerd when I married and my very best friend. I can not remember that anybody in the RMR was involved in Scouting in those days. And I was also a ADC-Rovers for NDG at that tiem. My Orderly Room S/Sgt was Abe Zemmel, who wnet to work ar QCHQ when the Army cut expenses, maybe he remembers ...
PLEASE elucidat; when and who are the NCO's that were your Scout Leaders. Didn't know you werew from Westmount John. What school did you attend? Curious çause I am an old WHS Alumni.

Rakala an award is defiantly in order. Your are right in your model. Cubs (and beavers) can do everything that scouts do, just at their own level.

Since the program standard requires us to work on two badges a year it makes seance that all cubs could earn all 6 stars. The award would be for working on their own to earn the 8 awards and completed any star requirements that they missed.

We once tried to get our Cubs to do a self driven summer outdoor challenge produced by the Saskatchewan council. I couldn't find that anymore, but I did find something similar (identical?) by the Manitoba council. See attached.

Saskatchewan and Manitoba are both run out of the same office in Winnipeg so it likely is identical.

I love that outdoor challenge PDF... great ideas! Thanks for sharing!!

There are high-water marks between each section as to what is age appropriate. But I know my Cubs see our Scout Troop in action a lot... and they see themselves as being no different than them... just slightly smaller. After they see what the Scouts do for their program. I don't want to turn around and give them a colouring book after that... I want them to stay excited about what they saw the Scouts do by exposing them to it and teaching them some good old fashion Scout skills. That way, hopefully.. they'll move on to Scouts. Get them excited.... keep them excited.. and its almost guaranteed they will stay in.

You can only do (yuck) Purple Star stuff for so long before you have to just drag those Cubs outside.... throw a bunch a staves and rope at them and teach them to build a bridge that will hold up Akela for 10 seconds before his massive girth collapses it (no wonder I need a hip replacement )

They have obvious limitations based on their age. But they have even more potential... as long as they aren't throttled into colouring in the Canadian Flag every week. BP&P sets the boundaries. They are a bit "Nanny State" if you ask me. But I'm not the one who signs the insurance policy so I will just stay excited about our opportunities rather than whine about our boundaries.

Errol, I'm from Beaurepaire. Unfortunately, my old ground is now merged with Baie D'Urfe. My parents recently found an old Beaurepaire shoulder flash and sent it out east - what a treat! I was actually considering joining the RMR or Black Watch before I ended up in Kingston - but that's another story. I was in scouts in the late 1990s - would you happen to know anyone form this timeframe?

Rakelak, while I agree with you on the potential of the kids and I definitely see where you're coming from, and we expect a lot from our cubs, some of the CSA type stuff is not practical for a nine-year old. I therefore agree with you that a CSA-type award should be left out of the cub programme. We've been realy pushing the cubs away from simple crafts into more practical stuff involving knots etc. My goal is to have them doing a canoe or hike-in camp by the end of the year - let's hope we can get them there!

Errol, I'm from Beaurepaire. Unfortunately, my old ground is now merged with Baie D'Urfe. My parents recently found an old Beaurepaire shoulder flash and sent it out east - what a treat! I was actually considering joining the RMR or Black Watch before I ended up in Kingston - but that's another story. I was in scouts in the late 1990s - would you happen to know anyone form this timeframe?

You did not answer my question: Which RMR NCO'S were your Scouting leaders.
You say you mooooved to Kingston, are you intimating that you also went to RMCC? What year ?

And yes I am still in touch with the RMR as an former Officer. Col Hall was one on my Commanding Officers during my tour with the RMR.