Though Foxes Cubs started back last week I did not return to Cubs until this week.  Last week the Cubs were visited by the Environment officers, this week the Cubs completed a six challenge night.

At the end of last term the Leaders, Sixers and Seconders came to my house for pizza and planning, the Sixers and Seconders had already discussed this term’s programme with their sixes and before they could eat any pizza they planned this term, for me and the Leaders it was just a case of facilitating the plan.

I am a very strong believer that the Cubs should have a lot of say in their programme, they should be taking responsibility for their meetings; there are two quotes I love from Lord Baden-Powell that remind me the Cubs really should be planning their own programme the first being:-

‘The more responsibility the Scoutmaster gives his patrol leaders, the more they will respond.’

And the second is:-

‘When you want a thing done, don’t do it yourself’ is a good motto for Scoutmasters.’

The Cubs came up with a varied and interesting term’s programme, one which should give them ownership of their Cub meetings.

During the summer I was fortunate enough to be at WINGS (Windsor International Guide and Scout camp) this takes place at Windsor Great Park every five years, the next one being in 2019 only 1773 days to wait.  I was training adults and I got to talk to loads of Leaders some who lived very close and some from far afield.  After talking to one Leader from Cheshire the idea of a ‘program in a box’ came up.  This started a debate that more and more Leaders joined into.

A programme in a box is a plan you pick up and go with; being a little bit of a control freak I’ve never used one before.  The Leader from Cheshire used a four year rolling program, after discussing the advantages and disadvantages of this type of programme planning I agreed to give one week a try.  I tried it this week in the ‘six challenge night’ I did change a two challenges and made it our own, the code breaking and symbols as the Cubs had asked for code breaking and the logo app game.

The Cubs enjoyed the challenges and I followed the plan and it saved me some time over the weekend in preparing for the night.  The other Leader followed the instructions and the evening ran to time and smoothly.  All in all a good idea, I still like to plan each meeting from scratch though and tailor it to the Cubs we have at the moment maybe it is the trainer in me.  I like to give as much responsibility to the sixers and seconds as is reasonably possible and I do try very hard not to do it myself.

Some facts about volunteers in Scouting UK and what we contribute a week.

• Approximately 110,000 adults support Scouting in the UK (Leaders, Commissioners, parent helpers etc)
• Adults working in Scouting contribute massive free youth work to their local communities
• A leader would typically give time in the following way:
• Sectional meetings – two hours a week over 42 weeks 84 hours A couple of weekend camps 96 hours Planning and District meetings 36 hours Training 6 hours Day trips – three per year 36 hours, Admin/planning – two hours per week 84 hours
• Total average number of hours per person per year 342 hours Every volunteer gives 42 working days
• A total contribution per person of £3,488.40 (If paid at first step Locally Qualified NJC rates of £10.20 an hour)
• Total contribution for all adults working in the Movement £383m – over £1/3bn