A short history of the Wolf Cub program

The Wolf Cub program originated from the Boy Scouts Association in the UK to provide a training program that  was established in 1916 for those boys who had an interest in scouting but were too young to join the main program.

They typically included the siblings of scouts or younger friends of.

In establishing the program Baden-Powell realized this could not be a watered down scouting program as not only would not appeal to would be Wolf Cubs but also blur the linkage to the determent of both what would become the wolf cub and scouting programs thus it was to have it's own name, uniform and identity.

He called it "Wolf Cubs" and by agreement with the author Rudyard Kipling, used his Jungle Book universe and history as its motivational frame, writing in December 1916 the Wolf Cub Handbook and instituted the training program and badges in time for its second edition.

In terms of organization the word Akala was borrowed from the jungle book and used for the (adult) leader of the Pack, a pack is divided into teams known as Sixes with an older boy as it's leader.

Generally the program majors on spiritual and character growth, citizenship training and personal fitness within a setting of positive role models and peer group.

Within the Baden-Powell Scout Association, packs are themed on the Jungle Book, divided in to Sixes with each Sixth being identified by a coloured triangular patch on the members arm where a Sixer and a Seconder act as leader and secondary respectively whose ranks are indicated by yellow horizontally stripes sown on the left arm.

In the  British Boy Scouts and British Girl Scouts Association, it is an alternative program to their Junior Scouts one whereas in the Scout Association  from which both groups split from, the Sixths system prevails withe the Sixer wearing two strips and the seconder who is is the deputy, one withe the membership of any one Sixth being distinguished by their distinctive Woggle (That the neckerchief is fastened with).

All open and close the pack meeting with the Grand Howl we mentioned before.

Personally I hold with the traditions of the Wolf Cubs because I feel the vehicle it is delivered through using the Jungle Book is a more effective and appropriate one for the age group - UK around 7 through 11 depending on personal development -  feeling trying make it more mini-scouts and remove its roots says more about the issues of adults rather than recognizing the juvenile nature of boys who are just that and love the old ways.