Out but looking the part

 In view of my comments last time regarding tidiness and having a destinctive uniform, here's proof it doesn't have to be as hit or miss as it currently is where older leaders may use more suasion to get their pcks out looking smart in current uniform and others who tend not to bother much with that at all so as as they've got on what they have to.

That's 1981, in Scotland at camp so there will be more casual periods like for playing football where you may get muddy but at other times their expected to be in uniform even if the cap, then a feature of it isn't being worn.

Of course you need to be prepared to make temporary consessions in extreme hot or cold weather as children's welfare matters but generally you expect them to turn up smart in full uniform.

If they could do that back then, where is the problem now?

Back in time...

 Well it may be getting warmer soon but what goes on your Uniform?

@Pix credits A.P. Ltd

Your badges and these are of the adjacent scouting region to us although I attended parades in Newcastle Under Lyme and spent time by their events in that town.

These are from the late 1980's under the "Cub Scout" banner rather than Wolf Cubs which did cut across why Wolf Cubs was set up - it was designed to be different than the Scouts older boys joined.

Today we're back to Cubs which is a better idea.

Games challenges

It isn't unknown for inter district competitions to be held in various sports across all the different sections.

Here Beavers and Cubs are competing in Association Football, colloquially called "Football" in the U.K. and Europe and Soccer in other regions and are properly kitted out as having had a few blows to the shim protection is a must!
 

A little old in their time?

 We enter Autumn which brings with it a load of events that we mark and to which pack leaders no doubt will be working on plans but one thing that always intrigued me was why as I recall from the sidelines where there was a number of different Cub annuals.

Part of the reason I can say that I was around during that era so I knew what my mates had, what they did - cubs on a Wednesday - and what appealed to them.

1971 is some fifty three years ago, the world of cubbery had changed in 1967 when the Wolf Cubs became Cub Scouts (and now just Cubs), uniforms got changes and awards got altered a bit.

Year had began with Clive Dunn singing Grandad and ended with Slade, T Rex and David Bowie and so in broad cultural terms we'd moved very much into the more sophesticated seventies.

What you might think does that have to do with Cub Scouts you might ask and the answer I would say can be seen between the covers of that book published in 1970, the 1971 Sixer Annual.

Re-reading this over the last few weeks, while the cover has three cub scouts looking as we all did the minute you opened it up, while looking to be a premium annual, this had no colour illustrations or pictures.

The language was rather stilted and old-fashioned even by 1971 standards, and indeed looking at early 60's versions seemed to be very much of the same ilk.

It certainly talks about exploring, identifying mammals, wild flowers and adventures which is great but it doesn't grip you in much the way the shorter Cub Annuals with their friendly text with colour did, leaving you wanting to try it out.

Had their been a "retro" market for Cubs stuff in 1971, in some respects this was more it even if the quality of the binding and the graphic layout on front cover is classy.

It doesn't surprise me that in time this annual left us because It certainly wouldn't of held the attention of myself and my mates as seven or eight year olds back then.

Inspiration

 

You may feel fearful, afraid of the challenges ahead but like the one that went before you, boys have and can master their fears, learn to move onwards and upwards and know everyone other one will support you along the way.

That is one of the most imprtant lessons to learn.

The royal cub

 From less complicated days in the life of Prince Andrew, taking part in the Grand Howl and making your salute, very much the way that it was, royal or not.

Royalty has a strong involvement in scouting from the earliest of days.

Fictional adventures of Cubs

 Today we are looking at fictional adventures in the lives of Cubs, the kind of thing we used to enjoy reading about.

The six volume Dan Carter Series was written by Mildred A. Wirt Benson and was published by Cupples and Leon from 1949 to 1953.  The books follow the adventures of 10 year old Dan Carter and the other boys in Den 2 of the Cub Scouts.  Dan Carter is considered the most responsible Cub in Den 2 and is the pack leader.

Daniel Carter Beard was a naturalist who led an organization called the Sons of Daniel Boone during the early 20th Century.  After the Boys Scouts of America was incorporated in 1910, Beard's Sons of Daniel Boone was enfolded into the organization.  Beard became the national Scout commissioner, and Beard helped to design the original Scout uniform.

Dan Carter and the other Cubs from Den 2 of the Webster City Cub Scouts sorely wish for the never-ending rain to cease so that they can explore the outdoors.  Finally, the weather clears temporarily and the Cubs decide to hike to Mr. Silverton's pheasant farm.  When the boys arrive at the farm, they are threatened by the caretaker, Saul Dobbs, who orders them away from the farm.  Angered, the boys visit the office of the owner, Mr. Silverton, and plead for permission to visit the farm.  Mr. Silverton grants permission so long as the boys stay out of the restricted area.

During the boys' visit to the farm, Red and Chips wander away from the other Cubs and accidentally enter the restricted area!  Red and Chips pick up a few pheasant feathers which they plan to make into an Indian headdress.  Little do the boys realize that their innocent mistake is to cause them endless trouble.

The Cubs find themselves accused of killing some of Mr. Silverton's pheasants.  With no way of proving their innocence, the Cubs are treated hostilely by Mr. Silverton and others in the community.  The boys must exonerate themselves, and so begin watching Mr. Silverton's property in order to discover what is happening to his pheasants.  After more rains cause Mr. Silverton's property to flood, the Cubs help Mr. Silverton save his pheasants, regain his trust, and solve the mystery of the missing pheasants.

Scouts on a real life adventure!

Having fun in the Cubs

Cubs away from their own "Den" don't just do age appropriate things around their camp such as helping to keep it clean, organizing and generally contributing but do some more pure fun things such going to play centres  and theme parks as a pack with leaders and other trusted adults.

Here these cubs are having great fun doing piggy backs with the scout leader after playing on the slide behind them which helps to form bonds between all .

Camp food preparation

As B team get on with putting up the tents with all the guy ropes, these boys get on with making a salad, finely chopping the unions, sorting out the lettuce and tomatos plus buttering the bread.
working as team isn't just a matter of doing the exact same thing as everyone else but each group doing a part in meeting the entire teams needs such as fixing a meal.

The before bit where each boy waits at an agreed location with his own kit bag and accessories before they make their camp.

Xmas Scavenger Hunt

Christmas fun activities can include a Scavenger Hunt apart from parties with games and quizzes.

I always loved those sorts of activities although it may not be easiest thing for the fun taking part which when there's several of you is infectious.

Cubs is at it best when it remembers it's for children and caters for their innate juvenile state rather than trying be a cut down older child or adult activity and occupation.

Cubbing Autumn 2021 style

It's that time of the year I pay homage to the past of Cubs Scouts aka Wolf Cubs while out admiring The Fall as it is better know on the other side of the Atlantic.

This is much a period image carefully restored by me from the original on Tumblr of the Cub Scouts I knew with the things that were to go shortly such as the leather sandals  that would of been purchased for school wear back in the 1970's and the yellow detail on his cub cap.

It's that past that goes forward with me.

One thing that thankfully hasn't changed is the wearing of neckerchiefs and this handy illustration shows you how to 'do' yours properly.

Autumn came in suddenly this year, no build up as such and before you knew it we were greeted by such lovely sights such as this in a play area where the leaves are already beginning to fall.

Leaves are interesting and here are a few very much in situ on a bed of twigs, other fallen leaves and grass showing their structure.

The brilliant yellow low sun makes for lovely sights at this time of the year really bringing the colour out as you stand there in the pleasant glow enjoying the fresh air.

I love this life, the exploration, the taking an interest in things and the rigour of being outdoors while having fun.

The guide to neckerchief fastening was included in memory of Redneckerchief who specialized in youth organization posts that used the neckerchief whose tumble account was sadly terminated on Friday 9 August 2019 and who was an early inspiration of mine.

Cooking for a pack

Original source: TedBanger

The link between the different sections within Scouting can be seen here where a Scout is cooking a meal for a pack of cubs on a joint adventure because presumably he's trusted with fire and hot foods.

I would guess he is about twelve as he's still got that rounded more boyish face rather than the more angular sort teens develop but he appears distracted in this picture by the conversation, if only for a few seconds.

Christmas

As mentioned, we are taking a break over the Christmas period on Scouting and Me because duties and responsibilities as a Wolf Cub in spirit require me to do things with my family.

Although we also worship differently, Christmas is accepted as a major celebration and I wish all this blogs followers a very happy Christmas.

While a full account of Christmas is published today elsewhere, I did have this The Complete Guide To Scouting Skills to help spur me on in this resumption of the life and principals of Scouting through providing practical know-how better able to plan and contribute when with others to my outdoor adventures.

It's been a great touch to a year where through this I have made personal progress, physically as as mentally being far more alert and self confident through the practice of Scouting, better able to cope the pandemics restrictions.

I've got this for after Christmas Lunch with my folks.

Fun working in the Great Outdoors

 Moving towards the countdown for Advent

I dare say in this weather the fire would prove the most popular spot for many a cub having noticed it in the last few days exploring but these two most certainly have a job to do although they will as ever be supported in learning how to it well.

It's that I feel most in my element doing, working beyond those difficulties I have to master new skills.

500th Post

Today we are marking the 500th post on Scouting and Me which was established in December 2018 on here and for a time also on Tumblr during a period with difficulties on that site and some issues to work through off it.

Way back on the first entry, the die was set as to what this blog is about, a boy who wasn't far removed from the one one the left of this picture who would of loved to been a cub scout who had brothers who were in it but whose parents failed to see it would of been of great benefit and for the disabilities I had and still have, actually the Scouting Association would of been prepared to had me and made any necessary adjustments while I remained just one of the boys in the pack.

Being involved in the sidelines helping my brothers out in their activities, having classmates who were in membership, takes us to one thing this blog is about which is it is a homage to that scouting past.

It's also about modern day scouting because even from my position on the fringes, it was  and is obvious scouting has huge benefits to boys (and today girls too) and the program run to equip them to be young adults and to play a responsible role in society and so supports it, referring to current activities, issues and programs.

It's also about making up for that lost opportunity by being a Wolf Cub in Spirit, undertaking similar exercises and activities, being prepared to take adventures and challenge myself using the practical skills to grow as a person maturing to at least the developmental limits I am capable of.

In the 500 posts I have grown a lot in stature, learned to be a lot more resilient being able to undertaking walks on terrains that would of terrified me, met some of my fears head on, grown as a 'boy' to the point I feel I can look any in the eye as an equal all as this adult but child-like person.

Picking up the baton of Scouting and embracing it has helped move me on.

This blog may have less posts than others I have but they are the most important posts in my life.

Cookery Class

Modern cubs is co-ed but anyway what we have going here is learning basic cookery skills such as cutting carrots and dealing with potatoes which is a much needed skill that can be taught to boys (and girls) at an early age as they prepare a meal from scratch.

Surprisingly it was ages until I actually learned them thanks to the cotton wool effect and thinking I couldn't learn to handle equipment properly and yet we all need to know these things even if we need help with them.

Learning about knots

Learning which knots are best for what and how to make them yourself is one the basic things a cub learns from "the old wolf" and that is what is going on this illustration set at Camp.

Giving it your all

These Cub Scouts are practising running through the tires one behind of each other,  a test of co-ordination and stamina thoroughly enjoying it although why a group at the boys at the rear do not appear to be in uniform beats me!

Be alert!

Phew just come in from exploring this glorious sunny day exploring comparing and contrasting what I had seen just a matter of weeks ago with what is out and about when it comes to flowers, crops and wildlife species. 

It's the kind of thing you might do when you were officially younger in the Cubs which apart from being good physical exercise is also a good mental exercise, being alert and noticing things.

I spent a fair bit time working on colour cast issue on the original image.

Becoming the Cub

The youngest cub presents for the first time in front of his Six in what I suspect was a early 70's investiture in this grainy originally under exposed picture  that I have attempted to process.

This probably is a community hall or similar judging by the chairs and the type of windows rather than a  dedicated Scout Hut such as in parts of my City we still have.

As was the norm back the their shorts are mainly those they wore for school with one exception.