There are a few ceremonies which are undertaken by the Cubs, either as part of the weekly pack meeting or to mark specific events.
Grand Howl
The beginning of each pack meeting is marked by a Grand Howl – one of the oldest Cub Scout ceremonies, based around the wolves’ assembly at Council Rock in the Jungle Book. This ensures that Cubs know the meeting has started and gets everyone paying attention as the meeting’s activities are described.
The Grand Howl is led by one of the Leaders, in conjunction with one of the Cubs – usually that week’s ‘Cub of the Week’. After assembling into a circle, the Cubs squat down and together call out:
“Akela, we will do our best!”
The Cub of the Week then stands, salutes and calls out:
“Cubs! Do your best!”
The rest of the pack then stands and salutes, saying
“We will do our best!”
The circle then turns to face the flag, and the Cub of the Week walks over to raise it. They then takes three steps backwards, facing the flag, and salute. The rest of the pack then also salute.
Investitures
To become a member of the Scout Association and our group, your child will be asked to make a promise at an investiture ceremony. This is a formal ceremony to officially welcome a new member to the pack and to the Scouting movement.
Cubs will usually be invested after they have been attending meetings regularly for a month or so, though this can vary. Investitures take place at the end of a pack meeting, and parents are very welcome to come along to witness the ceremony.
During the ceremony, the Cub being invested is asked to make the Cub Scout Sign. This is a special kind of salute in which three fingers of the right hand are held up and the hand then held at shoulder height. The three fingers that are held up are to remind you of your promise to:
- Do your duty to God and to the Queen
- Help other people
- Keep the Cub Scout Law
They are then to repeat the Cub Scout Promise:
The Cub Scout Promise:
I promise that I will do my best
To do my duty to God and to the Queen,
To help other people
And to keep the Cub Scout Law
After this, the new Cub is given their membership badges and group neckerchief, and is then saluted by the Cub Scout Leader. The Cub Scout Salute is the same as the Cub Scout Sign, but the hand is placed next to the head. After this, the new Cub joins their new Six.