Cubs Scouts

	Cubs is for boys and girls ages 8 to 11. After they turn 11, they can commence linking up to Scouts. 1st East Ryde Scout Group has two Cub Scout Units that run on different nights. They join together for outings and activities. Explorer Unit meets on Mondays, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Pioneer Unit meets on Wednesdays, 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm Some meetings are held together or on other nights, so please always check our program and calendar.
Aims	To have fun in a safe and structured environment; To be introduced to, or continue to develop within the world of Scouting; To begin developing, or continue to develop a sense of belonging to a structured, fun activity outside of school and sports; To become more independent through achieving individual goals in Scouting in an atmosphere of cooperation.
Programme	In the new Scout Youth Programme, our Cub Scouts are encouraged to LEAD, ASSIST and PARTICIPATE in meetings and activities. Planning is flexible to meet the needs and interests of our Cub Scouts. If you would like to get in touch with our Cub Scout Leaders please email phillip.ward@nsw.scouts.com.au or come and see us on a meeting night at our scout hall in John Miller Street, Ryde. Some highlights from the past year: Sleepovers Group Transition ceremony with our whole Group, Joeys-Cubs-Scouts-Venturers! Clean Up Australia Day at Magdala Park and the adjacent Great North Walk Canoeing at Narrabeen Night walks Cycling, North Ryde - Buffalo Creek Community Service activities, including developing native & habitat-friendly gardens and building street library boxes. Adventurous journeys arranged by Cub Scouts, towards achieving their Grey Wolf (Peak) Awards Cub and Family Camp on a sheep farm at Tuena, NSW. See below for the proposed programmes of each Unit. Both Explorer and Pioneer units join together for many outdoor activities, but the programmes for weeknight meetings vary according to the needs and interests of our Cub Scouts in each Unit.
Typical Activities	Cub Scouts begin to develop the 'life skills' learnt through Scouting activities. The badge award system carries on its Scouting adventure through the Scout, Venturer and Rover Units. They are recognised for efforts to Lead, Assist and Participate in the Scouting Youth Programme. Cub Scouts pursue interests in the four Challenge Areas: "Community", with events like Commemoration of Anzac, visits to aged care facilities, and special service organisations like SES; "Outdoors", taking advantage of local parks and bushland, and opportunities to share weekends away; "Creative", including art, craft, drama and musical pursuits; "Personal Growth", including health, well-being, resilience and spiritual development. Many of our Cub Scouts have already earned Special Interest Awards (SIAs) in personal activities outside of, but relevant to, the Youth Programme. We encourage Cub Scouts to lead, assist and participate in Outdoor Adventure Skills (OAS) in the core areas of: Bushcraft - Pioneering, Survival Skills Bushwalking Camping We are also interested in the OAS Specialist Areas, at an appropriate level for our Cub Scouts' abilities: Vertical - Abseiling, Caving, Canyoning, Climbing Paddling - Canoeing, Kayaking, Sea Kayaking, Rafting Cycling - Cycling Touring, Mountain Biking Boating - Sailing, Windsurfing Aquatic - Lifesaving, Rescue, Snorkelling, Scuba, Surfing Alpine - Skiing, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing, Snow Camping Several 1st East Ryde Cub Scouts achieve the Peak Award for Cub Scouts, the "Grey Wolf Award". This is for individuals who want to try a whole range of things and experience a high number of personal challenges, in their own time as well as being involved in the Unit programme.