One of my new hats is Akela in our village Cub Scout pack, a job I took over this summer.
I've been an assistant leader for a few years but for the last 3 months I've been the boss. It's a fun, interesting, busy and frustrating role and for this week's blog I thought I would give some insight...Be Prepared!
First question before I describe a typical #Cub leader week...why?
Simple answer - I got roped in by a persuasive friend in the village...but not entirely, I'd been a #Scout, but being a full time #teacher & being a Scout leader always looked like a bit of a busman's holiday.
Moving here 10 years ago I gave up full time teaching to do #Science outreach, so this was a way to do some of that long term stuff with the same kids that I'd miss not being a classroom teacher.
I started by just helping out on Friday night meetings, but the #Scouting bug bit.
I remembered the fun I used to have as a young person AND of course there is a little bit of professional 'arrogance' - I'm a trained experienced teacher I felt there was a lot I could bring to this party 🥳
So I stepped up to assistant leader, put on the #uniform and started my training...
In the #UK becoming a #Scout leader is a long robust process. It starts at your local group where the GSL (Group Scout Leader) decides if they think you are up to the job, are good with the young people and fit the group - it is a team organisation after all.
You get an Enhanced #DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check at this point, which is a legal requirement to work with children & vulnerable people.
Next it is off for an interview at County Hq...
...the interview is a panel of 3, made up of a County commissioner and committee members of County scouting.
It's a gentle grilling about the nature of Scouting, its aims, fundamentals & most importantly child protection & safe guarding.
It isn't pass or fail, but it is a check to prevent unsuitable candidates, of which there are few. What in business is called diligence.
Scouting has to have children's safety as 1st priority, so this process is essential.
Next up #training! Lots of people find this bit off putting & I can understand that. There is, tbf, a lot to do.
There is a minimum to get you going, two modules on - child protection, & your basic role as leader. (Modules 1&3!)
The plan is you have 3 years to complete 20 Modules that cover everything from behaviour, skills, & first aid to admin, planning & gdpr!
Once you have finished you receive your Wood Badge & are enrolled in 1st #Gilwell Troop...
...so 1st #Gilwell Park Troop is in essence a virtual Troop all trained #Scout leaders in the world are members of. Gilwell Park is where Baden-Powell (known as BP) held the first training course for leaders in 1919.
At the end of the course he gave the participants wooden beads from a Zulu necklace he had been given (#darkcolonialtwist) & since then trained leaders are enrolled in the Gilwell Troop, are given the Gilwell necker & woggle, & the Wood Badge in the form of wooden beads
That's a bit of background to becoming a #Scout leader, so what is actually involved in running a #cub pack?
Well it is a very varied and rewarding, though sometimes frustrating role.
This week I am putting together our meeting for Friday night and it involves...
So what does being #Akela involve? And why Akela? And what is the CPR dummy for?
For those who don't know Akela is the traditional name of the adult leader of a Cub Scout pack. This comes from BPs (see above) friendship with Rudyard Kipling (#DarkImperialTwist) when he set up Wolf Cubs during The Great War - he needed an inspirational story for the new unit. He used The Jungle Book and of course Akela is the wise(!) Leader of the wolves that raise Mowgli.
Being #Akela is in many ways like being a head-teacher (nowhere near as pressured).
In essence it's a school of 24, there is a curriculum to follow & deliver, long term plans to create, other leaders to manage.
Then there is the constant communication with parents & other organisations; communiques from hq; child protection; safe guarding; writing & reviewing Risk assessments.
Then on top of that is the real job which is lead, teach, listen & have fun with the #Cubs!
A typical meeting is the result of lots of background work by lots of people.
This Friday we are midway our #Emergency Aid badge. Last week we looked at minor injuries and dealing with minor incidents like cuts, burns, sprains etc.
This week we are moving onto the big stuff. Recovery position, #CPR, breaks and heart attacks.
This meeting really began life back in July. We sit down as a team (in our village pub!) & pencil out the year from September.
This term we have a wide range of activities planned; #navigation & map reading; #Pioneering; #Diwali; Emergency Aid; two hikes, a Xmas party & a board games night.
We also had a weekend camp at the end of September. A busy term!
A lot of the plans are based on what the Cubs themselves requested, tempered by what we know we can achieve.
Next up in #planning it's hammock time!
As a teacher I always found relaxing is the best form of planning & in the last few years that's in a hammock at the end of the garden!
So back in the summer this is me working hard creating a year long programme for Cubs & doing my admin...honest!
But seriously, it is a useful time to put the programme together, balancing opportunities through the year, trying to do activities that will interest all the cubs (& leaders!)
At the end of a strenuous hammock day (!) the year is planned out but then comes the democratic bit where my plan circulates around the other Cub leaders, the Scout and Beaver leaders, it even gets glance over by a couple of cubs.
It would be easier just to dictate the plan & be done with it. But being a #Scout leader is about demonstrating good practice, this includes democratic principles & compromise.
So off goes the plan for a couple of weeks of fiddling...
By the end of summer there is a plan & it goes out to the parents. Then it's time for the Risk Assessments.
Not a dirty word, they have a bad reputation, but I've seen them work well, I've seen serious issues avoided or solved because risk was assessed & that saves misery - the pain of good RA writing now, or the greater pain of explaining why someone is injured later. It's a no brainer.
Scouts has a good attitude to risk - don't avoid risk, understand it and manage it.
After that it's looking for resources and expertise.
For #pioneering in September I called on another Scout leader who is a real expert.
For tonight I needed #CPR dummies so called on a friend from another Scout Group who works in the #NHS
One of the great aspects of Scouting is how supportive units are of each other.
And so it is the night. An idea in a pub in July, a plan on a document in August, Risk assessments and part of a timetable in September. Then it is the last weeks of emails to arrange, car journeys to pick up equipment and last minute changes that all comes down to a brief for the other leaders, setting up and then awaiting the young people...
And then like that it is over. 90 minutes of fun, learning, noise, games and then the weird silence when the cubs have left.
Every week rushes past in a flash. But before every activity a group of volunteers has spent weeks and months putting it together. A "we will probably do CPR on the 25th November" said in a pub in July set a chain of events off that led to a pack of Cubs getting their hands on CPR dummies and learning important life skills 4 months later.
Last job is to reset the flag for the Scouts who use the hall next. Turn the water off, lock up and go home for a Friday night beer!
Tomorrow I'm off to Scout Hq for a course, one of my leaders is off on a course on Sunday and next week we have a hike to prepare for, including an evening walking the route before hand to check all the potential issues.
So that was a little insight into being #Akela. It's a lot of fun. It's a lot of work. It's also extremely rewarding.
If you have the time and wherewithal, perhaps give it ago. I've learnt a lot doing it and I genuinely do look forward to the next meeting.
Fin.
@Paul_Hill Thanks again for doing this mega thread. Top stuff.
And keep up the good work helping our future generations gain skills.
Every leader I've met so far has been inspiring, and you're no exception. 👨🎓 And all so different, which is remarkable, and encouraging to newbies like me who wonder how they'll fit in.
@Doonytime cheers! I think 'roped in' is the cv of half the leadership!
Young leaders are great we have a couple in the group.
@Paul_Hill what knot is that, exactly? I am REALLY curious!
Name, instructions, anything is welcome. Thanks in advance
@Paul_Hill those neckerchiefs look to be the exact same as my (old) scout troop's one (down to the shades, at least in that light!)
So if you ever meet the 146th Dublin Firhouse troop from Ireland you can greet your neckerchief twins.
@Paul_Hill Did you say at any point "...and that's why neckers/scarves are still fantasticly useful..."?
Or even "slingtastic"?
@Paul_Hill Interesting to hear that.
A friend of mine, who knows I've recently applied to be an Assistant Cub Leader, this morning contacted me with an activity suggestion.
A new spin on the Fire Station visit (our Group's Beavers did that last week). My friend said a Scout group went to the SW National Highways control room last night.
Thought I'd mention it, in case the suggestion is of use to you or anybody else.
I've noted it to mention to my Group's Leaders.
Paul 🏳️🌈
anthony is
CheekyMcB
Jools
GalaxyRise aka Dustin A Ruoff
M. Fioretti
Dee Toher