SCOUT NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23511, 27 February 1940, Page 2

SCOUT NOTES

[By Grby Badges.]

The Wolf Cub. The ages of eight, nine, and 10 are among the important of a boy’s life. He is then actively employed in looking about him and learning from and imitating those whom ho meets. His young limbs are stretching, and ho is becoming surer of his grasp of things. The body seems full of restless, nervous energy, and the active youngster never seems to tire. The eager young brain is rapidly absorbing ideas that will colour his mental outlook very considerably in the years to come. Ho is beginning to understand vaguely things that have never been explained directly before. His environment is beginning to influence him, and he is continually in search of fresh fields against which he can pit his young strength and prove his superiority. His mind is continually bringing before him desirable states of existence, and since it is impracticable that he can carry them out he must pretend that he is doing so. Thus games and pretence form the basis of his life. The boy earnestly desires to become a tram conductor, a bus driver, an engine driver, a postman, or some other personality with whom ho ■ is brought into contact either through his life or his reading. Similarly, he might want to be a pirate or a sailor because fiction has conjured it to him as a desirable state of existence. Realising on the one hand his limitations and yet on the other hand wanting to exercise his wish, he takes refuge in the only course available: he pretends and plays his heroic part. In His playing, then, he is really educating himself, and any attempt to thwart him must have serious mental results, the possibilities of which we cannot gauge. On the play system, then, the Wolf Cun method is based—with excellent results. Good examplesof living are placed before him in yarns, stories, and games, and he in his Cub life to enact these. In this way the Wolf Cub methods train an active ami intelligent child and fit him for a larger training in Scouting from which ‘.be finally attempts in Revering to-mould the course of his life. In most nations famed for their “ woodcraft ” the best men were cal’ed nf+°r that other fine woodcrafter. “ The Wolf.” What more natural, then, than that those_ whom we want to , follow those traditions of efficienpv and fitness should be called “ Wolf Cubs.” . " . Headquarters Notices. February 28.—Training course for Soouters in preparation for Gihvell at headquarters, from 7.30 to 9. Note hook, uniform, and thumbstick required. March s.—An officers’ meeting will be held at headquarters at 8. D.S.M. Ashby and Cub Commissioner Payton will present a short talk on | Cubbing and Its Relationship to Scouting.’ This should prove interesting to all officers. March 6.—Training course for Scourers in preparation for Gilwell at H.Q., from 7.30 to 9. Note book, uniform, and thumbstick required. April 11.—The annual swimming carnival will be held at the Municipal Baths. Entries will close at H.Q. on April 1. If necessary, heats! will bo run off at Scout hour on the previous Saturday. Programme of events will be sent to officers. There are some officers who have not yet Seen presented with their warrants, and they are asked to attend the officers’ meeting on March 5, when they will receive tlim. It is pleasing to note that more Cubs and Scouts are taking advantage of their hour at the baths on Saturday nights. Since the annual swimming carnival is soon to be held, you, too, should see your Scouter or Gubber and get him to arrange a visit next week to get some practice for your events. Packs and troops are’ reminded that if they want these notes to be interesting they must all send in some news as often as possible. All reports should be addressed to headquarters or left in box not later than noon on the previous Saturday. 9th Dunedin (Mohicans-AII Saints’). Although there were not many present to greet the Scoutmaster on his arrival, the keenest interest was displayed. The S.M. took some boys for second class pioneering, while the remainder wore taken for ambulance instruction by a patrol leader. After roll call and inspection a little time was spent in the library, then the programme was continued with a few games. The troop spent the later part of the evening at a supper kindly given by Mrs Hal], a member of the committee, to whom many thanks are given by the boys. As the troop is decreasing in number, it is hoped to welcome more recruits soon. 15th Dunedin (St. Clair). The meeting opened at 7.15, when about 30 Scouts saluted tho Union Jack. After inspection the troop took part in various relay games. A period of practice of signalling, followed by a new game, “ American football.” The notices were then read and tho team for the Athletic Cup announced. After flag-down a Court of Honour was held. 28th Dunedin (Christian Brothers). Friday night saw another hoy with the troop, from Auckland, while three bovs applied to join as recruits. Parade commenced with interpatrol relay racing and jumping contests, with inspection following. Patrol leaders and acting patrol leaders then took over signaling, lashings, and tenderfoot for a quarter of an hour, during which work were practised. The next itein was a game of dog and bone, with variations in the numbers causing a lot of fun, after which the A.S.M. took one bov for second class compass, while two of the P.l.s took the rest of the troop for compass practice until the close of parade. A welcome visitor was D.S.M. Ashby, who accompanied S.M. on inspection and later had a word with the boys.