1 CUB SCOUT – OPENING & CLOSING PARADES BASED ON ENCOMPASS ARTICLES BY BC CUB SCOUTS – TIM GIBBINGS The notes, procedures and comments below are from an amalgamation, and some refinement, of a series of Qld Branch Encompass Articles written by Qld Branch Commissioner Cub Scouts – Tim Gibbings (KAA) from September 2014 to March 2015. The details are in accordance with the procedures contained in the Scouts Australia Ceremonies Book and the Cub Scout Leaders Handbook; with comments and clarification by the Author. Introduction One part of the Cub Scout Program that seems to cause a lot of angst, especially for Leader Trainers and the District and Region Leaders of Cub Scouts, is the standardisation of the Packs’ Opening and Closing Parades, and the individual ‘additions’ that exist because ‘that’s the way we do it’, etc. In the following article I take a look at this issue, with an aim of describing the processes (in accordance with what already exists in the Ceremonies Book and Cub Scout Leaders Handbook) and ‘debunking’ a few of the myths and common misconceptions and errors. I also provide some context and explanation, as appropriate, as to how elements of the Parades relate to the Jungle Book Theme. At the end of the Opening and Closing Parade information, I also briefly look at The Investiture and how that also is related to the Jungle Book Theme. I would welcome any comments you may have; please send them to BC Cub Scouts via email or Branch first and not post them on Facebook where they tend to unnecessarily ‘escalate’ confusion or doubt. The ‘Base Line’ Firstly, let me set the base line from which I will be commenting. The requirements for the Cub Scout Opening and Closing Ceremonies, including the Grand Howl, are outlined in the Scouts Australia Ceremonies Book, supplemented by the Cub Scout Leaders Handbook. I admit that the Ceremonies Book is a bit ‘disjointed’, as you have to go to separate Sections of the book to find out about the format for the various elements: the Grand Howl, the Flag, Layout, etc, and some of the ‘finer details’ to aid a deeper understanding are in the Cub Scout Leaders' Handbook. However, with a careful read of all relevant bits, many of the 'errors' could be addressed. So, please make the effort and revise the contents of the Ceremonies Book; including the first three pages of the Ceremonies Book, that covers ‘Introduction, Ceremonies, On the Conduct of Ceremonies and Smartness’, in order to set a context for the purpose and importance of Ceremonies. While the proper conduct of Ceremonies is important and also part of the developmental training for the Cub Scouts, please remember the Opening and Closing Parade is only a very small part of the program; it is not worth hours of effort and angst (this coming from an Army guy ‐ what would my Sergeant Major say?) which could be better spent on planning and running great programs. Also, for 2 those Leaders that go against the Ceremonies Book by choice and ‘customise’ elements of the parade, then it is unlikely that ‘re‐presenting the procedure, by the Book’ in this article will easily rectify the situation. On visits to Cub Packs, one of the main issues I see with the standard of the Parades is the standard the Leader/s sets and/or accepts, which significantly influences the Cub Scouts and their conduct during the parades; LEAD BY EXAMPLE. Opening & Closing Parade Elements of the Opening and Closing Parade: The Grand Howl is only a part of the Opening and Closing Ceremonies; the Cub Scout Section is the ONLY Section that has an additional ‘special’, traditional element as a standard (not optional) part of its Opening and Closing Ceremony. The basic elements of both ceremonies (by the Ceremonies Book) are: ‐ Inspection ‐ Call onto Parade (there is a Cub Scout only element here as well) ‐ Grand Howl (Cub Scouts only) ‐ Flag Break or Flag Down (depending whether Opening or Closing) ‐ Prayer ‐ ‘Break Off’ or ‘Dismiss’ (Good Night) (depending whether Opening or Closing) Inspection: There are no set rules as to what, how, etc, but it is usually the Sixers’ responsibility prior to parade. Call onto Parade: a. Initiated by a Cub Scout Leader, who is to be standing in their correct Parade position when they make the call, because they are calling the Cub Scouts to them. It is a special call, unique to the Cub Scouts of “PACK!, PACK!, PACK!”, loud and clear. b. NB. The call ‘Pack, Pack, Pack’ is only to be used to call the Cub Scouts onto Parade, NOT to get their attention or any other purpose; the call of “PAAACK!” is used to get their attention or Silence at other times. c. The Cub Scouts respond to the call to parade by passing on the call loudly with “Paaaaaack!” as they run (move quickly/smartly) onto the Parade Circle. d. NB. It is a Circle, not a horse shoe, or square or open box, etc. e. The call to parade represent Akela calling the wolves of the Seeonee Pack to Council Rock, where he could speak with them, and the other wolves of the Pack taking up the call, as they heard it, and passing it on through the Jungle. The Wolves would arrive and sit in a Circle around Council Rock, with Akela on the Rock in the centre. Before I was a Cub Scout Leader, many Cub Scout Dens used to have a Council Rock (some still do) on which the Pack Leader stood and the Cub Scouts formed a circle around the rock so the Leader was in the Centre – ask some of the ‘more experience’ Cub Scout Leaders, like the current Chief Commissioner of Queensland – sorry Chief. f. Assumingly for better control, the Cub Scout Leaders, including Akela, now stand as part of the Parade Circle, but on the opposite side of the Circle to the Flag Pole, so they do not have to ‘about‐ turn’ and turn their backs on the Pack during Flag Break or Lowering. If 3 space is tight, the Flag pole can be on the Parade Circle or in the centre of the Circle (though this is rare to see). g. On arrival to the Parade Circle, the Cub Scouts stand on the circle ‘as ease’ and silent. h. The Cub Scouts should be on the Circle in their Sixes, with the Sixer on the right hand end of the Six and the Second on the Left hand end – NOT the Sixer on the end of the Six closest to the Leaders. i. The other Cub Scout Leaders should move onto parade at the same time as the Cub Scouts and not by invitation; guests may be invited on as appropriate. Grand Howl: (If you are in any doubt as to the meaning and purpose of the Grand Howl and how it relates to the Jungle Book theme, please go to your Cub Scout Leaders’ Handbook, pages 56 and 57 (it may vary, but only by a page or two, depending on your edition) for the detail and history): a. Once on the parade, the Leader (Akela) – and it does not have to be the Pack Leader, all the Leaders should take turns at being Akela for parades – calls the Pack to ‘Alert’ (not Attention) – “Pack Alert” then almost immediately followed by “Pack At Ease”. This ensures the Leader has the Pack’s attention and they know the Grand Howl is about to start. b. NB. Ensure that before parade, the Duty Sixer and/or Second know who they are. c. Akela (the Leader taking the Parade) moves smartly to the Centre of the Parade Circle and stops, at the Alert, facing the Duty Sixer. d. Akela than raises their Arms, smartly, horizontally out to their side. This is the signal for the Pack to come smartly and ‘crisply’ to ‘Alert’. (There is no harm in occasionally doing it again, by saying ‘At Ease’ and raising the arms again, if not done well by the Pack.) e. The Leader (Akela) then lowers their arms to their sides – not too fast, but steadily and smartly. AS the leader’s arms go down, the Cub Scouts go down to the Squatting position – three fingers (like the Scout Sign), from each hand, straight and touching the ground/floor with their arms positioned between their legs/knees, NOT arms outside the legs – similar to what a Wolf would sit like on its haunches. f. The moment the Pack is in the Squatting position, the PACK – not just the Duty Sixer, though they might lead off – go straight into the Howl without further signal. g. The Howl – said clearly and ‘deliberately’ and not rushed (see ceremonies book for a guide to the timing) – “AR‐KAY‐LA WE‐E‐LL D‐O‐O O‐U‐U‐R BEST”. h. As the Pack completes saying ‘BEST’, they all LEAP into to the air (or to their feet standing upright) and place their hands, with three fingers (like the Scout Sign) pointing upwards, touching each temple – like Wolf Ears (NOT Eye Brows)– listening for the challenge. i. The Duty Sixer loudly says “DO YOUR BEST”; it should be said like a Challenge. j. All Cub Scouts then answer the Challenge by saying together, clearly and confidently, “WE’L‐ L DO OUR BEST” k. As the Pack says “We’ll Do Our Best”, they drop their left hands to their sides and make the Scout Salute with their right hand. l. During the “We’ll Do Our Best” only the Leader (Akela) taking the Howl should salute.