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Scouting 101
Date: 9/6/09
Cub Scout History
The "Cub Scout Program" was introduced by the Boy Scouts of America in 1930, but its roots go all the way back to the first days of Scouting. With the early success of the Boy Scouts for boys 12 and over, there was popular demand for a "younger boy program" for the siblings of Scouts. Because of concerns that a younger boy program might have a negative effect on the fledgling Boy Scouts program, the BSA was very careful in their dealings with this "younger boy problem." (See Scouting Magazine article on "Cubbing" June 1930)
In 1916, Sir Robert Baden-Powell introduced the "Wolf Cub" program for younger boys. This program soon found its way to numerous communities in the Americas. There were also other 'younger boy' organizations such as the "Little Lodge" of the "Woodcraft Indians," the "Boy Pioneers," and the "Boy Rangers." Some BSA Boy Scout Troops were also sponsoring unofficial "Junior Troops" and "Cadet Corps."
Finally, after 20 years of Boy Scouting in America, "Cubbing" was introduced! What has followed has been nothing short of phenomonal! Boasting over 50,000,000 members since its inception, no program in history has had the far ranging impact on American youth than Cubbing and Cub Scouting have!
The following is a condensed history of Cubbing in America. From then, to now.......
* 1910 Boy Scouts of America incorporated on February 8, National Executive Board formed. Baden-Powell visited America to talk with leaders. President Taft became the first honorary president of the BSA; the first honorary vice-president was Theodore Roosevelt.
* 1911 At the urging of the National Executive Board of the BSA, Ernest Thompson Seton develops prototype "Cubs of America" program with "Cub Moms" and a motto of "We do our best." This program was shelved due to a "tremendous upheaval" within the BSA.
* 1912 Boys' Life magazine became official publication.
* 1913 First local councils were chartered.
* 1926 First Silver Buffalo Award presentations made to Lord Baden-Powell and to the unknown Scout whose Good Turn brought Scouting to America.
* 1930 The National Executive Board approved the Cub program "controlled experiment" as of February 10. They authorized Cub packs to register with BSA starting April 1 for those packs qualifying under "special permit" requirements to assure adequate resources and leadership. Dr. Hurt and the committee were to monitor the program through its experimental stages. Cub books were issued including: Wolf, Bear, Lion, Parents' Cub Book, and Cub Leader's Outline. Uniforms for boys were issued ($6.05 complete) and 5,102 boys and 1,433 pack leaders in 243 packs were registered during the first year.
* 1931 At the end of the second year 25,662 boys were registered in Cub packs in 258 councils across the nation with 5,228 registered pack leaders. First Silver Beaver Awards.
* 1932 First Cubmaster's Pack Book and Den Chiefs Den Book. Cubbing policies were published. By the end of the third year, 44,083 boys and 8,060 pack leaders registered.
* 1933 "Experimental" restrictions were removed as of May 25th; Cubbing to be "aggressively promoted as a part of the Boy Scout program." Cub Leaders' Roundtable publications issued for pack leaders. Registration for the fourth year: 51,884 boys and 7,542 leaders were registered. The Schiff Scout Reservation is formally opened.
* 1934 Cubbing had 64,739 boys and 8,269 leaders registered during the fifth year.
* 1941 The Webelos rank was created for 11-1/2-year-old boys with the Lion badge. Accumulated badges could be worn on uniforms. A set of 10 pack organizations charts was issued for pack leader training. Registrations: 335,775 boys and 56,691 pack leaders.
* 1942 Cubbing participated in the support of the national war emergency. Registrations: 373,813 boys and 65,775 leaders. Boys were allowed rank corresponding to age if late entry into the program (no need for "catch-up.")
* 1943 First blue and gold banquet. Packs sell War Bonds and War Stamps. During the year 442,853 boys and 80,458 leaders were registered in the program. First Silver Antelope Awards.
* 1944 A shortage of literature and uniforms due to wartime priorities. Packs collect grease, newspapers, and milkweed floss. Many packs had Victory Garden programs. Registrations: 574,605 boys and 104,211 pack leaders.
* 1945 "Cubbing" changed to "Cub Scouting." New bars for denners and assistant denners. World Friendship Fund established. Registrations: 695,014 boys and 141,468 leaders.
* 1946 Registrations: 759,829 boys and 175,425 leaders.
* 1951 The Wolf Book was revised to the reading level of the 8-year-old boy. Other new literature: Den Chief Training and 10 Steps to Pack Organization. First Philmont Cub Scout Conference stressed basic ideas, policies, and procedures. Registrations during the year climbed to 1,339,861 boys and 440,348 pack leaders.
* 1953 First 'un-official' Pinewood Derby run on May 15 by Pack 280c under Cubmaster Don Murphy. Den Chief Conference Plan approved and released. Cub Scout advisory group studied the Webelos Den Plan. Cub Scouts donate 2,889 pennies for Korean Scouts plus "tons" of used uniforms. Registrations: 1,606,249 boys, 570,751 pack leaders.
* 1954 Robert N. Gibson named chairman of the National Cub Scout Committee. Webelos den created for 10-1/2-year-old boys. New Webelos den badge. Lion badge changed to Lion Webelos. Pack numerals colors were changed. Minimum age for den mothers and assistant cubmasters changed from 18 to 21. Den Chiefs Training Conference booklet printed.
* 1955 'Official' Pinewood Derbies introduced. Cub Scouting pierced the two million mark for the first time: registration reached 2,050,625 boys and 753,892 pack leaders.
* 1956 Webelos day camp program introduced. BSA Theme: "Onward for God and My Country." Registrations: 2,346,090 boys and 879,253 leaders.
* 1957 Emphasis on Cub Scouting for the handicapped boy is increased.
* 1958 New Cub Scout sports electives introduced.
* 1962 F. Brittain Kennedy named chairman of the national Cub Scout Committee. Registrations in Cub Scouting reached 2,819,752 boys and 1,029,100 pack leaders.
* 1964 The National Summertime Award is created to encourage year-round Cub Scouting.
* 1965 Cub Scouting broke through the three million mark for the first time with registrations during the year reaching 3,031,137 boys and 1,075,863 pack leaders.
* 1967 The Cub Scout Advancement Program was overhauled. The Lion rank was discontinued in favor of the new Webelos Scout program with its distinctive uniform and 15 activity badges.
* 1968 Cub Scout day camps were approved by the National Executive Board. Membership fees were increased to $2 for adults and $1 for boys.
* 1969 First women were appointed to the national Cub Scout Committee. Total registrations in Cub Scouting hovered just short of five million people 3,602,688 boys and 1,284,363 pack leaders.
* 1975 Cub Scout Day Camp School introduced. Webelos transition program launched. "Learn to Swim" program promoted.
* 1976 First national Cub Scout Trainer Wood Badge course in US. conducted. The God and Family and Metta Awards introduced for religious recognition in Cub Scouting.
National Executive Board approves women as Cubmasters and assistant Cubmasters.
* 1978 Five ranks established for Cub Scouting: Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, Arrow of Light. Training awards updated. Family camping encouraged. Registrations: 2,795,051 boys and 962,565 leaders.
* 1979 Wolf Book rewritten. New Bear neckerchief. Wood Badge course approved as standard training.
* 1980 The 50th anniversary of Cub Scouting in the United States. The 30 millionth Cub Scout since 1930 was registered. New designer uniforms for boys and leaders. Cub Scout Family Award now standard. A total of 410 councils held 1,800 Cub Scout day camps for over 300,000 boys. Registered during the year: 2,715,341 boys and 889,958 pack leaders.
* 1982 The 75th anniversary of World Scouting. Tiger Cubs, BSA, was introduced at the national meeting in Atlanta. Registrations during the year were: 2,604,351 boys and 829,199 pack leaders.
* 1985 The 75th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America; 55th anniversary of Cub Scouting. Registrations during the year were: 2,168,487 boys and 682,882 pack leaders.
* 1986 Boy Scouts of America took a new and dramatic step to serve boys in all school grades. Membership requirements for Tiger Cubs and Cub Scouts became primarily based on grade in school, rather than age.
The plan was expanded to included first-grade boys as Tiger Cubs and second-grade boys as Wolf Cub Scouts.
The program included plans for expanding Webelos Scouting to 2 years for fourth- and fifth-graders. In the first 4 months of the expanded program, Cub Scout membership increased by 14.3 percent compared to the previous year.
* 1987 Boy Scouts of America began to address five ''unacceptables'' in American society-drug abuse, hunger, child abuse, illiteracy, and youth unemployment. The nation's largest anti-drug abuse education campaign was launched with the release of eight million copies of a booklet titled Drugs: A Deadly Game for members, chartered organizations, schools, and local institutions. Cub Scout leaders received Fast Start videos that discussed their positions. A new edition of the Webelos Scout Book, featuring five new activity badges boys could earn, was published. More Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts went camping this year; total camping participation rose to 817,582 youths, an increase of 8 percent over that of 1986. Vittz-James Ramsdell named chairman of the national Cub Scout Committee.
* 1988 Largest national Good Turn since World War II was held in November when Scouting for Food sent the BSA's youth and adult leaders into their neighborhoods to collect food for the needy. The harvest was more than 60 million containers of food.A 2-year Webelos Scouting program was introduced; for the first time fourth-graders were eligible to become Webelos Scouts. Henceforth, both fourth- and fifth-graders could participate in Webelos Scouting to prepare for Boy Scouting. Resident camping for Cub Scouts was approved, and many councils opened weeklong camps for Cub Scouts while continuing to operate Cub Scout day camps.
* 1991 Cub Scouting introduced two programs: Ethics in Action to promote ethical decision making, and the BSA family program to strengthen the family from within. Membership grew for the tenth consecutive year in Tiger Cubs, BSA; participation increased in Cub Scouting's day, family, and resident camping.
* 1992 A Cub Scout Academics program is debuted.
* 1993 A new Train-the-Trainer Conference manual was produced to train the people who train leaders in Cub Scouting. Cub Scout camping drew nearly 573,000 youth, including 5,000 new campers.
* 1998 Cub Scouting membership - Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts - grew to more than 2.17 million. This increase marks our fourth consecutive year of growth.
* 1999 New Webelos Book introduced. Cub Sports and Academics program modified and re-named Cub Scout Academics and Sports program.
* December 2001 - Pack 330 chartered.
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