Cub Scouts are celebrating 100 years of Scouting and 3rd Pembroke Sea Scout group are holding a ‘thank you’ event later this month.

Robert Baden-Powell was the man whose ideas, imagination and inspiration gave Scouting and Guiding to the young people of the world. First as a famous soldier and then as founder of the Scout and Girl Guide movement.

The rapid growth of Scouting, which started in 1907, soon led to the demand from boys outside of the age range - ‘The Wolf Cubs’ were Baden-Powells answer for those who could not wait to grow up. Scouting was designed originally for boys of 11 years and over, but of course their younger brothers wanted to join in the fun.

In 1913, these young people took part in the experimental stages of the ‘junior’ movement, being taught simple knots and tracking signs.

The First World War in 1914 changed things, former Scouts and many Scout masters joined up and were posted overseas.

Small boys were desperate to join Scouting and prove themselves just like brothers and fathers. Baden-Powell threw himself into developing a structure and philosophy for this new section; he also recognised the importance of imaginative games for the younger boys, so he wanted a back-story that would give them all the fun and activity they needed. He chose the title ‘Wolf Cubs’ because he likened a good Scout to a wolf, the native American accolade for a good Scout. He also believed that his own title among Scouts, ‘Impeesa’, meant ‘The wolf that never sleeps.’

This wolf theme inspired him to persuade Rudyard Kipling to allow ‘The Jungle Books’ which he had published in 1894/95 to be used as the imagination setting for the new section.

The official launch of the Wolf Cubs section took place in December 1916 - 100 years ago. The Wolf Cubs handbook ran to 16 editions between 1916 and 1966. Requirements for the first Tender Pad test included knowledge of the Grand Howl, the Wolf Cub salute and the Wolf Cub Promise and Law. The salute and the law both bore the hallmark of the Jungle, the salute being symbolic of the two ears of the wolf and the two parts of the law.

‘The Cub gives in to the old Wolf, the Cub does not give in to himself.’ ‘Do your best’ became the Cub motto, accounting for the, Dyb, Dyb, Dyb (Do Your Best) and Dob, Dob, Dob’ (Do Our Best), these shouts accompanied the Grand Howl, the former opening and closing of the pack meetings.

The Wolf Cub uniform consisted of a green jersey, green and yellow piped cap and a yellow scarf, although many Cub packs adopted the same scarf as their Scouts. Today, there are millions of Cub Scouts in almost every country of the world, most of whom still bear more than a passing resemblance to the very first Wolf Cubs.

This year, 2016 we will commemorate 100 years of the Cub Scout Section with local and national celebrations. Locally organised ‘thanks events’ that recognise the millions of people who have made Cub Scouts a success over the past 100 years.

3rd Pembroke Sea Scout Group will be holding a thank you event on Saturday, April 23, at 2 pm, at the Youth Centre, Bush Street, Pembroke Dock, to recognise the support of volunteers, parents and the community, and to demonstrate that Cub Scouting is still at the heart of Scouting and the local community today. A national celebration, which will include a Promise renewal, is to be held on December 16, at 7.15 pm, to commemorate the official registration date of the Cub Scout section.

All past and present members, parents and friends, please join us to say ‘thank you’ on April 23.