promise parties planning your special event 100 promise parties.pdf · promise parties planning...

PROMISE PARTIES PLANNING YOUR SPECIAL EVENT

CONTENTS

The Wildest Birthday Ever! 3

Introduction 3

Cubs 100 Promise Party 5

What is a ‘Promise Party’? 5

When to hold a Promise Party? 5

How can Cubs get involved? 5

Who runs the event? 5

Ideas for the celebration 5

Party Food Ideas 6

Games 8

Arrival games 8

Relay games 13

Team games 15

Large scale games 16

Promise and Reflection 17

Akela’s Minutes 18

The Core Cubs Promise 19

Ideas to encourage reflection 20

SONGS 21

Inspirational Messages 24

Resources and templates 26

The Wildest Birthday Ever!

Introduction

2016 is Cubs 100! That’s 100 years of fun, 100 years of adventure and 100 years of trying

something new . . . that’s why we’re calling it the Wildest Birthday Ever.

To help you celebrate we’ve produced four resources packed full of programme ideas and activities

to help you make the most of this amazing year. They’re designed to support different events and

opportunities throughout 2016, as well as offering a whole year's worth of programme ideas that you

can use in your Pack.

Cubs themselves have a massive role to play in this special year. The resources will help you get

them involved in the planning so they can help choose and organise the activities. Cubs can gain

badges and awards by tackling the activities within these resources whilst supporting with their local

community and the A Million Hands project.

It’s all about giving Cubs the opportunity to shape and enjoy the excitement, fun and adventure of

Cubs. With your help we want as many leaders and Cubs as possible to take part in Cubs 100.

What Scouting mean to Cubs

When we asked, Cubs told us that Scouting is as a place they can have fun, make new friends, do

challenging activities and get muddy (without getting into trouble...!)

So why do Cubs stay in scouting?

Cubs have told us that they stay involved in Scouting because of the wide range of challenging

programme activities, such as nights away, spending time outside, earning badges, meeting new

people and making friends and trying adventurous activities. They also like it because it’s something

different from school. So what does this tell us? Cubs expect a programme that is fun, exciting,

adventurous and rewarding. That’s what keeps them in Scouting.

Making the most of Cubs 100

Cubs 100 is the perfect opportunity to attract new Cubs and keep existing ones. We can do this best

by being highly visible in our local communities and demonstrating that Cubs is a fun, exciting and

adventurous. We need to show that it’s a great place to meet and make new friends and offers a

wide range of challenging activities. As a leader you can encourage more young people and adults

to get involved, setting Cubs on course for a second amazing century.

Four simple ideas to grow Scouting during Cubs 100

As a leader, you can personalise your events during 2016 and provide opportunities to those

outside Scouting. You might:

1. Invite members of the local community along to a Thanks Event - a great time to thank

adults and leaders for their time in Scouting plus showcasing the Cubs achievements. Why

not invest a new leader or a Cub or present an award to young people or adults or both?

2. Allow young people to bring a friend along to the Adventure Camp, so they too can share

in the fun packed programme. They can experience the adventure of a night away, cooking

on an open fire and building their own shelter. You can also use this opportunity to invite

parents/carers of the friends to help, either at camp or in the planning.

3. Showcase Cubs’ skills and achievements in local schools, fetes or family event days.

4. Engage local people or parent/carers involved in teaching young people skills such as

wood craft, creative writing, photography etc.

There are plenty of exciting things you can do through the celebration of Cubs 100 to ensure we

provide opportunities to adults and young people to try something new, challenge themselves and

get involved.

Sharing your experience

If you want to share the excitement of what you are doing at your Thanks Event, Adventure Camp

Promise Party or the other great things you are doing throughout the year, you can get support in

the following ways;

For support on how to publish content yourself on social media get your story covered by

local media outlets please see http://scouts.org.uk/cubs100comms

For possible publication on national Scout channels submit your pictures, words or video via

stories.scouts.org.uk

For local support for possible publication on local scout channels or local media submit your

pictures, words or video via stories.scouts.org.uk

We hope that you have a great time using these Cubs 100 resources and enjoy the Wildest Birthday

Ever!

http://scouts.org.uk/cubs100comms

Cubs 100 Promise Party What is a ‘Promise Party’?

The final event of the year will be a national birthday party to celebrate the centenary. Every Cub

should be able to attend a party organised locally, and remake their Promise.

When to hold a Promise Party?

The official birthday of Cubs is widely seen as 16 December. This was the day in 1916 when the

section was launched. We would like everyone to remake their Promise at 19.16 (7.16pm) on 16

December 2016. This is the only event we are putting a set date and time on.

How can Cubs get involved?

Cubs can have an input into the type of party they would like. Ask them for ideas to finish the year

on a high, and give you the opportunity to launch the next hundred years of Cubs. It could take the

form of a disco, an activity evening or maybe a challenge night, as long as it’s memorable and

everyone remakes their Promise. The party should focus on the section moving forward.

Who runs the event?

Parties could be held for just your own Pack or there could be a really big party organised with the

District or Area/County/Region.

Ideas for the celebration

■ Grand howl done together.

■ 100 cup cakes with candles, singing happy birthday as they are blown out.

■ You may be able to find a local celebrity or well-known figure to lead the Promise.

■ Draw out a message in the dark using a sparkler. Use a camera to capture the image by setting

the shutter to ‘B’, permanently open.

■ Use pictures of all the activities you have done through the centenary year to make a collage.

■ Make one large scarf by joining together all the scarves of your District/County groups.

Scout shops Ltd will also be making party packs available to help to theme your event.

Please note that throughout this resource reference will be made to

Groups/Districts/County/Regions. County where stated also reflects Area in Wales and Region in

Scotland.

Party Food Ideas

Cubs should prepare these treats.

Akela’s simple chocolate fudge

This makes 48 pieces of delicious fudge. You will need:

450g plain chocolate

1 (397g) tin condensed sweetened milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

180g chopped walnuts or raisins (watch out for nut allergies)

1) Line a 20cm (8in) square dish with aluminium foil.

2) Chop chocolate and place in a large, microwave safe bowl with condensed milk. Microwave on

high, stirring once or twice until chocolate is soft, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from oven and stir until

completely smooth.

3) Stir in vanilla and walnuts/raisins.

4) Spread in prepared dish.

5) Refrigerate 2 hours, until firm.

6) Cut into squares.

Peppermint Creams

This makes approximately 35 peppermint creams. You will need:

1 egg white

340g icing sugar

A few drops of peppermint extract or essence

A few drops of food colouring (you don’t have to use this)

1) Line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper.

2) Whisk the egg white in a bowl until frothy but not stiff.

3) Sift the icing sugar into the bowl and stir into the egg white with a wooden spoon until the

mixture is stiff.

4) Knead in the peppermint essence and add the food colouring if required.

5) Roll the mixture into balls and put on a baking sheet.

6) You can use a fork to flatten them.

7) Dust in sieved icing sugar.

Try other essences such as orange or strawberry.

Rocky Road

This makes 30 pieces. You will need:

2 medium sized bars of milk chocolate

A couple of handfuls of mini-marshmallows

8 digestive biscuits broken into chunks

Handful of raisins

1) Line a baking tray with parchment or greaseproof paper.

2) Melt the chocolate in a bowl, either in a microwave or suspended over a pan of boiling water.

Make sure you don’t get any water in the bowl if you do it this way.

3) Once the chocolate is melted add the rest of the ingredients and stir well.

4) Pour the mixture onto the baking tray and level it out.

5) Place in the fridge for up to two hours, until set.

6) Cut into squares.

Honeycomb

This makes 25 pieces. You will need:

4 tablespoons golden syrup

200g caster sugar

3 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda

1) Grease a 20cm square tin or baking tray.

2) In a large pan heat the golden syrup and sugar together, bring to the boil and simmer on a low

heat for 5 to 10 minutes.

3) Cooking time will differ, but test it by dropping a little of the mixture into cold water. It should

become brittle when ready. Be careful the mixture doesn’t burn.

4) Remove pan from heat and add the bicarbonate of soda. You will need to mix it in quickly

because the mixture foams up instantly.

5) Pour it immediately into the tin and leave to set.

6) Break it up into pieces.

This is perfect for Cubs working towards their Chef Activity badge

Games Arrival games

These will occupy Cubs as soon as they arrive at the party.

Centenary quiz

Get the party started with a quiz. Try this one which has ten questions based on Cubs and ten on

general knowledge.

Answer

1 In what year did Cubs officially start? A 1907

B 1916

C 1926

B

2 Who founded Cubs? A Bear Grylls

B Peter Duncan

C Robert Baden-Powell

C

3 What did Cubs used to be called? A Wolf Cubs

B Bear Cubs

C Tiger Cubs

A

4 Cubs has been based on a book – do you

know which one?

A The Jingle Book

B The Jungle Book

C The Jangle Book

B

5 Who is the Leader of the Pack? A Akela

B Shere Khan

C Mowgli

A

6 What is the highest award you can

achieve in Cubs?

Chief Scout sliver award

Membership award

Moving on award

A

7 What is the name of the opening

ceremony at the start of a Cub Pack

meeting

A The Grand Shout

B The Grand Howl

C The Grand Dance

B

8 Where will cub jam be held in 2016 A Gilwell Park Scout Activity Centre

B Fordell Firs National Scout Activity

Centre

C Great Towers National Scout Activity

Centre

B

9 When Cubs were founded every Pack had

a special pole – what type of pole was it?

A Fishing pole

B Curtain pole

C Totem pole

C

10 In Cubs we are divided into small groups

– what are they called?

A Sixes

B Sevens

C Fives

A

General knowledge questions

11

Which two team’s race in the University

Boat race?

A Canterbury & Reading

B Oxford & Cambridge

C Leicester & London

B

12 Where does the Prime Minister live? A 10 Downing Street

B 1 Buckingham Road

C 3 Pall Mall

A

13 How many wives did Henry VIII have? A 8

B 7

C 6

C

14 Which ship sank off Portsmouth in 1545

but was raised from the seabed in 1982?

A Mary Rose

B Sally Ann

C The Victory

A

15 Who stands at the top of a column in

Trafalgar Square?

A David Beckham

B Horatio Nelson

C Winston Churchill

B

16 Which jet black bird has lived in the

Tower of London for centuries?

A Ravens

B Sparrows

C Pigeons

A

17 Which river runs through London? A River Thames

B River Medway

C River Cam

A

18 What is dried in an oast house? A Tea

B Bay leaves

C Hops

C

19 In which part of Great Britain would you

traditionally eat haggis?

A Scotland

B Wales

A

C England

20 Which British inventor invented the steam

engine?

A James Watt

B James Dyson

C Jamie Oliver

A

Cubs welcome bunting

On arrival each Cub is given a template of a Cub uniform, (templates can be found at the end of this

document). They have to colour it in with their group scarf colour and add their name onto the front.

Cut them out and string them together like bunting. This is a great way to see who’s at the party.

Name bingo sheet

Provide each Cub with a card with around 20 boxes on it. The boxes have comments written in

them, for example, “Owns a pet”, “has a younger sister” or “plays an instrument”. Cubs move

around the room, putting their initials in the boxes which describe them, and collecting the other

Cub’s initials on their card. They can only sign another card once. When their card is complete,

they can hand it in for a prize. A template for the bingo card can be found at the end of this

resource.

Relay games

These are based on teams of six working against each other.

Pass the Polo mint

Cub are each provided with a drinking straw which they hold in their mouth. They are allowed to

hold it with one hand only. The first Cub in the team has a polo mint threaded onto the straw. On

the whistle, the Cubs have three minutes to pass as many polo mints as they can, down the line

from straw to straw. Any that fall to the floor are sent back to the front.

Pass the matchbox

A matchbox cover is placed on the first Cub’s nose. Cubs have to pass the cover from nose to nose

down the line without using their hands.

Pass the orange

Place an orange or a tennis ball under the first Cub’s chin. The teams have to pass them down the

line without using their hands.

Jungle races

In their teams, Cubs take it in turns to get their jungle character back to base first. Find models of

the key jungle book characters and stick them on to light wooden blocks. Attach long lengths of

string to the front of the wooden blocks with small ring screws. Trail the string across the hall and

secure to pieces of dowel rod. Cubs twiddle the dowel rods, winding up the string to pull the blocks

back home before the opposing team member.

Balloon goals

Teams sit opposite each other on chairs with 2 -3 metres between them. The leader throws a

balloon into the centre. The Cubs remain seated, batting it with their hands to try to get it over the

heads of the opposite team and score a goal.

Four corner basketball

Having four teams playing makes this more fun. Cubs sitting on chairs are placed in each corner of

the hall, with waste paper baskets held at waist height. One ball is put into play, as the rest of their

team tries to score in the opponents’ baskets. The game can be played with two teams, using just

two corner baskets diagonally opposite.

Going shopping

Around the playing area, put a number of signs representing different types of shop. One item of

shopping is read out. In turns within their teams, Cubs run to the correct shop, touch the sign and

return to their place. After a few goes, introduce two items on to the shopping list. The Cubs have

to visit the correct shops before returning to their place. Make it three, then four and so on.

Farm train

In this game, the Sixer is a railway engine and all the other Cubs are trucks. Each truck is told

which farmyard animal they are transporting. To begin the game, the leader calls out one animal

and the correct Cub has to grab the hand of the Sixer. Together they go down the course and back

again with the truck making the correct animal noise. Later, call out several animals so the Cubs

have to make a train by coupling up behind the engine. They all have to make the correct noises as

they run. The engine might want to pass on the job to the Seconder occasionally for a rest.

Team games

For teams of Cubs working in bases.

Drawing charades

Make a stack of cards, each with a typical Cub activity or something to do with Cubs on it. In turn,

the Cubs take a card. Without speaking, they have to get the rest of the team to guess what is on

the card by drawing it on scrap paper.

Chocolate clowns

Put a large bar of chocolate and a knife and fork on a side table. Provide the basics of a clown

costume, such as big shoes, baggy onesie, wig and red nose. In turn, Cubs throw a die. Each time

a six is scored they have to dress up as a clown and attack the bar of chocolate with the knife and

fork. If someone else throws a six in the meantime, they have to stop getting dressed up and hand

over to the person who last threw the six. The game continues until all chocolate has been

consumed.

Stuff the sweatshirt

Provide balloons and a large adult sweatshirt. The team picks one Cub to put on the giant

sweatshirt. The other Cubs have three minutes to blow up and stuff as many balloons up the

sweatshirt as they can. To add to the chaos, play a loud, lively piece of music which lasts about

three minutes, instead of a stop watch. Count the balloons by popping them carefully.

Feely bags

Give each team two large opaque bags with an identical selection of items in them. Use several

familiar items related to Cubs, for example, a woggle, a tennis ball, an activity badge and a piece of

rope. Two members of the team play against each other. The leader calls out one of the items and,

without looking, both Cubs plunge their hands into their bag to find it. The first Cub to find the item

by feeling holds it up and wins a small prize.

These are good games for those Cubs working towards their Teamwork and Team Leader

challenge awards.

Large scale games

For lots of Cubs to play at the same time.

Activity Badge trading

Give each Cubs four cards with different activity badges on. They have to trade with other Cubs,

swapping card for card until they have four identical cards in their hand. At this, point they go to a

leader who swaps the cards for a prize such as a small sweet. The Cub then goes back to collect

four new cards before re-entering the game and doing further trading. The badge cards can be

found at the end of this resource.

Cub photo jigsaws

Collect a large number of pictures of Cub activities using your own resources or pictures from

Scouting Magazine. Each picture should be cut in half in a zig-zag fashion to make two pieces of a

simple jigsaw. The leader has a set of one half of the pictures, whilst the other halves are spread

around the playing area. Cubs are given one piece from the leader and have to find the matching

piece before posting the two pieces in their team post box. They then collect a new piece and

continue. Which team can post the most completed pictures?

Clothes peg chaos (wide game)

Give each Cub a clothes peg. Young Leaders, or more energetic leaders, run away as the Cubs try

to attach their clothes peg onto the leaders’ clothes. Once a Cub has managed to attach their

clothes peg, they can get another one from a central base and re-enter the game. Add in some

guards who can confiscate clothes pegs if they catch a Cub.

Promise and Reflection During your Promise event, you may wish to set a short period to get together and carry out a

Promise Ceremony and a time of reflection. This is a sample 35 minute programme. The songs,

messages and reflection ideas can be found below.

18.50: Opening energetic song.

18.55: An Akela’s Minute (see below)

18.57: A song

19.00: An inspirational message

19.13: Another song

19.16: Remaking of the Promise. You could Skype another group of Cubs and remake your

promise together

19.19: Another song

19.22: Final reflection

19.25: Final song.

If possible, finish with a small firework show.

Akela’s Minutes

These are short tasks with a meaning behind them. Akela’s minutes are a quick way of making a

point.

A knotted rope

Give each Cubs a piece of rope about one metre long. Tell them to tie their ropes together with

square knots. Check the rope and knots to ensure they are secure. Holding the knotted rope, Cubs

form a friendship circle, lean back, and let the rope support them. Akela says, "You are now part of

a group of close friends, held together by a square knot, the symbol of helping others. Let's say our

Promise together. Visit www.scoutactivitycentres.org.uk/resources for instructions on simple knots.

Cubs can use this activity to go towards them achieving their Pioneer activity

badge

The jigsaw

Ask the Cubs to put together a simple jigsaw. When completed, they will see it isn’t

right as there is one piece missing. Produce the missing piece and complete the jigsaw. A Cub

Pack is like the jigsaw. Each Cub plays a small part but the Pack consists of everybody working

together.

The lashing

Show the Cubs a part completed square lashing where the frapping turns are missing. Show that

the lashing is weak without the turns. Now add the turns and finish off the lashing, showing how

much better it is afterwards. Comment that the knot is like a Cubs, much better when a few good

turns have been done.

http://www.scoutactivitycentres.org.uk/resources

The ink blot

Show the Cubs a piece of white paper with an ink blot on it and ask them what they see. They will

comment on the blot, perhaps seeing something in the shape it makes on the paper. Tell them you

see the piece of paper. When you see another Cubs, it is easy to see the things that are different

about them rather than the character underneath.

The Core Cubs Promise

I promise that I will do my best – means I must try harder than all the rest.

To do my duty – means I owe much care.

To God – means loving all He has given to share.

And to the Queen – means loyalty to all she stands for and my Country.

To help other people – means always to do what you would like others to do for you.

And to keep the Cubs Law – means I know I must show I have earned Lord Baden-Powell’s trust.

Please note that there are alternative promises available which can be found here -

http://members.scouts.org.uk/fundamentals/?pageid=2944

This is perfect for those Cubs who are new to scouting and are being invested as this

activity can go towards them achieving their Membership Award badge

http://members.scouts.org.uk/fundamentals/?pageid=2944

Ideas to encourage reflection

Jelly bean poem

Gather your pack in a standing circle and recite the Jelly bean poem

Red is for the blood which flows in a heart-beat

Green is for the grass which grows under our feet

Yellow is for the sun so bright

Whilst orange is for the edge of night

Black is for the mistakes we make

White is forgiveness for friendship’s sake

Purple is for times of sorrow

And Pink is for the promise of a new tomorrow

Circle of friends

Gather the pack into a circle all holding hands. Each Cubs has to say something nice about the

person to their right.

Thankful candles

Each Cubs can light a candle and state what they are thankful for, this time should be peaceful and

quiet.

If your Pack doesn’t have a reflections book then you could start one. Thoughts and pictures from

the Cubs about their feelings, hopes, vision for the future and thanks to those who help them along

the way, could be included.

SONGS Cubs can use this section to go towards them achieving their Musician stage 1

staged activity badge

Shake my hand

A song to be sung towards the end of a performance. You can get everyone to shake left hands

whilst putting in a musical interlude between verses.

Shake my hand and call me

friend

We shall understand each

other

May our friendships never end

Shake and call each other

brother

North to South and East to

West

Black or white or any other

Shaking hands is far the best

Way to make each other brothers

We are children of the Earth

And we will stand by each other

Friendships forming from our birth

Shake and call each other brother

I’ve got that BP spirit

I've got that B-P spirit

here in my head, right in my head,

here in my head,


here in my head,

here in my head to stay


deep in my heart...


all round my feet...


here in my head,

deep in my heart,

all round my feet,


all over me

all over me to stay!

Click https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vIpdLK2yq4 to listen to this song.

Make new friends – 4 part round

Make new friends,

but keep the old.

One is silver,

the other is gold.

Tune: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n3NgGU3RN4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vIpdLK2yq4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9n3NgGU3RN4

This little Scouting light of mine


I'm gonna let it shine





Let it shine, all the time, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel, no







Take my little light round the world







Don't you blow my little light out






Let it shine, all the time, let it shine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0ajUS

R4dfglisten to this song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0ajUSR4dfg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0ajUSR4dfg

Inspirational Messages Message from the past

Look for some inspirational quotes from the last 100 years particularly, from B-P, and use them

during your Promise ceremony. You may need to remind the Cubs that girls were not in Cubs at the

time and some of the quotes refer to boys.

He wrote some “Pearls of Wisdom” http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/Quotes.pdf including:

“The real way to gain happiness is to give it to others”.

“The spirit is there in every (child); it has to be discovered and brought to light”.

Baden-Powell wrote a final message to Scouts. The highlighted sentences could be used during your ceremony.

“My dear Scouts,

If you have ever seen the play Peter Pan you will remember how the Pirate Chief was always

making his dying speech because he was afraid that possibly when the time came for him to die he

might not have time to get it off his chest. It is much the same with me; and so, although I am not at

this moment dying, I shall be doing so one of these days, and I want to end you a parting word of

goodbye.

Remember, it is the last you will ever hear from me – so think it over. I have had a most happy life,

and I want each of you to have as happy a life too.

I believe God put us in this jolly world to be happy and enjoy life. Happiness doesn’t come from

being rich, nor merely from being successful in your career; not by self-indulgence. One

step towards happiness is to make yourself healthy and strong while you are a boy, so you can

be useful and so can enjoy life when you are men.

Be contented with what you have got and make the best of it; look on the bright side of

things instead of the gloomy one.

But the real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people. Try and leave

this world a little bit the better than you found it, and when your turn comes to die you can die

happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best.

‘Be Prepared’ in this way to live happy and to die happy. Stick to your Scout Promise.

Your friend

Robert Baden-Powell”

Message for the future

Hi Cubs,

This is Bear Grylls, your Chief Scout.

http://www.scouting.org/filestore/pdf/Quotes.pdf

I hope you are having a great time. In 1907, Robert Baden-Powell began Scouting for young

people aged eleven and over. It wasn’t long before younger people wanted to join in, and the

pressure began to start up another section. On 16 December 1916, the new section called Wolf

Cubs began. Which means in this year, 2016, you are100 years old! You are part of a world-wide

family with a wonderful history of fun and adventure. So Happy Birthday to you all!

I want to say a massive thank you to all the leaders who enable you to go to your Cubs meetings

each week. Without them, you would not be able to enjoy all your activities.

I wish you all good luck in your Scouting. You will be the ones to carry Cub Scouting forward and on

to the next 100 years.

Good Scouting to you all!

Resources and templates Cubs uniform top template for bunting

Bingo card template

Somebody who owns a pet

Somebody who has a younger sister

Somebody who plays an instrument

Somebody who has been abroad

Somebody who likes bananas

Somebody who has been on an aeroplane

Somebody who has been a Beaver Scout

Somebody who can swim 100 metres

Somebody who plays in a team

Somebody who has an older brother

Somebody who has been in a show

Somebody who has a relative in another

country

Somebody who has been on a Cub Camp

Somebody who can ride a bike

Somebody who has a birthday in December

Somebody who can do a handstand

Somebody who has brown eyes

Somebody who has ridden a horse

Somebody who has ever won a medal

Somebody who likes ice cream

Activity Badge Trading Cards Template

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