Moving up to Cubs

Moving on to Cubs is a really exciting time, but you might also feel a little sad about saying farewell to some of your fellow Beavers. This is an understandable reaction to change and it’s okay to feel nervous and unsure.

In the run up to your last night at Beavers, your Beaver leader will talk to your new Cub leader – who you may have already met during joint activities. Together, they’ll make the move as easy as possible for you.

Although most Beavers move up to Cubs between the ages of 7 ½ and 8 ½, leaders can be flexible in cases where a Beaver may need a bit more time due to additional needs or exceptional circumstances. Generally, they’ll also have a think about when your friends are moving, and time things so that you can start your new adventure together where possible.

To get you extra prepared, your leader might tell you about the Moving on Award. Completing it involves spending at least three weeks with a Cub section, while keeping up your normal routine at Beavers. During that time, you’ll see what Cubs is really like – getting to know your new leaders, making new friends and participating in lots of new and exciting activities. Keep an eye out, as you might even spot some familiar faces from when you first started at Beavers!

In the right circumstances, yes. Everyone at Scouts should face a similar amount of challenge, and everyone’s individual needs are always taken in account when making decisions. More information on flexibility and reasonable adjustments can be found at Inclusion and Diversity | Scouts. Generally, leaders will keep to the suggested age ranges, unless young people need a little extra time due to additional needs or exceptional circumstances.

When the time to take the leap does come, our visual resources are ideal for those who need a bit of extra help. They’re particularly useful for young people with additional needs – and young people on the autism spectrum – especially if prone to increased anxiety around change.

• Regularly link up with the sections above yours regardless of if you’re working on the moving on process together – doing so will help you build relationships, plan joint activities and share ideas.
• Remind Beavers of former members who have since moved on to Cubs, to reassure them familiar faces are waiting on the other side.
• Encourage young people to complete their Moving On Award, which involves spending three weeks with their potential new group while keeping up their regular routine. Doing so helps them make friends and familiarise themselves with how things will work in their new section.
• Direct Beavers to the Cub pages of their Beaver Logbook – available from Scout Store. Here, there is space for them to write down the names of their new leaders and to draw themselves as a Cub Scout. Ask them: what do they think will be different about Cubs? What will stay the same?
• Consider having a moving on ceremony to celebrate all the skills Beavers have learned during their time with you, and to help them process the change.

• Regularly link up with the sections above yours regardless of if you’re working on the moving on process together – doing so will help you build relationships, plan joint activities and share ideas.
• Go to Beaver meetings, joint camps or outings to get to know everyone – leading on games and activities where possible.
• Work with Beaver leaders to move new starters together, rather than by themselves.
• Keep new starters in pairs, so they always have a friend by their side.
• Direct new starters and parents to the Cubs Activity Log – available from Scout Store. It contains basic information about being a Cub and has space for the young person to write down the information they learn about the Pack as they go.