Buzzing Bees - 9th February 2007

We welcomed a new adult leader into our Pack. Rebecca Hall (Bagheera) was invested as a Pack Helper and we wish her all the very best.

Rebecca being invested by our ADC - Kitty Sales.

Two our our Lions showing us how to tie knots!

One of our Leopards completed a compass exercise.

.... and here we have our Cheetahs having completed their Nature Ramble in Arrowe Park.

Today we leant some fascinating facts about bees! They are really quite remarkable little creatures. After playing a few outside games we ended off with this one which the cubs really enjoyed.

Feeding each other "royal jelly" but blindfolded!

You can see by their faces that they were having great fun!

Do you think he knew where that spoon was going?

Just look at that naughty smile!

This is certainly a game they enjoy no matter what the theme.

When this pair had finished, they had jelly from top to toe!

Hope to see you all back again next week.

Till then, keep cubbing

Akela Joy

Cub Gala - 3rd February 2007

What a day we had! ..... great weather - great swimmers - great Akelas!... what more could we ask for.... and on top on that... 9th Benoni Bambanani won the annual District Gala.

The Swimming Team and the well deserved trophy.

The Kicker-Board race

We have a fun raft race whereby three cubs must push the tube and one must sit inside. The cubs love this race! These are our youngest cubs - the Cheetahs.

These are the next age up - the Leopards.

Our Novetly Race caused great excitement. Cubs had to tie a Reef Knot around their waist and around a tube and swim in a shallow pool to the other side; drop the tube and pick up a lighted sparkler and run back to the other side where a "loaded" gun (water pistol) would be waiting. They then had to wet three by-standers while returning to the other side of the pool.... You can just imagine how the cubs loved this activity!

The theme was James Bond 007 - and here we have our very own "007" with his lighted sparkler on his way to retrieve his weapon...

Every year we have a "cork-bobbing" race for every age group. Millions of corks are thrown into the water and once the whistle is blown, the cubs jump in and collect - by any means - as many corks as they can. They shove the corks in the costumes, in their caps, in their ears - all over! We then count who has collected the most corks.

Erin and Kendra very proudly holding the cups - with Balloo behind them.

.... and here we have a few of the boys with the cup!

W E L L D O N E

to all our swimmers.

We are very proud of you all.

Till next week

Keep Cubbing

Akela Joy

Enjoying being an Earthworm - 26 January 2007

This week it was time to learn more about the lovely earthworm! ... and we were amazed to find out that this little creature had 5 hearts. Wow! he must be full of love!

Cubs doing some craft work - drawing their "earthworm". The pattern for this craft can be found at here.
For other great, quick and easy craft ideas, visit this web site.

Of course we would not be earthworms without a few s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-r-s

..... and here we are just showing how far we can go!

Investigating the earth and seeing what there is to eat. Cubs had to crawl under the "earth" and feel and count how many items of food they could find.

.... our very own interesting bunch of earthworms!

Till next Week

Keep Cubbing

Akela Joy

In search of ANTS - Cubs 19th January

Continuing with our theme of Creepy Crawlies, we went in search of Ants this week.

This week we had the opportunity for a visitor who chatted to the Cubs about metal detection. The cubs were absolutely enthralled....

We took them on a walk through Arrowe Park and found huge "cub treasure" - bottle tops, scrap metal and even an old 1965 R0.02c piece.

We ventured further afield with our magnifying glasses to see what other treasures were in store...

Lots of small creatures were about.

Here, cubs went off in little groups with a piece of string. Making a circle with their string, cubs had to see how many little creatures they could find. This group were astounded by how many there were!

And finally, "passing the pests". Cubs had to pick up a "pest" with a straw and pass it on to the cub on the right hand side of him and then stand up when his plate was empty. This was hilarious because as soon as a cub's plate was empty the cub next to him quickly saw that another "pest" was present!

Until next week
Keep Cubbing
Akela Joy

Terrific Tortoises - 12 January 2007

After a much deserved holiday, our cubs are back in full swing!

Our theme this term is "Creepy Crawlies" - and our first programme being Terrific Tortoises.

After a bit of Turtle Tag the cubs had to decide what our darling, little tortoise was happy to eat. Different foods were placed in "flowers" and the cubs had to decide if these would have been acceptable. Some included nutmeg, cinnamon, cucumber, orange, lettuce, custard!

Rebecca - our Pack Helper - who has a vast knowledge on animals, brought along a baby tortoise. After giving a short talk on the tortoise to all the cubs, they were told they could name the tortoise! - they decided that SCOUT would be a good name. ( I suppose he does "scout" around for food!)

Rebecca showing Kendra how the craft tortoises are made.

Tortoise Gang! ready for the tortoise race!

and our very own tortoise!

Until next week

Keep Cubbing.

Akela Joy

Cub Programmes

Cub Leaders are always looking for new ideas and programmes. New Zealand have a National Programme Committee - which means that all programmes for the whole country are written up and the same programme is run by all packs the same week.

They have some brilliant ideas.... Take a look at their webpage.

Take care and keep cubbing.

Akela Joy

End of Term Party - 24th November 2006

This was out last meeting for the year and we had a most enjoyable time at the Wimpy Roadhouse - bar the rain that came pelting down!

Akela Joy with 9th Benoni Cub Pack

Thoriso, Jerome and James - having fun!

Matthew and Martin de Jager deciding on what they are going to order!

Till next week - keep Cubbing.

Akela Joy

1st Southern Suburbs - Cub Pack

I spent a Friday afternoon last week with 1st Southern Suburbs. They have 30 cubs - not all invested as yet - and we had a good time together.

This is their Pack with Akela standing in the background on the right and Rikki on the left.

A great group of girls!

and a very lively bunch of boys!

1st Southern Suburbs is in desperate need of second-hand uniforms. Should you have any that they can use please drop me an email on joyhutch@mweb.co.za

Till next time

Akela Joy

Remembrance Day - 11th November 2006

We remembered those who had fallen in World War 1 by taking part in the Armistice Day parade held at the Benoni Town Hall on Sunday 12th November. Scouts and Cubs from the District were present.

9th Benoni Greayspear Scouts

Laying the SA Scouting Association wreath at the Cenotaph - a representative from each branch of scouting - Land Scouts, Air Scouts and Sea Scouts.

Till next time

Akela Joy

1st Kibler Park Sea Scouts

I spent this Friday with a lovely cub pack in Kibler Park.

What a great group of cubs and I spent a super afternoon with them.

Group photo

Just look at these stunning Christmas Cards these Cubs were making for their parents.

This is a "New Chum" - a lovely little girl - with such a special smile and a very loving heart.

Till next time - keep cubbing.

Akela Joy

10th October 2006

1st Mondeor

The Pharoahs were calling today!

I visited 1st Mondeor Cub Pack in the south of Johannesburg where six delightful cubs had great fun visiting and learning more about Egypt from their much loved Raksha.

1st Mondeor Cub Pack

Raksha on the left with Akela on the right.

Samantha at the back

and all the cub scouts!

Making their very own cartouche!

Doing some fancy hieroglyphics.. I wonder what they were saying!

.... and you can imagine how much fun this was!

This was a wonderful programme and everyone had a good time.

Till next time ... keep cubbing!

Akela Joy