Cubs, Scouts, Rovers and Adults
The Cubs
Cubs are our youngest kids. They start at age 6 and stay together till they are about 11 years old. To get their red scarf, cubs have to make a cub-promise with is slightly different from the well known scout-promise. The uniform of the cubs (as well as for the other sections) in the VCP is light grey.
Cubs first of all learn to live together with coeval kids in their group. They have to deal with the new situation and start to forge first friendships with the others in the group.
Up to 25 boys (in Germany male cubs are called Wölflinge) and girls (in Germany they are sometimes called Wichtel) are put together in such a group (in Germany called Meute which means pack). Depending on the size of the group there are one or more leaders for them which usually are adults. Sometimes a big group is divided in smaller units of about 6 kids, but they have their weekly meetings together. In these smaller unites usually one cub takes the lead and helps the adults during the meeting. He (or she also helps newbies to find their way within the pack. Main topics at these gatherings are games, to do handicrafts and to experience the ways of scouting together with friends in a group. They explore their environment and are playfully introduced to nature. They gain experience and discover new things while everybody in the pack is responsible for each other. The cubs slowly learn to be independent from their home and develop a sense of responsibility. |
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Bigger scout-groups in town often do their own activities for their cubs, smaller groups work together to organise these events. Thus cubs often have the opportunity to meet cubs from other towns, do something together and to make friends.
When they are old enough, cubs leave their pack and are introduced into the scouts-section and their new scout-patrol.
The Scouts and Guides
A group of scouts is called a patrol (in Germany often Sippe which means clan). In each patrol are between 5 and 12 boys and girls. The boys are called scouts (in Germany Pfadfinder) the girls guides (in Germany Pfadfinderinnen. In contrast to a pack, the leader of a patrol often isnīt much older than the scouts. Within the VCP teenagers are allowed to run their own patrol at the age of 15 which is a heavy responsibility. Of course thereīs an extensive training for all our leaders in advance.
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To be a scout means to be close to adventures. Our scouts start with the age of 11 and stay in this section until they are about 15 or 16 years old. Scouts wear the light grey uniform like all members of the Christian Guide and Scout Association (VCP). After they made their scout-promise (which is different from the cubsīpromise) they get their blue scarf.
During their weekly meetings they lear all the important things a scout needs to know to live outside at camp or other activities. Knots, orientation and how to use maps and compasses, fire building, signalling, backwards cooking, woodcrafting, botany and much more. |
Of course all new skills are practised during wide games, hikes, activities and at camps. Scouts are just all-rounders and the whole patrol is a strong confraternity. There are also lots of other things done, like building nesting boxes, visiting cinemas and public pools or friends of other patrols. All scouts in a patrol decide what they want to do and arrange a program together with their patrol-leader.
The world is their oyster. There are regular hikes and camps and sometimes patrols allign with others and travel abroad to become acquainted with foreign countries, cultures and customs.
Within a group scouts and guides become more and more important for scoutig in a town because they take more and more responsibility and duties for the confraternity and therefore assure its success. The patrol leaders are there to help wherever they can.
The Rangers and Rovers
After their 16th birthday guides and scouts can become rangers (girls) or rovers (boys). Thereīs a separate promise and even a seperate scarf for this section and this is unique in our district because the VCP statutes donīt include a separate scarf or promise. The going ups are organised and carried out by the rangers/rovers themselves. Rangers and Rovers get a new scarf which is blue and red and has the logo of the Fichtelgebirge District stiched in it. Members of this section are often important helpers within their groups. They are patrol-leaders, cashiers and even scoutmasters who are in charge of a whole group in a town. They are also indispensable within a district due to the fact they are doing work for all the groups, e.g. organising bigger camps and activities like our annual Whitsun Camp.
They often organise and carry out bigger events, deal with societal subjects and environmental problems and do their own projects. Rangers and rovers know how to take matters in their own hands and to support their group or the district with much initiative. They travel abroad, meet scouts on international camps and forge friendships which sometimes last for a whole scout-life. |
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The Adults
"Once a Scout - always a Scout". This motto certainly applies to us. Within our district adults play an important role thus they often take a back seat as soon as they are older than 30. Their task is to support our leaders whenever they are needed but they normally try not to affect the work which is mostly done by teenagers or adults between 20 and 30 years. They are often advisors because of their scouting experience and are on hand when they are needed.
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Thatīs why there are separate activities especially for adults (and their families) within the VCP. They meet at annual conventions and activities not only to talk about contemporary issues but to meet their scout friends again.
Big events like the VCP national jamboree, which takes place every four years, wouldnīt be possible without the help hof our adults. Another important job is the representation of our organisation in dealings with the government and churches.
Many adults in scouting as well as parents of our members are involved with local and regional societies which subsidise our work or own campsites and houses for activities.
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