Guess the Cub badge from the past
You’ll need
- Pens or pencils
- Scrap paper
- Printed copies of 1916 badge pictures sheet (one per team)
Before you begin
- Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. There's also more guidance to help you carry out your risk assessment, including examples.
- Make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
- Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help.
Test your knowledge
- Gather everyone together in a circle.
- Everyone should get into small teams or pairs.
- Give each team a copy of the Cub ‘badge pictures’ sheet. They should work together to figure out what each badge was called,
- Once everyone’s finished, gather everyone together again and reveal the answers. Make sure that everyone knows what all of the words mean, because some may be unfamiliar or new.
- Everyone should look at the badges again. Explain some of the things people had to do to earn the badge.
- Each team should chat about the skills the Cubs of the past used and how their badge activities may have helped them.
- The teams should take it in turns to feed back to the group. Can anyone think what a modern equivalent might be for some of the badges? Were any of the skills similar to the ones Scouts use today?
- Everyone should think about how they could use their skills to help in their community. There are plenty of ways to make a difference, such as gathering donations for food banks, planting wildflowers or leaving positive pebbles for people to find.
Learn about badges back then
Cubs - 1916
When the Cubs programme was formally launched in 1916, there were only 12 badges to work towards.
- A modern equivalent could be the DIY badge.
- Cubs had to use tools safely, measure and cut wood, join pieces, and finish a useful item like a box or shelf.
- This was useful because it taught practical skills, encouraged creativity, and built confidence through hands-on work.
- A modern equivalent is the Artist Badge
- Cubs had to draw from memory, copy a simple design, and create a picture using pencil, pen, or paint.
- This was useful because it built observation skills, encouraged creativity, and helped Cubs express themselves visually.
- A modern equivalent maybe the artist or craft badge
- Cubs had to weave a useful item by hand using wool, raffia, or similar materials.
- This was useful because it taught patience, fine motor skills, and how to make practical things from simple materials.
- A modern equivalent would be the Local Knowledge Badge
- Cubs had to show someone around their neighbourhood, point out key places, and give simple directions.
- This was useful because it built confidence, local awareness, and helped Cubs learn to communicate clearly and help others.
- A modern equivalent would be the current First Aid Stage Badge.
- Cubs had to treat simple injuries like cuts or burns, tie a sling or bandage, and know when to get help.
- This was useful because it taught safety, responsibility, and how to help others in an emergency.
- A modern equivalent would be the Home Help Badge.
- Cubs had to sweep, dust, wash up, fold clothes, and help keep the home tidy.
- This was useful because it taught responsibility, independence, and how to care for their living space.
- A modern equivalent would be the current Athletics Badge.
- Cubs had to run, jump, throw, and show good sportsmanship in games or races.
- This was useful because it built fitness, coordination, and teamwork skills.
- A modern equivalent would be the current Swimmer stage Badge.
- Cubs had to demonstrate basic swimming skills, float safely, and show confidence in the water.
- This was useful because it promoted water safety, fitness, and self-confidence.
- A modern equivalent would maybe be the sports enthusiast or physical recreation badges.
- Cubs had to work well with others, follow group rules, and help the team achieve goals.
- This was useful because it taught cooperation, respect, and how to contribute to a group.
- A modern equivalent would the Naturalist Badge.
- Cubs had to observe plants, animals, or nature closely, remember details, and explain what they saw.
- This was useful because it developed observation skills, knowledge of the natural world, and respect for nature.
- A modern equivalent would the current Collector badge.
- Cubs had to gather and organise a collection of natural items, stamps, coins, or similar things.
- This was useful because it taught patience, organisation, and encouraged an interest in learning.
- A modern equivalent would the Communicators badge.
- Cubs had to learn basic signals like semaphore or Morse code and send messages clearly.
- This was useful because it taught communication skills, focus, and teamwork.
Reflection
This activity was all about reflecting on 110 years of Cubs. Scouts and Cubs make a Promise to do their best, live by the Scout Law, commit to their values, and help others.
Over more than a century, the Cubs programme has grown and changed, encouraging young people to develop new skills, support their communities, and become responsible citizens.
Can anyone remember some of the ways Cubs and Scouts have helped their communities over the years? How have the skills learned in Scouts helped them make a difference?
While the ways Scouts have helped have changed with the times, the core values of service and personal growth have stayed the same. What are some ways people can help their communities today?
Safety
All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.
You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.
- If people struggle to think of modern equivalents, they could look through a badge book or on the Scouts website.
- You could make a list of the 1916 badge names for people to match up with the images – you could even turn this into an active game.
- You could get people to guess the requirements, too. You could mix them up and ask people to match them to the badges they belong to.
Print the sheets bigger if anyone needs them to be bigger. People could just chat and remember their answers – they don’t necessarily need to write them down.
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
Get stuck in to a project to help your local community as part of the Community Impact Staged Activity Badge.
If you want to explore history further, have a look at A remembrance reflection.