The Cub Pack Promise Capsule

You’ll need

Pens or pencils
A4 paper
A tin or container
Spade or shovel (optional)

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.

Planning and setting up this activity

Before creating your time capsule, try to gather old photographs or memorabilia of your Cub group or Cubs from your local area. Ask parents, carers, leaders, or local community members if they have photo albums, stories, or artifacts to share. Explore local libraries, community centres, or online archives for historical Cubs photos or documents. Check Scout Association archives or websites for historical Cubs images and information.
If you plan to bury the time capsule, make sure to obtain proper permission beforehand.
If burying isn’t possible, consider alternative safe storage options, such as keeping it in a special place within your meeting space or partnering with a local library or museum for safekeeping.
Decide who you’d like to invite to witness the burial or storage of your time capsule. Provide them with plenty of notice and all necessary details, including the date, time, location, and access information.

Plan the time capsule

Start by discussing what life might have been like for Cubs and your local area 110 years ago. What do you think was different back then? What traditions or values have stayed the same?
Show some old photographs or memorabilia to help everyone spot similarities and differences between then and now.
Talk about what Cubs means to everyone today. What are your favourite activities, badges and achievements? How has being part of Cubs shaped your experiences and friendships?
Discuss how your Cub Pack has grown and changed over the years, including special events, awards and milestones. If you have a fairly new pack, you can discuss Cub Scouts as a whole or talk about how your new pack might grow in the future.
Explain that you will create a time capsule filled with memories, badges, photos, stories and reflections from today’s Cubs, along with a special message for Cubs who will come after you.
Discuss the kind of container you will need to keep your items safe for many years — something strong, waterproof and durable, whether buried or stored.
Plan how future Cubs will find your time capsule. Will you mark the spot with a plaque, keep it in a special place in your meeting space, or work with a local museum or library to preserve it?
Decide together how to keep your Pack’s legacy safe and accessible.

Make the time Capsule

Collect the photos, badges, stories, drawings, letters and memorabilia you want to include. Encourage Cubs to contribute personal reflections or artwork that shows what Cubs means to them today.
- What from the past will you include? This could be old photographs, vintage badges, awards, stories or memories from former Cubs or leaders, newsletters or event programmes.
- What from the present will you include? This could be recent photos, current badges, drawings or writings about today’s Pack, favourite activities, or letters from Cubs sharing what Cubs means to them now.
- What message for the future should you add? Think about what future Cubs should know about your Pack, your values, hopes or advice for Cubs yet to come.
If your container allows, decorate it with Cub themed designs or labels to make it special and identifiable.
Write a detailed list of everything inside the capsule. Keep a copy for your Pack records and to share with future Cubs when the capsule is opened.
Carefully pack and seal all items inside the container to protect them. Make sure it is airtight and waterproof if possible.

Bury the Time Capsule

Decide where the capsule will be stored, buried outdoors, kept in your meeting place, or preserved with a local library or museum.
If burying, get permission from the landowner or relevant authority.
Organise a small event to mark the burial or storage. Include readings, the Cubs’ Promise or a group photo to commemorate the moment.
If burying, decide how you will mark the location — with a plaque, a small monument or GPS coordinates. If storing indoors, choose a secure and memorable spot.
Record the date, location and contents of the capsule. Share this information with parents, leaders and future Cubs to ensure it is not forgotten.
Agree on when the capsule will be opened, for example Cubs’ 150th birthday or another milestone.
Make a plan to remind future leaders or Cubs about the capsule so it is discovered at the right time.

Reflection

This activity encouraged everyone to communicate and share their thoughts about Cubs of the past, present and future. Was it easy to think about what Cubs will be like many years from now? How did people choose to share their messages and memories? You could discuss how different people prefer to express themselves in various ways, like drawings, stories, badges, or personal reflections, and how all of these help create a rich message for the future.

It was also important to think about how the time capsule will be found and opened years from now. How did the group decide to let future Cubs know about it? Did they choose a special location or mark it in a way that ensures it won’t be forgotten?

This activity was not just about preserving history but also about celebrating your community and Pack. Do you think the hopes and stories you included will inspire future Cubs? What can you do now to keep the spirit of Cubs alive and strong? Everyone could consider how their actions today, helping others, working as a team, and living the Cub values, make a difference both locally and for Cubs yet to come.

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.

Gardening and nature: Everyone must wash their hands after the activity has finished. Wear gloves if needed. Explain how to safely use equipment and set clear boundaries so everyone knows what’s allowed.
Outdoor activities: You must have permission to use the location. Always check the weather forecast, and inform parents and carers of any change in venue.

Make it accessible

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.