It's a Jungle Safari Out There

The Cub Scout theme for October is Jungle Safari. One of the interesting things I learned a few years ago during the Cub Scout 75th Birthday was the relationship between Lord Baden-Powell and Rudyard Kipling. The ranks of Cub Scouting were determined largely by the Jungle Books of Kipling. Yes, you read that right - the Jungle Books. What we see in Disney's movie leads us to believe that there was just one book which followed the life of young Mowgli as he was raised by Akela and the wolf pack. But Kipling wrote a series of books and I highly recommend you read them if you can find them. Help your Cub Scouts make the connections between Kipling's stories and the Cub Scout Program.

Most often when we think of Jungle Safari, we think of Africa. Help your Cub Scouts explore why Africa was important to Baden-Powell. Learn some of the history of Baden-Powell's experiences there and tie them in to the explorations Cub Scouts can embark upon. Speaking of explorations, what bits of Africa are available in your own neighborhood? Most large communities have a zoo, wildlife center, or refuge. Plan ahead and you might find a group who will bring out some animals for your pack meeting. Maybe no lions or rhinos, but the jungles are full of birds, reptiles, and insects.