Moving on from Beavers to Cubs
You’ll need
What is a moving on ceremony?
When they’re ready to move on from Beavers to Cubs, people usually complete their Moving On Award (Beavers to Cubs). This involves going to both Beavers and Cubs for at least three weeks, taking part in Cubs, and starting to work for their Cub Scout Membership Award.
This helps them get used to their new Pack and adjust, but it’s also a chance to reflect on everything they’ve enjoyed at Beavers, and what they’re looking forward to at Cubs. Where possible, volunteers should think about when everyone’s ready to move on and help them move to Cubs with their friends, in pairs or small groups.
The moving on ceremony can also be called a swimming up ceremony. It usually happens after those moving up have been to both Beavers and Cubs for at least three weeks. There’s no one way to hold a moving on ceremony – it’s just a chance to celebrate the Beaver’s time in the Colony, welcome them to their new Cub Pack, and remember that Scouts is a journey.
Preparing for the ceremony
The ceremony usually involves both the Beaver Colony and the Cub pack, so you’ll need to do some planning – especially if the Colony and Pack don’t meet at the same place (or on the same day). If it’s too tricky to get the whole Colony and Pack together, you could focus on having the Pack’s Sixers and Section Leaders – or you could wait and run it at a joint event.
The moving on ceremony
What a moving on ceremony looks and feels like is up to you. Maybe you have old traditions that have been handed down, or maybe the Colony and Pack would like to start something new together. There’s no one way to get it right, as long as you include the main features: celebrate, welcome, and journey. If you get really stuck, we’ve included one example – but this is a great chance for everyone in your Group to create something special and meaningful together.
Celebrate
A moving on ceremony should celebrate a Beaver Scout’s time in their Colony. It’s up to you how you do this. Some people throw a ‘parting party’ with people’s favourite games, food, and activities. This can be a great way to celebrate people’s time with the Colony.
Some Colonies give the people leaving a parting gift, for example a big sheet of blue paper with messages, memories, and pictures on it to represent a river bursting its banks with memories and thoughts from friends.
Welcome
A moving on ceremony is also about welcoming a new Cub to their Pack. Often, people invite members of the Cub Pack (especially Sixers and Section Leaders) to the ceremony, so they can take part. New Cubs might be given a ‘buddy’, a more experienced Cub who goes the extra mile to make sure their new friend settles in (while working forwards their Cub Team Leader Challenge Award). Their new Cub Pack might do an opening or closing ceremony, like the Grand Howl.
Journey
Finally, a moving on ceremony should remind everyone that Scouts is a journey. Everyone moves from one section to another, but they’re all part of a bigger journey and family. A moving on ceremony isn’t about the differences between the Colony and Pack; it’s a chance to celebrate everything you share, and the people who are moving on, together.
Some people (carefully) use a rope to help the people moving get across a river, while saying a rhyme. Others get the people who are moving to make their way underneath a blanket or tarp that represents a river – sometimes they take off their Beaver jumper along the way (they might even have a Cub jumper on underneath, or put one on along the way).
You can still run a moving on ceremony online – change it up so that it suits your group. You could try playing some of your favourite online games and inviting members of the Cub Pack to play some of theirs. Planning this will be the biggest challenge.
Reflection
A moving on ceremony is a chance to think about friendships. The great thing about friendships is that you don’t have to lose the ones you already have to make more. Do you have strong friendships at Beavers? How will you stay friends – are you moving up together, will they move up after you, will you keep in touch another way? Have you made any new friends at Cubs already? Is it exciting to think about all the new friends you’ll meet? How does it feel to be part of a bigger Group community?
A moving on ceremony is also all about trying new things. The ceremony usually involves thinking about new people, places, and things. How do you feel about moving on to Scouts? What are you most excited about? Does having a special time to celebrate Cubs and be welcomed make it easier to move on?
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.
- Some people don’t like being the centre of attention (even if they’re part of a group) – a smaller, quieter, ceremony might work best for them.
- Most Beavers move up to Cubs when they’re eight years old, but people’s individual needs should always be taken into account.
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
Young people should shape this experience and choose how they’d like to celebrate their moving on.