Boomerang Award Scheme
The Boomerang Awards Scheme is made up of three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold, which are based around seven compulsory elements including Health and First Aid, Safety and Cub Scout Traditions. There are also extra elements of which Cub Scouts are required to choose three to complete. These can include Scientific Discoveries, Natural Environment and People and Cultures.
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Tasks 1-7 are mandatory |
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Task 1 - Health and First Aid(Responsibility for self) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Personal Health |
Explain how to keep your hands and nails clean and why. Explain when you should wash your hands. Demonstrate how to look after your teeth. |
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Basic First Aid |
Put together a simple first aid kit and take it on bushwalks and outings with you. Show how to treat a graze or small cut. |
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Infections |
Show an understanding of how colds are spread and how to prevent them. |
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Adult Help |
Explain why you need adult help in case of accidents. Pass a message, including an address, from one adult to another. Explain how to use a mobile phone and a public phone and discuss the steps you would take to make an emergency call. |
Task 2 - Safety(Responsibility for self) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Buddy System |
Explain the buddy system. |
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Home |
Discuss the causes of accidents in the home, especially in the kitchen, bathroom and on stairways. |
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Road |
Take an adult for a walk and show that you know how to be safe on the roads. |
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Water |
Discuss the dangers of swimming in the type of water in your area. Explain the dangers of inflatable toys in open water. |
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Bush |
Explain what you should do to make sure you don't get lost in the bush. Discuss what to do if you do get lost in the bush. |
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Fire |
Discuss the dangers that fire can cause in the home and the bush. Show what to do if you are in a fire at home. |
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Personal |
Discuss why you should not go places by yourself. |
Task 3 - Ropes(Outdoor Scouting) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Tying knots |
Tie a reef knot. Tie your shoelaces. |
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Use of knots |
Discuss how and when to use a reef knot. |
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Care of ropes |
Show you know how to look after ropes correctly. |
Task 4 - Outdoor Scouting(Outdoor Scouting) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Compass and Navigation |
Discuss how a compass works and show you know the four principal points. Make a simple compass. |
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Maps and Hiking |
Attend at least two outdoor outings with your Pack. Dress correctly and pack your own daypack for the outings. |
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Fire Lighting |
Demonstrate the correct way to strike a match. |
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Outdoor Cooking |
Prepare and cook for yourself a damper/twist |
Task 5 - Our Cub Scout Traditions(Scouting Aims and Principles) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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The Jungle Books |
Talk about the main characters in the Jungle Books and what their names are. Tell the story of how Mowgli came to be in the Jungle. |
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Scouting History |
Tell who founded Scouting and where and when it began. Find out when Scouting started in Australia and in your Group. When is BP's birthday and what do we call this special day? |
Task 6 - Symbols of Australia(Growing Awareness of Local Community) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Flags |
Show you know the composition of the Australian Flag. |
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Emblems |
Tell your Leader of two places where you would see the Australian Coat of Arms. |
Task 7 - Promise and Law(Values of Scouting) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Duty to Your God |
Write a prayer and read it to your Pack. |
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Promise and Law |
Talk to your Leader about how you do your best to live up to the Promise and Law:
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Service |
Do a good turn for someone at home and tell your Leader about it. |
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Breaking the Cycle |
Talk to your Leader about why bullying is not acceptable at Cub Scouts and discuss the Pack Code. Contribute to annual review of Pack Code. |
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Choose any 3 from Tasks 8-14 |
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Task 8 - Fitness(Pursuits and Interests & Responsibility for Self) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Ball Skills |
Throw a ball 5 metres to someone else and catch it on return four times. Dribble a ball for a distance of 10 metres. |
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Athletic Skills |
Run 100 metres as quickly as you can. |
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Strength and Stamina |
Skip 10 times without stopping. |
Task 9 - People and Cultures(Growing Awareness of Wider World) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Indigenous Australians |
Find out about one of the traditional owners in your area/State or Territory and something about how they lived before European settlement. |
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International Cultures |
Make a list of the ethnic groups in your community, e.g. at school, church or in your Pack. |
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Scouting |
Find out something about each of the five Sections in Scouts Australia, either in your own Group or in the District. Take part in an activity with a different Section. |
Task 10 - Scientific Discovery(The World Around us) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Biology |
Grow some seeds on cotton wool and observe what happens. |
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Geology |
Identify five different rocks and tell where you found them. |
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Physics |
Explain the composition of air Perform an experiment that shows how oxygen can be used up. |
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Estimation |
Measure your hand and foot. Using these measurements, estimate:
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Task 11 - The Natural Environment(The World Around us) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Recycling |
Name four things that can be recycled and how the recycling helps the environment. Make something using recycled materials. |
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Pollution |
Help to clean up litter in your local area. Explain how litter can harm the natural environment. |
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Habitat Destruction |
Find out what native creatures live in your local area. Discuss how their habitats can be destroyed. |
Task 12 - Self Expression(Creativity) Cub Scouts will be required to do any two of the following |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Performing Arts |
Perform in a mime, skit or play with other members of your Pack. |
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Visual Arts |
Create a poster, painting, drawing or collage. |
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Creative Writing |
Write a poem or a short story. |
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Music |
Sing a song or play a musical instrument for your Pack. |
Task 13 - Handcraft(Creativity) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Make an item from one of the following materials:
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Task 14 - Your Community(Growing Awareness of Local Community) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Home |
Show you know how to keep your clothes, toys and equipment tidy. Talk to your Leaders about how you do this. |
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Local Community |
Show you know where the main features are in your local area, such as:
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Local Organisations |
Does your community have a local newspaper or Community Newsletter? If so, what is it called? |
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Tasks 1-7 are mandatory |
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Task 1 - Health and First Aid(Responsibility for self) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Personal Health |
Explain how to keep your feet in good condition and why. Discuss why sleep is important. Discuss the importance of a balanced diet. Prepare a healthy lunch for an outing. |
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Basic First Aid |
Check and replenish or put together a simple first aid kit and take it on bushwalks and outings with you. Show how to treat a bleeding nose. Show how to treat stings and insect bites common to your region. |
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Infections |
Show an understanding of how germs and head lice can pass to people by contact, and how to prevent this. |
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Adult Help |
Explain why you need adult help in case of accidents. Pass a message, including an address, from one adult to another. Explain how to use a mobile phone and a public phone and discuss the steps you would take to make an emergency call. |
Task 2 - Safety(Responsibility for self) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Buddy System |
Define the buddy system and explain its benefits. |
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Home |
Discuss the causes of accidents around the home and garden, including in sheds and around swimming pools. |
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Road |
Discuss the safety aspects of travelling in cars, buses and trains. |
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Water |
Demonstrate an understanding of the dangers of swimming in:
Identify safe areas for swimming. |
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Bush |
Explain what to do to make sure you don't get lost in the bush and what to do if something goes wrong. Demonstrate three ways of making distress signals. |
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Fire |
Discuss the ways that fire can start in the home and in the bush. Show what to do if you are in a fire at home. |
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Personal |
Discuss what to do if you do not feel safe somewhere. |
Task 3 - Ropes(Outdoor Scouting) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Tying knots |
Tie a sheet bend. Tie a clove hitch. Tie a reef knot. |
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Use of knots |
Discuss how and when to use these knots. |
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Care of ropes |
Name the parts of a rope. |
Task 4 - Outdoor Scouting(Outdoor Scouting) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Compass and Navigation |
Demonstrate an understanding of how many degrees there are in a compass and the eight principal points. Use a compass to follow a trail, which includes at least six compass points. |
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Maps and Hiking |
Use a road map to work out the distances between two towns named by a Leader. Demonstrate five trail signs. |
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Fire Lighting |
State the local fire rules in your area and care to take when lighting a fire in the bush. Prepare a suitable fireplace, light a fire and put it out correctly. |
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Outdoor Cooking |
On a fire you prepare and light, cook a meal such as sausages or food in a foil pouch. |
Task 5 - Our Cub Scout Traditions(Scouting Aims and Principles) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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The Jungle Books |
Tell one of the stories in The Jungle Books that does not have Mowgli in it. Explain the significance of Baloo and Bagheera in Mowgli's life. |
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Scouting History |
Find out when Scouting started in your local Group. Find out the history of your scarf and/or District/Region badge. |
Task 6 - Symbols of Australia(Growing Awareness of Local Community) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Flags |
Describe the flag of your State or Territory and show an understanding of the components of it. |
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Emblems |
Describe the emblem of your State or Territory and show an understanding of what it means. |
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Flora and Fauna |
Name and describe the flora and fauna emblems of your State or Territory. |
Task 7 - Promise and Law(Values of Scouting) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Duty to Your God |
Find out three things about your beliefs and explain them to your Leader. |
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Promise and Law |
Talk to your Leader about how you have tried to put your Promise and Law into practice in everything you have done. |
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Service |
Do a good turn for your Cub Pack or Scout Group and tell your Leader about it. |
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Breaking the Cycle |
Lead a game or activity that demonstrates how Cub Scouts look after each other and don’t bully. Discuss as a Six or Pack your current Pack Code and contribute to current review of Pack Code. |
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Choose any 3 from Tasks 8-14 |
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Task 8 - Fitness(Pursuits and Interests & Responsibility for Self) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Ball Skills |
Throw a ball a distance of 10 metres to someone else and catch it on return five times. Hit a ball with either a bat or racquet five times. |
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Athletic Skills |
Perform a standing broad jump as far as you can. |
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Strength and Stamina |
Skip 20 times forwards and 10 times backwards. |
Task 9 - People and Cultures(Growing Awareness of Wider World) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Indigenous Australians |
Explain some of the customs, traditions and crafts of the traditional owners of your area. |
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International Cultures |
Learn to say "Hello", "Goodbye", "Please" and "Thank You" in a language other than your own, preferably from a native speaker of the language. |
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Scouting |
Take part in a Pack Council. Take part in an activity with another Pack or one organised by District, Region or Branch. |
Task 10 - Scientific Discovery(The World Around us) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Biology |
Observe how an animal, bird, reptile or insect develops and behaves. Report on your findings. |
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Chemistry |
Perform an experiment that shows the difference between gas, liquid and solid states. |
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Geology |
Explain how volcanoes erupt and earthquakes occur. Show an experiment that illustrates one of these. |
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Physics |
Show you understand the weather forecast. Show how rain is formed. |
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Estimation |
Estimate the following:
Check how accurately you have estimated by measuring these. |
Task 11 - The Natural Environment(The World Around us) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Recycling |
Explain how you can recycle household waste. Make a system for recycling organic waste from your house, e.g. a worm farm, compost heap. |
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Pollution |
Help to clean up litter in your local area. Discuss some of the effects of pollution on our rivers, lakes and seas. Show how you and your family can help to reduce water pollution. |
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Habitat Destruction |
On a bush walk find examples of five things that have damaged the environment, e.g. litter and pollution, salinity, erosion and man-made damage. |
Task 12 - Self Expression(Creativity) Cub Scouts will be required to do any two of the following |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Performing Arts |
Organise and perform in a mime, skit or play with other members of your Pack. |
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Visual Arts |
Create a painting, drawing or three dimensional piece and have it ready to display. |
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Creative Writing |
Write a poem or a short story, which may be fictional, or a report of an event. |
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Music |
Play two pieces on a musical instrument or sing two songs for the Pack. |
Task 13 - Handcraft(Creativity) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Make something using a craft method which is new to you. Show the tools you used and explain how to care for them. |
Task 14 - Your Community(Growing Awareness of Local Community) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Home |
Demonstrate that you know how to do cleaning around the home such as vacuuming, sweeping, washing up and cleaning the bathroom. Do some minor repairs to clothes and around the house. |
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Local Community |
Find out how your town or suburb name originated. Where is the nearest:
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Local Organisations |
Name three essential service organisations that provide for your community and explain what they do. |
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Tasks 1-7 are mandatory |
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Task 1 - Health and First Aid(Responsibility for self) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Personal Health |
Discuss personal hygiene such as showering and bathing regularly, changing clothes and using deodorants. Show you understand the different types of foods that will build a healthy body by preparing a menu for one day at a camp. |
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Basic First Aid |
Check and replenish or put together a simple first aid kit and take it on bushwalks and outings with you. Tie a sling with a reef knot. Show how to treat burns and scalds. Show how to treat bleeding. Explain what to do in the case of fainting. |
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Infections |
Show an understanding of what can happen if you eat food that has not been stored correctly. Discuss the ways to store food appropriately. |
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Adult Help |
Explain why you need adult help in case of accidents. Pass a message, including an address, numbers and details of an accident, from one adult to another. Explain how to use a mobile phone and a public phone and discuss the steps you would take to make an emergency call. |
Task 2 - Safety(Responsibility for self) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Buddy System |
Explain the buddy system and teach it to a younger Cub. |
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Home |
Discuss the dangers of poisons at home. Discuss what to do at home in the case of an electrical storm. |
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Road |
Demonstrate the safety rules you need to consider when riding a bike, scooter, skateboard or roller blading. Show you can use this equipment safely. |
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Water |
Show three methods you could use to help someone who fell into deep water and could not swim. |
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Bush |
Explain what to do to make sure you don't get lost in the bush and what to do if something goes wrong. Discuss the dangers in the bush that are appropriate to your area, e.g. weather, terrain and poisonous creatures. |
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Fire |
Discuss ways to reduce the dangers that cause fires in the home and the bush. |
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Personal |
Discuss what to do if you do not feel safe when with a particular person. |
Task 3 - Ropes(Outdoor Scouting) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Tying knots |
Tie a bowline. Make a gadget using at least one type of appropriate lashing. Teach another Cub Scout how to tie a reef knot. |
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Use of knots |
Discuss how and when to use these knots. |
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Care of ropes |
Show how to hank or chain a rope correctly. |
Task 4 - Outdoor Scouting(Outdoor Scouting) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Compass and Navigation |
Use a compass to plan a bushwalk route on a map. Use a compass to set a simple trail, including six compass points, for the rest of your Pack to follow. Discuss the eight principal points and the associated degrees. |
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Maps and Hiking |
Explain scale and contour lines Explain at least eight map symbols and be able to find them on the map. Using at least five different trail signs, make a track for the rest of your Pack to follow. |
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Fire Lighting |
Explain about different types of cooking fires and demonstrate at least one. |
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Outdoor Cooking |
Using your cooking fire, prepare a meal for yourself and an adult, including meat, vegetable and a hot drink. |
Task 5 - Our Cub Scout Traditions(Scouting Aims and Principles) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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The Jungle Books |
Explain how the laws and teachings in The Jungle Books are part of your life and your Pack's attitudes |
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Scouting History |
Explain how Scouting began and talk to your Leader about it. Draw the World Scout badge and describe the meaning of this. Find out when and where the next Australian Jamboree will be held. |
Task 6 - Symbols of Australia(Growing Awareness of Local Community) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Flags |
Teach another Cub Scout to roll, hoist and break the Australian Flag in the correct manner. Show an understanding of the different ways of flying the flag, e.g. mourning, distress etc.. |
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Emblems |
Reproduce the Australian Coat of Arms and explain the meaning of each emblem. |
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Flora and Fauna |
Name and describe the floral emblem of Australia and explain why it was chosen. |
Task 7 - Promise and Law(Values of Scouting) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Duty to Your God |
Help to plan and participate in a Scouts' Own. |
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Promise and Law |
Discuss with a Leader about how you try to put your Promise and Law into practice in everything you do.
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Service |
Do a good turn by helping plan and taking part in, an activity which will assist an organisation that helps other people, and tell your Leader about it. |
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Breaking the Cycle |
Organise a game, activity or multi media presentation that demonstrates how Cub Scouts look after each other and don’t bully. Contribute to annual review of Pack Code and sign. Discuss as a Six or Pack your current Pack Code. |
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Choose any 3 from Tasks 8-14 |
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Task 8 - Fitness(Pursuits and Interests & Responsibility for Self) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Ball Skills |
Kick a goal with either a place or drop kick Throw a ball over a distance of 20 metres to someone and catch it on return six times over a distance of 15 metres. |
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Athletic Skills |
Perform a hop, step and jump as far as you can. |
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Strength and Stamina |
Skip continuously for two minutes. |
Task 9 - People and Cultures(Growing Awareness of Wider World) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Indigenous Australians |
Visit a local site where you can learn more about the traditional owners of your area. |
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International Cultures |
Find out about another country. Show where it is on the map in relation to Australia and discover how the people live, what they eat and the clothes they wear. |
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Scouting |
Find out about Scouting in another country Take part in an overnight activity organised at District, Region or Branch level. |
Task 10 - Scientific Discovery(The World Around us) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Biology |
Explain what the major organs in the human body are and how they work. |
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Chemistry |
Perform an experiment that shows a chemical reaction. Explain what has happened. |
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Geology |
Explain what minerals and fossil fuels are and how they are formed. Talk about the minerals found in your area. |
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Physics |
Demonstrate how sound moves through air, water or a solid object. |
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Estimation |
Make a sundial and use it to tell the time. Measure the height of an object using the stick and shadow method. or Find North using a non-digital wrist watch. or Find South using the Southern Cross. |
Task 11 - The Natural Environment(The World Around us) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Recycling |
Find out what new things are made from three different sorts of waste, which are recycled.
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Pollution |
Help to clean up litter in your local area. Show an understanding of the "Greenhouse Effect", including what causes it and how you can help to reduce it. State three other forms of air pollution, how they affect people and what can be done to reduce them. |
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Habitat Destruction |
Discuss how we can conserve our local environment including water, land, air, forests and mineral and fossil fuels. |
Task 12 - Self Expression(Creativity) Cub Scouts will be required to do any two of the following |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Performing Arts |
Perform a magic trick, juggling or a puppet show, alone or with the help of one or two other Cub Scouts. |
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Visual Arts |
Produce a series of preliminary sketches and a finished piece of work ready for display. |
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Creative Writing |
Write a piece, which you contribute, to a group or local newsletter. |
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Music |
Sing a song, which includes verses and chorus or Play your instrument at a higher standard to that demonstrated for your Bronze and Silver Boomerangs.. |
Task 13 - Handcraft(Creativity) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Design a practical item and produce it using any craft method. Show the design work and finished item together. |
Task 14 - Your Community(Growing Awareness of Local Community) |
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Topic |
Task Ideas |
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Home |
Show you know how to wash and iron your clothes. |
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Local Community |
Take part in a visit to a local place of interest and find out how it serves the community. or Meet or visit someone who lives or works in your area and find out what he or she does to help the community. |
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Local Organisations |
Find out about two charitable organisations in your community and what they do to help other people. |