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 Wolf Cub Sixers & Seconds |
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WOLF CUB SIXERS AND SECONDS
SIXERS AND OTHER SMALL GROUPS
All Wolf Packs are divided into groupings called 'Sixes'. A 'Six' is a group of 6 youth and have an assigned adult leader. 'Sixes' are useful for all of the youth, as it is provides a small focus group for pack activities such as crafts discussions and badge work, and to ensure that each youth receives individual attention for guidance and learning from an adult Leader. Each 'Six' may decide upon a name and symbol for their lodge.
Each Wolf Cub shall be assigned to a 'Six' and will receive a 'Six' patch which should be attached to the right-hand arm of their Wolf Cub uniform. The 'Six' badge provides each Wolf Cub with an identification and a sense of belonging.
The 'Six' is a Wolf Cub's home base in the pack. Wolf Cubs begin and end every meeting in their 'Six', and often do other activities with it during the evening. They develop some of their closest friendships in their 'Six', and recognize that group as their personal place.
Here are some standard operations for 'Sixes'.
- Wolf Cubs form by 'Sixes' in the circle for opening and closing ceremonies.
- A different 'Six' each week serves as the Duty 'Six' responsible for setting up and taking down pack equipment, and leading the Grand Howl.
- The 'Sixers' and 'Second's keep records of attendance and weekly dues.
- Each 'Six' has a lair - its own space in the hall - where members keep their personal gear, line up for inspection, and gather together between activities. Wolf Cubs often decorate their lairs in their 'Six' colours.
- In many packs, one adult leader takes personal responsibility for each 'Six'. The Scouter keeps track of the Wolf Cubs' progress and is ready to give each special attention when needed. Sometimes the leader helps them plan special activities to do apart from the pack.
- Wolf Cubs work and learn best in small groups of 'Six' because:
- They can voice their opinions and share ideas
- They can identify with a small group, and feel part of it by sharing its success
- They can more readily and successfully practice leading, following and being responsible and resourceful
- A leader can easily supervise and help them in their activities
Wolf Cubs work and learn best in groups of 'Six' or seven because:
- They can voice their opinions and share ideas.
- They can identify with a small group, and feel a part of it by sharing its success.
During the normal course of an evening, the leaders may also pair two 'Sixes' together, or setup situations where each 'six' will complete in fair competition for points for competitive requirements. During a typical meeting, 'Sixes' may be used in four or five different combinations as listed:
- Evenly matching teams of 'Sixers' for game activities
- Wolf cub 'six' working on the same Activity Area requirements.
- Older Wolf Cubs helping younger ones in crafts.
- Older Wolf Cubs working by themselves on more challenging craft.
- Wolf Cubs planning skits for Campfire night.
Furthermore, Wolf cub packs may also be grouped into 'Sixes' for the following reasons:
- BY 'Six' : members of the 'Six' are already familiar with each other, and likely work well together
- BUY AGE: Allowing leaders time to tune the program to reflect the Wolf Cubs' level of maturity and concentration (ie. 10 year olds can go on a longer hike than eight year olds).
- BY INTEREST: Allowing a small group to work on common interests, therefore meeting their needs and interest. (Ie. you may have a few Wolf Cubs particularly interested in some specific elements of an award).
- BY SKILL LEVEL: Allowing the leadership team to help Wolf Cubs together while making a craft; less skilled Wolf Cubs get the support from the leaders and are not worried about what their peers are doing.
- Diversity in activities between 'Sixes'
- BY RANDOM SELECTION: Mixing the Wolf cub youth into different age ranges, allowing mentoring of younger Wolf cubs by their 'Six'er's and 'Seconds' group up. This allows younger Wolf Cubs learn to work with new peers
Regardless of the organization of the Wolf Pack, leaders will keep in mind the Wolf Cubs' level of attention, their abilities, dexterity, skill, strength and patience. As the Wolf Cub program progresses through the weeks, the adult leaders will watch each 'Six' and evaluate how the 'Sixer' and 'Second' of each group help the younger Wolf cubs who are struggling to keep up with challenging crafts games, skits and other activities.
No single grouping of Wolf Cubs will work effectively in all situations. In organizing 'Sixes', the best you can expect is a group that allows members to work together reasonably often. How you organize them will depend on your leadership style and pack routine.
Some Wolf Packs like to mix older and younger Wolf Cubs in each 'Six'. Sometimes the 'Sixers' and 'Second's are final-year Wolf Cubs who hold their appointments for the entire year. Other packs rotate 'Sixers' and 'Second's every three to 'Six' months without too much consideration of age. The way you choose to organize may be influenced by your Wolf Cubs or your'Sixers' Council.
Here are some useful ideas that often help generate good chemistry within 'Sixes'.
- Place close friends in the same 'Six' (providing this doesn't generate distracting behavior between Wolf Cubs)
- It's sometimes best to put siblings in different 'Sixes'
- If a Wolf Cub is unhappy in a 'Six', move the youth but try to avoid wholesale changes in the middle of the year. Some Wolf Cubs don't like it when established routines are upset.
- If you plan to change 'Sixer's and 'Seconds' during the year, explain your idea to all the Wolf Cubs from the start to avoid suggestions that the original 'Sixers' and 'Seconds' are being "demoted." Remind the pack of the coming change a few weeks before it happens.
Because no style of 'Six' works well in all situations, you might form temporary groups from different 'Sixes' for some activities. You'll probably find that the Wolf Cubs spend some time each meeting in other groups for certain activities anyway. If you find that they spend little or no time in their 'Sixes', take another look at how you organized the 'Sixes', and consider trying a different method next year.
ROLE OF 'SIXER AND SECONDS
After appointing a 'Six'er and 'Second', consider some of the responsibilities you may want to assign to them. These might include:
- Phone members of the 'Six' with messages.
- Prepare the 'Six' for inspection, or opening and closing ceremonies.
- Mark attendance and collect dues.
- Help introduce White Tail Beavers to the pack's program when they visit.
- Help run pack games and get equipment ready.
- Give leaders' feedback from the Wolf Cubs in their 'Six'.
- Provide a good model for other Wolf Cubs in behavior, actions, uniform, etc.
- Participate in'Sixers' Council meetings
If your pack doesn't have as many adult leaders as it needs, or you feel it's important for Wolf Cubs to have a stable, smooth-running operation, you'll likely favor long-term 'Six'er and 'Second' appointments from among older Wolf Cubs. Terms longer than one year are rare, partly because of the need to restructure your pack and 'Sixes' from year to year.
If your leadership team feels the pack will benefit from frequent changes that give more Wolf Cubs leadership opportunities, you'll probably favor short-term 'Six'er and 'Second' appointments.
Here are a few other things to consider.
DISCIPLINE
An older Cub may have greater leadership skills and command greater authority than a younger one, but asking a 10-year-old to maintain discipline is asking a lot. This is a job for adult leaders. 'Sixers' can help with discipline in their 'Sixes' by reminding Wolf Cubs of expected behavior. If this reminder does-n't work, it's time for a Scouter to step in.
CEREMONIES
Ceremonies such as the Grand Howl that require leadership from a Cub are important. 'Sixers' or seconds may do the best job, but give other Wolf Cubs a chance to lead from time to time, too. One way to arrange this is to assign the duty to a 'Six' and let it, through the 'Six'er and 'Second', choose a Cub to lead. Or you can select a different Cub at each meeting's opening and closing ceremony.
SIXERS’ COUNCIL
The 'Sixers' Council is a regular meeting of leaders, 'Sixers' and, possibly, 'Seconds'. The Council gathers to share ideas on future pack activities, evaluate programs, and deal with issues of pack activities and discipline. Although older, long-term 'Sixers' may be able to contribute more realistic ideas, 'Sixers' and 'Seconds' of any age who serve for shorter times may provide a more representative sample of ideas the Wolf Cubs want to try.
RECORDS
Most 'Sixers' need some adult help with marking attendance, collecting dues and keeping The Weekly Record Book up-to-date.
LEADERSHIP
It's important to give all Wolf Cubs a chance to learn and practice leadership under the guidance of adults who understand their individual capabilities and limitations. If you rotate 'Sixers' and 'Seconds' among 'Six' members for short terms (six months), it gives most Wolf Cubs a chance at a formal leadership position. It's also important to encourage all Wolf Cubs to take on informal leadership roles through leading games, sharing ideas or volunteering to serve in other ways.
RECOGNITION
Sixers' and 'Seconds' wear special yellow epaulets as signs of their positions. A 'Sixer's epaulette has two green stripes; a 'Second' has one stripe.
Wolf Cubs naturally see the positions of 'Sixer' or 'Second' (and KIM) as a form of recognition for achievement or tenure. Look for other ways to recognize Wolf Cubs for such things as achievement, tenure, reliability, or simply being a Cub. A pat on the back, a presentation of a star, badge, or award and other forms of recognition are all very useful.
DUTIES OF A CUB 'SIXER AND A SECOND
Duties of a 'Sixer:
- Phoning the members of your 'Six' to remind them of meetings, to wear their uniform, bring their dues, and any other special items that are required (for example, to remind them to bring skates for a skating night)
- Helping the members of your 'Six' prepare for inspection, and for the opening and closing Grand Howl
- Taking attendance, collecting dues, and recording it in your 'Sixers book; helping to organize your 'Six' for games and activities
- Giving the leaders feedback from the members of your 'Six'
- Participating in 'Sixers Council meetings, where you make suggestions and help the adult leaders make plans for the pack
- Helping to maintain discipline of your 'Six' during ceremonies helping your 'Six' decide who will bring in the Totem, and who will lead the Grand Howl at the opening and closing ceremonies when your 'Six' is the Honor 'Six'
- Organizing your 'Six' to set up and then later to put away the flags, Totem, equipment, etc. when your 'Six' is the Duty 'Six'
- Being a good model for other Wolf Cubs in behavior, actions, uniform, etc.
Duties of a Second:
- Helping the 'Sixer' in all his duties
- Taking the place of your 'Sixer' when he is absent
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   Sun Jan 27, 2008 9:31 pm |
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