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The Grand Howl is a
ceremony A ceremony (, ) is a unified ritualistic event with a purpose, usually consisting of a number of artistic components, performed on a special occasion. The word may be of Etruscan language, Etruscan origin, via the Latin . Religious and civil ...
used by
Cub Scouts Cubs or Wolf Cubs are programs associated with some Scouting, Scout organizations, for young children, usually between 8 and 12, who are too young to be Scouts and make the Scout Promise. A participant in the program is called a Cub and a gro ...
and Brownies. It was devised by
Robert Baden-Powell Lieutenant-General Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, ( ; 22 February 1857 – 8 January 1941) was a British Army officer, writer, founder of The Boy Scouts Association and its first Chief Scout, and founder, with ...
, the author of the scouting guide ''
Scouting for Boys ''Scouting for Boys: A handbook for instruction in good citizenship'' is a book on Boy Scout training, published in various editions since 1908. Early editions were written and illustrated by Robert Baden-Powell with later editions being exten ...
'', and is based on the
Mowgli Mowgli () is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Mowgli stories featured among Rudyard Kipling's ''The Jungle Book'' stories. He is a feral boy from the Pench area in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, India, who originally appeared in Kiplin ...
stories in
Rudyard Kipling Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( ; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936)''The Times'', (London) 18 January 1936, p. 12. was an English journalist, novelist, poet, and short-story writer. He was born in British Raj, British India, which inspired much ...
's ''
Jungle Book ''The Jungle Book'' is an 1894 collection of stories by the English author Rudyard Kipling. Most of the characters are animals such as Shere Khan the tiger and Baloo the bear, though a principal character is the boy or "man-cub" Mowgli, who ...
''. In the ceremony, Cubs act out the
wolves The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the grey wolf or gray wolf, is a canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, including the dog and dingo, though gr ...
greeting Akela, the "Old Wolf", at the Council Rock and are reminded of the Cub Scout Promise. Baden-Powell also created a Grand Howl for
Brownie Guide Brownies are the section in the Girl Guides (or in the United States, Girl Scouts) organisation for girls aged seven years old to ten years old. Exact age limits are slightly different in each organisation. History Brownies, originally called ...
s, which was in imitation of an
owl Owls are birds from the order Strigiformes (), which includes over 200 species of mostly solitary and nocturnal birds of prey typified by an upright stance, a large, broad head, binocular vision, binaural hearing, sharp talons, and feathers a ...
instead of a wolf. It has been used as an
opening Opening may refer to: Types of openings * Hole * A title sequence or opening credits * Grand opening of a business or other institution * Inauguration * Keynote * Opening sentence * Opening sequence * Opening statement, a beginning statemen ...
and
closing ceremony An opening ceremony, grand opening, or ribbon-cutting ceremony marks the official opening of a newly constructed location or the start of an event.
as well as a method of conveying thanks or appreciation by all sections of Scouting.


Origin

In the wild,
wolves The wolf (''Canis lupus''; : wolves), also known as the grey wolf or gray wolf, is a canine native to Eurasia and North America. More than thirty subspecies of ''Canis lupus'' have been recognized, including the dog and dingo, though gr ...
howl to assemble the pack usually before and after hunts, to pass on an alarm particularly at a den site, to locate each other during a storm or while crossing unfamiliar territory, and to communicate across great distances. Grand howls had been part of social occasions since at least the 1850s. Five years after the founding of the
Scout movement Scouting or the Scout Movement is a youth movement which became popularly established in the first decade of the twentieth century. It follows the Scout method of informal education with an emphasis on practical outdoor activities, including ...
, Baden-Powell and others worked on a scheme for those who were too young to join the
Boy Scouts Boy Scouts or Boy Scout may refer to: * Members, sections or organisations in the Scouting Movement ** Scout (Scouting), a boy or a girl participating in the worldwide Scouting movement ** Scouting America, formerly known as Boy Scouts of America ...
at the age of 11, initially called "Junior Scouts". By the time of the launch of the scheme, Baden-Powell had obtained the approval of his friend and neighbor, Rudyard Kipling, to use the ''Jungle Book'' as a theme. Under the name of "Wolf Cubs", the 8- to 10-year-old boys would take part in basic versions of the activities enjoyed by the older Boy Scouts, but within a background of the jungle in the Mowgli stories of Kipling's 1898 book. The Cubs would act out scenes from the stories, and the adult leaders would adopt the names of characters from the book. For example, the leader in charge would be titled Akela, after the character Akela who led the titular
Mowgli Mowgli () is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Mowgli stories featured among Rudyard Kipling's ''The Jungle Book'' stories. He is a feral boy from the Pench area in Seoni, Madhya Pradesh, India, who originally appeared in Kiplin ...
's wolf pack in Kipling's novel. Baden-Powell book, entitled ''
The Wolf Cub's Handbook ''The Wolf Cub's Handbook'' is an instructional handbook on Wolf Cubs training, published in various editions since December 1916. Early editions were written and illustrated by Robert Baden-Powell with later editions being extensively rewritte ...
'', was published on 2 December 1916. In the first chapter, he describes the following scene in ''The Jungle Book'' and provides some additional context for the Grand Howl ceremony:


Original Grand Howl

The original instructions for the Grand Howl, described by
Vera Barclay Vera Charlesworth Barclay (10 November 1893 – 19 September 1989) was an English scouting pioneer and writer. She was an early exponent of female leadership in the Scout movement and played a leading role in the introduction of the Wolf Cub pro ...
and Baden-Powell in ''The Wolf Cub's Handbook''. Form yourselves into a circle (quickly, a Wolf Cub never walks, he runs!). Then squat down on your heels with your two fore paws on the ground between your feet, knees out to either side. Then when the Old Wolf comes to the Pack, the young Wolves throw up their heads and howl. But their howl means something. They want to welcome him, and at the same time to show that they are ready to obey his command. The call of the Pack all over the world is “We’ll do our best”; so when your Cubmaster comes into the circle you chuck up your chins and, all together, you howl out — making each word a long yowl: “Ah-kay-la! — We-e-e-e-ll do-o-o-o o-o-o-u-u-r BEST.” Yell the word “best” sharp and loud and short and all together; and at the same time spring to your feet with two fingers of each hand pointing upwards at each side of your head, to look like two wolf’s ears. That’s the way to do it. Now what does it mean? It means that you will do your best with BOTH hands — not merely with one like most boys, who only use their right hand. Your best will be twice as good as any ordinary boy’s best. “Do your best” is the Cub’s motto. Then keep your two hands up while the leading Cub calls to the Pack, at the top of his voice: “Dyb-dyb-dyb-dyb” (meaning Do Your Best). Then every Cub after the fourth “dyb” drops his left hand smartly to his side and keeping the right hand at the salute, with two fingers up, but now spread out making the salute, squeals “We-e-e-l” and barks out “Dob-dob-dob-dob” (We’ll Do Our Best). After the fourth “dob” each Cub drops his right hand smartly to his side and stands at the “Alert” and waits for orders.


National variants


United Kingdom

In 1966, a complete review of the UK
Scout Association The Scout Association is the largest organisation in the Scout Movement in the Scouting in the United Kingdom, United Kingdom. Following the rapid development of the Scouting, Scout Movement from 1907, The Scout Association was formed in 1910 ...
, '' The Chief Scouts' Advance Party Report'', recommended that less emphasis be placed on the ''Jungle Book'' for Wolf Cubs, who were to be renamed
Cub Scouts Cubs or Wolf Cubs are programs associated with some Scouting, Scout organizations, for young children, usually between 8 and 12, who are too young to be Scouts and make the Scout Promise. A participant in the program is called a Cub and a gro ...
. Although the Grand Howl was to be retained, it was revised, replacing the "dybs" with plain language to "make the significance clearer to parents and public". (p. 20) The recommendations were accepted and began to be implemented in October 1966. The revised Grand Howl is as follows: :Pack in circle. :Cub Scout Leader in centre, arms outstretched facing Sixer; :Cub Scout Leader arms down; :Pack squats. :Pack: ''"Akela! We'll do our best"''. :Sixer: ''"Cubs! Do your best"''. :Cubs: ''"We ''will'' do our best"'', giving the Scout salute (which had replaced the
two-finger salute The two-finger salute is a salute given using only the middle and index fingers, while bending the other fingers at the second knuckle, and with the palm facing the signer. This salute is used by the Polish Armed Forces, other uniformed services ...
in the Cub Section). Following a further programme review between 2000 and 2002, the Grand Howl became optional, allowing Packs to adopt themes other than the Jungle Book - although local groups had always adapted the ceremony. The independent
Baden-Powell Scouts' Association The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association (''B-PSA'') is a worldwide youth organisation originating in the United Kingdom, with friendly relationships with similar traditional scouting organisations in various countries. Baden-Powell Scouting focuse ...
and
British Boy Scouts and British Girl Scouts Association The British Boy Scouts and British Girl Scouts Association (BBS & BGS Association; also known as The Brotherhood of British Scouts) is an early scouting organisation, having begun as the Battersea Boy Scouts in 1908.'' The Scout'', September 190 ...
continue with the original Grand Howl.


United States

The Cub Scout programme of the
Boy Scouts of America Scouting America is the largest scouting organization and one of the largest List of youth organizations, youth organizations in the United States, with over 1 million youth, including nearly 200,000 female participants. Founded as the Boy Sco ...
and Brownies of the
Girl Scouts of the USA Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA), commonly referred to as Girl Scouts, is a youth organization for girls in the United States and American girls living abroad. It was founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912, a year after she ...
have used the traditional Grand Howl as a "special recognition ceremony" with the person being honoured (a guest, parent or member of the Pack), standing in the centre of the circle. In addition, a Short Grand Howl can be used as follows:


Canada

The
Cub Scouts Cubs or Wolf Cubs are programs associated with some Scouting, Scout organizations, for young children, usually between 8 and 12, who are too young to be Scouts and make the Scout Promise. A participant in the program is called a Cub and a gro ...
of
Scouts Canada Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association that provides programs for young people ages 5 to 26. It aims "to help develop well-rounded youth, better prepared for success in the world." Scouts Canada, in affiliation with the French-language ...
use the traditional Grand Howl. The following version is used in
French speaking French ( or ) is a Romance language of the Indo-European family. Like all other Romance languages, it descended from the Vulgar Latin of the Roman Empire. French evolved from Northern Old Gallo-Romance, a descendant of the Latin spoken in ...
Packs:


Australia

The Grand Howl used by the
Cub Scouts Cubs or Wolf Cubs are programs associated with some Scouting, Scout organizations, for young children, usually between 8 and 12, who are too young to be Scouts and make the Scout Promise. A participant in the program is called a Cub and a gro ...
of
Scouts Australia Scouts Australia is a trading name of The Scout Association of Australia, which is the largest scouting organisation in Australia, with over 50,000 Youth Program Participants, and is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement. It ...
is as follows:


New Zealand

The Grand Howl used by the Cubs of Scouts New Zealand is identical to the version currently used in the United Kingdom.


Brazil

The Grand Howl of the Scouts of Brazil goes as follows: Akela forms the Pack into a circle position, and when he chooses a pack member, everyone goes in the Cub Scout squatting position and say: "Akela, we'll do our best!" Then, everybody stands up doing the two fingered Cub Scout Sign with both hands, to represent a wolf's ears, and the chosen cub says: "Best, Best, Best, Best?" Then all the pack, doing the Cub Scout salute, says: "Yes! Best, Best, Best, Best!"


Brownies

A junior section of
Girl Guide Girl Guides (or Girl Scouts in the United States and some other countries) are organisations within the Scout Movement originally and largely still for girls and women only. The Girl Guides began in 1910 with the formation of The Girl Guides ...
s started in 1914 in the United Kingdom, under the name of "Rosebuds"; this name was disliked by girls and it was soon amended to Brownies, being themed on the story by Juliana Ewing. In Baden-Powell's 1918 book, "Girl Guiding: A Handbook for Brownies, Guides and Rangers", the Grand Howl is described as "the grandest salute a Pack ''(of Brownies)'' can give, and is only for ''very'' special occasions". Baden-Powell describes how the Brownies should begin in a squatting position, in the same way as the Cub equivalent, but repeating "Tu-whit, tu-whit, Tu-whoo-oo" three times, each time getting louder and rising higher, until at the end of the third repetition, the Brownies were to jump in the air and clap their hands above their heads. In the United Kingdom, the 1966 report called '' Tomorrow's Guide'' by a Working Party set up to revise and update the programme of the
Girl Guides Association Girlguiding is the operating name of The Guide Association in the United Kingdom, previously named The Girl Guides Association, which was formed in 1910. It is the original Girl Guides organisation in the world and, in 1928, became a founding m ...
, recommended a reduction in the number of ceremonies used by Brownies; the Grand Howl was not retained. The Brownie Grand Howl is still used by the
Girl Guides of Canada Girl Guides of Canada (GGC; ) is the national Guiding association of Canada. Guiding in Canada started on September 7, 1910, and GGC was among the founding members of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) in 1928. Histo ...
.


Cultural impact

A Wolf Cub Grand Howl takes place in
George Orwell Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950) was an English novelist, poet, essayist, journalist, and critic who wrote under the pen name of George Orwell. His work is characterised by lucid prose, social criticism, opposition to a ...
's ''
A Clergyman's Daughter ''A Clergyman's Daughter'' is a 1935 novel by English author George Orwell. It tells the story of Dorothy Hare, the titular clergyman's daughter, whose life is turned upside down when she suffers an attack of amnesia. It is Orwell's most formall ...
''.


See also

* Campfire ash ceremony


References


Bibliography

*


External links


Instructional video of the Grand Howl by The Scout Association (United Kingdom)
{{Webarchive, url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233143/https://members.scouts.org.uk/startup/videos/Cub-Ceremony.wmv , date=3 March 2016 Scouting events Squatting position