New Chums: The White Scarf

Scouting Resources: New Chums
THE WHITE SCARF

The white scarf is given to children who have joined the pack, and have not yet been invested.

When Baden-Powell was in Africa he heard of a ritual from the Zulu tribe. When a young boy was approaching adulthood the Zulu warriors would paint the boy all over with a special white paint, this paint could not be washed off and would stay on for about six weeks. The paint was a symbol to the Zulu’s that this boy was training to be a warrior. During the six week period the boy was not allowed to be seen by any members of the Zulu tribe and he was only given a shield for protection and a small spear to hunt and obtain food.

He would have to follow deer tracks and creep up near enough to spear the animal in order to get food and clothing for himself. He had to make fires to cook his food by rubbing two sticks, (he didn’t have matches with him) and he had to be careful not to let his fire smoke too much, or it would catch the eye of Zulu hunters. He had to be able to run long distances, to climb trees and to swim rivers, he also had to be very brave and stand up to a lion or tiger or any other animal that attacked him. He had to know which plants were good to eat and which were poisonous and how to cook them. He had, of course, to make his own cooking pots of the bark of a tree or of clay. He had to build himself a hut to live in, but well hidden. He had to be careful not to leave any tracks that could be followed. He had to learn not to snore, to keep his mouth shut and to breath quietly through his nose.

He had to do all this for 6 weeks, sometimes in burning heat, sometimes in cold rain, until the white paint wore off. If the boy could survive until his paint wore off he could return to the tribe and be accepted as a man and a warrior.

People saw this ritual they thought what a great way to let everyone know that this young person was doing something special, and learning some great skills that will help them along their way.

Now everyone knew that they couldn’t paint the New Chums, but could give them a very special white scarf. This scarf would tell everyone in Scouting that this person is not yet a member of the Scout Group and is doing their best to learn about Cubs. The White Scarf is also a symbol to all of the other Cubs and Scouts that the new member is a New Chum and they must take special care of them and to help them learn.

NOTE: Transferring Members from one section into a higher section (Joeys into Cubs) or from one Group to another – continue to wear their Group scarf – they are already invested members, so they do not wear the white scarf of the new chum.