Cub Pack was challenged to reduce the amount of plastic they use in their daily lives. 

Began the programme by the Cubs creating an experiment to demonstrate the sources and causes of water pollution in our river systems. They looked at various sources such as construction, agriculture, deforestation, recreation, heavy industry and natural causes (sandstorms) that contribute to different pollutants in our rivers, from source to the sea.

Next they created another experiment whereby they used different techniques to attempt to remove the plastic and other pollutants from the sea. Their conclusion was that it's nearly impossible to remove all the plastic from the sea, especially the micro-plastics.

We then took on the Tide Turners Plastic Challenge. At a Cub Pack meeting the Cubs went discussed, in Sixes, ways that each Member could reduce their use of single-use plastic. Some of the Cubs were already aware of the issue, and for others this was the first time they were introduced to the idea of not using a plastic straw with their milkshake. The Cubs did the audit of their plastic footprint, and were then told to go home and reassess their answers with the parents input - the reassessed answers in most cases was widely different from some of the Cubs answers.

We watched 4 different video clips of the effects of plastic pollution on the oceans. Most of the Cubs were horrified at the amount of plastic that has accumulated in the oceans and on land.

For the Trash Art section of the challenge, the Cubs decided to make planters for their moms as a gift using plastic bottles. This was an activity that they jumped into with vigour and enjoyed it so much that they asked to do it agan later in the year.

As a Cub Pack we were initially going to participate in at least 2 of the many beach litter clean-ups organised in Buffalo City during 2020. Then the lockdown happened! Once we resumed Pack Meeting in September we decided to organise our own clean-up under the lockdown restrictions. We occasionally use the extended property of the Highway Christian Church next to our meeting venue for outdoor activities as they have a 14ha property with plenty of outdoor space. Their property is in the corner of the N2 and the Gonubie Main Road, both with high traffic volumes. Also, the corner intersection is used by taxis as a pick-up point, hence there is usually a fair amount of rubbish and plastic waste along the boundaries of the church that  are along the N2 and Gonubie Main Roads. We decided that we would do a community service project for the church and do a litter clean-up along the 2 boundaries that are adjacent to the 2 busy roads. The Cub Pack spent a rainy Saturday afternoon cleaning up the litter and rubbish along the fence line. For our second litter clean-up, I challenged the Cubs to go out and do a clean-up in their neighbourhood with family or friends, making sure they observed lock-down rules. Most managed to do a clean-up in their neighbourhood or somewhere close to home.

For the Plastic Resolution section I challenged them to go home and change some action in their daily lives to reduce their use of single-use plastic. The responses were varied; 2 cubs started taking their own reusable cups when they went for their weekly milkshake after school on a Friday. Another Cub bought a box of paper straws and replaced the plastic straws in his classroom at school with the paper straws, and gave his class a short talk on plastic pollution. Others started on the EcoBrick project and found out where they could drop-off their bricks as part of their resolution to reduce plastic waste.