Akela (Scouting)

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This article is about the symbolic character in Cub Scouting. For other uses, see Akela.

Akela, the great gray Lone Wolf, who led all the Pack by strength and cunning, lay out at full length on his rock, and below him sat forty or more wolves of every size and color

—Rudyard Kipling, The Jungle Book

Good hunting all That keep the Jungle Law

—Master Word of Akela

In Cub Scout packs, Akela is a symbol of wisdom, authority, and leadership. Akela is anyone who acts as a leader to the Scout. Akela can be a Cubmaster, Den Leader, parent or teacher depending on where the guidance takes place. In den meetings, it is the Den Leader who is Akela. During pack meetings it is the Cubmaster. At home, the parents fill this role. Baden-Powell chose Kipling's Jungle Book as a source of symbolism and allegorical framework for the youngest members of the Scouting movement. Many references are made to this story in the Cub Scout section, including the "Council Rock" for discussions and planning, and the "Grand Howl" to express a sense of belonging and team spirit.

Many cub scout packs use an oath called the "Law of the Pack' to show allegiance and demonstrate their relationship to Akela and the pack:

The Cub Scout follows Akela. The Cub Scout helps the pack go. The pack helps the Cub Scout grow. The Cub Scout gives goodwill.

In the United Kingdom, where nearly all of the links with the Jungle Book have been taken out of the Cub Scout programme, the names of Jungle Book characters are still used for Cub Scout Leaders. Akela is still reserved for a leader of a Cub Scout, but is not universally in use (i.e., other character names can be held by the leader, usually to avoid confusion when there is a change of leadership).