James E. West, Chief Scout Executive, poses with the first officially recognized cub unit, Pack 43, Brooklyn NY, in 1930.  Its program was developed through experiments with British-style Cubbing begun in 1928. Baden-Powell's "Wolf Cub Handbook" was bypassed in favor of a highly Americanized text in three parts.

The influence of Rudyard Kipling's "Jungle Book" remained in reduced form.  The star awards became ranks: Bobcat, Wolf, Bear and Lion.  "Bobcat" was adapted from "Bagheera" the Panther.  The Wolf "Akela" and Bear "Baloo", were accepted as is.  "Lion" was the king of beasts added to Cub mythology in a friendly nod to the British Lion where Cubbing originated.

Never comfortable with younger boys in the structured activities of the Scouting program, West insisted the program be called "Cubbing" and reserved the word "Scout" for boys 12 and over.

By the end of the first year, 243 Cub Packs served 1,433 Pack Leaders and 5,102 boys.

SEE THE PRE-1930 CUBBING LITERATURE