Kub Kars is the kind of project that parents can absolutely get involved in!

We encourage you to please consider your involvement carefully - at the end of the day, your Cubs learn more by doing things themselves. Even if you can see them making design errors, resist the temptation to take over. Those who learn the most from these experiences are those who make decisions themselves and later reflect on those decisions based on their performance. Never underestimate the power of an inconsequential mistake in a child’s development.

Kub Kars are not a life-and-death project. Those who don’t win will not be scared by the experience.

Where they will need guidance is to stay on track will be making sure that they stay within the rules. We’re not kidding when we say the Kub Kars will be measured, weighed and checked or they will be disqualified after their first heat.

Of course we don’t mind if your Cub decides to put a motor on their car… we’d be mighty impressed by their effort and would praise them for developing an impressive product but we’d also need to exclude them from having the opportunity to win a place in this competition.

Please encourage them to go through the resources available to them on this website but also to talk to their leaders, their Unit and to seek help from adults in their life.

Many parents, grandparents and caregivers will revel in the opportunity to work with a Cub on this kind of project as it really is an opportunity to do something fun together. We think it’s brilliant if grandpa was a sparky and wants to teach a Cub how to put LED lights on their car; or if a family friend is a woodworker and wants to teach a cub how to carve wood (safely of course). But we do ask that the end result is something a Cub makes with appropriate assistance - not a product that an adult has poured their experience or ego into. Let them use their new skills to the point that they’re happy to race the car.

And finally, there is a rule about not allowing excessive budget to be spent on this project. We’re asking for a common-sense approach to this - do what you’re comfortable with so long as the end result is something your Cub can take ownership of. There is no reason why a winning car cannot be made out of materials from the recycle bin plus a bit of glue and sticky tape.

If you have any questions along the way, don’t hesitate to send us a message or talk to your leaders.