In our fourth book, Haven, there’s a whole chapter about The Cub’s Adventure Manual. It is probably the most loved book in all the history of Haven. No one is quite sure who wrote the first edition, or what that first edition even looked like. One story goes that the chapter on “Rules for Singing While Digging a Hole” was taken directly from Hegel’s Lost Diaries, but it has never been proven because … well … the diaries really are lost.
One thing is certain, The Cub’s Adventure Manual has continued to grow over the centuries into a very informative, very detailed, and often funny instruction book for Cubs going out on their Adventures.
Here’s a short excerpt from The Cub’s Adventure Manual, talking about The Great Night Hike:
The Great Night Hike must continue under all conditions … except of course bad storms, lightning, or heavy hail.
Girl Cubs must hike from dark until dawn, stopping only for ten minute breaks every two hours. A girl Cub may pause for a sip of water at any time, but she may not stop for a sandwich until the midnight hour, at which time she may eat said sandwich as well as a paw-full of nuts and one apple.
One piece of chocolate is allowed each night … but only one. And it must be eaten while lying down and tapping your boots together.
A girl Cub may hum while she is hiking, but only an Adventure song. She may also whistle, but not while eating her sandwich or lying down for chocolate.
The Cub’s Adventure Manual is full of funny rules and customs, mixed in amongst the helpful sections like “Safe Places to Sleep in a Storm” and “What to Eat When You Don’t Know What to Eat.”
“They’re a part of what makes your Adventure special,” Merridy the Librarian often says. “Once you’ve been on your Adventure, you’ll always eat chocolate with a grin.”
Like the Growly’s series and Haven, all the Folklore articles are:
Delightful. Wonderful. Amazingly clever and imaginative. Each puts a smile on my face and warms my heart. Thank you!!!
Thank you !! 🙂
We loved how Ember befriended the rabbits and watched the baby birds grow while on her adventure. So, I would add to the Cub’s Adventure Manual that the cubs should try to befriend at least one wild animal while on their adventure. As we know from C.J.’s experience, a friend from another species can prove very helpful!
This is a GREAT idea…and it would be fun to explore some of the Cub’s experiences trying this down through the history of Haven. I’m sure there are a few funny stories in there somewhere. 🙂
When you finish an apple, you must plant the core. And it should be planted somewhere that you can’t already see an apple tree. Rules for singing while digging holes will apply as well.
At the middle of your Adventure, find the tallest tree in your sight, climb as high as you can, and carve your name there.
If, when you meet a bee, she lands on your nose, greet her courteously, say hello for Hegel, and tell her a joke. Unless, of course, the only reason she landed there was that you had honey on your nose.
: )
Grace, these are SO great! It would be wonderful for Cubs on their Adventure to climb trees and find the names of other bears…maybe even some famous ones from the history of Haven. And I love the idea of planting the cores in places that don’t have apple trees yet. (You can’t have too many apples! 🙂 I’ve got a feeling bees would appreciate jokes…almost as much as they would a Hegel greeting. Love these ideas!