Left handshake

When you shake hands with another Cub, Scout, Rover, your Pack Scouters, Troop Scouters, or any members of the worldwide Scout movement, you shake hands with your left hand.

Many years ago, Lord Baden-Powell met an African chief who held out his left hand in greeting. The chief explained to B-P that warriors fought with spears and carried shields in their left hand for protection. If a warrior met a friend, however, he would not need his shield, and his left hand would be free. So if a man held out his left hand to you it showed that he trusted you and wanted to be friendly. This impressed B-P so much that he chose the special handshake for Cubs and Scouts.