MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
Just had a bit of a cash windfall (got paid to remove a relative’s bathroom prior to the new one being fitted) so, after 2 days of ripping things off walls and floors, I have beefed up my hammock kit. Which previously consisted of… errr… a hammock.
Now I’ve got a hammock and:
· 3x3 DD tarp
· DD “Snake” cover for the hammock
· Underblanket
· Groundsheet
· Paracord (floro green so that I can see it)
· 30 ltr dry bag to put it all in
· 10 ltr dry bag because I like the idea of having a smaller bag for keys, wallet, torch, book, knife etc.
· 6 carabiners for hanging stuff on.
· Moraknif 511 in bright yellow because I spend a good 10 minutes everyday on camp trying to remember where I’ve put my Swiss Army Knife.
Kit has started arriving according to my emails from various couriers. Looking forward to trying it all out.
This also means that I’m going to be a Scout Leader for a good few more years to get the use out of it all.
It also, also means that as it will be stashed in the 30 ltr “grab bag” it is going to get borrowed by my kids for Explorer / DoE duties.
I do much prefer hammocks to tents. A lot less faff and, by their very nature, you end up taking less kit.
because I spend a good 10 minutes everyday on camp trying to remember where I’ve put my Swiss Army Knife.
Tut tut "a Scout is careful with possessions and property" 😉
I was in possession of it. I just couldn't see the ****er.
If you’ve not used one before, the hammock underblanket is a nice & toasty.
Sounds like some nice kit Harry, have fun!
Another interesting group in front of my AAC committee last night
- a couple who have just retired back to the UK after 20 years running a successful overseas unit for what they admitted were privileged ex-pats, but who have come in to restart a troop that has been closed for two years.
- a guy who has spent years doing expeditions for mental health charities and wants to help pass on his outdoors enthusiasm to kids
- a bloke who started as a parent helper at Beavers with his daughter and has enjoyed it so much he wants to carry on, as it's "given him the chance to do activities his family were too poor to do" when he was a kid and he wants other kids to have those opportunities.
Great we're seeing such a mix of experience and enthusiasm coming into the district.
Absolutely!
Just got my girl on the waiting list for joining the squirrel scouts when she turns 4 in November. I thought that I'd got in early but I've just had a reply that because it's such a long waiting list that they can't guarantee she'll get in until she's at the age of 6 for the Beavers. I'd be gutted if she doesn't get in as I know that she'd love it.
it’s such a long waiting list that they can’t guarantee she’ll get in until she’s at the age of 6 for the Beavers
We have a similar issue, as do the local Guiding units that the female half of the family are involved in.
We can only ever do what we have enough volunteers to do. Here, fill in this DBS form....And so it begins!
We’re the same, our group has 2 cub packs and 2 scout troops. Only1 beaver colony due to lack of leaders. Most kids on the beaver waiting list end up going into cubs direct.
There’s been a few questions from parents and district about setting up squirrels but no volunteers.
There’s been a few questions from parents and district about setting up squirrels but no volunteers.
We were incredibly fortunate to have two former leaders offer to set up and run Squirrels for us almost exactly a year ago, the first in our district.
Due to their conflicting work patterns, we've now split into two slightly smaller Dreys, with more Squirrels over all. Short term, our Beaver colony can cope, longer term we may have issues.
Another group in the district has just opened a Drey, but again, a team of people asked to do it, the two leaders having experience of that age group. I wouldn't be rushing to get a Squirrel unit up and running without specific people willing to run it.
The thought of looking after pre-schoolers just doesn't appeal to me. Much happier with the Scout age group.
When you look at our leaders across the group you could probably tell which ones belong to which sections instantly.
Combats, parkas, bobble hats, too much kit - Scouts.
As a dad of a 3.5yo if our group started a Drey I'd be there helping....a bit! I know he'd love it. I'd.... do my best!
I enjoy helping at beavers and am concentrating a bit more effort their although I would like to do some more adventurous stuff with my eldest in Cubs, and scouts in time. However I've got one in beavers and the youngest to come plus each term the colony leader finds several of the more experienced helpers move up as their kids do.... so I'm keen to try and help keep the colony cooking on gas. (Or firewood)
numbers are good. Not aware of a wait list currently for the beavers but it's got 4 pretty full lodges and all works well. Cubs numbers they manage carefully I think. A few times beavers have had to wait a little before moving up, until a cub moves up to create a space. I'm not sure how other groups across the district fair.
My 6yo is also in rainbows and that's a smaller group, although much better than the different Brownies pack my eldest tried for a little while.... they just didn't have any kids interested.
Whoop whoop! Beavers science night was a success! I'm wrecked now! 21 Beavers made rubber band cars, slime!, and Bath bombs and they loved it! I spent the last few weeks convinced my slime would fail ( thanks for the stw chemists support it was brilliant) and utterly sure the cars would be too hard and that a car made of lolly sticks and milk bottle tops would fail to engage a modern day 6-8yo. They loved it all and although busy helping with rather tricky cars I could hear the shouts of ' I wanna do slime!' And 'cars next!'
Superb. I feel relieved and very happy.
I even got presented with my own scarf, cripes!
One of our Explorers did a chromatography based murder mystery thing with the Cubs tonight, then one of the mums helped them make ooblek which was dyed the colour of their woggles and finally they played Colditz for the first time, run by the other Explorer. We don't do much in the way of badges but they'll get their Science badge after doing Space stuff last week.
I had chromatography lined up as a 4th fill in if my timings were way way off and they finished early. Use kitchen paper and the water rises up the sheet in a few seconds. Did it with my 6yo yesterday and she was happy holding each sheet just dipping into the washing up bowl....10 minutes later the kitchen had half a roll of damp sheets with psychedelic patterns from splitting various felt tip pen colours strewn out to dry.
Intrigued by the murder mystery game though....coloured dyes as clues to the murderer in some way?
Beaver slime and Bath bombs were of course turquoise.
As for space stuff.... the cubs did their Astronomy badge michelmas term, did some really fun stuff from what I heard. My daughter missed one session as we were away for my wife's birthday and was the only cub to miss out as she missed a couple of elements. So I've helped her earn those at home and she had a riot doing one task I devised, had Arkela in stitches with the photos. We learnt about space suits and then made an 'experience costume' .... strapping various things to her to represent the many layers and elements of a suit, watching her try to scratch her nose inside the helmet we made was superb! (Nasa stick velcro patches inside, Harrison schmitt swore by it). I reckon it would work great in the pack.
Took my eldest daughter off to cubs tonight and got roped in as they were one adult short. It was hilarious watching them do relay races in the style of the Easter bunny, a spring lamb and a spring chicken 🤣 I always enjoy the end of term badge awards too.... got her badges sewn on already and the youngest daughter's beavers badges 2 weeks ago.... just the experiment badge to add when she picks that up tomorrow.... oh and the blooming rainbows badges and a beaver sleep over badge. Still she wants to learn to do that one... she must know its a task she needs to tick another badge off!
and got roped in as they were one adult short
Sucker! That's how they got me.
🤣 now you do it to others I'm sure.
I got truly suckered in this half term. Having said I'd do once a half term at beavers and same at Cubs I've done 2 +1 and completely designed/ organised one of those beavers nights. Now designing a summer outdoor science session and another indoor science session for autumn!
Just finished our third week of knife and axe. Got them safely splitting logs last night.
Week off next week, then we are off to the woods to put up hammocks.
All of this is leading up to "Dump Camp" in May, where kit pre-selected by the Scouts is dumped in a clearing at the campsite and they have to sort themselves out. If it wasn't on the list then it doesn't turn up.
Kids are really up for it.
We had eight of ours do their expedition hike/camp over the weekend - hiked with their kit from our hut in Disley via a couple of checkpoints to my old hut in Poynton, stayed there overnight and then hiked back via a different route. Did a bit of a hastily arranged local knowledge task into Poynton on Saturday afternoon too, as the pretty horrific weather on Saturday morning (hail in forty mile an hour winds tends to make you want to get of the hill quick-smart) meant they didn't mess around on the hike and really cracked on, and arrived about two hours before we thought they would.
Great weekend, they were a really fun bunch.
Off to Macclesfield for bowling and laserquest tonight for the end of term trip.
Did a map reading treasure hunt with the cubs this week. Printed a simple map of the church hall grounds, over aid a grid then hid clues around. Each clue has da question to answer and grid ref for the next clue. Had to get all answers to earn their easter egg. Barring one incorrect grid ref (DOH!) and one wind blown clue, all went well! My first proper session I've organised 😊
Did a combined Colditz/Easter Egg hunt last night, and a second run at making ooblek after only one Six succeeded in not adding too much water last week. Two weeks off now before starting to prep for a camp in early May.
Two weeks off now before starting to prep for a camp in early May.
Ditto- tho last night got asked if I could take a few of our Scouts to meet the Archbish of Canterbury whose in town tomorrow
Gecko, haha! You found why I was leery to do oobleck and battled through various issues to do slime instead 🤣
I'm visiting family in Liverpool and while at a playground with my kids today (southport) saw a load of beavers or cubs in grey sweaters, shorts, long socks and garters. Who?/what? I thought. Bit of googling.... British Boy Scouts. Its set me reading in Wikipedia about their history, and how they criss cross with boy scout association, boys brigade and various others.... politics, good heavens!
Has anyone experience doing a team sport with turquoise ninjas? I was looking at the sport badge requirements
'Team Sport
Play a team sport with the Beavers in your Colony. This could be a game of football, basketball, rounders, cricket, netball, rugby or volleyball.'
As we come into better weather and can get outside some bigger team games seem worth doing but which? It seems like kids do so little ball games these days, at least my kids school doesn't, that a simple ball game would be worth a try but needs to be fairly simple as a lot of the kids are so unfamiliar with even simple catching, throwing, hitting, maybe something like touch rugby might be best?
We invented a team ball game.
Dave Ball (Sorry, I had 1 second to come up with a name)
Equipment
One ball (football sized, but not heavy enough to cause injury)
One room to play in
Rules
Split into two teams of 4 or 5.
To score a team has to bounce a ball off a wall and it has to be caught by another team member. Alternatively, you can use four targets instead of the walls. We prop up tables on their ends in the corners.
Players have to throw the ball between themselves, no running with it.
We play best of 3 and have a mini tournament.
Mad game. Has them running about like loons. Usually over in a couple of minutes so they get a rest between rounds. Because there are four goals to score in it is impossible to “park the bus”, so the game flows nicely.
Sounds good. Might try that, ta.
What do you do for the competition element?
'Competition
Take part in a match, competition, show or pass an exam or achieve a grading for that sport.'
Do you play for a few weeks and just tick it off? Arrange to play another colony? Something else?
We just play it. Usually 4 matches. Semi finals, runner up final, grand final.
We were thinking of hosting the Dave Ball World Championships, but decided that the rest of the District wouldn't be arsed.
We shall maybe start the Daveball southern league. Perhaps we can meet up for the world series. Its that our Dodgeball I reckon.
Did you play it?
We had our first outdoor session. Did hammocks and tarps.
Still on half term break, start again next week. Might be a while before the park dries out too... it currently has never seen before lakes on it. Planning session with Hawkeye and the other leaders/ helpers tomorrow. I'm mainly aiming to bolster the STEM content and have aims for an outdoor science session later this term (need time to build kit and practice my experiments) but also seeking to bring some new ideas to the syllabus/programme, particularly trying to generate ideas around badges that AFAIK aren't done. So I'm thinking sport would suit outdoor sessions (although daveball and dodgeball could be indoors too). I'm thinking of combining STEM with the Photographer badge buy building camera obscura.... plus wondering if parents have a few old phones in drawers that have working cameras and if they'd donate...
Are any of you lot south coast? Anywhere near Hastings? I've been offered a good f8, 6" aperture, newtonian telescope FREE to a good home. My own scout group don't want to store it 🙄😥. I've got feelers out to other scout groups and a mate that teaches physics but no one is biting my hand off so mentioning here.
24 hours into Cub Camp. No significant injuries. Two new parent helpers who are gold. French cricket, smores and a breakaway faction led by recent ex-Beavers.
'The Cats of Ulthar' relocated to Torphichen for a campfire story = freaked out Cubs. Result.
Is there an interest in old scout badges ? I got a bag full of them off ye oldie camp blanket*
*Actually it wasn't a blanket, more of an insulated gilet.
I should lay them out and take a pic, maybe someone can id some of them.
Im sorry to derail what is a very positive thread
but we need a new chief scout, one who doesnt hang out with covid conspiracy theorist, antivaxer, putin fan, & alleged multiple rapist in his bid to cynically court the evangelical right
On a lighter note,
last night we ran our charity night- the cubs set up stalls for games and charge 20p a go, also a bake sale and food donation , we raised £188! for our local Food Bank
And weather for our cub camp this weekend is looking fantastic!
Given that it seems to be a personal faith matter between Grylls and Brand, I'm not getting too upset by it. Darn these Christians and their forgiveness policy.
I'd be intrigued what evidence there is that they were "pals" when Brand was attacking and harassing people.
We don't need a chief scout at all, but that's already been discussed.
On the searching for ideas front, we're going to be doing some cooking on fires this term and I'm after 'interesting' ideas for stuff to cook. I've had them gutting and cooking whole mackerel before (some loved it, some were too squeamish), and we've tried bread in buried fires before too (not brilliantly successful), as well as grilled cheese sandwiches and bloody smores a million times, any other ideas? Needs to be doable from no fire to cooked 'thing' in about 90 minutes.
baked potatoes wrapped in clay soil (has to be very clay soil) and smaller potatoes work better allegedly its how you cook hedgehog, because the spines come away, not sure Id recommend that one
we cooked chicken & chorizo jumbalaya in Dutch ovens on camp last weekend. While one group were lighting fires the other were prepping the food.
Think it was done in 90 mins- but then again time runs differently on camp!
The pictures of B.G. "frolicking" in the Thames with Russell Brand have been a talking point on our Leader's WhatsApp.
Time for him to bugger off.
None of ours appear to even know about it because a) it wasn't a Scout thing b) they have better things to do than come across that SM bollocks anyway and c) quite a few of us have had to deal with Mr Grylls and weren't impressed.
Any views on the forthcoming "Transformation"? Names for the roles will be changing, e.g. from "Cub Scout Leader" to "Cubs Section Team Leader for 6th xxxxx Scouts" and from "Group Scout Leader" to "Lead Volunteer for 6th xxxxx Scouts".
Our group will also need to have Group Trustee Board Meetings as well as Group Leadership Team meetings, as if we didn't have enough to do...........
I managed to **** up the minutes of our AGM by forgetting to change it to Group Trustee Board and not Group Executive. I can assure you that our Group Lead Volunteer, the District Lead Volunteer and I understand also our County Lead Volunteer are going to continue to use their previous titles till their last dying breath! Just because you've paid a fortune to some consultants to come up with ideas does not mean you have to adopt every single one to show you are getting your moneys worth.
Our Group Exec and Group Leadership meetings have always been separate, one group is intended to be separate and have full legal oversight over the other. Though we have always let our section leaders sit on the Group Exec as ex officio members, which is no longer allowed, for precisely that reason.
We did manage to get two under 25s to offer to sit on the new Trustee Board. Then it turned out no one had mentioned that under the new set up responsibility for things like the Great Orme tragedy was being moved down from the Association to the Groups, and they might be joining us in prison if we got done for corporate manslaughter or whatever it would be. Not sure why we struggle to get volunteers....
Don't know much about the name changes . A parent Helper is still parent helper i guess. I did here from the beavers colony leader that she isn't that anymore.... she didn't seem super impressed so I didn't press!
I got given a beaver leader name this week....I am now 'Ringtail' .... thinking I might slew that to trash panda.
I was teaching them how to use a compass tonight, just to find north and the other 3 cardinal points. Colony leader had devised a trail that they navigated around the hut to collect letters and spell out a word. It worked quite well.... most engaged and a few were getting the idea of how to use the compass by the end. I was impressed.... the Colony leader was.....relieved! It always seems very stressful when doing a new game or activity!
Group camp this bh weekend. 12 beavers 18 cubs, 12 scouts... not me (other than a few hours) home will be strangly quiet without my 2 girls!
We're on Hunger Games camp next week. Hammocks in trees, gutting fish, archery competition to win extra food... that sort of stuff.
Just hope that the weather behaves. All of our senior "battle hardened" (known as Team Izal) Scouts have moved to Explorers and the new cohort (Team Andrex) are a little soft. They are going to find this tough even if the sun is shining.
My Cub Leader name back in the day was Shere Kahn. Several times kids have shouted that at me in a packed Tesco.
I just looked at the full list of those going camping and counted the girls/boys.
Beavers 6g/6b
Cubs 13g/5b
Scouts 10g/2b
Young leaders 1 and 1
Wow, I am surprised. Weather forecast a bit mixed, they'll have some rain showers but looks dry day1 and dry over nights. From the names I know it looks like only 1 or 2 beavers that haven't a night away under their belt, and 1 or 2 cubs, so a fair chance they will do OK. I suspect a hunger games style camp would be a different matter though! Team Andrex lol! I don't know the scouts, they could be special forces or team cushelle for all I know!
Oh yes, I've been getting more badge sewing practice what with my younger daughter doing rainbows as well. Fron needle threaded to cutting cotton to finish a standard activity badge sewn invisibly, and straight (ish!) Is 9 minutes now. Not too bad I reckon, but room to improve.
That's a good number of girls. We've seen that the girls are way more capable. We've got 6 of them on Hunger Games camp who are known collectively as The Borg. We're splitting them up amongst Team Andrex to see if they can assimilate any of them.
We're also taking 4 Explorers to act as mentors. Three of them have 8 or more years each under their belts, so hopefully some of their knowledge will rub off. The other is brand new, but he's a sensible lad and he tidied up the store room so we gave him a spot on the camp for free.
Assimilate them 😂🤣😂🤣
The beaver colony as a whole must be about 50/50, and same at Cubs now, might even have tipped to one or two more girls than boys. Surprised by the numbers at camp though!
I literally couldn't give a flying **** about the name changes. Regardless of whatever my official title may be I'm a Scout leader, the people who do the Cubs are Cub leaders, same for Beavers.
All it's done is cause unnecessary work for people like MCTD, and allow people who unbelievably do care about it to get their knickers in a twist.
Tricky start to camp. 2 beavers sick and never arrived, one sick half hour after arrival and off home again, one cub in the same timescale and a second an hour or 2 later. I was only due to help a few hours anyway but had to bring my poorly cub home to join my poorly beaver back home. Both the other beavers had leader parents so ....a tricky start. Hopefully that's the end of the illnesses!
that’s a shame. I had 3 pull out on the day of camp earlier this month. Bit of a pain when the foods already been bought, but more for the rest!! Also meant the others had a bit more time with the archery, rifles & tomahawks
Thankfully both of mine were better this morning. I had set an early alarm and left bags packed in the faint hope they might burn through their fevers but was very pleased for them they had! So they were delivered to camp just after the group had finished breakfast and my heart melted as they were warmly greeted by their friends. Of course I spent all day nervous id get a call to be told one was feeling poorly again but no call came so it seems they have been able to enjoy one night away so least .... and they avoided the rainy night and I think have had just a couple of short showers today.
I checked and it seems just one more fell ill. One of the young leaders, big sis to the beaver that fell ill on the way there yesterday, oh dear, not good, she's very well liked by the beavers and I'm sure would have been missed today but at least it was just the one more!
Thames water may possibly have been the cause.... they've fessed up to contaminated water just couple of miles away in Sydenham and Beckenham.... hmm.
We're off tonight for The Hunger Games at Bibby's Farm near Rivington.
The camp starts with a "kit dash" where everything is piled in the field and the kids have one trip each to grab what they want, or what they think someone else may want and be prepared to trade for.
Can't wait!
Stress levels are at about 9.5 with work and aging relatives, so I'm really looking forward to getting away, the smell of the fire, banter with the kids and a couple of nights hammocking in the woods.
Hah, enjoy. Week off meetings-wise this week (half term), camping at Barnswood in a couple of weeks for the 30th Anniversary Patrol Competition Camp. It's always good fun, and as 'creep points' are available to the patrols you're never far from a brew and a biscuit 🙂
I need to buy a new sleeping mat beforehand actually, as my veteran Alpkit one is a) a bit leaky and, more importantly b) too thin for my ageing carcass to sleep comfortably on.
Would love to post pictures, but obviously I can't!
That was excellent!
Kids had a blast and all passed their Survival Skills Activity Badge.
Managed to get a few pictures whist the kids were off doing horrible things to fishes with knives.
My accommodation. So much more comfortable than a tent!
The kids'.
The weather helped as nobody got soaked or fried.
Been enjoying the pics and clips from our Beavers "Halfway to Christmas" themed sleepover at the hut last night.
Friday night is our usual Scout night, so the Scouts took them for a mini hike while the leaders decorated the hut for Christmas. Smores over a fire (forks on the end of broom sticks for Beaver level safety), then into bed to watch Arthur Christmas till they fell asleep.
They were kept in the hut for breakfast and when they were let out Santa was waiting at a grotto that looked very like one of our gazebos decorated up. Easy to forget how excited kids that age get for Santa.
All went really well apparently, no accidents or injuries
Might be an idea for a Beaver night elsewhere
Our Cubs have recently acquired three sets of "soft" axe throwing kit.
We'll be having a go with that tonight and a session on the bouldering wall.
Feeling a bit tired and jaded at the moment. Looking forward to a few weeks off and a re-set.
I'd that one of those plastic axes and a target a bit like long AstroTurf? My kids have played with that at girls brigade and very much enjoyed it.
Yeah. Had a mess about with it on camp. Not great in windy conditions, but inside it'll be fine. Axes seemed to stick very will to the target.
We've got that axe throwing set-up and had some grief from District as it includes throwing stars as well as axes. Apparently throwing axes are OK, but throwing stars (and knives) do not comply with POR..........................
Our Cubs have recently acquired three sets of “soft” axe throwing kit.
I signed off for a couple of sets from Costco the other week, don't think ours have been used yet.
Apparently throwing axes are OK, but throwing stars (and knives) do not comply with POR
We got it bumped up to County to get clarification. The throwing stars are OK apparently. I guess they are in the same category as Nerf guns.
I signed off for a couple of sets from Costco the other week, don’t think ours have been used yet.
Build them in advance! It takes a while. Not hours, but you'll need maybe 30 minutes.
The issue arises when it comes down to the split between soft and real, I have been around archery for years and used to work in the industry, I could sell you the same kit with a different tip on the arrow and it goes from being real archery and permitted to soft archery and permitted, and I would suspect that is where the no stars has come from in the soft axe throwing. If real axe throwing no stars but soft is okay.
I joined in 1986 I took a few years away in my early twenties and have handed in my notice 6 weeks to go and one camp left, it will leave a gap, but for me the time is right.
I have been asked to keep on one of my county roles, it isn't labour or time intensive half a dozen days a year so I might keep it on, I haven't decided.
The day to day politics has killed it for me, at group, district and county level, the role I might keep is pretty isolated from the politics but I have had enough of it from all angles over the last few years.
We got it bumped up to County to get clarification. The throwing stars are OK apparently. I guess they are in the same category as Nerf guns.
Tomahawk instructor here... yes as they're toys, they're allowed -no different to having nerf wars, paintballing.
I personally think it's daft- when running archery, air rifles you can't use targets representing people or animals but just cos you're using toys you can shoot nerf pellets at someone.
Even JQK cards have to be turned around when using them for tomahawks! I've seen people using rubber chickens as an aide to throwing action on training courses- can't shoot at pictures of them but can throw a toy. I wonder what the response would be if we used plastic knives on those toy targets?
I think the main issue with stars is that the real thing is a banned item in the UK so seems odd to have them as a toy.
Anyway, can't beat the real thing- we had c200 beavers & cubs using Throwing Angels with no problems and some have even managed mouse/frontier hawks (smaller and less weighty that norse hawks) at our last activity day
So then...
Tim Peak, Helen Skelton, Steve Backshall... ?
Meh, don't really care.
Just packing up at Barnswood after the patrol competition camp. Was a bit rainy yesterday but dry today, so not too bad. A couple of them are have been, erm, 'challenging'. I love it, but sometimes, sweet Jesus....
Has Bear actually been binned off yet?
I've had an idea to do the collector's badge with the beavers, or rather get them to do it over the summer. I realised the badge task is to make a collection for at least 6 weeks, and well that fits with the summer hols so if the colony leader goes for it I'll send them off with sheets to complete each week to ensure they keep at it. The idea I had, as my daughters are currently into it, is to use pokemon go to collect pokemon. Could get them to tick off a few Navigation tasks as well. Has anyone tried it?
Got an email yesterday I think from Bear Grylls saying he's standing down after 3 x 5 year terms. He's still Chief Ambassador of World Scouting, fwiw.
As for his replacement, plenty of Tory MPs about to find themselves with plenty of time on their hands 😎
I was more interested in the story about the group that is short of volunteers.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crgg1nn89npo
Managing adults can be harder than the kids, but I wish we had more.
I'm running the beavers session again tonight. Science again. This time I've gone for 4 really really simple science experiments and a wet sciency game after, and everything has a Harry Potter magic theme. I was told back at our term planning session this is national magic week or some such, and the idea came from there.
As last time, I have no clue how long the experiments will take, other than this time they are short. Science session #1 worked brilliantly but left me a nervous wreck as it was such a rush to do it all, so this time I've gone much much much more simple!
We can run the game several times though to fill and I've thought up a 'log chew' to do about how to run the collecting badge over the summer, so not too nervous.... yet! Wish me luck!
Good stuff. Sounds like you don't need luck with your levels of planning.
We had a Rounders tournament last night with Scouts and Explorers. 40 kids. 4 teams. 2 Pitches. Huge arguments over interpreting the rules... that I won.
Kids are all frazzled with SATs, end of year exams and GCSEs. We'll probably just run them about in the sunshine until the end of term. They're knackered.
Next week is Escape Ramsbottom. Always a bit of a highlight.
https://escape.rammyexplorers.org.uk/
Had our last Cubs session on Tuesday, went for a bike ride down the cycle path, round the pond and back. Its camp (my first as a leader) at the weekend so binned off next week's session as they (I/we) will be knackered and demob happy.
Rounders tournament sounds great. We played that last week and Leaders had the last go - I was wrestled to the ground as retribution for my questionable fielding which allowed other leaders to get round. Good fun!
We've got wide games and a water fight tonight, sailing next week, then the week after we're doing cooking on fires which I'm down to organise. I think we'll be doing halloumi kebabs and making flatbreads in a frying pan
Bike ride round the woods tonight followed by investiture and that'll do for this term. Long-time Leader is standing down from the weekly meetings (he started when his son, who is about to graduate from Uni, joined the pack) so need to mark that somehow.
What level of RA do you have to submit for a bike ride? I'd love to do it, but dread the level of paperwork.
I can send you an RA if you like? It was good enough for our district
Terrain 0 stuff only though (anything more you need a permit anyway)