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@neilnevill I'm with Ilkeston district, soon to merge and be part of a new "Erewash" district - another committee to sit on...
Our group started a Squirrel drey back last spring. We'd immediately rejected the concept when Squirrels were first mooted by Scouting, but we suddenly got a couple of former leaders with kids that age offering to run a drey, and damnit, it's been a roaring success.
You absolutely have to have leaders who really want to work with that age group. And the risk assessments are amazing....
You absolutely have to have leaders who really want to work with that age group.
Our local scout group have a squirrels group. They have some explorers helping as part of D of E (my son being one of them).
He did his online young leader training and is slowly growing into it.
Squirrels (shudders). No thanks!
I'm getting some pressure from my kids to move to Explorers. Happy where I am in Scouts though.
We are well on with some pioneering work at the moment. Got A couple of 10ft tripods built and had 6 kids stood on the cross braces to test their knots. Next week we'll rope them together and make a bridge.
Our local scout group have a squirrels group. They have some explorers helping as part of D of E (my son being one of them).
We ended up with some non-Scouting DofE volunteers as young leaders at Squirrels, who have since got properly involved as Explorers. Win win.
To be fair, quite a lot of our Explorers are young leaders, it's almost automatic.
According to the Croydon District website there is one squirrel drey here. With my youngest being 3 I can grasp that the right kids with the right parents would have fun doing the right activities at squirrels. I'd fear too many parents would try and use it as cheap childcare for an hour though. Maybe I'm too sceptical Maybe.
I’d fear too many parents would try and use it as cheap childcare for an hour though.
We've got parents that do that. Kids to want to be here and don't engage. Parents won't buy uniforms, and if they do they don't put the badges on.
Yeah, we have at times too, although not at the moment.
We had one lad who's parents clearly didn't give a shit, and his grandad paid his subs (probably because he thought it would be good for him, as his parents clearly didn't give a shit). The lad never engaged though, was really hard work and disruptive, but all probably because, you've guessed it, his parents clearly didn't give a shit. Whilst he was a PITA, you couldn't help but feel sorry for him really.
Shameless plug here, the scout/guide event I'm involved in running has just opened bookings for next year. It's two weekends at the end of June, with the first weekend for scouts, guides, explorers and rangers, and the second for cubs/brownies.
We've got pretty much unrestricted access to Cirencester park, for full weekends of challenge bases and entertainment. It's an incredibly easy weekend to attend as all you need to do is turn up.
We're also appreciative of anyone who wants to come and volunteer as a helper, the small payment for that is to cover (some) food costs for the weekend. Helping is a good way to see what it's like and whether to bring units the following year.
Details here: Strategy & Evolution - https://s-e.org.uk/
Whilst he was a PITA, you couldn’t help but feel sorry for him really.
The kind of kid who would have got so much out of Scouting with a bit more support from home.
Squirrel parents don’t seem to be as bad for the cheap child care angle. Its only an hour, 5-6pm is a nightmare for many busy families, and we quote often have parents involved in outside activities.
Other groups have told me that Squirrel parents are quite a good source of unit helpers/leaders going forwards. We shall see about that.
The kind of kid who would have got so much out of Scouting, school, and life in general with a bit more support from home.
Indeed
Indeed
Well yes, fair point.
So no one done/doing YouShape in their groups then? Is there a reason?
I'm definitely not a cub leader, just a parent helper.
That's my new mantra that i was telling myself stood in the pissing rain last Sunday, and while I was dealing with a screaming kid on the canal while night kayaking Monday night!
I just can't commit to the time with full time jobs that /could/ take me or the Mrs away for a week at a time and leave us unable to do the scouting thing and let the kids down. So i've been a parent helper for about 18 months now and probably only missed 2-3 sessions. in that time.
It is great though, and it's fantastic to get to know all the kids.
I preferred helping out with the scouts, but two nights a week was getting a bit much
So no one done/doing YouShape in their groups then? Is there a reason?
I'd never heard of it until now.
I doubt we'll do it, if for no other reason that if you tried to do everything that they come up with, you'd go nuts.
It's new ish I think, from what I've found it appeared about 2018. I can definitely see that doing it could be challenging for leaders that have put a lot of effort into establishing a fun and affordable programme..... its enough effort running that let alone helping cubs and scouts introduce changes! BUT, from what I see it's about the kids learning to represent their needs, take the lead and responsibility for making it happen, teaching them SMART so that means their ideas have to be achievable and realistic. Getting them to deliver some of this stuff so they learn the effort it takes to do it well. And so on. I'd take that not as 'you will be driven mad trying to deliver' rather 'you will be driven mad trying to get them to realise just because Musk sends rockets to space doesn't mean it's achievable for 61st Croydon cubs to do' 🤣 Little difference perhaps.... the result is still madness! Haha. No I can see that it starts to teach them the skills they need come explorer and young leader time (as it was designed to) and it can generate some great ideas and ensure the programme is 'Youth Shaped' ie fun and what the kids want.
So as a new occasional Helper I don't want to appear to rock the boat...I don't want it to look like my daughter is being critical of the pack leaders, but I can see the badges will teach her something and if the pack started doing it there might even be a good idea or two.
scaledFree Member<br />I’m definitely not a cub leader, just a parent helper.
That’s my new mantra that i was telling myself stood in the pissing rain last Sunday, and while I was dealing with a screaming kid on the canal while night kayaking Monday night!
I just can’t commit to the time with full time jobs that /could/ take me or the Mrs away for a week at a time and leave us unable to do the scouting thing and let the kids down.<br /><br />
Nobody can, so in our group we focus on volunteering communities. <br />Tonight our ‘leader’ for cubs couldn’t make it. The world rolls on as the team knows what to do. <br />I’m a GSL I struggle for time, but everyone does. <br />Don’t make it a barrier to play, thank you for what you do. It’s making memories for the young people and that’s vital.
Just out of the Edinburgh Gang Show, which is a whole different level. Huge respect to all involved.
I’m definitely not a cub leader<br /><br />
we’re all volunteers now, no leaders!
we’re all volunteers now, no leaders!
I'm still struggling to remember they are trustee boards and not exec committees.....
Update having done the FAW course this week I can see why a bit of extra paediatric FA is needed. The course didn't cover any differences for kids and trainer refused to answer questions when asked about it...'not covered in this course' was the response. Anyway scouting will pay, work will give me the time as volunteering time, so once the district (re)determine what is needed I'll likely get trained.
I am nearly done on a marathon badge sew. Wednesday night was cubs end of term awards and my eldest daughter picked up 6 badges. Tuesday was rainbows and beavers for the younger daughter and another 3 and 5. With stage badges coming off uniform and going to camp blanket and moving 2 rainbows badges that apparently are not where she wants them that's 17. Beavers and Cubs panto trip yesterday meant I had to get cracking with the first 11 at least. Now I've had enough practice I'm fairly swift and very neat now though! 4 rainbows badges still to do but neatly there.
With 2 cubs, both boys, now moving up to scouts, and 4 beavers, all girls, moving up to cubs, the cub pack boy/ girl ratio is very even.
Oh and if any of you haven't ventured on to Scratch for a simple introduction to computing I thoroughly recommend taking a look! One wet Saturday a month or more ago I looked it up as something to do with my kids. The 3 of us had a great time with my daughters drawing Digital cub/ beaver avatars of themselves and then programming them to simply animate a cub camp/ beaver sleep over scene when commanded. I was very impressed with the Scratch tool and am now trying to find any schemes for charities to get old computers donated..... if the group could get hold of some laptops cheaply it would make a few pack sessions on digital stuff possible. If anyone has any tips re getting computers free or cheaply please shout!
I'm doing knots with the beavers on Thursday. For added fucus it'll be edible. They will be tieing strawberry laces into figure of 8s. Get that right they get a second lace to tie a reef knot. That's the plan anyway.
I've also been asked to do knots with the cubs (and lashings.... those I'm still learning), and to do science with the beavers. Now. ... risk assessment for conc HNO3 and conc H2SO4 refluxing at 60C with glycerin...... maybe not, I might do elephant's toothpaste though.
I am nearly done on a marathon badge sew.
*Cough* Copydex *cough*
and lashings…. those I’m still learning
Keep them tight all the way through. You can not add tension at the end. (Well, ok, you sorta can with a bit of frapping). Good luck with Cubs tho, I find most Scouts have trouble producing decent ones...
Lightweight pioneering is fun - bamboo canes and elastic bands. Build bridges, towers, catapults etc. Eggs the usual test material 😉
This is giving me flashbacks to having to do the whipping of rope ends for my advanced pioneer badge back in the 90s. I faintly remember one of them being incredibly hard to even understand, but it looked pretty when you got it right.
Copydex pah. I can do an activity badge on 10 mins now. Larger badges like some of the rainbows ones take longer.
When I helped with lashings last time the cubs may not have been great but they listened and tried. Knots last year with the beavers still gives me panic attacks! 🤣
Is Copydex washable?
Yep. All my badges are on with Copydex, and I wash my shirt probably twice a term, and I was given the idea by a friend who at the time had two kids in cubs/scouts, so their shirts were probably washed every week.
I'll find out more when I speak to our beavers colony leader Thursday night but I've a feeling the science session is for me to plan.... it'll be a few different things in bases so I'll want to come up with 2 or 3... one chemical - acids/bases stuff possibly, one could be pressure and volume stuff with water and air, one could be something on energy ....hmm lots of ideas but glad I've a couple of months to plan it! Simple science ideas with minimal kit that make kids go 'wow!' Are very welcome please!
Mentos in a bottle of Coke is always a laugh, but do it outside! Water bottle rockets too.
Yeah I was thinking bottle rockets as I've done that with my own two, launched a small coke bottle to the height of a 5G tower! Outside in March may not work though. (Science week apparently )
A ha! I've also done a rubber band car with my kids, that can be done inside and this looks like it could be made and raced in the time....
I've also done match stick aluminium foil rockets with my kids.... hmm I THINK I could do that safety... think!
Rocket cars is a good one. Build a simple chassis and tape a balloon to it with a piece of penne pasta in it as an exhaust.
Instruction. These are from 10 years ago so you'll need to use paper straws.
We got the kids to build them at home. Saved a lot of faffing and meant that we could concentrate on racing on the night. Fastest, furthest travelled, best looking etc.
Thanks Harry.
Yes time is short with beavers. 1 hour minus initial welcome stuff... 55 mins tops. If its 2 stations with 2 lodges each.... maybe 20 mins at each station, so 20 mins of car building at one station and 20 mins playing with vinegar/ lemon juice/ bicarb/ pH indicator stuff, followed by 15 minutes of racing the cars to finish.. . Its possible to do but tight... I'll have to plan it very carefully or get them to prep bits at home.
Doing hot air balloons, stuff with static electricity or stuff with magnets are other ideas I've got.... hmm, making motors by winding wire around cotton reals is probably beyond beavers and a 20 minute session isn't it!
Electromagnetic trains! If we can afford some copper wire, batteries and magnets.
And there's so much stuff to do with static..... my problem is I now want more than one session 🤣
Water bottle rockets too.
I’ve acquired 4 of the big water fountain bottles for rockets on camp!
my problem is I now want more than one session
science camp over a weekend. We did a JOTI/ science camp and used it to build a hovercraft, make plasma cannons and a prototype tennis ball mortar
Science camp! What a super idea! Although I feel I may scare some beavers...... maybe I can work myself up to it over a few years.... and the current beavers..... by the time they are explorers we could really have some fun!
Wowzers! You'll want a good track pump to get the air in to those bottles, or a compressor! They will be good to see go though.
we did bottle rockets at camp last year with cubs
.they absolutely loved it
i did it with my kids at home too....
would love to see how it works with water fountain bottles, may require hard hats tho!
Ah ha! Another idea. Making thixotropic liquids..... aka slime or silly putty. Any one done it? I imagine beavers could do it and would love going home with a jar full. Mum's and dad's may not like it, but hey ho.
I imagine beavers could do it and would love going home with a jar full. Mum’s and dad’s may not like it, but hey ho
Don't forget to feed them sugar and chocolate just before the parents come to pick them up!
That's the plan tomorrow with the strawberry laces knot practice. 😄
The beavers do seem to do food based stuff a lot... decorate a cake to look like a camp fire/ national flag/ the moon and many other flavours! My science week would be a calorie disappointment.
That worked much better! Strawberry laces, knots in a small group (lodges), they get to eat the lace once the whole lodge has tied the knot correctly. I got one lodge to manage 3 knots!
Soooo glad that I'm in Scouts, not Beavers.
Anyway, Escape Ramsbottom is open for entries if you fancy a morning of SAS evasion training for 12 years olds. Brilliant fun that only costs a couple of quid.
Seems to be limited to Greater Manchester North, Bury and Ramsbottom, but I'm sure you can ask nicely.
https://escape.rammyexplorers.org.uk/
I'm definitely glad I'm not doing more than helping on a few activities with Beavers. Although I'm quite excited by the thought of delivering some 'Mad science' and hopefully getting some 'Wow! Moments' .
So the cubs were doing knots last week and Arkela 'roped me in' 🤣 He also stole my strawberry laces idea! Adapted it as a relay race, cub runs up, ties lace into a knot, runs back to tag the next racer and enjoys the lace. Worked well.
I was walking through crystal palace park a few weeks ago and there must have been some filming going on, part of the car park was full with film trailers, you know, the canteen, offices and personal trailers for the stars. Walking past I saw 15 plus empty water fountain bottles.... hello I thought..... then the security guard appeared! 😒 next time!
I'm still thinking up science camp ideas too. I've just been binge watching Emily's science lab on Netflix, my 3yo loves her (good taste!), she had great ideas for outdoor science! I now need to persuade Hawkeye and Arkela to fund an industrial load of corn starch and two paddling pools for a cubs and beavers investigation of non-Newtonian fluids (aka thixatropic fluids) ....a dance contest on a pool of oobleck where the first one to tire out and slow down....sinks!