Beaver/Cub/Scout Volunteering

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.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/135038950528?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=I4u6c4hWQAi&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=WHATS_APP

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)

YGM!

I'm doing a Da Vinci session at Beavers tonight.

It's really just an excuse to make paper helicopters, fire trebuchets and catapults and terrify the leaders by getting the whole Beaver colony to climb over a Da Vinci bridge they build 

How long was the written risk assesment for that? No harness or helmet 😉.

I'm off on a cub camp at the end of the month. Should be fun, dry and sunny. I hope.

Da Vinci Bridges are ace!

We've 3 more weeks yet,  after tonight.  Pedalos at Crystal palace park in a couple of weeks... gets them 'time on the water' 😁

Last session is wide games in the park with the cubs too. Not sure next week...errrm the nearby forest for simple beaver level navigation/orienteering between some stations with a game or quiz or challenge at each I think.   I'm not down for that one obviously!

Post tonight my efforts are to turn the summer pokemon collection idea into instruction sheets for them to complete,  finish planning 2 in hut astronomy activities to do along with the 'risking my own telescopes just outside the hut to do some real stargazing ', and then turn my attention to a dozen more ideas I have....camera obscuras for photography badge,  air activity badge stuff (my degree was lots of aero so....), diy musical instruments like penny whistles, balloon bassoons and single string guitars to have a crack at the musicians badge.....and a few others. I'll aim to introduce 3 or 4 new sessions to the compendium over the year.  Oh yes,  I've organised a bat walk for October too, that was easy though.... just email the professor at Lambeth council who's name I got from a poster advertising a walk on Streatham common!

Love that bridge pook!  Is that a bought or biult kit?  Reminds me of the mathematicians bridge in Cambridge.

A quick AIBU question if I may.

I also volunteer for the local council run health ride scheme, and tonight we are doing a short ride for a local Guide unit one of the regulars is connected to. We've stressed that the girls need a roadworthy bike and helmet, and about a third have dropped out as a result, so not the most inclusive activity.

MrsMC's Guide unit use the Scout county bike team for cycling activities, as they can provide bikes and helmets for those who don't have them, and will try and get any non-cyclists up and pedalling on the night as well. Properly inclusive, but charge a small amount for their services.

My concern is that one of the Scout groups in our district has asked the health ride team to run an evening for them. From a health ride point of view, any cycling is a good thing,  but with my Scout head on, I think they should be using the bike team to support any kids who would otherwise be unable to join in. If every kid had a working bike and helmet it wouldn't be an issue.

Any thoughts? I'm seeing the bike team leader next week at a district trustee/exec meeting so the issue may crop up.

YGM!

YGMT!