Beavers - April/May 2010

S T F A R C SNAKE MAKE A

rs Scout Leade r e v a e B r ine fo The magaz April/May 2010

Event planning

Easy ways to make yours a success

Moving on

Why family camps can keep Beavers in Scouting

T U O G N I H C N me A e h t e e r BR t a h s wit es and craft am Activities, g

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Beaver Scout Team: Karen Jameson (UK Adviser for Beaver Scouts) Jenny Winn (Programme and Development Adviser for Beaver Scouts)

INTRO

Contact them at: programme@scout.org.uk Tel: 0845 300 1818

Outside in

Published by: The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Bury Road Chingford, London E4 7QW Contributions to: scouting.magazine@scout.org.uk This issue’s contributors: Maggie Bleksley Karen Jameson Rose Wells Emma Wood ADVERTISING Richard Ellacott richard.ellacott@thinkpublishing.co.uk Tel: 020 8962 1258

Karen Jameson introduces the start of a new season We are now entering the outdoor season, and the lighter, warmer evenings and weekends mean that we can use the outdoors more readily for meetings and events. As leaders in the Beaver Scout section we can take pride in our exciting and fun outdoor programmes that encourages young people to get out and be active from a young age, hopefully, setting a pattern that will continue long into their adult lives.

The Big Adventure is another method of offering Beaver Scouts fun through activity. It’s possible that perhaps you are putting the finishing touches to your own Big Adventure or maybe you are embarking on planning one for next year. Wherever you are in the planning process, we have included in this supplement a really useful article on running large-scale events with lots of useful tips to help you on your way.

What you’ve been up to over the last few months:

Are you InTouch?

Surrey Beaver Scouts helped the County raise money for the Haiti Disaster Fund. The Beavers and Cubs re, collected at a local shopping cent bag while the Scouts and Explorers did r pape l loca the in rage packing. Cove All in helped bump the total to £5,000. just one week. Well done all!

Books bonanza

Please remember to check whether your District has moved over to the new InTouch system which has replaced the Home Contact System. More details about InTouch can be found at www.scouts.org.uk/intouch Districts have until September 2010 to move over.

Our new range of books are out now. The Beaver Scout Games book, Nights Away and Colony Programme Plus: Volume 2 are available to order today from Scout Shops. www.scouts.org.uk/shop

Contents 4 Roots manoeuvres Ideas to help your Beavers discover more about trees

8 Snakes on a string Make a snake and turn it into a slithering room decorator

16 A plan for all seasons Tips on running a large-scale day event

10 POP A car-themed programme on a plate

12 Family guy ropes Family camping can be a great way to link the sections

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Roots manoeuvres Explore the wonderful world of trees, with Emma Wood

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rees are all around us and play a vital part in providing oxygen for us all. This is the time of year when these and other plants burst into life and grow really quickly. Your Beaver Scouts will love discovering more about trees and won’t take them for granted.

Did they realise that trees are farmed like any other crop by timber producers? Did they know that trees provide oxygen, shade, wood, paper, fruit… and so much more?

The following activities will help our youngest Scouts get hands-on with trees.

Bark rubbings you will need

• paper • thick wax crayons • trees.

1. If possible, find an area with a variety of different trees.

2. Working in pairs, one person holds a sheet of thin paper tightly to the patterned trunk of a tree while their partners uses the crayon to rub and see the pattern appear.

Useful tip: Use the side of the crayon to rub, not the tip.

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Tree ramble Take small groups around a wooded area and study the trees. Collect the different types of seeds and talk about how they are dispersed: • Wind: blown away from the tree (eg sycamore ‘helicopter’ seeds and silver birch tiny seeds).

• Water: land on water and float away until they find soil to germinate in (alder).

• Mammals: carry seeds and nuts and bury them (eg oak, chestnut, hazel, pine).

• Birds: eaten by birds and the undigested seeds germinate into soil when excreted (eg hawthorn, holly yew). Mistletoe grows on trees by the seeds germinating on twigs, after being excreted onto them by birds.

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programme ıdeas

Leaf collage/display Challenge the Beaver Scouts to find different leaves and bring to the meeting. Bring along books about leaves or pages about leaves printed from the internet and create a display.

Growing trees While you won’t be able to see dramatic results, Beavers will enjoy collecting seeds from fruit (lemon, orange, mango, pomegranate) or horse chestnuts, acorns etc. Plant them in compost and water, putting them in a warm dark area until they germinate. Place on a bright windowsill and they’ll at least get a baby tree 20cm or so tall before it struggles and needs to be replanted outside.

Branch buddies Carefully prune twigs with closed buds. Place in jars of water and put on a windowsill. The buds will eventually open and should blossom.

Newspaper trees you will need • newspapers • scissors • sticky tape.

1. Tape two sheets of newspaper together end-to-end.

2. Start rolling at one end and roll it up so that it forms a tube with a 2cm hole.

3. Tape it in place to make a tube.

4. Using scissors, cut down the length of the tube until about half way down.

5. Cut further strips about 1cm apart from each other.

6. Hold the outside of the tube at the uncut end and, with the other hand, take a hold of the newspaper at the inside of the cut end.

7. Gently tease the paper up and the tree will start to grow.

Chocolate nests you will need

• Shredded Wheat breakfast cereal (or similar) • cooking chocolate • milk • cake case • chocolate mini-eggs.

1. Crumble the cereal.

2. Melt the chocolate, adding a dash of milk to prevent it from setting rock hard.

3. Mix the chocolate with the cereal, using only enough to cover the cereal.

4. Spoon into cake case and mould with a spoon to form a nest shape (the cases will need to be in a metal cupcake tray or they will lose their shape).

5. Add two or three mini eggs and leave in a fridge to cool.

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STORIES AND POEMS

Birches

Painted trees

Challenge Beavers to write a poem about a tree.

For inspiration read famous poet Robert Frost’s Birches at www.poetry-online.org

Draw a tree trunk and branches on a large piece of paper (sheets of thick lining paper, taped together). Beavers will love putting paint on their hands and making handprints on the branches to form the leaves. Remember to have lots of supervision, small groups and aprons plus lots of towels on hand.

One Stormy Night by Mick Inkpen This is an excellent book about all the creatures that live in or under the tree. What will happen when the tree falls down in a storm? Percy the Park keeper comes to the rescue. It will take ten minutes to read to the Beavers – perhaps while they enjoy a drink and their chocolate nests?

Tree planting Contact your local council, Woodland Trust branch or National Trust office and ask if you can get involved with some tree planting locally. This is a great public relations exercise in addition to the benefits of including it in your balanced programme.

Garden centre or tree farm Many local garden centres will be willing, at less busy times, to welcome groups of Beavers and have an expert show them the plants and trees they stock and how they look after them.

If you have a tree farm, National Trust site (or similar managed woodland area) nearby, the owners may also be willing to provide a tour.

Paper making Around £10 will buy you a paper making kit that you could use on a base with a small group. This is great for showing Beavers how recycling works and how used paper can be turned into new paper.

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GAMES

Flap the leaf 1. Collect large sycamore leaves or cut leaf shapes out of green paper or thin card.

2. Beaver Scouts sit in relay formation.

3. The first Beaver Scout flaps their leaf to the end of the playing area, picks it up and runs back, passing it to the next player, who flaps it back and so on until everyone has had a turn.

Tree growing relay you will need • paper • sticky tape • scissors.

1. In advance, cut out 20 shaped leaves per team, each with a bit of sticky tape attached.

2. Split the Colony into teams of four or five.

3. One Beaver Scout each team stands at the end of the playing area – they are the ‘tree’.

The rest of the Colony stand in their teams at the other end, with their 20 leaves.

4. On a signal, the first Beaver Scout grabs a leaf and runs to the end and sticks the leaf onto the ‘tree’.

5. He runs back and tags the next person.

6. They run up and stick their leaf onto the Beaver Scout and so on until all 20 leaves have been stuck onto the Beaver Scout.

Programmes Online You can find more tree themed ideas for activities and resources at www.scouts.org.uk/pol and search ‘tree’.

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Grow your own grub

dıg ın

h the BBC to This year Scouting is teaming up wit n grub. Here’s encourage Beavers to grow their ow or going potty our guide to planning your own plot

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ig In is designed to get you and your Colony gardening by growing and cooking your own vegetables. There are five featured vegetables this year: carrot, salad, courgette, basil and French beans. You can order free seeds at www.scouts.org.uk/digin, download the BBC Dig In activities and use the special Scout link that accompanies the ideas.

Growing games and pots of projects

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There are also several activities on Programmes Online to guide you through the season. Ranging from decorating your pot to veggie trumps, they help you get the most out of the campaign, and are linked to the Global Programme Zone, which leaders have told us is often one of the hardest to deliver.

Get started To begin your Dig In project go to www.scouts.org.uk/ digin where you will find links to Programmes Online and a Get Started guide.

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Snakes on a string tive Create this simple snake as a crea craft activity and room decorator

you will need • colour pencils

Step 1

Go onto www.scouts.org.uk/pol and download the snake template. Produce a copy of this sheet for each Beaver Scout.

Step 3

Colour the snake on both sides

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Step 2

Cut out the outline of the shape

Step 4

Cut out the shape

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MAKE AND DO

STEP 5 Hang your snake up. If you tie string to the tail and hang it above a radiator, rising heat will make it move.

Questions to ask • How do snakes move?

• What do snakes eat?

• Can you name a type of snake?

Fun facts to share • Snake’s scales are made of something called keratin, which is the same thing that our fingernails are made from.

• Mother pythons will coil themselves around their eggs and make their bodies shiver in order to heat herself up and keep her eggs warm until they hatch.

• The thickest snake is the anaconda. The biggest one found measured 111 centimetres or 44 inches girth.

For more ideas and activity packs that come complete with all the required accessories, visit www.clever-craft.com Clever Craft was set up by Andrew Harrold and Craig Bond, both Beaver Scout Leaders with 7th Sefton East Melling.

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Activity/Game

Time

Zo

Opening ceremony

5 mins

N/A

Game: Car race

10 mins

Glo

Activity: Car creations

20 mins

Cre

Activity: Car logos

15 mins

Cre

Game: Bumper cars

10 mins

Glo

Activity: Car pictures

10 mins

Cre

Closing ceremony

5 mins

Beli Atti

This issue’s theme is cars, written by Emma Wood

POP Programmes on a plate

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Zone

Method

Instructions

N/A

Follow themes

Introduce the theme for the evening. Talk about cars. Does everyone have a car in the family, what makes do they know of?

Global

Play games

The leader tells the Beaver Scouts about five types of vehicles. Players line up in relay form. The leader calls out a type of vehicle from the list below and the first player in each team must go to the end of the hall in the style of the vehicle, touch the wall and return to their place – first back wins.

• Ferrari – run • Milk float – crawl • Lorry – walk backwards • Scooter – hop • Ice cream van - skip

Creative

Follow themes

You will need: An old toy car for each Beaver Scout (ask Beaver Scouts to bring these in or visit car boot sales), card, paper, sticky tape, cardboard boxes (small), crayons, modelling clay.

• Give each Beaver Scout a car and, using boxes, modelling clay and so on, rebuild the car so that it looks different – but still works.

Creative

Follow themes

You will need: Pictures of car logos.

• Working in Lodges, show the Beaver Scouts the pictures of the car logos.

• How many do they know?

Global

Play games

You will need: Two radio-controlled cars (different frequencies), two teams, cardboard kitchen towel tube.

• The tube is placed on its end in the middle of the hall.

• A car is placed at each end of the hall with its remote control.

• Players sit in two teams, down either side of the hall, and are numbered off.

• When their number is called out, that Beaver Scout has run up, grab their control and drive their car to knock the tube over.

Creative

Follow themes

You will need: Pictures of different types of vehicles, such as sports cars, and so on and a label for each type.

• Beaver Scouts have to pair up the picture of the car with the name or make.

Beliefs and Attitudes

Follow themes

Faith and awareness events June/July

16 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan (Sikh) 20 Father’s Day 21 Recycle Now Week

June 5 World Environment Day 1 Volunteers’ Week 3 Corpus Christi (Christian) 14 Refugee Week 16 Dragon Boat Festival (Chinese)

July 6 Children’s Art Day 8 The Prophet’s Night Journey and Ascension (Muslim)

9 Anniversary of the Martyrdom of the Bab (Baha’i) 11 World Population Day 13 Ratha Yatra (Hindu) 15 Chokor (Buddhist) 20 Tisha B’Av (Jewish) 26 Asalha Puja (Buddhist) 26 The Night of Forgiveness (Muslim)

For more great ideas visit www.scouts.org.uk/pol scouts.org.uk/pol 11

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Family guy ropes

be a n ca ts ou Sc d an bs Cu of ld or w e Th Wells se Ro . er av Be a r fo e ac pl ng ti un da interact em th lp he n ca e w w ho t ou s nd fi ions ct se t ou Sc r he ot e th h it w ily pp ha

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anning for gold and line-dancing. Maybe not what you would expect to find at camp but just the type of activities Scouts enjoyed at their 41st Epping Forest (1st Loughton) family camp. Every summer Beavers take off with their Colony, parents, siblings and the rest of the Group, including the Explorer Unit for a weekend of fun and adventure.

Beaver Leader Linsey Hewett is an enthusiastic supporter of family camps as a way to bring together everyone from the whole Group. ‘Often it’s the first time the family have ever been camping,’ she says, ‘and if they don’t have a tent, we are happy to lend them the equipment.’ Families from all sections are invited and it’s a great opportunity for their brothers and sisters to join in and enjoy what may be their first experience of Scouting.

Getting to know you The camps are based on a theme such as space, pirates, Egypt and Harry Potter. ‘Last year,’ says Linsey, ‘the

theme was cowboys and line dancing was just one of the activities that everyone could join in.’ This balances out the previous year’s theme which was Native Americans. As Linsey recalls,’Young people were busy making teepees and had fun following trails.’

The weekends start with everyone being put into one of four groups. Each group consists of young people across all sections, leaders and families. As an icebreaker, Linsey and the other leaders put them all to work.’For instance,’ she says, ‘everyone can get involved in making flags and flagpoles. The older ones can put up the pole and the Beavers can help with painting. The messier the better. Other practical skills can be brought into use such as designing and making scarves.’

Each group is responsible for preparing their own meals and everyone is given a particular job, suitable for their age and ability. Linsey adds, ‘The groups are given a disposable camera and a list of photographs to take during the camp such as the oldest person in their team, the youngest or the smartest dressed Beaver.’

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FEATURE

Building confidence The camps give Beavers an idea of what to expect when they change sections and can build confidence as they get to meet some of the Cubs. And they love to show their parents what they have learned and what they can do.

Over the weekend, section-only activities are also encouraged such as pedal car racing. Leaders and young people will play a game of rounders or cricket which the parents are welcome to join in or just sit back and watch.

Getting parents more involved Campfire is the time for parents and leaders to relax and chat and get to know each other. It can also be a time to persuade parents to think about getting more involved, which Linsey has benefited from. ’We have recruited many parents from family camp weekends. It’s a good opportunity for them to see how much can be gained through Scouting such as team building,

working well together with people of different ages and, of course, having fun.’

If there’s more than one Colony in the Group, it’s a good idea if they can get to know each other before camp. Linsey’s Scout Group has two Beaver Colonies.’As they meet on different evenings, ‘ she says, ‘we try to arrange events to bring the two Colonies together, such as on Bonfire Night. This also means the leaders get to share the work.’

‘We have recruited many parents from family camp weekends. It’s a good opportunity for them to see how much can be gained through Scouting’ scouts.org.uk/pol 13

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Beavers love themes, says Ruth Hubbard who gives her insight into a good family camp ‘Think like an under eight and everyone will be happy, Beavers love themes, which in turn inspires leaders. Putting effort into small details can turn a good camp into a great camp. The theme for our last camp was Pirate Island. We made scarves in ‘crew colours’ and an island god and hideout from cardboard boxes. Putting Live and Let Die-style signposts in the woods added the finishing touch for a wide game on the last day of camp. The parents are just big kids and several of ours arrived toting eye patches, cutlasses and pirate headgear.

‘Beavers have their parents on hand so relish free play. Our first camp activity is always to make the weaponry for the weekend, be it cutlasses or tomahawks. While the parents get to know each other the Beavers spend an hour waging cheerful warfare.’

walking trail. The idea is to make them feel part of a world-wide Movement. Visit www.jott.org.uk for full details of how your Group or section can join in.

Have a fun day ‘Turn up and try’ is the slogan for the Fundays event this year, 19 and 20 June. This is the perfect way for Beavers and Cubs to have a go at a variety of activities and make friends along the way. Based at Gilwell Park, visit www.fundays.org.uk for full details but hurry, spaces are limited.

Ideas to help your Beavers interact with other sections and groups.

Hike around the world JOTT stands for Jamboree On The Trail, an annual day when the World Scout Movement hike together.

This year’s event takes place on 8 May and Scouts of all ages and locations can take part. Beaver Scouts can participate alongside the other sections but a level they would be comfortable with such as an easy

Partnership Awards A good way to get your Colony working together with your Group or a local community group is through the Partnership Awards. (See the February/ March Beaver supplement). You can find further information at www.scouts.org.uk

Make it a Big Adventure event Turning your family camp into a Big Adventure event is the perfect way to encourage parents to volunteer for Scouting. www.scouts.org.uk/thebigadventure

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Click clever, click safe

Internet safety tips from Microsoft

In a recent online survey by MSN, results revealed that 64% of under-18 year olds in the UK have been contacted by someone they don’t know online, and worryingly, over one third responded.

February saw the launch of the UK Click Clever, Click Safe, digital safety code – ‘Zip It, Block It, Flag It’.

Internet safety tips To help make the online world a safer place for young people share these simple safety rules with your Beavers.

• When chatting to people online, try not to give out any personal information about yourself such as your name, address, phone number or school • Only add people to your online sites who are your friends in the real world • Never open an email from someone you don’t know, always delete it in case it contains a virus • Treat people online with the same respect and

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consideration as you would in the real world. Never write anything that might hurt or upset someone • It’s easy for people to lie when they’re chatting over the internet, you should try not to meet up with someone that you have met online. If you do decide to go make sure you take an adult you trust and meet in a public place • If you are ever worried about anything you see on the internet talk to an adult you trust such as your leader, parent or teacher

more info For more information on internet safety see page 70 of the main magazine and visit www.scouts.org.uk/microsoft

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A plan for s n o s a e s l l a Maggie Bleksley shares her tips t on running a large-scale day even

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couting is all about meeting new people, having adventures and what better way to introduce your Beaver Scouts to the larger Scouting family than a day event the whole District or County can get involved in? The thought of organising one may fill you with fear but planned properly, it should be a challenge that you will enjoy.

Whether it’s a children’s party or County event, the first rule is to never take on more than you can handle.

Organising a large-scale event involves a great deal of juggling. You cannot do this kind of thing on your own, so, before you begin, set up a planning committee. This way, tasks such as booking the venue, arranging the transport and catering can be divided between you.

Once you have started planning the event, you will probably need to rope in a few more helpers. Always allow plenty of planning time. If you are unable to get your first choice of date or venue, you will need time to consider other options.

Countdown to the event This is only intended to set out general guidelines, which will vary considerably, according to the time of year and nature of the event.

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Four months before: • Seek permission from necessary authorities and District Commissioner in whose area you are running the event.

• Find out who is interested, so that you can gauge how many are likely to attend.

• Get together a small planning committee.

• If Groups are to provide activities (such as for a District/ County fun day) ask them what they will be doing.

Three months: • Make a list of who is to provide which activities.

• Visit the intended venue(s) and check for suitability and available dates.

• Decide on a timescale, allowing for travel, preparation, clearing up, breaks etc.

• Make a provisional reservation at your chosen venue (some venues get booked up quickly).

• Book any entertainers, caterers etc. and enlist all other necessary help.

• Make a firm booking for your venue.

Two months: • A sk coach hire companies for quotations. Make a provisional booking.

• Calculate the cost of the event and decide how much to charge per head.

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events

• Send out letters to leaders with a clear date by which time you need a reply.

One day: • Pack everything you need to take.

Six weeks:

On the day:

• Send out letters to parents if you are contacting them directly. Ask for forms or reply slips to be returned to you at least 3-4 weeks before the event if possible.

• Draw up a timetable for the day’s programme.

• Arrive in plenty of time to set up before the event is due to start.

• Keep calm and enjoy the event.

• Before you leave, make sure everything is as clean and tidy as you found it.

• Go home, order a takeaway, put your feet up and have a well-earned rest!

One month: • Ensure that you have all the help you need.

• Buy or arrange to borrow any equipment you require.

• Make sure that team members are clear about anything they need to provide.

Three weeks: • Make any adjustments necessary for transport and catering arrangements.

• Send out details of final arrangements and request any outstanding payments.

One week: • Make sure that arrangements are all going ahead and there are no problems.

• Make a list of everything you need to take and ensure it is all available.

more info For advice on Beaver outings see factsheet Planning an Outing for Beaver Scouts (FS155052).

For a parent permission template see the Activity Information Form (FS120081).

For advice on how to carry out a risk assessment on a location, see factsheet Activities – Risk Assessment (FS120000).

All factsheets can be downloaded free at scouts.org.uk/infocentre

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TOWER BRIDGE

EXHIBITION Enter the Most Famous

Bridge in the World

Victoria Gamesn 1st – 18th A pr

il Ple enquirie ase email s@tow e .org.uk rbridge for furt her deta ils

Enjoy breathtaking views of London from the Bridge’s Walkways.

Experience the Victorian Engine Rooms.

Enter and be amazed.

Adults: £7.00 Children: £3.00 Concessions: £5.00 Under 5s: FREE Contact: 0845 404 3034 Bridge lift line: 0845 165 9815 www.towerbridge.org.uk

Special rates for groups, contact 0845 404 3034 for an organiser's pack Tower Bridge is provided by The City of London Corporation - a uniquely diverse organisation in that it not only promotes and supports the City and provides it with a full range of services, but also provides wider services for London and for the nation as a whole.

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