Cubs - April/May 2010

NEWS

aders ub Scout Laey 2010 C r fo e in z a April/M The mag

BOOK BONANZA

Have tools, will make

A practical guide to using knives

Suburban safari Go wild in your local area

R E H T A ALL WE TURE N d games, ADVctiE vities an er A eath w e h t r e v e t wha

cubs_040510.indd 1

11/03/2010 14:14

CUBS FINAL.indd 2

12/03/2010 11:56

Editors: Graeme Hamilton, UK Adviser for Cub Scouts Nicola Ashby, Programme and Development Adviser for Cub Scouts programme@scout.org.uk Published by: The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW Contributions to: scouting.magazine@scout.org.uk This issue’s contributors: Nicola Ashby Charlie Dale Graeme Hamilton Ruth Hubbard Dave Wood ADVERTISING Tom Fountain tom@thinkpublishing.co.uk Tel: 020 8962 1258

Intro

Sound advice

Challenges, tips and tricks from your UK Cub Scout Adviser Graeme Hamilton It’s great to hear that so many Cub Packs are taking up the challenge to camp or sleepover in an unusual place during 2010. Do continue to email in your plans. If you can, invite someone unusual to your event to help generate some excitement – perhaps a local mayor, or even a celebrity or radio station presenter. And don’t forget to build up some publicity around the event. Afterwards, remember to send in some photographs or details to the Cub Scout office at programme@scout.org.uk Every participating Pack will receive a certificate.

Development Advice and Support days After read ing the December/ January Cub supplement Wendy Nicholls, Assista nt Cub Scout Leader for 7th Manchester Cub Scouts in Failsworth decided to create a Tree of Life. She said ‘The idea was from Cha rlie Dale’s Make and Do. Our Cubs real ly enjoyed this activity and hopeful ly they can fulf il thei r hopes and prom ises for 2010.’

This year’s round is complete. A good number of Assistant District Commissioners (or their equivalents) have attended the events in all the Regions and countries this year. Hopefully discussions at these meetings and the resulting actions including development plans, skills workshops and much more is now being shared at district meetings and in the support visits. We’re already planning the 2010-11 round of meetings and I’d welcome your thoughts on what we should be discussing.

Top tips Here’s some more wise words from readers on running a successful Pack: • Attend leader meetings to exchange ideas.

• Be firm but be fair. Do not become over familiar with the children or you will lose respect. That does not mean you can’t have fun, just know where to draw the lines.

• Expect some evenings to go better than others so have spare ideas or games to produce if something does not seem to be going well.

• Be organised – write everything down and don’t forget to order and present any badges Cubs earn quickly.

• Attend a training course as soon as possible to meet others and gain ideas.

• Don’t try to do everything. Take it step by step and don’t be rushed into taking on more than you are prepared to cope with.

Contents 4 News The latest national and local news

10 POP Help bees and play foxes with this outdoor programme on a plate

5 Sharpen up Simple tools using knives

12 On safari Look local for big games

14 Moving on, not moving out Keeping Cubs in Scouting

17 Celebrating safety The Home Safety Activity Badge and an event to mark 100,000 activity packs being used

6 Outside in Summer adventures

scouts.org.uk/pol

cubs_040510.indd 3

3

11/03/2010 14:15

News

News and views in Cub Scouting. ions Email your stories, reports and opin g.uk t.or to scouting.magazine@scou

Haiti support Following the devastating earthquake in Port-au-Prince, Scouts from the UK and around the world have responded through fundraising and action to help the victims.

Cub Scout Sixer Barnaby was so moved he decided to make a difference and raise some money for the children of Haiti. Using his creative abilities, he made notebook covers, selling them at Cub meetings. So far, he has raised £38 but is hoping to reach £50.

His Cub Leader said ‘We are overjoyed at having such a thoughtful and caring Cub in the Pack.’ Barnaby designed the covers using a method called marbling, where paper is carefully placed in water containing oil-based paint, then removed and allowed to dry before being used to brighten up the notebooks.

Every little counts and Barnaby’s efforts have contributed to the millions of pounds raised for Haiti.

Be prepared for summer As camp season is upon us don’t forget to use the new home contact system called InTouch. A more flexible system that can be used for all activities and events, it helps everyone to stay in touch. For full details visit www.scouts.org.uk/intouch. For advice on the system or any other Scouting related info as you prepare to go outdoors, call the Scout Information Centre on 0845 300 1818.

Books bonanza for better Cub Scouting

Faith and awareness events June/July June 5 World Environment Day 1 Volunteers Week 3 Corpus Christi (Christian) 14 Refugee Week 16 Dragon Boat Festival (Chinese) 16 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan (Sikh) 20 Father’s Day 21 Recycle Now Week

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)

With advice and guidance on everything from planning a night away to packing a rucksack and running the perfect camp games and activities the new Nights Away book is the essential guide to overnight trips.

The Pack Programme Plus book has been such a success we’ve produced a volume two for you, packed with even more readymade programmes for a full year.

We’ve also created a series of new games books for Beaver, Cub and Scout Leaders. Packed with games specifically for a Cub Pack and split into chapters of different game types, the Cub Scout Games Book is a handy and colourful guide for Cub Scout Leaders.

Order today at www.scouts.org.uk/shop.

4

Cubs April/May 2010

CUBS FINAL.indd 4

12/03/2010 16:29

Skills

Sharpen up

Simple tools using knives,

by Ruth Hubbard

B

eing able to use a knife is a traditional skill, which many feel is suitable only for older Scouts. Provided simple rules are followed, there is no reason why a Cub should not use a knife and in doing so learn to see it as a tool which makes everyday life easier.

Making a toggle Toggles can be used to identify an individual’s mug and then to attach that mug to the outside of their pack. They are easy and fun to make – I’ve made them with Beaveraged children.

You will need: • A finger-thick, green hazel or birch stick about 15cm long • A length of thin nylon cord • Small, sharp knives with blades no longer than the width of a hand. Blunt knives are dangerous as they require more force behind the blade. Mora knives are widely used by bushcraft practitioners and are a great investment for any Scout Group, while Opinel produce a round-tipped safety knife often used for teaching younger children. But do beware as it does look like a butter knife, which can be misleading.

1. Cubs remove the bark from the top third of their stick and sharpen the end to make a ‘fang’, as if they were sharpening a pencil.

2. Cut a small groove (2mm deep) towards the base of the fang. Then cut out a deep wedge about 2cm below that right around the stick (Cubs may need help at this point), so the fang can be snapped off.

3. Tidy up the snapped end (an adult should do this) – the longer the fang the safer this is!

4. Make a loop in one end of the nylon cord, then either tie or whip the other end tightly around the shallow groove in the toggle.

5. The cord can then be threaded through a mug handle or similar, the toggle pulled through the loop

and attached to a rucksack or belt.

Safety checks 1. Set clear safety rules before the knives even come out of their locked box: • Never cut towards yourself or someone else.

• Keep knives in their sheaths when not in use, particularly if walking.

• Never use in poor light.

• Never lend a knife.

• Always treat it with respect – make it clear that any silliness will immediately result in the knife being taken away and participation ending.

2. Tell the Cubs ‘if in doubt, A toggle is a handy implement stop and ask an adult for help’. to attach a mug to a bag.

3. 1:1 supervision (1:2 at most) by an adult who knows how to use a knife.

4. Work in small groups – a Six at a time is plenty.

5. Use a separate room, or a quiet area free from distractions. If behaviour shows ANY sign of lapsing, or distractions occur, supervisors MUST act immediately and consider stopping the session.

6. Demonstrate the basic knife grips (the power grip and reinforced ‘pencil-sharpening’ grips will be sufficient).

7. Use soft, knot-free, green sticks such as hazel or birch 8. Use a section of log or chopping board on a table to support the work.

9. Count the knives back in at the end of a session and lock them away.

scouts.org.uk/pol

CUBS FINAL.indd 5

5

12/03/2010 16:29

Outside in ver Be prepared for anything, whate the weather. By Dave Wood

M

any Cub Packs plan to have their summer term’s meetings out of doors and, of course, camps are primarily outdoor events. Even if the forecast is poor, a marquee or some large gazebos that could be erected just in case and a good supply of raincoats and brollies will prevent you from cancelling. Do make sure you accommodate for any bad weather, and make alternative arrangements. Otherwise, what was to have been a memorable, exciting activity for everyone can quickly turn into a disorganised nightmare. It is rare that you would need to cancel an outdoor activity altogether and just a little preparation will prevent a

6

meeting being a wash out.

I’ve compiled a broad mixture of indoor and outdoor activities that may trigger your imagination as you plan your summer programme.

Countryside code Before letting your Cubs out into the great outdoors, it’s a good idea to ensure they are all aware of the Countryside Code. Play them the short Creature Comforts video (www.tinyurl.com/ countrysidecodevideo) and ask them questions in their Sixes about what the characters say and do.

Cubs April/May December 2008/January 2010 2009

cubs_040510.indd 6

11/03/2010 14:15

Programme ideas

Mr Grass tube you will need

Cereal bars you will need

• 65g low fat margarine • 160ml runny honey • 50g brown sugar • 130g wholemeal flour • 100g sunflower seeds • 200g rolled oats • 160g chopped dried fruit (raisins etc) • 50g chopped nuts (check for allergies) • 25g sesame seeds.

1. Melt the margarine and add the honey and sugar, stirring carefully and bring to the boil.

2. Simmer for five minutes then remove from the heat and let it cool for a few minutes.

3. Meanwhile mix up the dried ingredients and then stir into the cooling mixture.

4. Squash the mixture into a greased baking dish and bake for about 25 minutes or until golden brown.

5. Cut into slabs and enjoy.

Camp noticeboard As a DIY Badge activity before camp, Sixes could make a camp noticeboard.

1. Using fibreboard (so pins can push in easily) and strips of wood to make a surround, each Six will then have its own place at camp on which to view its points, menu, programme and any other important things that happen.

2. Clever Sixes will make theirs self-supporting so they can be sited indoors or out.

3. Astute Akelas will make a general camp one which incorporates a clock, so no one has an excuse for being late to anything.

• a plastic cup and a cardboard crisp tube per person • potting compost • stones • grass seeds • plain paper • sticky tape • colouring pens.

1. Cover the tube with white paper and decorate it to look like a person, with their head right at the top.

2. Put about 5cm of stones in the base of the tube, then wedge the plastic cup into the top.

3. Fill the cup with potting compost and sow the grass seeds, watering well.

4. Leave on a sunny windowsill and it will soon sprout lovely green hair.

Rainy daze you will need • two buckets • cup • chalk • water.

1. Find two leaders who are either exceptionally brave or gluttons for punishment (or who are absent during your planning meeting).

2. They stand at one end of the playing area, holding a bucket. Cubs line up in two teams, relay-style at the other end and have a full bucket of water and a plastic cup.

3. On the word ‘go’, player one in each team fills their cup with water and runs to a line marked 2-3 metres away from their leader.

4. They then throw the contents of their cup into the bucket.

5. They return and pass the cup to player two who repeats the process.

6. When all have had a go, or after five minutes or so, which team has collected the most water in their leader’s bucket?

scouts.org.uk/pol

cubs_040510.indd 7

7

11/03/2010 14:15

more info Emergency wet-weather alternatives Activities that can be rustled up at a moment’s notice and with minimal resources, could include: • quizzes • origami • watching a film • acting and drama games • poster drawing • mapping • bingo • book/TV/film discussions.

Model pioneering Issue the Cubs with a bag of marshmallows and some dried spaghetti. See if they can create a model tower, table, chairs or other creative design, using the marshmallows as connecting joints.

Kite making you will need (per kite)

• A4 paper • 1 barbecue kebab stick • strip of plastic bag about 2m long • sticky tape • thin string.

1. Fold a sheet of A4 paper in half to A5.

2. Fold again along the diagonal line A. 3. Fold back one side to make the kite shape and tape along fold.

4. Place stick from C-D and tape it down, trimming to size.

5. Tape plastic ribbon to the bottom of the kite.

6. Flip kite over and fold the front flap so it stands straight up.

7. Punch a hole in the flap about one third down from the top.

8. Tie the string to the hole. You may like to wrap the rest of the string around a piece of thick card.

8

1

2

3

A

4

A

B

B

5

6

D C

B

Cubs April/May 2010

cubs_040510.indd 8

11/03/2010 14:16

CUBS FINAL.indd 9

12/03/2010 11:59

Activity/Game

This issue’s theme is outdoor adventure, compiled

by Nicola Ashby

POP

Time

Zon

Opening ceremony

10 mins

Be At

Bamboos for bees (POL ID: 24640)

30 mins

Ou Ad Cr

Fox and hounds

30 mins

Ou Ad

Closing ceremony

5 mins

Be At

Programmes on a plate

10 Cubs April/May 2010

cubs_040510.indd 10

11/03/2010 14:16

Zone

Method

Instructions

Beliefs and Attitudes

Themes

Introduce the theme for the meeting.

Outdoor and Adventure; Creative

Make things; Outdoor; Themes

Bees are good pollinators of fruit trees, herbs and nectar-rich plants. Although honey bees are sociable creatures, many bees are solitary, and will be on the hunt for a safe, sheltered place to make a home.

- Cut a few stems of bamboo to a length of about 20cm.

- Get the Cubs to bundle them together and tie with garden twine or string.

- Leave them in a quiet corner of a garden, shed or garage (bees don’t like the damp).

- Solitary bees will seek them out, and you can watch them as they come and go.

- Sometimes they’ll even build a tiny trap door inside, using a piece of leaf, to keep themselves safe.

This idea was adapted from an article in BBC’s Gardeners’ World magazine.

Outdoor and Adventure

Outdoors; Games; Activities with others; Themes

- Split the Pack into two groups.

- Each member of the first group is given a necker, and they tuck the top of this into the tops of their trousers so that it hangs down like a tail at the back. These are the ‘foxes’, and they then ‘go to ground’ (hide). The hounds are held back to give them time and are then released – howling like a pack of hounds.

- The hounds search out the foxes and attempt to steal their tails.

- A fox who has lost his tail becomes a hound dog.

- The game is over when all the tails are retrieved, and the teams then switch sides.

- Hounds should be reminded that they are not allowed to tackle or grab foxes, only their tails.

Notes: The hiding area should be agreed before the game so that no one goes beyond safe boundaries, and leaders should be placed at strategic points if necessary to enforce this. It is a good idea to know how many tails are in play and have a designated leader to return these to, so you know when the game is over. It is also good practice to have an agreement from the participants that a shout of ‘all in’ means that the game is over, any remaining hiders have ‘won’ and they must return to base (some find fantastic hiding places).

Beliefs and Attitudes

Prayer, worship and reflection

Test it out

trying programme on a plate. If you are Let us know what you think of this your ide Prov . ghts thou your email us it out, please spare 10 minutes to and if Cubs and of course what worked of ber num and p Grou role, name, scout.org.uk anything didn’t. Email programme@

scouts.org.uk/pol 11

cubs_040510.indd 11

11/03/2010 14:16

i r a f a s n O Charlie Dale gets ready for a suburban adventure

I

t’s a little pricey to take a Pack abroad to a jungle wilderness, or even to a UK safari park, so let’s focus on the big adventures we can have a little closer to home. All it takes is a bit of preparation (which the Cub Scouts can help with), comfortable shoes and an enquiring mind.

I bet there’s a lot about your local area that you don’t know, and even the most independent Cub Scout is unlikely to have explored very far afield. Mount a reconnaissance mission to find out a bit more about your locality and you never know what you might find out…

Reconnaissance mission First you need some maps of your area. In advance of your Pack meeting, you need to hunt down maps of your area.

If funds are tight and don’t run to buying more than one map for your adventure, part of your recce mission could be to take the Sixers to the local library to find the best map to work from before you buy one. Each Six will need a copy of the important points, so ask the librarian for permission to copy any maps.

The Cub Scouts will see that there are lots of different kinds of maps drawn to different scales and from different points of view. Have you ever seen a geological map of your area, showing all the rock formations under the soil? Maps can make you look at your local area in a new way.

For this project, you will need a map showing enough detail to see streets and local places of interest (1:25,000 or even larger scale). If you are based in a large town or city, you may have access to much larger scale ‘A to Z’ maps of your locality showing street names.

For outdoor adventures in bad weather, maps with a plastic coating that you can draw on are great.

Once you have your maps, share them with the Cub Scouts at the next meeting. This is when you will plan your safari together.

Suburban safari or rural rampage?

• First, where are you on the map?

• How far are the local points of interest from your meeting place?

• How many churches or other places of worship are there in a one-mile radius of the meeting-place? How many schools? How many parks or playgrounds?

• How far do they think they can walk, as a group in half an hour? Could they walk a mile out and a mile back to the meeting place?

• Where would it be good to stop en route?

• Do the Cub Scouts know what the map symbols mean?

The spotter’s guide to home Using the map as a source of information, you need to create a list of ‘things to spot’ for your journey to and from a point of interest within a one mile radius of your meeting place.

Your ‘Spotter’s Guide to Home’ could list things such as cats, dogs, lamp posts, post boxes, blue cars, manhole covers, litter bins, and so on, depending on the environment. If your walk is likely to be through countryside you could go for different species of trees or birds, gates, farms, edible fruits or mushrooms.

Include some less obvious items too, to get the Cubs thinking about their environment in a new way.

12 Cubs April/May 2010

CUBS FINAL.indd 12

12/03/2010 16:30

Make and do

Indoor alternative: fantasy safari The challenge you will need

• sheets of paper (one per Six) • pen • clipboard (one per Six) • map.

1. Cub Scouts divide into their Sixes with the appropriate number of adults to accompany each Six. 2. Sixes and accompanying adults should leave the meeting place at 5 minute intervals to avoid walking together.

3. The Sixer is the guardian of the map and the ‘Spotter’s Guide to Home’!

4. Each Cub is responsible for calling out the objects to the Sixer to write down on the list, walking to and from the point of interest.

5. Cubs are also responsible for making sure that the whole Six makes it to the destination point according to the agreed map route!

6. Back at the meeting place, leaders collect the Spotter’s Guides and see which Six spotted the most of any item.

7. What did they learn about their locality from the walk?

If you can’t manage the outdoor safari, you could make a fantasy map of your local area, using a real map to plot the main streets and then creating a whole new locality within that.

you will need • map • tracing paper • pens.

1. Put the tracing paper over the map and trace on the main streets or roads of your local area, leaving the details blank.

2. Photocopy this traced sheet for each Cub Scout.

3. Using coloured pens, Cub Scouts can create a fantasy landscape using their local streets as a template.

4. Would they have a zoo, or an adventure playground, or a crocodile swamp next to the meeting place?

more info The Ordnance Survey website contains map-reading projects for schools www.ordnancesurvey.co.uk

scouts.org.uk/pol 13

CUBS FINAL.indd 13

12/03/2010 16:31

Moving on, not moving out One of our biggest challenges is to keep Cubs in Scouting after 10½. s on ti lu so at s ok lo n to il am H e em Gra

W

ith continued growth over the last five years, we’ve cracked the desire to join Scouting, and can see growth in younger Cubs joining.

However, if you look at our census figures more closely, there is a common theme – that we are still losing lots of older Cubs and younger Scouts. The table (right) is composed of data for the UK from 2007, 2008 and 2009 census years. It shows that despite all our good work in growing the section that we still have a high drop-off at ages 10, 11 and 12.

Follow the green coloured boxes as one example.

There were 54,218 9-year olds in 2007. This dropped in 2008 to 46,863 10-year olds (a drop of 13.57%) and by 2009 when these children were 11 there was a further reduction of 22.25% (down to 36,434).

Assuming all other things are equal and we are measuring the same children each year that’s nearly 20,000 fewer young people actively involved in Scouting than the previous two years. We’ve debated this at the regional Development Advice and Support days and recognise there are many underlying reasons.

‘No quick fix’ There will be no quick fix to stopping the decline. We also have to recognise that there will always be a small reduction. For example Scouts could be on a different night from Cubs, causing a clash with another activity, or if the journey to the nearest Troop is not practical for some. Whatever the case, there is still potential to reduce the leaving rate and it is for all of us to recognise the scale of the challenge in our areas and to help leaders and the young people themselves find ways to want to stay in Cubs and in Scouts when they get there.

By working jointly with the Scout section we can help retain more young people through the transition phase, and reduce this drop off.

age 2007

2008

2009

7

50942 52414

53838

8

54419 55441 8.83%

57245

9.22%

9

54218 56713 4.22%

56781

2.42%

10

45215 46863 -13.57% 47559

-16.14%

11

32145 33973 -24.86% 36434

-22.25%

12

30010

-11.67%

14 Cubs April/May 2010

cubs_040510.indd 14

11/03/2010 14:17

Moving on

Joined up thinking Here are just a few innovative solutions that some Groups, Districts and Counties are doing to help Cubs move on to Scouts.

Joint activities Many Groups have a sound Moving-on process. Rob Rowles from Gloucestershire and Ian Stewart, Cub Scout Commissioner for Northern Ireland both recently completed some research and developed some practical support for leaders. Communication between leaders of both sections and the young people themselves was seen as the key.

Joint camps In 2009 we saw the huge benefits through The Big Adventure, encouraging adults to volunteer after participating in a weekend of camping activity. The Big Adventure will be repeated again in 2010. I’m sure many of us, who have ever run a camp of any kind, will agree that it’s the type of event that hooks in most young people and their appetite is well and truly whetted for the next camp.

I’ve had many leaders tell me about different camps they have run – Pack-only camps, Group camps where Beavers visit for the day and so get to join in with the wider ‘family’ and do joint activities some of these older Scouts, District camps just for

older Cubs or Sixers. I remember one District taking all the older Cubs from Glasgow on a weekend trip to London staying on the Scout project boat, the Lord Armory in London’s docklands.

Ruth Bennett, Scottish Commissioner for Cub Scouts told me recently about a camp that she and the Scottish Scout Commissioner, Kenneth Robertson have asked a team to organise for May 2010 at Fordell Firs campsite. The idea grew from a joint meeting of Assistant District Commissioners for Cub Scouts and Scouts in 2009 to assist in reducing the drop out rate identified above. The target audience is some 500 Cubs and Scouts aged between 9½ and 12 years, hopefully camping together in Group contingents.

The two-night weekend camp will include an opening ceremony, a campfire on Friday evening and two days of non-stop activities. As well as building links between older Cubs and younger Scouts in a group, the event also provides a chance to meet with Cubs and Scouts from across the whole of Scotland.

This is a huge undertaking but significantly demonstrates the leadership to tackle the issue at a national level and in doing so to develop a model that can be replicated at any level with the right support. We’ll feature the outcomes of this camp in a future supplement later in 2010.

more info Share your camp stories. If any other Counties or Districts have done or are planning similar joint activities to tackle the challenge of drop-off at this critical age band, please share these with us and we’ll feature in a future supplement.

Camping essentials The new Nights Away book contains everything you need for a camp or residential experience. £8.50, item code: 1027818 www.scouts.org.uk/shop

scouts.org.uk/pol 15

cubs_040510.indd 15

11/03/2010 14:17

Dive in

s, whales, rocky Sharks, jewel anemones, kelp forest n’s Column – you reefs and sand dunes as tall as Nelso around England can find them all under the waves

L

ife beneath the English waves can be as exciting and colourful as any tropical reef. Over 10,000 creatures and plants call it ‘home’.

Become an undersea explorer and discover shipwrecks, deadman’s fingers, mysterious places such as the Mixon Hole all while gaining the Naturalist Activity Badge.

Have fun and get crafty, try out our undersea activities, make a wolf fish door guard or a basking shark pen pot or fly a herring kite – you can even make your very own undersea landscape in a shoebox complete with creatures of the deep. Look through a porthole and imagine you are a diver when you watch

our fabulous films from under the sea near to you.

Natural England can show you where you can go to experience the best of England’s coasts, perhaps visit a national nature reserve or join in at an event near you, you’ll find all you need to know here too.

So have you got your snorkel and flippers? Let’s go. more info For activities related to the Naturalist Activity Badge visit www.scouts.org.uk/naturalengland Discover more about England’s underseas at www.naturalengland.org.uk/millionchildren

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 Cubs.

• 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 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

16 Cubs April/May 2010

CUBS FINAL.indd 16

12/03/2010 16:32

Partners

Double Dutch Happy Easter from Original Dutch Edam!

For the second year running, Original Dutch Edam has teamed up with us to put the fun in outdoor cooking and sponsor the Chef Activity Badge The Chef Activity Badge involves creating a delicious dish and you can get some recipe ideas from the Original Dutch Edam website, www.edammade.co.uk.

Or try rustling up your very own recipe using the famous Edam wedge and ball, packed full of goodness with 25 per cent less fat and 14 per cent more calcium than cheddar.

Finally, don’t forget to don your Edam Chef’s hat and send us a picture of you and your Cub Pack making your yummy dish.

Send to edam@beattiegroup.com or post a copy to: Original Dutch Edam 4 Great James Street London WC1N 3DB Programmes Online Download your fantastic free activity pack from www.scouts.org.uk/edam It provides fun activities, games and recipes to help your Cubs on their way to achieving their badge.

y r o t c i v r o f n i g i D h the BBC to This year Scouting is teaming up wit grub. Here’s our encourage Cubs to grow their own going potty! guide to planning your own plot or

D

ig In is designed to get you and your Pack gardening by growing some delicious vegetables in whatever space you have available. 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 activities and use the special Scout link that accompanies the ideas.

Growing games and pots of projects 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.

18 Cubs April/May 2010

CUBS FINAL.indd 18

12/03/2010 16:35

Partners

Celebrating safety issued with activity packs since Over 100,000 Cub Scouts have been p of the Home Safety Activity Badge National Grid began its sponsorshi ing special to mark the occasion in 2007. So, National Grid did someth

T

o celebrate this milestone, National Grid invited Cub Scout Leaders who work for the company and whose Cub Scout Packs have received funding from the company’s Employee Community Grants, to bring their Cubs along to a Mad Science event held at the company’s offices in Bath Place, Leamington Spa. Over 60 Cubs attended the February event to see Mad Science put on a spectacular show of Fire and Ice, which started the morning of activities. This was followed by a selection of workshops where the Cubs were given the opportunity to learn about electricity with the Watts Up activity, which included making indoor lightning while conducting hair-raising experiments with an electrostatic generator.

Janet Crossley with 60 Chris Murray and the Cub Scouts

Highlighting the safety message Transmission Director Chris Murray, who hosted the event, said: ‘Sponsorship of the Cub Scout Home Safety Badge has allowed us to get our safety messages to over 100,000 Cubs and their families. Safety is a key issue for National Grid and helping young people become aware of the importance of safety in their home environment is a very good place to start.’

Leader, Janet Crossley from the 2nd Warwick Sea Cubs said, ‘I am delighted to be able to bring my Cub Scout Pack along to the event especially as they are currently working on the Home Safety Badge. The pack is designed to be interesting and fun. We had a great laugh using the scratch and sniff card so I could teach the Cubs what gas smells like.’

Phoebe from 1st Wellesbourne Cub Scouts said ‘Coming along to this Mad Science day was cool.

My friends will be so jealous. They don’t get to do stuff like this.’

Cub Scouts Ad am (8), Sarah (9) and Toby (9)

Phoebe from the 1st Wellesbourne shows off her Home Safety Badge.

Back row: Peter and Sara h from MAD Science with Chri s Murray (centre) Front row: Cub Scouts Dom inic (8) Tom (9) and Katie (8)

more info For more info on National Grid’s sponsorship of the Home Safety Activity Badge visit www.nationalgrid.com/uk/Community/cubscouts/ Free activity packs can be downloaded from www.scouts.org.uk/nationalgrid

Front left to right: Cub Scouts, Ben (8) and Ellie (9)

Cubs at the event came from: 1st Dunchurch Cub Scouts 1st Barford Cub Scouts 2nd Warwick Sea Scouts

1st Stockton Cub Scouts 7th Warwick Jubilee Cub Scouts 1st Wellesbourne Cub Scouts 1st Harbury Cub Scouts scouts.org.uk/pol 17

cubs_040510.indd 17

11/03/2010 14:18

IBC_Cubs_AprilMay10.indd 6

11/03/2010 15:08

OBC_Cubs_AprilMay10.indd 6

11/03/2010 15:09