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ine The magaazders r Scout Le for ExploreNovember 2009 October/

T S A L L L I W O H eme W h c S ’ S s r R e d E a e oung L Y LEAinD e h t t a k o o -depth l An

Look wide

Why the District provision is good for all

Fun and games

Two Young Leaders share their favourites

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Your Explorer Scout Section Working Group Andrew Wellbeloved, UK Commissioner for Programme Gemma Veitch, Programme and Development Adviser

WELCOME

Reward scheme

Contact them at: programme@scout.org.uk Explorer Scout Working Group, The Scout Association, Gilwell Park, Chingford, London E4 7QW; Tel: 0845 300 1818 ADVERTISING Richard Ellacott richard.ellacott@thinkpublishing.co.uk Tel: 020 8962 1258 Cover image: Jess, an Explorer Scout Young Leader from Essex

Explorer Scouts and Young Leaders joined Scouts and leaders from the 1st Crowborough Scout Group on the trip of a lifetime to China and Hong Kong. Pictured here on the Great Wall, highlights included a visit to the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing.

This issue we focus on the success story that is the Explorer Scout Young Leaders’ Scheme.

Mel Brammer introduces Nearly 30 per cent of Explorer Scouts have embraced the challenge of the Young Leaders’ Scheme and opted to help out with Beavers, Cubs or Scouts, whilst developing their own leadership skills and giving time to their community.

We will be looking at why young people become Young Leaders, what makes good Young Leader training, how to support the Young Leaders and also highlighting why the Young Leaders’ Scheme is a part of the programme that we all need to buy into.

Of course, like anything successful, the Young Leaders’ Scheme is not without its challenges. We know that some Scouts choose to remain as Young Leaders in the Troop not because they want to be a Young Leader, but because they are nervous about the transition to Explorer Scouts, so we look at how they can best be supported.

We know that the younger Section Leaders are key to the success of the scheme, so we look at how we can interact better with them so that they have clearer understanding about the scheme and can support the Young Leaders working with them.

We explore how Young Leaders can be encouraged to access the wider District Explorer Scout Programme that is available to them to ensure they don’t miss out on all the fun!

We also have an in-depth report about a challenging weekend run at Lapwing Lodge in Scotland for Young Leaders.

Contents 4 A to Z of good Young Leader training From adapting your methods to zany training

8 Lapwing it up A report on a Young Leader training weekend

10 Seven steps to mission success A look at the missions of the Young Leaders’ Scheme

12 The big question How do Young Leaders access the wider Explorer Scout programme?

16 All in this together Involving Section Leaders in Young Leader training is as easy as ABC

18 Game crew Two Young Leaders share their best ideas

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The A to Z of

Young Leader t We’ve all been to training either for our jobs or for our appointment in Scouting, and so have some idea of what can make it good and bad. For Young Leaders it is even more important to get the training right, as the leadership skills learnt as an Explorer Scout are the foundations they will build on as an adult leader. Here are 26 helpful hints to get your training going with a buzz

Adapt. The methods in Young Leaders’ Essentials are only suggested methods of delivery. As long as you cover the objectives of the modules you can run them in any way that suits your audience.

Break out. Don’t always deliver your training to one big group. Vary the session by breaking out into groups for some activities, either according to the section they work with, their experience as a Young Leader or just mixed groupings.

Comfortable. Think about the venue you use for your Young Leader Modules. Is it too formal or too informal?

Is the temperature appropriate? Are the chairs comfortable? Are there too many distractions?

The learning environment is important.

Discussion. At any training event the participants will often learn more by talking through the issues they have with other participants than they will from the formal elements of the training. Make sure they have some time to chat.

Explorer. Young Leaders are Explorer Scouts. Save some time at the end of a meeting for letting them know about 4

forthcoming opportunities within the wider District Explorer Scout programme (see page 12).

Why I ‘Well I suppose I wanted to give back a bit of what I got as a younger member and pass on some of the skills I have been taught by my leaders to other Members. I also want to be a teacher when I’m older so the experience is a key factor.’

Alasdair, Young Leader, Stirling and Trossachs

Food. Explorer Scout Young Leaders are teenagers and therefore very attached to their stomachs. Make things go more smoothly by providing biscuits and facilities to make drinks (or a rota for them to provide them).

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YOUNG LEADERS

training Graphics. These are good ways to make your module more interesting. You might use interesting graphics on PowerPoint or make use of posters or other visual aids.

Happen. Good training happens. Your Young Leaders will learn more if there is actually some training on offer! This doesn’t happen by itself. Make sure that the modules are actually being run.

Why I ‘My mum needed some help at her Cub Pack so I decided to go down and help. By doing Young Leader training/missions I have done it ‘properly’ and get recognition for what I have done. And when all’s said and done, who doesn’t like getting a badge or two?’

Charlotte, Young Leader, Sheffield

Ice breakers. However you run your modules, the likelihood is that many of the Young Leaders won’t know one another. Factor in some time for ice breakers so that the all-important discussion gets going.

Jolly. Explorer Scouts like to have a good time and also appreciate a joke. Don’t overdo it though; they can watch stand-up comedy on the television.

Key points. Make it clear what the key points are that you are covering. Display them as bullet points or give them out on a handout or laminated card.

Learning. You need to do some as well. Know your facts before you start! For example, make sure that you know the Programme Zones of the younger sections before you run Module G or H. Mobile phones. Make it a rule that they are switched off!

Not too often. Think carefully about your programme. If you repeat the same modules too frequently (apart from Module A) then the Young Leaders will either become bored or not turn up.

Intersperse the modules with other activities, time to discuss and plan missions, and crafts or skills sessions where they learn ideas to try out on the younger sections.

Organised. There’s nothing worse than sitting and waiting while the person at the front organises their resources. Get everything organised in advance of running the module, make sure that you have everything you need and that you’ve printed off enough copies.

Why I ‘I became a Young Leader because I wanted to continue Scouting, but was too old for the Scout section. It also allowed me to complete the volunteering part of my DofE programme.’

Andrew, Young Leader, Stirling and Trossachs

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YOUNG LEADERS

r training Graphics. These are good ways to make your module more interesting. You might use interesting graphics on PowerPoint or make use of posters or other visual aids.

Happen. Good training happens. Your Young Leaders will learn more if there is actually some training on offer! This doesn’t happen by itself. Make sure that the modules are actually being run.

Why I ‘My mum needed some help at her Cub Pack so I decided to go down and help. By doing Young Leader training/missions I have done it ‘properly’ and get recognition for what I have done. And when all’s said and done, who doesn’t like getting a badge or two?’

Charlotte, Young Leader, Sheffield

Ice breakers. However you run your modules, the likelihood is that many of the Young Leaders won’t know one another. Factor in some time for ice breakers so that the all-important discussion gets going.

Jolly. Explorer Scouts like to have a good time and also appreciate a joke. Don’t overdo it though; they can watch stand-up comedy on the television.

Key points. Make it clear what the key points are that you are covering. Display them as bullet points or give them out on a handout or laminated card.

Learning. You need to do some as well. Know your facts before you start! For example, make sure that you know the Programme Zones of the younger sections before you run Module G or H. Mobile phones. Make it a rule that they are switched off!

Not too often. Think carefully about your programme. If you repeat the same modules too frequently (apart from Module A) then the Young Leaders will either become bored or not turn up.

Intersperse the modules with other activities, time to discuss and plan missions, and crafts or skills sessions where they learn ideas to try out on the younger sections.

Organised. There’s nothing worse than sitting and waiting while the person at the front organises their resources. Get everything organised in advance of running the module, make sure that you have everything you need and that you’ve printed off enough copies.

Why I ‘I became a Young Leader because I wanted to continue Scouting, but was too old for the Scout section. It also allowed me to complete the volunteering part of my DofE programme.’

Andrew, Young Leader, Stirling and Trossachs

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Punctual. Start and finish on time. This sets a good tone and shows the Young Leaders that you take the modules seriously.

Questions. Allow time for Young Leaders to ask questions about what they are learning. Don’t try to answer them all yourself – the other Young Leaders may know an answer.

Relevant. Make sure the links are clear between what you talk about in the modules and what they do on a Wednesday night at Cubs

Why I ‘I wanted to help provide some of the opportunities that were given to me as a Cub. I get just as much out of it as they do. Knowing that the Cub Pack needed extra help, I chose that particular section to get involved with as part of the volunteering section of my DofE programme.’

Dannie, Young Leader, Pinner and Headstone

Safe. Ensure that whatever you use to make your training more interesting is safe. Carry out a risk assessment.

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Why I ‘Because it would give me experience with working with children. I want to be a teacher in the future so it gave me an insight to what it would be like to work with them all the time. Being a Young Leader can be challenging at times but is great fun and very rewarding.’

Amy, Young Leader, Stirling and Trossachs

Trainers. Don’t be afraid to use a variety of people to deliver the training. Hearing the same voices time and again can get boring, and it’s also a good way for Young Leaders to get to know other adults in the District or County. You could involve Beaver, Cub or Scout Leaders or Assistant District Commissioners (people who really know the younger sections), adult trainers or child protection specialists to help you deliver the different modules.

Upbeat. These are teenagers who choose to give up their time to help with the younger sections. Make sure that everybody gets a positive experience of their training.

Varied. Everybody has a different preferred style of learning, whether visual, verbal or kinaesthetic. Ensure that you use a range of delivery methods so that everybody has the optimal chance to learn.

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YOUNG LEADERS

Written resources. Provide notebooks for the Young Leaders to make notes from the modules, or provide them with a written aide memoire so that they can refer back to what has been covered.

X-citing. Make sure your Young Leader modules aren’t too much like school – teenagers get enough of that all day.

Yourself. Deliver the module in a way that suits your personality, and don’t be afraid to personalise it to reflect

Why I ‘I realised that I wanted to give something back to young people, but also noticed the benefits of doing so. I am able to develop lots of skills, for example my leadership skills which I can take forward in further life.

It also looks good on the CV!’ Charlie, Young Leader, Uxbridge

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your interests and experience (as long as those objectives are covered). You are a valuable resource!

Zany. A little bit of quirkiness in your module will make it more memorable for the Young Leaders.

Top tips Don’t forget to evaluate your training. After you’ve run a module think about how it went, what went well and what didn’t quite work. Make some notes, and insert them with your material so that you remember for next time and can make changes if necessary. You can also involve the Young Leaders in this process either by asking them after each module or by asking them a couple of times a year how they think the modules are going and what they would do differently if they were running them. more info Get Young Leaders Essentials from www.scouts.org.uk/shop

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Lapwing it up There are several ways that you can deliver the modules of the Young Leaders’ Scheme, from running a module in an evening every month, to training weekends. In Scotland, to supplement the way modules are delivered locally, a training weekend is held every year at Lapwing Lodge, just outside Paisley. For the 50-plus Young Leaders who attend it is a weekend of phenomenally hard work and fun as they undertake nine modules in just one weekend. Mel Brammer reports

T

hey say that Friday 13th is unlucky, but this February we were definitely feeling positive as we welcomed 57 Explorer Scout Young Leaders to Lapwing Lodge for a weekend of challenge and fun. Over the course of the weekend they would work with people they had never met before from different parts of Scotland, and would cover the content of nine of the eleven modules of the Explorer Scout Young Leaders’ Scheme.

The weekend comprised a combination of theory, games, group work, activities, campfire, helping keep the lodge clean and tidy, some very late nights – which weren’t compulsory – and then putting theory into practice with a very difficult audience as they had to plan and run activities from given Programme Zones for all the other participants, who were acting as Beavers, Cubs or Scouts!

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The Young Leaders explored areas such as styles of leadership, behaviour management, the Balanced Programme and programme planning, special needs, types of games and when to use them, badges and awards and communication. In short, nearly the entire scheme, from Modules B to J. The Sunday activity was their chance to put it all into practice and the leaders for the weekend watched carefully to see how they planned the item, how they dealt with difficult behaviour, which styles of leadership they used, and so on. After the activity, during the debrief from all the other participants, they discussed what went well and what could be improved.

It was much easier for the groups at the end of the afternoon, as they had a chance to watch everybody else make their mistakes!

The Young Leaders left on Sunday very tired, but swapping email addresses and mobile numbers to keep in

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YOUNG LEADERS

Running a Young Leader Training weekend – Dos and Don’ts DO DON’T DO

DO

touch with their new friends. Their training doesn’t stop here though. After the modules they have four missions to complete, which help them put all the learning into practice in the sections where they help, and to become an integral part of the leadership team.

One Young Leader came away with this comment: ‘I actually feel like I know what I’m supposed to be doing now. I can’t wait for Cubs on Tuesday.’

Decide how many modules to run and which ones Make it all training – include other activities, skills bases and fun too Use a team of leaders to deliver modules even for a small number of Young Leaders – they’ll soon get bored if it’s only you!

Enjoy it!

more info If you are planning to organise a large scale weekend of Young Leader training, Dougie Aitken, who organises the Lapwing Lodge weekend has the following advice: ‘Regardless of the size of the event, Young Leader Training should be fun and it should be practical. You don’t need to be a Trainer with a big T to convey the right information – your own experiences are often more than enough.

Bringing in a good support team is essential and nine times out of ten I’d say they learn something new too! The sharing of the ideas and experiences between leaders and Explorers is the best bit. Quite often an Explorer will only ever have experienced their own leader’s style, so seeing variety is often an eye-opener in itself.’

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Seven steps to mission success The missions of the Young Leaders’ Scheme can often be put on the back-burner as we concentrate on the modules. However, a Young Leader could easily attend every single module, and end up doing nothing more at Beavers than making squash and collecting subs! The missions support the Young Leader in putting their learning into practice and becoming part of the leadership team.

Here’s our guide to mastering the missions

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1

Make sure all the Young Leaders know about the missions, what they involve and that there is a badge available to them on completion of each mission.

2

Make sure that the Section Leaders know about the missions so that when a Young Leader comes up to them and asks if they can run three activities for one of their missions, their response is not a blank look of panic.

3

Do the Young Leaders have everything they need to complete the missions? They may require access to the relevant Section Essentials, Programmes Online, risk assessments, games equipment, Policy, Organisation and Rules and anything else they think might be useful.

4

It’s okay for two Explorer Scout Young Leaders to work together on a mission, whether they are working in the same Colony, Pack or Troop or are just friends who

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BEST PRACTICE

would like to collaborate on the planning. As long as it really is a team effort, and the quality shows that two people have worked on it, then the mission is still completed. In real life we know that many of the best leaders work together to complete projects.

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Check how they are doing. If a nervous Young Leader is just about to run the first activity for their first mission, then send them a text to wish them luck, ask them afterwards how it went, or maybe drop in to visit them and give them some encouragement that night. If you have a pair of Young Leaders who are aiming to work on their second mission but need a bit of motivation, then visit them, make sure the Section Leader is on board, and perhaps sit down and go through the planning process with them.

6

When a Young Leader has completed the practical part of the mission, ensure that they have a supportive environment for the feedback. Make sure that there is time set aside for the feedback and other members of the Unit listen and are constructive. It is an important part of the mission and shouldn’t be rushed.

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Provide the badge and make sure that the Young Leader knows where to sew it on. Record their success on their Record Card or pass the information on to the District Explorer Scout Administrator.

WHAT ARE THE MISSIONS? Mission 1 – Plan and run three indoor meetings for the section where you help and feed back to the Young Leaders’ Unit about it.

Mission 2 – Plan and run three outdoor activities for the section where you help and feed back to the Young Leaders’ Unit about it.

Mission 3 – Find out about how young people are listened to and involved in decision making in the section where you help. Run a meeting of their forum, take action from it and feed back to the Young Leaders’ Unit about it.

Mission 4 – Take responsibility for running an aspect of the programme for several weeks, covering for example one of the challenge or activity badges, and keep a record of the progress of the members towards that badge. Plan and run the Leader Programme Planning Meeting.

Feed back to the Unit about it.

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The big question

Explorer Scouting in all its fullness I have many Young Leaders in the District who have become Young Leaders either because there is no Explorer Unit close to where they live, or because they are unsure about moving from the Group to the District Explorer Unit. How do I encourage Young Leaders to access the wider programme available to them?

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Q&A

What is the wider District Programme?

• Balanced Programme offered by other • • • • •

Explorer Scout Units Awards Camping Expeditions District and County/Area/Regional events Activity Badges and Partnership Awards

The Balanced Programme Part of the flexibility of Explorer Scouting is that all Explorer Scouts should be able to access any part of the programme on offer within the District, so they should know what’s on offer and how to take part in it. The Balanced Programme should include opportunities from all six Programme Zones. Young Leaders should be able to join in with activities from any Unit. How this works practically is a matter for local discussion and arrangement.

Expeditions As well as the expeditions which lead to awards, Explorer Scouts can access a wide range of experiences: from an organised expedition to far off lands to the chance for older Explorer Scouts to sign up to, or arrange their own, Explorer Belt anywhere in the world. Ensure that Explorer Scouts who are Young Leaders only don’t miss out on these opportunities by not hearing about them.

Awards

District and County/Area/Regional events

There are two parallel sets of awards available to the Explorer Scout section: The DofE (Bronze, Silver and Gold levels) and the Scouting awards (Chief Scout’s Platinum and Diamond and Queen’s Scout Award). The requirements for the Scouting awards are the same as for the DofE equivalent level, with the additional requirements of: a period of membership, a certain number of nights away and some additional activities or project work. All the awards comprise a period of time spent volunteering, developing a skill and a physical activity, and an expedition (there’s also the residential component for the Gold DofE/ Queen’s Scout Award).

Many Young Leaders focus on a DofE programme without realising that only a little extra will gain them the Scout award as well. Young Leaders should be supported to sign up for a DofE programme, make choices about their activities and keep their record books up to date.

They should be given access to support, training and supervision for the expedition.

Similarly, where there are large events going on, Young Leaders need to know about them too. Some thought may need to be given to the logistics of this: are there enough leaders attached to the Young Leaders’ Unit, and are they able or willing to take them to a large event?

Does the Unit have transport or equipment? Is there a District contingent attending where all the Explorers will be together or should the Young Leaders attach themselves to other Units? At an event where other sections will be attending, is there flexibility and opportunity to allow the Young Leaders to join in with the Explorer programme rather than just being there with the section where they help? Remember Explorer Scouts can be given Event Passports to attend events without a leader present.

Camping While camping as part of the leadership team with the Cubs or Scouts is fun, and can really help in personal development as a Young Leader, it is not the same as the fun that you can have camping with people your own age.

Young Leaders need opportunities to camp as Explorer Scouts.

Activity badges and partnership awards Many Explorer Scout activity badges are designed to be got on with independently. As long as a Young Leader knows that they too are able to gain the badges, they can select one, work on it and take their evidence to the leader to get it awarded. The Explorer Scout Leader (Young Leader) needs to promote this and make sure that the Young Leaders know that activity badges are there for them as well. Partnership awards are even better suited to Young Leaders as they have a foot in both the Explorer Scout camp and the younger sections.

>>

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The Big Question >>

Going to regional events means more chance to interact with the wider programme for YLs

Sound advice ‘Expeditions are a big help. In my Young Leaders’ Unit most members are signed up on a DofE programme. I can offer them support with the Volunteering bit, and help them decide on Physical and Skill, but I don’t have either the skills or the permits to train them or supervise them for an expedition, so they have to link up with the other Explorer Scout Units. Once they’ve made those links and those friends, they are much more inclined to attend other things on the Explorer Scout programme.’

Steve, Explorer Scout Leader (Young Leader)

‘This is a problem reaching further than the Young Leaders’ Scheme. Why are they unsure about moving from the Group to the District Explorer Unit? The moving-on process seems to have fallen down. They should be desperate to move up into such an exciting vibrant programme!’

Matt, District Explorer Scout Commissioner ‘I would say that the key is to get them to a District Explorer weekend (even if for only some of the time). Run some training and put on a couple of skills bases for Young Leaders, but also allow plenty of time for the Young Leaders to mix and mingle with the other Explorer Scouts and join in with the activities. The fact that it’s over a weekend should ease geography issues, and if it’s a training weekend that will get them there. They will soon realise that Explorer Scouts have fun and they’ll make links with the Explorers in other Units. Once the barriers are down they’ll attend other activities and find out what’s on offer. Make sure they get all the information.’

Hilary, Explorer Scout Leader (Young Leader)

Camping with the District Unit gives Young Leaders the chance to make friends with other Explorer Scouts and see the Unit at its best

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Q&A

‘Most of the Young Leaders aren’t in any other Explorer Units, so our Young Leaders’ Unit runs a Balanced Programme itself. It is just like all the other Explorer Units except that all the members are Young Leaders and at one of the meetings each month there is a Young Leaders’ module or support with the missions. This way the Explorers have the Balanced Programme, they can do badges and awards and we are part of all District events and camps.’

Colleen, District Explorer Scout Commissioner ‘It’s my job as District Explorer Scout Administrator to make sure that every Explorer Scout knows about all the opportunities available to them. I collate the Unit programmes and send them out, along with information on awards, big camps and events that are going on. I also send all the new ones an Explorer Scout Membership Pack and Explorer Scout Badge Book, so that they can make decisions about doing any activity badges and get in touch with their leader about it. All this information goes to the Young Leaders even if they aren’t in another Unit, so it’s up to them to make the decision about what they want to do or attend. They have the opportunities because they know about it all.’

Kevin, District Explorer Scout Administrator

‘There are lots of ideas to develop links between Scouts and Explorers. Utilise the Moving-on Award so that the Scouts get to know who the Explorers are and what the section does! Run joint events with Scout Troops in the District to break down barriers between the sections.

We strongly recommend that Young Leaders should not work with the Scout Troop they have just left until at least six months have passed. This allows them to develop skills away from the Troop and fully understand the YL role.

Keep inviting Young Leaders to take part in the wider provision, ensure they have all the information and feel welcome when they do attend. We are here to support and develop young people; not force them into doing something they don’t want to do.’

Gemma Veitch, Programme and Development Adviser

Without access to a wider programme of activities, some things will be out of the Young Leader’s reach

Our next issue will tackle the question of getting Explorers interested in weekend activities. Can you help with answers to another big question?

I find it very easy to come up with good programme ideas for the Outdoor and Adventure, Physical Recreation and Skills zones, as do my Explorers.

How do I come up with some more exciting activities for the Values and Relationships, Community Service and Global Programme Zones?

If you have a winning suggestion for this issue please send it to scouting.magazine@scout. org.uk with ‘Explorer Scout Supplement: Q+A’ in the subject line.

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All in this together Mel Brammer knows the importance of involving leaders of the younger sections in the Young Leaders’ Scheme, and unveils the ABC of interacting with Beaver, Cub and Scout Leaders

P

icture the scene. You’re a Beaver Leader. You signed up to run Beavers. One evening two teenagers turn up, telling you that they are your new Young Leaders. This is the first you’ve heard of it, and you are surrounded by 15 small children clamouring for your attention. Help!

Sadly, this scenario does happen. Nonetheless, Beaver, Cub and Scout Leaders are crucial to the success of the Young Leaders’ Scheme and to the quality of experience which our Explorers get as Young Leaders. Here are three keys to success:

A – Ask If the moving-on process is properly managed in the District then the District Explorer Scout Administrator or Commissioner (DESA or DESC) will have been in touch with all Scouts approaching Explorer Scout age and will have talked to them about their options, passing on details of any wishing to become Young Leaders to the Explorer Scout Leader (Young Leader). He/she will have worked out the best section and Group for that young person to be a Young Leader in. Once the ESL (YL) has narrowed it down 16

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GOOD PRACTICE

to a couple of Troops, Packs or Colonies, they phone the Leader and ask them if they are happy to have a Young Leader. Don’t expect every Colony, Pack or Troop to take on Young Leaders – ask them first.

Show the leader a copy of Young Leaders’ Essentials so they can find out more about the scheme. Make sure that they have details about the Young Leader, including name, date of birth, and emergency contact details, as well as any special needs or medical condition. While the Young Leader is at the Cub Pack they are the responsibility of the Cub Scout Leader just as any Cub. Finally, make sure that the leader knows how to contact the ESL (YL) or the DESC for more support.

B – Brief

C – Communicate

Brief the leader. Make sure they understand the basics of the Young Leaders’ Scheme – that YLs are Explorer Scouts, should be in Explorer Scout uniform, should let you know if they aren’t going to turn up, should be involved in planning meetings, will have some training modules to do including the compulsory Module A, and will also have missions to complete. Explain that Young Leaders aren’t just there to run games, though that’s a good place for an inexperienced Young Leader to start, and that they will need the support of the Section Leaders to develop their leadership skills and confidence to become part of the leadership team.

It’s important that the leader understands the child protection implications of having a Young Leader. They are still a young person and therefore should never be left looking after the younger members without an adult present; they should not be counted in adult to child ratios; and at a nights away activity they will need sleeping accommodation separate to the younger section and the leaders.

Regular communication is very important. It’s a good idea to go and visit the Young Leader while they are in action in the first few weeks and after that at least once a term.

This gives you the opportunity to check with the Section Leader that they are happy and find out how the Young Leader is getting on. It also means that you can find out from the Young Leader if they are okay and if they feel involved and supported. You can troubleshoot any problems early on rather than leave them to fester. It’s good practice to let the Section Leader know when a Young Leader has completed a module in the training scheme or is commencing a mission so that they can support them in putting their learning into practice.

more info Leaders in the younger sections can download factsheets explaining the Young Leaders’ Scheme from their section pages at www.scouts.org.uk/scoutbase

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Game crew To help Young Leaders build up their knowledge of games to share, current Young Leaders Iona and Alasdair share two of their favourites

W

e are Explorers at the Bring It On Unit in Stirling and Trossachs District, and Young Leaders with Beavers. We thought that we would share some of the games that our Beavers enjoy playing. These are both indoor games, and as they don’t have any particular theme to them they can be played at any time of year.

Traffic Lights Equipment: • none All the players spread out in the hall. One Beaver (or leader) shouts out commands to do with traffic lights and roads. The rest of the players follow the commands by doing the appropriate action. For example, on ‘green’ the players run around as if they were cars on the move, and if ‘red’ is then shouted, they stand as still as possible, as though stopped at a traffic light. The last player to complete any command is eliminated from the game until only one person is left.

You can be as creative as you like with the commands but here are a few ideas: • Green – Players run around

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• • • • •

Red – Players stand still Amber – Players jog on the spot Zebra Crossing – Players lie stretched out on the floor Roundabout – Players run round in a circle Garage – Players curl up on hands and knees

Shark Attack Equipment: • a parachute This game is our Beavers’ favourite, as they get to ‘eat’ other Beavers. Three players are chosen to be sharks and two are chosen to be lifeguards. All the other players sit around the parachute with their legs under it. The sharks go under the parachute and ‘eat’ the other players by grabbing their ankles and dragging them under the parachute. If they are pulled under they become sharks too and help capture the other players. At the same time the two lifeguards patrol around the outside of the parachute. If they see a player being eaten they save them by pulling them back out from the parachute before they are completely under.

The winner is the player who is the last person not caught by the sharks.

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