One Life

Taken from The Real Jesus and Other Sermons, by James Allan Francis. Philadelphia: The Judson Press, 1926.

A young man was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He worked in a carpenter shop until he was 30, and then he was an itinerant preacher for three years. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never owned a home. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put his foot in a big city. He never travelled more than 200 miles from the place he was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness.

While he was still a young man, the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends deserted him. He was turned over to his enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioners gambled for the only piece of property he had on earth, and that was his coat. When he was dead, he was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Twenty centuries have come and gone, and today his is still the central figure of the human race. All the armies that have ever marched, all the navies that have ever sailed, all the parliaments that have ever sat, and all the kings that have ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man like the life of one man, Jesus Christ.

Pearls of Wisdom—Quotes from Baden-Powell

“The boy is not governed by don’t, but is led by do.”

The Lead Steer

In the early 1800s, before railroads, the only way to move cattle from the west to the big cities was to drive the huge herds of cattle across the planes to places like Kansas City and St. Louis. Trails like the Chisholm Trail were marked as the best routes that would provide water, food, river crossings, and safety from man and beast. Cowboys would be on the trail for weeks at a time moving the cattle before finally arriving at their destination.

Each herd had a lead steer, which was usually an older longhorn steer that led the way along the trail. The cowboys would get the lead steer moving each morning, and he would slowly start leading the way up the trail to the destination. The herd would fall into line behind the lead steer and follow him. Cowboys would ride on the flanks and the rear to keep the stragglers from wandering away from the herd. The lead steer was trained to lead the herds. After completing a trail drive, the cowboys would drive the lead steer back home to lead another herd up the trail, and this would be repeated time and again. The story of the lead steer points out that leadership is a skill that can be taught, and as a Scout you will be given many opportunities to learn leadership skills and to be a leader.

Pearls of Wisdom—Quotes from Baden-Powell

“The object of the patrol method is not so much saving the Scoutmaster trouble as to give responsibility to the boy.”

Wisdom

Walt Disney was once asked what a person would need to do to be like him. Disney named four steps:

1. Think! Think about the values and principles that guide you in your business and personal life.

2. Believe! Believe in yourself.

3. Dream! Dream of something you want to do.

4. Dare! Dare to make your dream a reality.

Pearls of Wisdom—Quotes from Baden-Powell

“The most important object in Boy Scout training is to educate, not instruct.”

Traditional Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind always be at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face, and the rain fall soft upon your fields, and unto we meet again, may God hold you in the hollow of his hand.

Pearls of Wisdom—Quotes from Baden-Powell

“Scoutmasters need the capacity to enjoy the out-of-doors.”

Character

A Scoutmaster asked his troop to define character.

One Scout said character is “thinking good thoughts,” and another said it is “being a good citizen.” Another said character is having good morals, and another said it is “being honest and courageous.”

A young Scout held up his hand and when called upon said, “Character is what you do when nobody’s looking.”

Pearls of Wisdom—Quotes from Baden-Powell

“A boy is naturally full of humor.”

The Original Scout Law

At the BSA’s first annual meeting in 1911, a committee was charged with “Americanizing” Lord Baden-Powell’s Scout Law. B-P’s Scout Law had nine points, covering the virtues of trustworthiness, loyalty, helpfulness, friendliness, courtesy, kindness, obedience, cheerfulness, and thriftiness. The BSA committee changed the wording to each point but retained their meaning. At the urging of James E. West, three points were added: brave, clean, and reverent. West was particularly adamant about adding “reverent” because, he said years later, “I felt then, as I feel now, that there is nothing more essential in the education of the youth of America than to give them religious instruction.”

It’s a Knockout, 21/07/06

It’s a Knockout is a series of fun team games. There would be usually several crazy-fun challenges which each team has to try, and the team that does the best gets 10 points, second 8 points and third 6 points. Such games are easy to invent, here are a few to get you started. Note: that you should always keep safety in mind when playing such games.

Pass the Polo Mint

Each team gets a Polo mint which has to be passed from Beaver to Beaver using short drinking straws. They hold the drinking straws in their mouths. They are not allowed to use their hands.

Pass the balloon / orange

Same principle as above, but pass the object between the knees.

Land Mines

A blindfolded Beaver has to be guided around a floor strewn with balloons by their team mates without bursting a balloon. Use a story to make it seem more realistic

Catch - Head

Requires: A ball

Beavers stand in a circle around a leader. The leader throws the ball to each Beaver in turn, shouting Catch or Head. This time the Beaver must do the opposite of the action, i.e. catch the ball if told to head it, catch it if told to head it. If they fail to do so they must roll up a sleeve. When both sleeves rolled up they must sit down where they were standing if they fail again. Game continues until one Beaver left.

Rats and Rabbits / Foxes and Pheasants.

Two teams lined up facing each other, with a short distance between them in the middle of the hall. A zone at each end of the hall is marked out as a Home Zone for that team. One team is called Rats (or foxes), the other team is called Rabbits (or pheasants). The leader calls out Rats or Rabbits. If the leader calls Rats, the Rats try to catch the Rabbits, before they can reach the Home Zone behind them. If Rabbits are called, they must try to catch the Rats before they reach their Home Zone. Any Beaver caught must join the opposing team.

Leap frog

The Beavers form a (several) line(s) and squat down to make themselves as small as possible. The last Beaver in each line jumps over the squatting Beavers until they reach the front. They then squat and yell “Go”. The Beaver at the back jumps over the Beavers to the front and so on until they have all travelled up the length of the course.

Other ideas

Rubber ring

Plastic bottle catch

Slippery Slope

Tennis ball scramble

Centipede

Mini-Olympics, 07/07/06

The idea of the games in this task is that when dividing the Beavers into teams each team could represent a Country. These countries could then be used in other parts of your programme, such as examining Scouts around the world.

The games in this section are the more traditional type of games, adapted to make them more fun.

Relay Races

The teams can compete in a variety of different relays up and down the hall, or between a course marked outdoors.

Rounders

Can either be played indoors or outdoors. If playing indoors use a rolled up newspaper as the bat, and a ball made from newspaper. Requires 2 teams

Mark out 4 bases on the floor in diamond shape. The pitcher stands in the centre, the fielders may stand around the hall or area where playing. The batting team must stand well back. Each batsman has 2 chances of hitting the ball per turn, if

they miss on the first throw they must run to first base. The fielders may get a Beaver out by catching the ball when hit or touching a base with the ball before the batsman or member of the batting team reaches it. Once any base has been

touched the batting team cannot move any further round the diamond. Let each batsman have 3 turns or unless all the members are out, then swop the teams around. The team with the most players in at the end is the winner.

Mini-Basketball

Requires: 2 teams, 2 chairs, a ball

Place the chairs at either end of the hall. Select 1 Beaver from each team to be that teams Goalpost, and have them stand on a chair. The team plays towards their own Goalpost. The ball may be only passed between members of a team

by throwing to each other. Running with the ball is not allowed. Allow 5 minutes each way.

Crab football

Requires: 2 teams, ball, 2 goals

The Beavers must bend over with their hands touching the floor, they are only allowed to hit the ball with their hands. The teams must try and score as many goals as possible.

Search and find games

Hide various items around the hall and ask the Beavers to find as much as they can, the team with the most items is the winner.

Shoe Scramble

Each Beaver removes shoes and places in a pile. The Beavers move to a starting line 10 to 15 feet away, and at the signal the Beavers try to retrieve and put on their own shoes (not necessary to tie or buckle. The first Beaver back to the starting line wins.

Other Ideas

3 legged race

Have a Sandcastle if you are near a beach

Pearls of Wisdom—Quotes from Baden-Powell

“If you make listening and observation your occupation you will gain much more than you can by talk.”

Circus capers, 23/06/06

Balancing

See what items the Beaver can balance on the back of their hand, or in the palm of their hand. For the really adventurous, let them use their head. Items include pencils, how many balls can they hold, plastic cups.

Hula hoops

If you can locate one, see if the Beavers can operate hula hoops successfully.

Juggling

Try and teach the Beavers to juggle, very simply using 2 balls or bean bags. Have a spare ball or bean bag to give to the successful Beavers and see how they get on with 3.

Snake tag

The Beavers form two teams in two lines, with the Beavers holding onto the waist of the Beaver in front. The Beaver at the front of each team tries to tag the last Beaver on the other team. When caught, the Beaver joins the other ‘snake’. The

game ends when there is only one snake, or....

Centipedes

Play in lodges. Beavers get down on hands and knees and grab the ankles of the Beaver ahead. Try to move to a given spot without breaking hold.

Low balance beam

Lay a plank of wood on the ground. Ask the Beavers to walk across it. Ask them to go across in different ways - backwards, forwards, sideways, carrying something for balance. See what they find easier. Ask the Beavers to close their eyes and imagine they are walking across a gorge. Talk them over, when they get to the other side ask them to open their eyes. Very important that plank of wood is on the ground. Beaver should be no more than 3-6 cm in the air.

Bean Bag Balance

Requires: Bean bags

Divide the Beavers into teams, and have them in lines behind the start line. Each Beaver has to walk from the start line to the finish line balancing the bean bag on their head without dropping it. If the bean bag is dropped the Beaver must start again First team with all Beavers back, with the bag in front wins.

Other ideas

Egg and Spoon race

Stepping stones

A Turkey Experience

A flock of turkeys had a training meeting. All the turkeys went, and there, the head turkey taught them how to fly. At first they were taught how to make short flights off the fence to the ground. This was certainly new to them, and it was very fun. Then they’d glide from the top of the shed. Wow! That was exciting! Eventually, they learned how to take off from a running start, glide and flap, and slowly lift. They learned how to catch thermal wind currents, soar up and fly high into the sky! And even do some fancy acrobatics. They could look down and see the whole farm in great detail. They could see what was on the other side of hills and woods that had previously blocked their view. They could see vast horizons that they had never known. It was a wonderful and exciting and exhilarating experience. And after the meeting, all the turkeys walked home. Moral of the story: Put to practice the skills that you learn.

Jumping skills, 09/06/06

Long Jump

Try and run outdoors on grass

Have the Beavers compare how far they can jump from a standing start to a running long jump. They should travel further on a running long jump because they possess momentum.

Bunny Hop relay

The Beavers have to crouch on all fours and jump like a rabbit over a marked course.

Ladders

Requires 2 equal sized teams. Number each team from 1 to the highest number in each team. Line the teams opposite each other, with number 1 opposite their counterpart from the other team. They then sit down with legs out in front of

them so that the two number 1’s feet are touching with legs out flat, number 2’s the same and so on to form a ladder down the centre of the hall. The leader then calls a number. The Beavers of the number called have to run down the centre

of the ladder, around the outside when they reach the bottom, and then back down the centre back to their place, without stepping on the other Beavers. Repeat until Beavers have had a few turns.

Low Hurdles

Have a relay race that uses low hurdles. This could either be over a mini-obstacle course or in a straight line.

Lily Pads

Requires: chalk

Draw a line with chalk on the floor as a start line, and another at the end of the hall as the finish line. Draw a series of circles between the 2 lines. The circles should be big enough for a Beaver to stand in and be close enough together so that Beavers can jump from one to the other. Divide the Beavers into 2 teams.

Each Beaver in turn jumps from a standing position into the first circle, then into the second circle and so on. When they reach the finish line, they run back and tags the next Beaver. The team with all Beavers in a quiet straight line at the end

wins. If a Beaver lands on the edge of the circle, or misses the circle, they move back to where they jumped from and try again.

Other Ideas

Hopping games

Have relay races that involve hopping up and down the hall.

Throwing Thrills, 26/05/06

Welly Throw

Requires: A wellington boot

This game must be played outdoors. Line the Beavers up behind a line. Ask each Beaver in turn to throw an old wellington boot and see who can throw it the furthest.

To have a variation on this game blindfold the Beaver and ask them to throw the Welly. Remember to stand well back!!

Item throwing

Requires:

This can be played either indoors or outdoors, depending on the type of items that you choose. Choose 3 or 4 different things that can be thrown, for example a sponge, feather, piece of cloth and ball of paper. Ask each Beaver to throw the

item from behind a line. See how far they go. Discuss with the Beavers why certain things went further than others, the sponge and paper should go furthest. Ask the Beavers how they could get the paper to travel further. The answer could

be by making a paper aeroplane.

Ball clock

Requires: A ball

This is a team game. Divide the Beavers into 2 equal teams. Take 1 team into the centre of the den and the other team at the edge of the hall. The team at the centre should be placed in a circle, with a leader standing in the middle. The leader should have the ball. The leader should pass the ball to each Beaver in the circle, passing from one Beaver to the next. Count the number of times that the Beavers can return it to the leader without dropping it. If the ball touches the floor, the count starts again from 0. The team at the edge of the hall provides the clock. Each Beaver in turn has to run around the edge of the hall When all

the Beavers have run around the edge, the clock stops. The team at the centre shouts out their score when the clock was stopped. The teams swap places, with second team trying to better the first ones score.

Ball Bounce

Requires: Different balls, such as tennis balls, footballs, squash balls.

Using different balls see how many times the Beavers can bounce them without stopping. See if the balls behave differently in how they bounce. Ask the Beavers if they know why differences may occur. You could run a sponsored ball bounce for a fundraising activity if you wish.

Target

Requires: 6 soft balls or bean bags, 6 boxes - 3 different sizes and 2 of each size. Have a line on the floor as the start line. Place the boxes at different distances from the chalk line in two lines and in size order. Score 1, 3 and 5 points for the nearest, middle and furthest boxes respectively. Divide the Beavers into 2 teams Each team member bets 3 ball / bag and chooses a box to aim for.

The balls or bean bags must stay in the boxes to score. The team with the highest score after each team member has taken a turn is the winner.

Hoopla

Ball through holes in a wooden board.

Ask a Parent if they can help you make a Hoopla board. It could be repainted, with or without the Beavers help to have different designs each year.

Achieving a Goal

Have you ever had an assignment or task that was so large that you were overwhelmed with the size of it and didn’t know where to begin?

When you are faced with such a task, ask yourself this question: If you had to eat an elephant, how would you approach it?

The answer: one bite at a time.

You would do the big assignment just like eating an elephant, one bite at a time.

Attend a Sleepover, 12/05/06

Theme: Pirates

7.30 - 8.00 p.m. Arrival at hall, Stow bedding in neat piles below decks

8.00 - 8.15 p.m. “Jolly Roger” tailslap. Rollcall. Go through Do’s and Don’ts.

8.15 - 8.45 p.m. Game - Port and starboard

8.45 - 9.15 p.m. Craft – Pirates hats

9.15 - 9.30 p.m. Game - Pirates on the Ocean

9.30 - 10.00 p.m. Sausage sizzle

10.00 – 10.45 p.m. Night treasure hunt

10.45 – 11.30 p.m. Pirates campfire

11.30 – 12.00 a.m. Lights out, no more noise below decks

At least 2 leaders will have to be on duty overnight for safety and security. Take it in shifts

Next morning

8.00 - 9.00 a.m. Pirates arise, wash, dress and get breakfast

9.00 - 10.00 a.m. Turtle nature trek

10.00 - 11.00 a.m. Craft - Pirates telescope

11.00 - 11.30 a.m. Morning snack

11.30 - 12 noon Game - Pirates footsteps

12 noon -12.30 Pirates Disembark. Have a group cleanup, issue certificates, and say goodbyes.

Theme: Indians

7.30 - 8.00 p.m. Arrival at hall, Put the bedding neatly in the teepees

8.00 - 8.15 p.m. “Red Indian” tailslap. Rollcall. Go through Do’s and Don’ts.

8.15 - 8.45 p.m. Game - Steal the peace pipe

8.45 - 9.15 p.m. Craft - Make a totem pole

9.15 - 9.45 p.m. Game - Tribes

9.45 - 10.15 p.m. Sausage sizzle

10.15 - 11.00 p.m. Indian treasure hunt

11.00 – 11.30 p.m. Campfire around totempole

11.30 - 12.00 a.m. Lights out, no more noise in the teepees

At least 2 leaders will have to be on duty overnight for safety and security. Take it in shifts

Next morning

8.00 - 9.00 a.m. Indians arise, wash, dress and get breakfast

9.00 - 10.00 a.m. Tracking those pesky cowboys

10.00 - 11.00 a.m. Craft - make a teepee

11.00 - 11.30 a.m. Morning snack

11.30 - 12 noon Game - Indian crawl

12 noon -12.30 Indians return to reservations. Have a group cleanup, issue certificates and say goodbyes.

Theme: Halloween

7.30 - 8.00 p.m. Arrival at hall, Place bedding in the DUNGEON

8.00 - 8.15 p.m. Tailslap. Rollcall. Go through Do’s and Don’ts.

8.15 - 8.45 p.m. Game - Witch and Goblin

8.45 - 9.15 p.m. Craft - Witches hat

9.15 - 9.45 p.m. Game - Trick or treat relay

9.45 - 10.15 p.m. Sausage sizzle

10.15 – 10.45 p.m. Night hike

10.45 – 11.30 p.m. Campfire around the Cauldron. Spooky stories and songs

11.30 - 12.00 a.m. Lights out, no more noise below decks

At least 2 leaders will have to be on duty overnight for safety and security. Take it in shifts

Next morning

8.00 - 9.00 a.m. Witches and Goblins get up, wash, dress and get breakfast

9.00 - 10.00 a.m. Nature trek

10.00 - 11.00 a.m. Craft - Scary masks

11.00 - 11.30 a.m. Morning snack

11.30 - 12 noon Game

12 noon -12.30 Witches and goblins return to whence they came. Have a group cleanup, issue certificates, and say goodbyes.

Other theme ideas:

Indoor Camping

Stars and space

Circus

Spies

Beavers

Pearls of Wisdom—Quotes from Baden-Powell

“A boy carries out suggestions more wholeheartedly when he understands their aim.”

Conservation badge, 28/04/06

The aim of this badge project is to:

Encourage awareness of our environment.

To foster enjoyment of outdoor activities.

To develop a caring attitude of town and countryside.

To help encourage our Beavers to look after their world.

1. Plant a tree, preferably a native species.

2. Plant an insect/wildlife garden near your meeting place.

3. Make a bird feeder; hang on a suitable place near the den. Keep a record of which birds visit.

4. Plant up a window box for an elderly or disabled person, and help to look after it.

5. Make a collage from autumn leaves.

6. Make a collage from pictures cut from magazines of things that improve our environment.

7. Take part in a recycling project.

8. Have a sunflower show - who can grow the tallest. Measure and record growth and how long it takes to grow to full height.

9. Grow a pumpkin. Who can grow the biggest? Use it as part of your Halloween celebrations.

10. Help raise funds for a third world environmental project.

11. Help in a community clean up i.e. Tidy Towns Group or similar body.

12. Keep the area around your meeting place clean.

Planting a tree

While visiting a park or woodland in autumn, collect chestnuts or acorns. These should be fresh, as dried up nuts may not germinate.

1. Take the chestnuts and soak overnight in water. Plant in individual pots and cover with 1/2 a plastic bottle to create humidity. Watch it grow and plant out when it is 12 - 14 inches high.

2. Plant chestnuts/acorns where you find them. Visit the area again in spring, see if they have grown. Oak, Ash, Lime, Beech, Rowan, and Silver Birch are all ideal.

3. Apply to Crann Ireland for information on growing native trees.

Planting up window boxes/tubs

Wood or plastic boxes/tubs are ideal, as are hanging baskets. Ensure there is good drainage - (stones or polystyrene pieces). Use compost. Buy young plants. Plant as directed on the label. Water regularly. Best plants: - Geraniums, fuchsia, marigolds, aubrietia, and lobelia. (Small evergreens and ivies in winter).

Feeding Birds

The best foods are: - Unsalted peanuts, fat, bread, cake crumbs, seeds, cheese and bruised fruit. Don't forget to also leave out water. In spring, stop feeding nuts as they can harm the chicks. Use a mixture of melted fat, fruit, nuts/seeds to make a bird cake that's ideal in winter.

Planting an insect garden

To attract butterflies and moths plant Buddleia, Vibornam, Sedum Spectabile (ice plant) Nicotinia. To attract insects plant Polyanthus, Aubrietia, Wallflowers, Sweet William, Lemon Balm, Snapdragon and Hollyhock. Ask at your garden centre for more plant names. Wild flower seeds are also available, a little more expensive but well worth the cost for display. Wildflowers should never be picked but left to propagate naturally.

Litter clean-up

Instruct Beavers not to pick up any sharp object but to report them to you.

Ideally, you should look over the area beforehand noting any danger - hazards. If it is too bad, abandon your clean up and report the site to the Council.

Plastic gloves should be used.

Contact your local council beforehand with date and venue. They will supply black bags and collect the rubbish after the event. Some councils will issue a certificate or make your own for the council to sign.

Have water or wet wipes and towel handy for cleaning hands when finished.

Make sure you have a first aid kit with you.

Grow a Pumpkin.

Pumpkins like a rich soil if they can get it, but will grow on unmanured ground as long as it is well drained. They need plenty of water throughout the

growing season.

Sow pumpkin seeds outdoors in spring under cloches made out of plastic drinks bottles. In the early summer they can be sown outdoors without protection.

Alternatively they can be sown in spring inside and planted out in early summer as the weather gets warmer.

Pumpkins produce both male and female flowers. The female flowers can be recognised by the tiny green pumpkin shaped swelling just behind the flower. Only let the plant produce a few pumpkins: pinch out the growing tips when there are enough pumpkins growing. Pumpkins ripen best on the plant. Cut them just before the first frosts or at Halloween.

Everything I Need to Know About Life, I Learned From Noah’s Ark

Everything I need to know about life, I learned from Noah’s ark.

One: Don’t miss the boat.

Two: Remember that we are all in the same boat.

Three: Plan ahead. It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.

Four: Stay fit. When you’re 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

Five: Don’t listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.

Six: Build your future on high ground.

Seven: For safety’s sake, travel in pairs.

Eight: Speed isn’t always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.

Nine: When you’re stressed, float a while.

Ten: Remember, the ark was built by amateurs, the Titanic by professionals.

Eleven: No matter the storm, when you are with God, there’s always a rainbow waiting.

Baden-Powell - Scouts Worldwide, 14/04/06

Twin with another scout group either Nationally or Internationally. You may find further information about this by contacting the International Commissioner, through National Office. Learn about Scouting in another Country Beaver Pen-Pals Beaver Team pen Pal - the whole Team rather than individuals.

Host an International Evening

Adopt a Country

Try their food

Costumes / Music of that Country

Money

Language

Invite someone from that Country who may live in your locality

This could take some evenings to plan. You could try making costumes out of old newspapers or get the Beavers to see what exotic foods are available in the supermarket when they go shopping with their Parents. At one meeting you could

teach the Beavers simple phrases. If you have any foreign currency, bring it along so the Beavers can touch and feel it. If possible play music of that country.

Pearls of Wisdom—Quotes from Baden-Powell

“The Scoutmaster guides the boy in the spirit of an older brother.”

Attend a District event, 31/03/06

District events will be organised through the regular Beaver Round Table meetings organised by your District Beaver Programme Advisor. The PA is not the person who necessarily organises the events; usually it is done by a committee or a group.

Events that can be run include:

Table quiz

Sports Day

Litter clean ups

Treasure hunts

Easter Egg Hunt

Treasure Hunt

One Group within the District should take on the job of preparing a Treasure Hunt in a local park and invite the other Teams along to take part. The hunt should be run over a period of 2 -2 ½ hours and the questions simple or hard enough so that all the Beavers taking part should have a chance to answer them. However you should include a couple of tough ones to make sure of a winner. Leaders should not be allowed to give clues. Questions or tasks on the Treasure Hunt could concentrate on:

Spotting wildlife.

Identifying plants.

Gathering different bits of fallen tree bark, leaves, feathers, cones or seeds. (Must be fallen)

Noticing special features within the park;.

Litter Clean Up

The Leaders will need to vet the area first for really undesirable objects. If you find any look for a new site.

Choose a Beaver-sized area to clean so that there is a visible improvement that the Beavers can feel proud of. The Beavers should bring their own rubber gloves, but have a few extra pairs for those who forget theirs. Don’t forget the first aid kit.

Make sure they can wash their hands afterwards. If there is no tap bring a water carrier. Don’t forget the soap and a towel. Make sure the Beavers know to tell the Leaders if they find anything sharp or dangerous.

Run a Fun Day for the District

Choose a large park or somewhere that offers a range of different types of area, such as rough grassland, smooth cut grass and some woodland. Depending on the size of the District and on the area chosen, it may be advisable to seek

permission. Have a range of activities on offer so that waiting is kept to a minimum. Arrange beforehand whether the Beavers are to go round in their Teams or in small groups, but ensure that Leaders always accompany the Beavers. Rope in your Scouts to run some of the bases. Use the Fun Day as an opportunity to do some of the challenges for the Paw Badge Scheme, especially those that need a large open space or area of woodland. Build the possibility of poor weather into your plan. Rain shouldn’t mean a cancellation. If it is to be a winter event, make it a short so you have fewer problems keeping everyone warm and happy if it rains. Make use of any available shelter such as trees and woodland.

Run an Easter Egg Hunt and Invite the District

Each Beaver Team could bring their own Easter Eggs, though it would be a good idea to have a general consensus on type and quantity. Rather than hiding the eggs for Beavers to tread on and local dogs to eat, hide either coloured counters or cut-out egg shapes. Then each Beaver can find lots of egg shapes even though they may only be getting one egg. Get the Leaders from the other Teams to help with the cutting out so no one person has to cut out 400 eggs! Arrange someone to hide the egg shapes before the Beavers arrive. Don’t forget to visit the area beforehand to make sure it is suitable for the purpose. Have some other activities lined up. The Beavers should bring drinks with them and possibly a snack. Consider inviting the local CSI Beaver Team along.

Parable of the Mule

This parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule.

The mule fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule “praying”—or whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving.

Instead, he called his neighbours together, told them what had happened and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery. Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbours continued shovelling and the dirt hit his back, a thought struck him. It dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, he could shake it off and step up! This he did, blow after blow. “Shake it off and step up . . . . Shake it off and step up . . . . Shake it off and step up!” He repeated it to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed, the old mule fought panic and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up! It wasn’t long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemingly would bury him actually helped him, all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity. That’s life!

If we face our problems and respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity. The problems that come along to bury us usually have within them the very potential to benefit us . . . and benefit Scouting, too!

Visit another section, 17/03/06

The ideal Section for Beavers to visit would be the Cub Section as this is closer to their age group. Part of the requirement for the Silver Arrow badge in the Cub Section is that they interact with the Beaver section, so that this task may be best suited to those Beavers who will shortly be swimming up to Cubs.

Activities that could be carried out include:

Cinema or Bowling night

Pantomime

A day at the Cub Pack Holiday

Sports Day

Invite Akela and Silver Arrow Cubs to a Beaver Meeting

Scouts help at Beaver fun day

Group BBQ

Visit Cub or Scout Camp

Brief the Scouts or Cubs in advance to look after the Beavers. The Beavers to see where the Scouts sleep, cook and have fun. Run Beaver sized games prepared by Scouts in advance in consultation with Ameek. Bear in mind that the older sections tend to require less intense activities than the Beavers, so the Beaver Leaders will need to have prepared additional activities for when the level of interest on both sides declines. During their visit ask the Cubs or Scouts to show the Beavers where they sleep.

Ask the Cubs or Scouts to show the Beavers how to prepare hot drinks, such as drinking chocolate when on Camp. They can then sit down together and the Cubs and Scouts can talk the Beavers through life on Camp.

Pearls of Wisdom—Quotes from Baden-Powell

“To get a hold on boys you must be their friend.”

Group or Family event, 03/03/06

The idea of a Group or Family event is to introduce the Beavers to the concept of being part of a larger Group within the Scouting framework. This will enable them to find their place within the Group and to be comfortable within the Group.

A family event would be an activity in which the Parents and Beavers participate together. This has the added bonus of involving Parents in Scouting and to see what Scouting means to their child and how much effort the Leaders put into

Scouting. There are many different types of events that could be run, some of which are given below. There may be events that other Sections in your Group run on an annual basis. Try and go along to these if you can. You can also get your Parents and Friends committee involved in organising these events.

Typical Family Events

B-B-Q

Treasure hunt

Ten-Pin Bowling Sports Day

Help decorate the church for Christmas or Harvest Festival

Parent and Beaver Trek

Invite the Parents to the Beaver meeting and let the Parents be "Beavers" by participating in all the games.

Beaver Concert and Play

Group Events

Group Investiture

Beaver Swim up

Community Clean up with Group

Beavers visit a Cub Camp, perhaps in conjunction with a Slumbernight in a local hall.

Charity fair involving all sections and families.

Group Fund Raising Events.

Most groups have fundraising events which can easily be adapted so that the Beavers can join in. For example a

sponsored cycle . The starts can be staggered to accommodate the different abilities of the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts

allowing everybody to finish in the same place.

Why not have a sponsored sandcastle building competition.

Walking the Rails

Have you ever tried walking the rails? As a youngster growing up, I had to walk about a mile to school. The railroad track ran past both my house and the school. It was the shortest and quickest route. I can remember many times while walking to and from school that I would try to walk the rails—seeing how far I could go without falling off. I usually didn’t get too far before a foot would slip and I would be off the rail and on the crosstie.

I read once of a group of Scouts who happened upon some abandoned railroad track. Each Scout took his turn trying to walk the entire length of the track without falling off. None of the boys was able to go the entire length without falling off. Two of the boys got their heads together, and after some discussion came running to the group, smiling from ear to ear. They told the group that they were willing to bet that they could walk the entire length of the track without falling off. The others in the group thought it was a good bet because they had already seen each of the boys fail in the attempt to accomplish the feat.

So the bet was accepted and the two boys moved toward the track. Each of the boys got on one rail and began their walk. Side by side they were walking down the track. Soon one of them became a little shaky, so the boys stopped. They then did something none of the other boys had thought of—they reached out and joined hands! After joining hands, they were able to walk the entire length of the track without falling off. Joining hands and supporting each other, they were able to accomplish what neither of them could accomplish alone.

When we help another, we help ourselves. When we lend a helping hand, we receive one in return. Neither of the boys could walk the length of that track separately. But by the boys joining hands, the task was made relatively easy. There are many rails in life that have to be walked. Some of them are very difficult to master by ourselves. But if we are willing to extend a hand and receive a hand, we will find that walking the rails of life is much easier to accomplish.

Beaver Trek, 17/02/06

The Beaver Trek is not meant to be an arduous affair. It should be a short walk, either instead of the normal meeting or a morning or at another more suitable time.

There are a number of tips that you should bear in mind.

- Plan your trek to take into account the youngest / smallest Beaver.

- Plan the route in advance. Allow plenty of time for lunch and stops to point out items of interest.

- Devise reminder cards, noting items of interest that you will encounter.

- Carry out a reconnaissance.

- Ensure that all Beavers have Raingear and a packed lunch if appropriate.

- Remember the Country Code, see below.

Leave nothing but footprints, take home nothing but memories and photographs.

Things to do on a Beaver Trek.

You could give the Trek an exciting theme. You could all be Explorers, exploring the Amazon, a desert island – finding "Man Friday's footprints" in the sand. You could discover dinosaurs, animal tracks. Use your imagination.

Trails

The trail could be set up in advance by the Leader and a few older Beavers using flour, rice or barley. Leave a winding trail around your chosen area. Leave a hidden message to say that they have reached the end, or what they should do

next.

Colour matching trail

Pieces of coloured wool or paper are given out to the Beavers and they are asked to match the colour with something natural. Alternatively hide the different coloured wool or paper amongst the vegetation and get the Beavers to find as

many of the hidden colours as possible. For a St. Patrick's Day theme, cut snake shapes out of coloured paper and hide them for the Beavers to find. Or hide mouse shapes in different colours and let the Beavers be hunting owls. Discuss why bright colours are more easily identified and easily found while it is harder to find those which match the vegetation. Make sure that you clear up after you.

Follow basic tracking signs made from natural materials. Let a Leader set up the trail in advance for the Beavers to follow. Try and make it into an adventure, such as "Escape from the Vikings". How about camouflaging themselves with face paints or leavers. The Beavers could "write" their names or leave a greeting such as "Hello" using leaves, stones or fir cones.

The Country Code

Respect farmers and their land

Respect wildlife

Leave gates as you find them

If a dog comes with you, keep it under control

Do not damage fences or walls

Take all your litter home

Do not damage wildlife, plants or trees (Weeds are wildflowers, don’t destroy them)

Make no unnecessary noise

Do not pollute water

Guard against the risk of fire

Weather, 03/02/06

This is suitable for a late autumn or winter programme.

Opening ceremony 5 mins

River banks, roll call and tail slap.

Ice King/Queen and the Icicles 5 mins

Choose an Ice King or Queen and 3-4 Icicles. If these 4-5 tag anyone and say “Freeze”, that

person must stand still until they are released by an unfrozen person saying “Melt”. After 1-2 minutes choose a new Ice King/Queen and Icicles.

Activity 10 mins

Introduce the weather. Go outside and find out what the weather is like. Talk about weather and clothing. How do you keep warm and protect oneself from weather.

Make a weather chart 15 mins

Refer to present conditions on the chart.

Outdoor Clothing 10 mins

Ask the Beavers to bring the clothing they would take on Outings. Show them the sorts of clothing that you would like them to have in terms of woolly hats, wellington boots scarves and gloves.

Game 5 mins

Snowballs

Closing ceremony 5 mins

Build your dam; give out notices, prayer, Goodbye

Pearls of Wisdom—Quotes from Baden-Powell

“In Scouting, a boy is encouraged to educate himself instead of being instructed.”

The Scoutmaster’s Minute

The Scoutmaster’s Minute is brief in duration but one of the most important parts of a troop meeting. Occurring at the closing of the meeting, it is the thought that will go home with the boys. It is the time to teach one of the ideals of Scouting. The Scoutmaster’s Minute is a special time when you have the attention of all the boys in the troop, and it is your opportunity to convey a special message of inspiration. Many of the Scoutmaster’s Minutes listed below are parables, short stories about everyday people and occurrences that illustrate a moral attitude or religious principle. Boys are “visual” thinkers; they relate well to stories that are accompanied by props. Using a postage stamp as a prop, you can suggest that a stamp sticks to its job to get a letter to its destination. The moral is that Scouts should be as determined as a postage stamp to stick to a task until it is completed.

Once per month new examples of Scoutmaster’s Minutes will be published for you to use in inspiring the Scouts entrusted in your care, but don’t hesitate to begin a collection of your own inspirational messages to use in the future.

Circus Capers, 20/01/06

Beavers might come to the meeting dressed as someone from the circus.

Opening ceremony 5 mins

River banks, roll call and tail slap.

The Circus Game 5 mins

The first game is to get rid of pent up energy. Have the Beavers form into 3-4 teams. Name each Beaver in the team a different member of the circus, for example Clown, ring master, tigers, lions elephants, jugglers or tight rope walkers. Call a name at random, everyone with that name runs up the hall, touch the wall and run back to their place. On the call “circus” everybody runs up.

Activity 30 mins

Split into 3 groups.

• Group 1: Juggling balls or bean bags. Start with one, then try two.

• Group 2: Balance on low beam, plank or thick rope. Then balance with bean bag on head. Balance going forwards or backwards. Pretend that are high wire artist.

• Group 3: Face painting.

After 10 minutes, the groups rotate and go to the next base until everyone has done each base.

Craft 15 mins

Make juggling clown.

Closing ceremony 5 mins

Build your dam; give out notices, prayer, Goodbye

Circus Skills, 06/01/06

Plate Spinning
Required: Paper plates, bottle tops, garden canes, glue, felt tips
- Decorate the top of the plate in any pattern
- Stick the bottle top to the bottom of the plate
- Wait for the glue to dry before balancing the plate on top of the stick; the stick should fit into the bottle top
- Spin the plate around

Acrobatics
- Draw a chalk line on the ground for the Beaver Scouts to 'balance' along
- Perform roly polys

Juggling
- Begin by throwing one ball from hand to hand
- When the Beaver Scouts are comfortable with this add a second ball; they will throw the second ball just after throwing the first
- For the really good ones add a third ball to juggle