Colony Lodges, 31/12/11

Each Beaver Scout Colony is divided into a number of Lodges. The Beaver in charge of a Lodge is known as a 'Lodge Leader', who is assisted by a 'Lodge Assistant'.

We have four lodges - the names are inspired by local rivers:
River: SEVERN     Colour: YELLOW
River: WYE     Colour: RED
River: AVON     Colour: BLUE
River: TRENT     Colour: GREEN
There are usually six Beavers in each lodge and the Beavers are given a Woggle of the appropriate colour once they are invested.

Dates for your diary, 2011/12

Dates for your diary, 2011/12

Sunday 11th December

District Christmas Party – (details have already gone out and places booked).

Friday 16th December 2011 – Final meeting before Christmas

23rd & 30th December 2011 – Christmas break, NO MEETINGS

Friday 6th January 2012, 5.45pm – First meeting of New Year

Sunday 15th January, 3.30pm to 7.00pm

Beavers and Cubs New Year Party, at Ariel Scout Hut

This promises to be an enjoyable event, with party games and activities, giving Beavers the opportunity to meet and socialise with the Ariel Cub Scouts.

The party is free of charge but donations of food and drink are most welcome.

Saturday 4th to Sunday 5th February

Theatre Trip (Old Rep) & Sleepover (Ariel Scout Hut)

The Beaver Scouts are invited to see Georges Marvellous Medicine at the Old Rep, and then we will go back to the scout hut for a themed Sleepover. Collection will be on Sunday morning, around 11.00am. Full details will be available in January.

Cost: £11.00 (includes cost of theatre ticket, food etc)

Participation in this activity will allow the Beavers to gain their first ‘Nights Away’ badge.

Saturday 11th February (afternoon)

District Indoor Football Competition

Details are still to be confirmed but we will try to enter two teams (six a side).

Shoebox Appeal Launch Night Letter, 04/11/11

Operation Christmas Child Shoebox Appeal

www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk

Dear Parent / Guardian,

Friday 4th November – Christmas Shoebox Appeal Launch Night, 5.45pm start

You may have already received a leaflet with details about the Samaritans Purse Christmas Shoebox Appeal (Operation Christmas Child).

We will be holding a launch evening on Friday 4th November 2011 at 5.45pm where a guest speaker will give a talk about the work of the charity and explain the appeal in more detail.

You will be given a leaflet with a full list of everything you need to collect.

All parents / guardians should attend this talk – it will only last 15 / 20 minutes.

Refreshments will be provided after the meeting for the parents / guardians.

If you have any questions regarding the above please contact me.

Thank you in advance for your support.

Yours in scouting,

Beaver Scout Leader

1st Ariel 113th Birmingham

Rea Valley District

Email: hawkeye@113asg.org

Friday 11th November – Making the Christmas Shoeboxes

We will be making the shoeboxes during the Beaver meeting.

Please can you place all items in a carrier bag and clearly label it with your child’s name.

Participation in this appeal by your child is completes a requirement of the Friendship Challenge Badge.

Upcoming Events October - December 2011

Friday 28th October – Halloween Party
We are having a Halloween Party on Friday 28th October with party games and snacks.
Beaver Scouts are encouraged to come in a Halloween costume. Uniform is not required.
Donations of food and drink from parents are welcome.

Friday 4th November – Bonfire Night & Christmas Shoebox Appeal Launch
We are having sparklers followed by hot dogs and drinks (vegetarian option is provided). 
All Beaver Scouts should bring their coat and gloves.

We are also launching our Christmas Shoebox Appeal at 5.50pm. Parents and guardians are encouraged to attend this 15 minute talk by a guest speaker.

Saturday 12th November – County Remembrance Service, Cannon Hill Park
Location: Scout War Memorial in Cannon Hill Park, B5 7RL (rear of the Nature Centre)
Arrive at 10.30am for a prompt 10.45am start, finish time is approximately 11.30am.
What to bring: Please wear a coat, your blue Beaver jumper and neckerchief if you have one.

Parents are welcome to stay during the 45 minute service; car parking is available in the MAC Car Park or in the Nature Centre.

Sunday 11th December – District Beaver Christmas Party
All Beaver Scouts from Rea Valley District are invited to the Christmas Party. The afternoon will include fun Christmas games and activities, and food and drink will be provided.
This promises to be an enjoyable event, with the opportunity to meet and socialise with other Beaver Scouts from around the District.
Location: St Peters Church Hall, Old Church Road, Harborne, Birmingham, B17 0BB
Arrive by 2.00pm, collection is at 4.00pm
Cost: £3.00 (covers hall hire, Christmas gift, food and refreshments)

Term dates
Final meeting before Christmas - Friday 16th December 2011
Christmas break – no meetings - 23rd & 30th December 2011
First meeting of New Year - Friday 6th January 2012

‘Mad Hatters’ Tea Party, 25/09/11

Parents / Guardians,

There is a District Beaver Scout event taking place on Sunday 25th September at
Blackwell Court, Bromsgrove. This is in the form of a “Mad Hatters Tea Party”. The afternoon will include fun and games, food and refreshments will be provided.

Date: Sunday 25th September 2011
Time: 2.00 – 4.00pm
Venue: Roundhill Meadow, Blackwell Court, Agmore Road, Blackwell, Bromsgrove B60 1PX
Cost: £1.50 per child

In the event of wet weather – an indoor dry shelter has been booked.

This promises to be an enjoyable event, with the opportunity to meet and socialise with other Beaver Scouts from around the District.

Please can you let me know by text or email on or before Sunday 18th September if your child will be attending.

If you have any questions, then please contact me.

Yours in scouting,

Beaver Scout Leader

Introduction to Ariel Beavers, September 2011

Term dates
Final meeting before Christmas - Friday 16th December 2011
Christmas break – no meetings - 23rd & 30th December 2011
First meeting of New Year - Friday 6th January 2012
Easter Holiday – no meetings - 6th & 13th April 2012
Final Meeting before summer break - Friday 20th July 2012
First meeting of new Autumn term - Friday 7th September 2012 

Meeting Times   Friday evenings – arrive at 5.45pm, collection time is 7.00pm.

Uniform
When your child has been coming to Beavers for two or three weeks they may wear the turquoise Beaver Scout uniform sweatshirt which can be bought online (www.scoutshops.com) or from certain school uniform shops.

We will present the group neckerchief to your child once they have completed their training for the Beaver Scout Membership Badge and are ready to be invested as a member of the Scout Association.

Please ensure all uniform is clearly labelled with your child’s name.

Monthly subscriptions
Payment of subs is standardised across all sections (Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts).
Subscriptions are £10.00 per month, collected on the first Friday of every month. This covers all Friday evening activities, hall hire and maintenance, refreshments, and any badges awarded.

Due to the closure for two weeks over Christmas please pay £2.50 for every meeting attended during December 2011.

New Members
Boys and girls can join from 5 ¾ years to 8 years old:
- Anyone younger then 5 ¾ years will be placed on a waiting list until they reach the appropriate age.
- Boys and girls aged 8 to 10 ½ years old may join our Cub Scout section on Tuesday evenings.

Swimming Up to Cub Scouts, 31/08/11

Parents / Guardians,

Once your child turns eight years old, they are old enough to move up to the Ariel Cub Section. The Cub Scouts meet on Tuesday evenings between 6.30 and 8.00pm.

In order to prepare your child for moving up to Cub Scouts, your child is invited to attend Cub Pack meetings as well as Beaver Colony meetings for the next few weeks, starting from next Tuesday. They should wear their blue Beaver uniform and group neckerchief.

This provides your child an opportunity to adjust to a different style of meeting, meet their new Leaders and the other Cub Scouts. Many of the current Cub Scouts were also Beaver Scouts at Ariel.

There will be no increase in monthly subscriptions whilst your child attends Beaver and Cub meetings, the monthly cost will continue to be £10.00 per month.

The Cub Scout Leader (Akela) will be available after every Cub Pack meeting from 8.00pm to give you the opportunity to answer any queries you may have.

If you have questions, then please speak to one of the leaders.

Yours in scouting,

Beaver Scout Leader
Cub Scout Leader

Imagination Badge Letter, 30/08/11

Dear Parents / Guardians

This term the Beaver Scouts are going to be working towards their Imagination Badge.

A requirement is that they will have to build a model using a variety of objects. For this activity the Beavers will need to bring in some materials
such as:
Paper and cardboard of different textures & colours, Old magazines, Scrap material and fabric, Plastic bottles, Cereal packets, Shells and pebbles, Margarine tubs, Matchboxes, Cardboard tubes, Egg boxes, Wool scraps, Shoe boxes, Washing-up liquid containers, Yogurt and cream cartons, Soft drink cans.

Please bring these in during September and October.

Many thanks, and yours in scouting,

Beaver Leaders

Investiture Letter, 01/05/11

Dear Parent/Guardian

Your son/daughter has now completed their training for the Beaver Scout Membership Badge and is ready to be invested as a Beaver Scout and member of the Scout Association.

We plan to carry out the investiture at the start of the meeting on Friday <DATE>. You and your family are cordially invited to be present at the ceremony.

If you are attending then please arrive by 5.50pm and wait inside the Main Hall. The ceremony should be finished just after 6.00pm.

We will present your child with the Group’s neckerchief and the various badges. The neckerchief will cost £5.00, all badges are provided free of charge from the section account.

The Beaver Leaders will be available after the meeting from 7.00pm to give you an opportunity to meet us and ask any questions you may have.

Yours in scouting,

Beaver Scout Leader

The Beaver Scout Motto

Be Prepared

During the investiture everyone makes the Scout sign and says the Beaver Scout Promise together. Beaver Scouts are not required to say the Promise alone in front of the Colony.

The Beaver Scout Promise

I promise to do my best

To be kind and helpful

And to love God

Opening Ceremony, March 2011

Into lodges – Beavers stand along side of hall in their designated lodges
Feed the beaver – the Beaver Leader calls the names of all Beaver scouts in attendance who step forward in turn
Riverbanks – Beavers and other Leaders then form two wavy lines (river formation) facing inwards
Build a dam – Form a large circle around the Beaver Leader, holding hands
Gather logs – Crouch down on the floor, beaver teeth
Who are we? What do we do? – Call out “Beavers, beavers, beavers, Sharing, sharing, sharing” This grows from quiet to loud and at the climax everybody jumps up and does a Tail Slap (clap hands behind back). This signifies the sound of water swishing as the Beavers come from the bottom of the pond to break the surface.

Beaver Scout Basic Information, March 2011

The Beaver Scout Salute is made with the first three fingers of your right hand. You salute the Leader when they present you with a badge.

Beaver Scout Promise:

I promise to do my best, to be kind and helpful, and to love God.

Beaver Scout Motto:

Be Prepared

Beaver Scout Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to be a good Beaver, always busy and bright. Be with those so dear to me and help me do things right. Amen.

The Handshake, March 2011

In Africa, warriors once fought with spears in their right hand and carried shields in their left. A warrior who met someone he did not want to fight, would lay down his shield and hold his left hand out. Thus, he was not able to protect himself if the other

person was to attack.

As they shook with their left hands, they had no shields and both held spears in their right hand. Therefore, each had to really trust the other before deciding to shake hands. This feeling of trust, and the fact that such warriors, who put down their shields, were considered brave, impressed Robert Baden-Powell and he chose this special handshake for the Scout Movement.

How Scouting Began, March 2011

Robert Baden-Powell was born in 1857. When he left school he joined the army. As an army scout in Africa he learned and taught outdoor survival skills.

When Baden-Powell returned to England, many boys looked on him as a hero, so he started writing articles in papers and magazines about army scouting principles and how they could be adapted to everyday life.

He organised a camp at Brownsea Island, near Poole in Dorset. The young people had a great time playing sports, camping, cooking, tracking and learning knots, things that young people had little chance to do before.

After this successful camp Baden-Powell put all the ideas to the test in a book ‘Scouting for Boys. By August 1908, many thousands of boys were calling themselves Boy Scouts - so an official national organisation was formed.

By 1910 there were 100,000 boys in Scouting. In 1916, Cub Scouting was started for boys aged from eight to eleven. The realisation that a much younger age group could benefit from Scouting came much later, in 1982.

At first Beaver Colonies were set up for six and seven year olds and these Colonies were made part of the Scout Association.

However, in 1986, Beavers officially became Beaver Scouts - a training section of the Movement, and have since gone from strength to strength.