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.