Reach Higher

Tape a large piece of paper on a wall at your eye level. Ask two or three Scouts to come up and make a mark on the paper with a marker as high as they can reach.

Thank them for their effort and allow them to return to their seats. Tell the troop that we can all usually do better than our first effort. Remind them that you asked the Scouts to reach as high as they could. Ask the same Scouts to come back up and see if they can do better than their first effort. (It never fails that they will always reach two to three inches higher on the second try.)

This is a good opportunity to emphasize doing one’s very best, and to give every project one’s “second effort” on the first try.

Pearls of Wisdom—Quotes from Baden-Powell

"As a Scout, you are the guardian of the woods. A Scout never damages a tree by hacking it with his knife or axe. It does not take long to fell a tree, but it takes many years to grow one, so a Scout cuts down a tree for a good reason only – not just for the sake of using his axe. For every tree felled, two should be planted."

Can’t to Can!

Every now and then we hear a Scout use the word can’t: “I can’t hike 15 miles” or “I can’t tie that knot,” etc. It’s at that point I’ll stop the meeting and ask the Scouts to give the Scout sign and repeat after me, “On my honour I will do my best!” Then I step up to our chalkboard, write out the word can’t in big letters, and ask the boys if that word appears anywhere in the Scout Oath or Law. At that point, I erase the “t” and explain to the Scouts that their trail to the Patrol Leader rank will be much easier if they start telling themselves they can do it instead of using that other word. Before I walk away from the chalkboard, I write a big “I” in front of the can and leave it there until the next meeting. The first thing they see the next time they walk in is the words “I can!”

Olympics, 20/07/12

Ariel Scout Group (@ArielScoutGroup) 20/07/2012 19:43 Beavers: 3 investitures + hurdles, giant feet, cones, balancing bean bags & buckets + shotput + created Olympic torches pic.twitter.com/Cmovh9pm

Weather, 13/07/2012

Ariel Scout Group (@ArielScoutGroup) 13/07/2012 19:36 Beavers: Weather theme! Snowball spoon game ⛄ & created Weather Clocks! Then "Be a Type of Weather" game!! #imagination pic.twitter.com/GvrfLQiH

Quote from a Network Scout, July 2012

One of the most powerful ways to understand adventure is through sharing stories from our Members and supporters.

'Scout Network helps me to explore the outdoors; it allows me to experience new activities like caving and meet people from all over the world through expeditions and international camps. It's Scouting at its best, what is there not to like?'

Dave, 24, Scout Network member

Disney Quiz, 06/07/12

Ariel Scout Group (@ArielScoutGroup) 06/07/2012 19:46 Beavers: act out Disney characters, created posters for Disney quiz, dragons tail, stuck in the mud, sleeping beavers Disney Quiz is Saturday 7 July 2012 7.00pm start at the scout hut.  £2.00 per person entry All welcome.

Cat Night, 02/07/12

Ariel Scout Group (@ArielScoutGroup) 02/07/2012 13:05 Beavers: 15 beavers played: the Compass game (NSWE), 'Everybody Wants To Be A Cat' (feline imagination in a circle), and 2 team bench-ball!!

Nature Night, 22/06/2012

Ariel Scout Group (@ArielScoutGroup) 22/06/2012 20:16 Beavers: Nature Night! Painted Butterflies, played the Woodland Tree game (Ash Pine Oak Elm) & 4 team Balls in Bucket! pic.twitter.com/H96swLs7

Ice Cream Sundaes, 15/06/2012

Ariel Scout Group (@ArielScoutGroup) 15/06/2012 19:41 Beavers: Design your own ice cream sundaes! Run by the cubs and Akela! Sleeping beavers, stuck in the mud and ladders! pic.twitter.com/AqdAr2hX