Tag: beavers

Categories
Uncategorized

Bronze Chief Scouts Award at 7th

They set out the chairs then sat down to await the arrival of the visitor. At 3pm over 40 parents, brothers, sisters and other family members started to arrive. The beavers showed their visitors to a seat and waited until everyone had arrived.
The presentations them started, each beaver was called to the front by Grey Owl, asked the say something they had enjoyed doing when completing the Challenges. The answers ranged from games, beavers on a Saturday (beaver craft day in November), learning sign language, going to Paultons, rock climbing to colouring and just coming to beavers. The badges were pinned on to their uniform and after a hand shake with Grey Owl they very proudly went back to their seat and it was the next beavers turn.
Categories
Uncategorized

1st Beavers Pretend Camp

The Beavers found a slot inside our special tent & started telling stories, which was great fun.

After the stories, shoes were put on again and everyone went outside to do a ‘Keep Fit’ session with our Young leader Ben.

Everyone did really well with the ‘Keep Fit’ session, except the Leaders were exzausted and were gasping for breath
Time for food, everyone cleaned their hands ready to butter and spread Jam or chocolate on toast then, we all collected a mug of hot chocolate and added marsh mellows and a small piece of Flake chocolate.

Back inside the tent our Young Leader started singing campfire songs with us all, we all sat round a pretend camp fire made with red material fairy lights and real logs.

What a great evening we had, can we do it again the Beavers asked !……….. well i don’t know about that, but the next one we do it will be a real sleep-over.

mini-123.jpg

Categories
Uncategorized

Santa Special

‘Chip’ was around, having pictures taken wth most of the Beavers, plus getting loads of cuddles too.

Santa’s grotto was amazing and also Father Christmas was really chatty too.

Soton City Beavers with ‘Chip’ before the day of fun begins
mini-10112012798.jpg

Thank you to the County Team for all your hard work.

Eve Willett

BSL 1st Aldermore

Categories
Uncategorized

Grey Owl’s Report

The term has started with a Fun Day at Ferny Crofts, with most of the activities run by the Ferny Crofts instructors. 60 Beavers attended from 6 different Colonies. The day was broken down into 4 one and a half hour sessions.

There was a session on the climbing wall which included the Beavers helping with the belaying.

Another group did backwoods cooking in the campfire circle. They learnt about fire and campfire safety and then cooked a twist, a rasher of bacon and finished with toasted marshmallows.

There was pond dipping and mini beast hunting in the woods, very popular.

The 4th session was spent with our own leaders utilising the adventure course and the site.

The weather was perfect and although we had use of the Sky High Conservatory we were able to spend the whole day outside. Seeing our Beaver Scouts sitting around on the field in the sunshine, eating their picnic lunch was a lovely sight. They looked so happy and were chattering and laughing with each other.

At the end of the day the Beaver Scouts said they had had a fantastic day and didn’t want to go home!!

Thanks to Gail for arranging this and to all the Leaders who helped give our children a super time.

The Christingle service will now be on Sunday 9th December at 3.30pm at St James Parish Church.

Categories
Uncategorized

Beaver Loggerheads

The theme of this year’s competition was events of the 60 years of the Reign of our Queen.

The day started with each team making a colony flag and a lunar space module, more on that later.

Now the competition began in earnest. There were 8 twenty minute bases for the teams to complete.

  1. Everest, the 1st ascent by a British team announced on Coronation day 1953. Each party of Beavers ascended the hill in the enclosure on a fixed rope with the help of Sherpa’s Chris and Mike, and planted their flag on the top.
  2. The Garden Party, this was in 2 parts, first they put up “The Marquee”, a dining shelter, and decorated it with Bunting.
  3. Then they all went to make and serve tea to The Queen, Gail, dressed in her finery with a crown.
  4. The Crown Jewels, seeking gem stones from the mine and making a necklace for the Queen.
  5. The Great Train Robbery of 1963, where they followed a trail of flags through the enclosure to find the stolen mail bags – watch out for the robbers, ably played by Claire and David.
  6. The Moon Landing in 1969, using their lunar module made earlier in the day and landing it on the moon, a giant exercise ball!
  7. The Channel Tunnel opened in 1994, tunnelling from both sides and meeting in the middle, then taking a train through and learning some French words.
  8. And finally designing and building a Lego (1958) castle for the Queen, thanks to Lee for his engineering help.

mini-loggerheads1.jpg
There was a break halfway through the activities for a Jubilee picnic lunch.
As all Beavers want to play football we finished the day with a 1966 World Cup penalty shootout.

Each base scored points, the flags and lunar modules were marked, and the goals scored all went to the total. The marks were on team work and results. All bases were completed by all of the teams and resulted in some very happy and tired Beaver Scouts at the end of the day.

A rare Jubilee event – IT HARDLY RAINED ALL DAY.

Quote of the day on a mobile phone: “I’m at a butchers shop can you tell me how to get to Wilverley?”          Answer “Ask the butcher”

They did and he drew a map for them and they arrived just in time for the start.
 

mini-loggerheads2.jpg

As usual it was a close run competition that was finally won by the team from the 29th Colony.

Well done to all the Beavers for their enthusiasm and my thanks to all leaders, helpers, parents and co-opted help from specialist members of other sections of the District, for making it happen and pulling the competition together.

Lin Johnson ADC Beaver Scouts

     
Categories
Uncategorized

Hampshire Scouts Photographic Competition

There will be a prize for each age group of entrants:
A.  Beavers or Cubs
B.  Scouts or Explorers
C.  Network or Adults

We have been donated 3 prizes (photo vouchers) to the value of £100 each by London Camera Exchange, Southampton – so what are you waiting for?

When submitting your photo’s please ensure that they:
Are adventurous and fun – we’re not after the posed certificate & uniform shot
Conform with POR, ie. All required safety equipment is worn in the photo
You have permission of any people in your photos to use them.
Are of a good quality

Submit your pictures on a CD/DVD/memory stick before 30th September 2012 for your chance to be in it to win it. Send your photos (marked Photo Comp 2012) to us at the County Office, Ferny Croft Scout Centre, Beaulieu Road, Brockenhurst, SO42 7QY.

Here are some technical tips for taking better, sharper pictures.

Be ready to take the perfect photograph

The opportunity for the perfect photograph happens when you least expect it. Keep the camera within easy reach. You may not have time to fiddle about with the settings so keep the camera set on its standard automatic mode. If using a special feature like macro, switch back to automatic before putting away.

Keep the camera steady

If the camera moves while the picture is being taken the photograph will appear blurry due to camera shake. This is not usually a problem on a bright day, but when the light dims the camera takes longer to capture enough light and this is when holding the camera steady becomes very important. The best way to hold a camera is with both hands with your elbows tucked in to your body for further support. If you have something to rest against, such as a tree, then use that for extra support.

Remember to focus

The camera analyses the image automatically to bring the subject of the photograph into sharp focus on the camera sensor. If the subject is not focused sharply then the image will be blurry. In bright conditions automatic focus works quickly and accurately. In poor light it will take longer to find focus and can make mistakes, resulting in an out-of-focus picture. To help avoid this, ensure the camera has a good focus before taking the picture. On a phone, take extra time and look at the screen to make sure before shooting. On a camera, press the shutter button part way to focus. The camera will beep when it thinks it’s ready. Keep the camera steady and framed on your subject, look at the rear screen and it will usually indicate what area of the image it has in focus. Check the correct part of the image looks sharp and take the picture, otherwise restart the process.

Use a flash

If you are taking a picture of somebody against a bright background your subject may appear dark. Switch the flash on manually to provide extra light on your subject.

Competition Rules

  1. You must own the photo and ensure that you have access to photo permission forms for everyone in the photo. (You do not need to send them).
  2. Entrants may submit more than one photo but no more than twenty. Where more than twenty photos are submitted only the first twenty will be entered into the competition. Disc’s and memory stick will not be returned.
  3. By submitting your photograph you give permission for it to be used by Hampshire County Scouts for scouting purposes. This includes but is not limited to: promotional material, the annual report, the county website, press releases to the media and displayed.
  4. Images may be digitally enhanced to remove spots or scratches, but not manipulated. Entrants can enhance the picture to make it brighter, clearer etc, but not manipulate the content. The judges reserve the right to exclude any image they believe may have been excessively treated so as to alter its authenticity.
  5. All entries will be judged by a panel of judges. Their decision is final. The prizes for best photos are as stated and cannot be transferred or exchanged.
  6. All entries should be labelled with the authors name, age group and Scout Group/District/County role.  If you are entering in group 3 (adults) then please include your membership number as well.
  7. Have fun!

Check List:
Have you included your name, scout group and age group? Please specify which category you belong to A, B or C.
Please include an e-mail address so that we can acknowledge receipt of your entry.
The images are of a manageable size – large enough to be of good quality but not so large they take hours to open!  Recommended size no larger than 6-8MB

 

Categories
Uncategorized

In My View

SCOUTING in Southampton has never been better – lots of young people and loads of adults are having great fun every week.

Membership increased by three per cent in Hampshire with a seven-percent increase in the Explorer units, 14 to 18-year-olds, and more girls joined Scouting last year than boys.

Why is-that? It is because Scouting offers today’s Scouts an opportunity to prepare for the job market by working for a range of skills-based badges?

Traditionally in Scouting we were renowned for being able to tie a variety of knots, read maps and light camp fires effectively.

But the modern day Scout is now focusing on skills that can lead to a modern day job. The trend towards more jobs-based badges is attracting growing numbers of savvy girls many of whom want to boost their CVs for college and university applications.

Each year our leaders and young people canoe, climb, sleep in shelters, camp, cook, build and burn things kayak, sail, play games and above all, have fun!

Our younger sections for the Beavers, six to eight-years-old, and Cubs, eight to 11-years-old, and Scouts,11 to 14-years-old, we offer them great fun, a wide range of challenge badges and awards and Scouting is a super way to make very good friends, which are very helpful when at school and colleges and later in life.

But we need more adults to join the adventure to help get the young people of Southampton outside, having fun and developing away from home and the classroom. We are looking for Leaders, people to help with maintenance, administration, activity instructors, anything! Previous experience is optional, having fun is compulsory!

Forty-five percent of our adults come from parents of our young people who give us a hand but the majority of volunteers are people just wanting to offer something to their community and what could be better than investing your time in the young.
Why don’t you help a group near you for as much time or as little as you like?

To find out more visit our website southamptoncityscouts.co.uk

Categories
Uncategorized

Well done Luke

mini-079.JPG

Luke was asked what he enjoyed about his time in Beavers. He replied -‘my favourite things were:- getting invested, going on trips, playing games and earning my badges, my favourite badge was my Animal Friend.’
 
Eve Willett
1st BSL

Categories
Uncategorized

Queens Jubilee Badge

During the afternoon all Beavers, Cubs and two thirds of the Scouts attend the 29th Scout HQ for this event. They were put into small groups made up of all three Section members and a Leader.

The task was to make Sky Lanterns, which also fitted in with the Chinese New Year and could be used as part of their badge work.

After I had done my Blue Peter of here’s one I made earlier, they were off building and sticking. They could each add their own design on the side, and could divide all the jobs required between them.

mini-29th_1.jpgThe Lanterns were made from fire proof newspaper, which was sprayed before hand, Bamboo around the base with two small birthday candles attached. (See photo below)

?

 

mini-29th_2.jpgThis was also a good opportunity for the young people to talk and meet each other from other Sections, as well as the Leaders of their next Section. It was also easy for me as GSL to introduce my new Leaders to the other Leaders who do not work in their Section.

While we waited for the glue to dry, we all joined in playing games from each Section (Scout ones also being Beaver friendly!)

Towards the end, before we launched, we waited for the parents to watch with us. There was no wind and a clear sky for the lanterns to enter.

With the aid of a hair dryer to create warm air and to inflate them, we were ready to launch. Of course with added pressure from the children counting Andy and Nat down to release!

mini-29th_3.jpgSky Lantern Air Born

mini-29th_4.jpgMy thanks go to my fellow Leaders of the 29th for giving up their Sunday afternoon, and hopefully they enjoyed themselves, as much as our young members did.

Russell 29th GSL.

Categories
Uncategorized

Grey Owl’s Report

We had a BLC on 30th January to discuss the programme for 2012. Lots to look forward to: especially District Camp and the sleepover, which should be a great event with the Beaver Scouts joining in with their Group and finding out what Scouting has in store for them in the future! Also discussed were the need to keep both First Response and Safeguarding up to date.

At the beginning of February, 6.30pm, there was a ring at my doorbell and I was confronted with the 9th Colony on a night hike. 15 happy and excited faces’ and that included the Leaders, well wrapped up in woolly hats and gloves and shining their torches all around. Luckily Grey Owl had had a whisper this may happen and was able to send them on their way with a bag of sweets!!

Founders Day at Highfield Church was a good evening and although there were not many Beaver Scouts I think most Colonies were represented. Thank you to all those who attended the service. To me the highlight of the evening was the presentation of a certificate and well done badge to Luke D’Bell of the 1st Colony who has managed to attain every badge possible for a Beaver Scout. Luke counted all the badges on his uniform and the total was 33!!

All that remains for me to say is welcome to all new leaders young and not so young and thank you for giving your time.

Lin Johnson, ADC Beaver Scouts