Twitter, and a web site

I've created a Twitter account that you can use to keep up to date (well, as up to date as me!)

@BlisworthBeaver

There is also a Blisworth Beavers web site

http://sites.google.com/site/blisworthbeavers/

I want to be able to use these new ways (and this blog) to make contact with you, and for you and the young people to make contact with me and the Leader team.

Jonathan

2011 - a new year

The first few meetings of this year will concentrate on a Treasure Hunt!

We have heard that a wicked band of village pirates, The Tunnel Rats, are planning to move their horde of treasure, on 16 February under the cover of darkness.

We Blisworth Beavers belong to two of the other pirate gangs in the village, the Faulkner gang and the Hancox mob, and both our gangs want to find and steal the Tunnel Rats’ treasure (because we dont have any), and are looking for whatever clues that we can find, like
· a map
· some written clues
· an idea of what the treasure horde might be – is it gold, or oil?

So far we've done some brass rubbing and found a secret message:

~ Find the map. Read the clues. Beware the Tunnel Rats ~

So, next week we need to work on finding the map!

Summer term programme

Just a reminder! The Beaver promise is:

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

Our programme for the remainder of this term is as follows:

12 May Leaf printing and map making
19 May Out and about in the village, making a map believe it or not!
26 May Let’s be creative! BRING A FRIEND!
2 June Half term – no meeting
9 June Cooking night
16 June NO MEETING ON THE WEDNESDAY
17 June The Group AGM – the hut will be open to the Beavers to eat their own picnic tea from 6.00pm
19 June Fun day! A crazy Saturday at the field with all sorts of daft goings on to raise money for the new hut
23 June Pond dipping - start and finish at the Tunnel Mouth Car Park, Stoke Road
30 June Outdoor cooking
7 July Football crazy!
14 July Emergency aid
21 July Yippee, Schools Out! Start and finish at the Salcey Forest Car Park

Don't forget, there are a number of staged activity badges that your child can earn and which we can not really do much about during the evening – for example Information Technology, Musician or Swimming – more information can be found at on the Scout’s web site at

www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/badges/beaver-activity-index.htm


We’ve recently re-defined our Code of Conduct as the 10 Golden Rules – last done in 2006 believe it or not – and the youngsters came up with some really good ideas that they would accept as shaping their conduct, and the Leaders’ response to such behaviour! The rules – including the ideas shaping the issue of the yellow and red card – are on the notice board, and follow:

On the plus side:

• always have fun,
• do our best,
• be nice to everyone,
• be respectful,
• listen when spoken to,
• play by the rules, and
• respect the hut and the equipment.

However, we must not:

• use rude words,
• use violent conduct, or
• leave other people out.

We also agreed that if a rule was broken various things might happen:

• a leader or helper might show us a “yellow card” and we would have to sit quietly on a box, and not take part in the meeting until we were asked back by the leader or helper,
  
• if our behaviour was truly awful we might get a “red card” that stopped us taking part in the next game or activity.

I wonder what howls of protest will follow when we start to follow the Code!

In the past year the young people and the leaders we have had great help from the Mums on an informal rota last year – many thanks to all you now “Cub-Mums” (Rachel and Alison in particular!). If you would like to come along one evening then please feel free to put your name on the list on the Beaver cupboard door, or let me know via email or on this blog.

As usual we will continue to try provide a wide range of activities to introduce the Beavers to Scouting, from our participation in the fabulous Show in March to outdoor activities such as treasure hunts and raft building down by the Tunnel Mouth. The "big outdoors" provides a great classroom for self-development and team building, as well as the opportunity for having a laugh with some friends and trying out new things.

We also have a grand plan – to try to provide enough opportunities in the programme for each of our Beavers to earn all six Challenge badges whilst they are with us, as well as to provide challenges and opportunities to earn the Activity badges. Hopefully each of the Beavers will then be able to earn the Chief Scout’s Bronze Award before they move on to Cubs – it sounds so engagingly simple doesn’t it? Would yo like to help make it happen - if so, let me know!

Jonathan

The Wakeful Ugly

What a Show!

Well done to the eleven beavers who came along on Saturday and took part in the wonderful show, penned by and directed by Akela, The Wakeful Ugly! You were all brilliant and deserved all the applause you won from the audience.

I here that the fund for the new hut was increased by something around £800 as a result of the show, so thanks go too to mums and dads!

Jonathan

Group Fun Day - 19th June

There is to be Fun Day on the playing fields on Saturday 19th June.

This is the next big fund raiser after the show on 6 March, our Group committee will do a BBQ, teas etc and a possible raffle and other stalls. Sandra, our GSL, has asked all the sections, to run some games/activities, some that we could charge for and others that would be free for example a Tug of War or some Wacky Races.

The estimated cost for the new hut is about £165,000 - so far this year we have earned £981 from the Wild and Woolly, £295 from the Jumble Sale, a grant of £1340 to cover the planning application and £146 from advance ticket sales for the Show.

So, let's all look forward to having a Fun Day!

Jonathan

A half-term project!

The Creative badge

To get the badge you must complete the following:
· explain/know about a creative activity
· take part in the creative activity
· tell the Colony about the activity

Examples of creative activities include:
· putting on a show or form of entertainment
· . . . .

For The Show on Saturday 6th March the Beavers need to be dressed as bugs, so could you, during half term, think about
· how to dress all in black, or brown, or green – school plimsolls would be good too
· making a head dress that looks like antennae, perhaps using an old hair band as the basis,
· making an extra pair of legs (or two pairs if you want to be a spider), perhaps using a pair of tights stuffed with rags or tissue, the feet could be egg boxes


If you would like help from the Leaders then please let me know!

Jonathan

Remeber the 5th of November?

Do you remember when we got together last November to celebrate Bonfire Night?

Elis Matthews from Scouting magazine was with us, with a photographer . . . ring any bells?

Well, in the most recent issue of Scouting there is a piece about "our place" that Sandra wrote after that evening, and a photo of two of our better looking Scouts . . . but Halle and Jack are on the cover of the Beaver supplement, and Charlie (W), Mason, Benjamin and Peter are inside!

Jonathan