What to dcs do at beavers (scouts)???

[AnotherTeacherMum]

Just that really.

Thinking about signing ds up and wondered what sort of things they do??

Thanks

[Ragwort]

All sorts of things - games, badge work, activities, visits, trips, why not have a look at the Scout website to get an idea.

You may need to put your DS's name on a waiting list, where I live you have to go on at birth .

[DottyDot]

Well, ds2 has just moved up to cubs, having been in beavers for a few months before he was 8.

I think they mostly seemed to play games - lots of running about games and team games. They also had 'lessons' (he didn't call it that!) on various safety topics - so, first aid, fire safety, crossing roads - but he seemed to think it was all good fun, so nothing too heavy and he remembered a fair amount of it coming out of each week's session.

They have overnight camps about 2 - 3 times a year - he's going on his first (as a cub but beavers are also going) on Friday. Gulp.

All good stuff and the opportunity to earn badges - both during the sessions and at home, although we haven't really got the hang of this yet

[DottyDot]

blimey - we just mooched along with ds2 one night and he was in straight away! But yes I've heard some places have huge waiting lists!

[Ragwort]

Yes, it totally depends on where you live and how many leaders are available to run the groups (or is it because I am such a popular Leader )?

[hattifattner]

it very much depends on the leaders and their interests. I ran a colony for years - we were very outdoorsey, did hikes and archery and climbing and visits and cooking over a fire all summer. In winter, we would do experiments and crafts and have people in to chat to them (bees, bats, ferrets, guide dogs etc).

I know colonies that just run around playing games, or that do crafts every week.

There are a number of badges that the kids can get, and these drive the programme of activities they do.

You can usually bypass the waiting list by volunteering as a leader :D

[kate2boysandabump]

I'm a beaver leader, we do lots of different things. Playing games, hiking, outings, learning about first aid, safety, the environment, but all done in a fun way. We also do sleepovers and camps, only one night for beavers and they get to do activities on camp too, this time they did climbing and last time archery. It's a good opportunity to run around, be loud and get dirty

Try looking on the scout website to get an idea of the badges and what we do for them.

It's great fun our beavers all love it and they all go on to cubs.

Hope that helps.

[Lovemy3kids]

My DD goes to Beavers and absolutely loves it. They do activities each week ranging from pet evenings (where you get to take your pets in and tell the rest of the pack all about it), healthy eating (where they have to make healthy snacks), they go on sleepovers, both indoors and sleeping out in tents. Their range of activities range from troop to troop and how much effort the leader puts into organising events. Ours is absolutelty brilliant and my DD is my 3 child to go through this troop. DS2 is now in Cubs (due soon to move up to Scouts) and he also has a wide range of activites, and thir camps are longer as they are able to stay away for longer due to their ages - they have to pack their own bags, and they do help towards preparng the meals whilst away on camp - great learning skills. DS1 went through Beavers, Cubs and then went into Scouts, but unfortunately he did not last long there due to the fact that it suddenly became 'not trendy' to attend when he started at senior school. Having said that, he did attend an International Jamboree (where they had to raise funds themselves to pay for this) and he had a fantastic time. Hope this helps :)

[AnotherTeacherMum]

thanks for all the replies.

It sounds great- will find out about waiting lists tomorrow. Think DS will really enjoy it :)