Beavers - is it worth it?

It’s worth it. They will let you trial for a good few weeks before you make your Beaver Promise. A few children leave as it’s too noisy or they are too tired after school but those that love it, really love it.
For my DD I thinks it just feels more grown up and hands off than school they learned to cross the road a few weeks ago (in pairs), use sharp knives, cook on gas… It’s cheap as chips too!

@CurlewKate what a strange comment

Absolutely fantastic extra curricular activity to be involved in. We are very lucky here to have an outstanding Scout unit - with excellent Leaders -which meant both my sons had to go on the Beavers waiting list two and a half years before they turned 6 to get in the group but it was so worth it. IMO and IME one of the most worthwhile things my children have ever become involved with. My eldest son is just about to start Scouts and he can’t wait.

Well, it probably won't count for much on his Personal Statement....

Oh it's such good fun.
My kids have lit fires, made catapults, canoed, sailed, done hikes in the dark.
They know kids from other schools and other year groups (particularly useful for high school transition).

In a very techy world it feels very real. It's also the one activity that we never have to cajole or put pressure on to get our DC to go.

I rate it that much that I now volunteer as a Squirrel leader for the 4 & 5yo

I agree, get him in quick, we have a waiting list for all sections but by cubs (8) there's no chance.

Parents often don’t realised how little free play children get at school. Your child may be around other children for much of the day, but he may have zero opportunity to play a nice relaxing game with them. Children desperately need group playtime, even more than they need chill time at home.

Try Beavers, what have you got to lose? He’ll get stronger local friendships and have fun camping. If he isn’t in Beavers then his local friends will be regularly holidaying together without him in a couple of years and your son will feel left out and not as close to the group.

That said, some parents of ‘problem kids’ dump them at Beavers as cheap childcare, so keep an eye on who is in your local group.

My DC have worked themselves from beavers all the way up to explorers (the group after scouts). Scouting has been probably the best extra curricular activity they have done. The range of activities they have done is enormous. They have been given opportunities to lead groups, follow others and work as a team. They have learned to be resilient, get on with others and be brave. They have all loved it.

The very best thing that my kids do. I'd cancel anything else, but keep Beavers.

DS is keen but I’m wondering if it’s worthwhile
Is it worthwhile? Absolutely. Kids generally have a blast at Beavers/Cubs etc, and learn so much about themselves and others, community, good values, skills etc, at the same time as having a lot of fun.

I’m conscious of not overloading him with activities
Only you can decide whether he would cope with another activity. It's not unusual to do four activities in one week at his age, but it's also not unusual to do none! You could always give it a go, and see which of his activities he prefers - as they get older, they tend to drop one or two, or swap activities around.

My DD tried so many different activities, scouting is the only one she saw through from aged 8 to 18, and she is currently an adult leader.

But do be aware, there is usually a waiting list for Beavers, unless you are lucky and your local group has plenty of adult helpers.

I think Beavers and Rainbows etc are avry different kettle of fish to a sport that is physically tiring or a music lesson that comes with homework. Beavers is nice gentle activities, socialising with other children which they really don't get to do that much as they move up the school. Once they are yr 5 + free socialising like that is almost over school becomes test focussed and they never get it back, being involved in beavers and moving up to Scouts is a great way to preserve it.

My 6 nearly 7 year old loves it. He was fascinated at learning compasses and doing some orienteering challenges. He loved their cooking sessions, the first aid, making bird feeders, the christmas panto trip, and the summer family fun day (tug of war, sack races, egg and spoon- it honestly made me feel nostalgic for my own childhood. I can't wait until they are old enough for the camping trips, both me and my husband remember those camping trips from our own membership very fondly.)

I think the lovely thing about beavers is the variety of things they do. I think it makes for very well rounded and conscientious young boys and I think the leaders who give up their time to run them are amazing. I'm hoping he stays with it a long time- I also love that it's another group of friends for him in case he ever has a falling out at school. His other hobby activities are more structured so I find they don't interact with the other kids as much on a personal level as they do at beavers where they really bond as a group with an identity.

Scouting a fantastic community to get into and will open the door to many opportunities if he sticks with it

Worth it definitely. Your son will see adults who volunteer to help their community, if you aren't a family that practice these values it's good for kids to see this. If the Beaver unit is attached to a church the self discipline and pride of going to Parade, my kids loved walking
to the Cenotaph with hundreds of others to pay their respects, made them feel like part of something. They learn independence and self reliance and get to have a go at lots of different skills and activities. In Cubs upwards the older kids are encouraged to develop leadership.

I love it because of the range they do. Recently DSs have, with Scouting, done:

• first aid
• camping
• hiking
• photography
• fencing
• climbing
• a litter pick
• learnt about Diwali with one of the Mums
• orienteering
• camp fire cooking
• indoor caving

Lots of things to try and see. And yes, it’s not competitive, which is good.

I'm a volunteer unit helper for Brownies, I'd say these types of groups in general are low pressure, where children can try lots of different things, a different subject every week for eg craft one week, next might be learning first aid, next might be map reading and it means kids don't feel the pressure like they might have at piano or swimming lessons to always be "improving".

They also get to make friends with kids from different schools and different year groups so if they are stuck in a friendship format at school it's a chance to break out from that and this gives them more confidence as I have seen in my Dd especially and other girls in Brownies over the years.

Yes it is worth it!!
I was in the scouting and guiding movement for quite a few years and after summer camp with the scouts one year - I was out shopping and we ran into one of the mums' who was saying how good a time her son had while away for a week with us.
She also said how she came home one day during the holidays and saw her son had cooked a meal for him and his siblings. She had never taught or trusted him to cook and would never doubt him again as he said how simple it was with gas/electric cooking compared to cooking on a campfire where so many things can make or break a meal. She was delighted that he actually enjoyed one of life's basic but necessary skills.
So give it a go - it may not be for him in the long run. But he can learn so much from it.

To warn you though if you are considering Beavers you need to get his name down right now. Many groups have long waiting lists to get a place.

It’s one of the better value extra curricular activities mine do (they are now at cubs and scouts but started at beavers). They’ve made friends outside of their school social circle which is great. And they love the camps which are so much cheaper than school trips.

@Compsearch you may need to check with your local group whether they have a parent rota. Our group understands that not all parents can be on the rota but most parents find a way they can help the group in some way eg fundraising

It’s volunteer lead so varies greatly. But for my family it’s been phenomenal. I can’t tell you what a difference it’s made, new experiences, friends from different schools.
mine are now young leaders. I was really cynical, and quite anti it, we gave it a whirl and they blossomed.

Beavers is amazing.

It's doing those activities with other kids that makes it extra fun.

At Beavers's they become more confident and independent as well as having adventures.

If my kids only did one activity that would be it.

I h my xchildren did/do beavers, cubs and scouts, youngest still in scouts
They've done loads of really special things, camps, trips to all sorts of places, last one was London, stayed on the Scouts boat, saw loads of London with their friends and with leaders. Each week it's different, walks, cycles, velodrome this week, swimming, fish and chip challenge, fire station, theatre ... the list goes on.
My DH is a leader too so he's often on the trip - he loved it too lol 😂