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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

...to be disapointed with beavers?

53 replies

morecoffeemorecoffee · 10/05/2012 14:34

A few weeks ago I posted a thread about Beavers here

My Ds was really keen to go. He's been 4 times and he and I are really disappointed. I was not expecting them to be pond dipping/den building/ cooking etc every week, but what they've done so is quite boring. These are the activities they've done-

Colouring in pattern sheets torn out of a colouring book
Write a prayer
Drawing (whatever they want)
Write a list of activities they want to do in future sessions (non of which they've fone yet)
More 'free' drawing
10mins of free lego play.

I have stayed for a couple if the sessions as Ds didn't want me to leave so I have seen what they do. The leader seems to struggle keeping the children's attention and they all seem really bored (the children). The sessions last for an hour and a half, so if the only activity is colouring, you can see why the children may loose interest!

Ds says its boring and doesn't want to go anymore which is fine but I wondered if this was typical of the sort of stuff they do at other Beavers groups.

Also, they have asked parents/carers/relatives if they can help out. They have said that we don't need to be crb checked if we only help out for 1 session a term. Is this right.? I would not be happy about leaving my son with someone at a club who hasn't had a crb check.

OP posts:
BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 10/05/2012 14:36

Can you try a session somewhere else? My DS went to beavers once but to be honest, it was such unorganised chaos that we never went back. I have heard fab things about beavers though so it must just be down to the leaders.

LittleWhiteMice · 10/05/2012 14:37

make suggesttions to your beaver leasder

throckenholt · 10/05/2012 14:39

I think it is very dependent on the leaders.

Mine didn't do beavers, but have done cubs. Sometimes they do some really good stuff, outdoor things are favourite, but other times it is just like an extension of school (eg making christmas decorations, making posters by printing with potatoes etc).

I also think when the groups are large it gets very loud and deteriorates into crowd control - it takes a special, energetic, and imaginative person to keep that week after week and make each one interesting and different. Pretty sure I couldn't do it !

Original poster
morecoffeemorecoffee · 10/05/2012 14:40

I have found other Beavers groups in other towns but it would be a bit of a drive to get to them so wanted to get a feel for whether these activities are normal or not before we look else where.

I don't feel comfortable suggesting things to the leader as we are new to the group....

OP posts:
ExitPursuedByABear · 10/05/2012 14:41

I do wonder if they are limited by what they can do these days because of H & S?

My DD goes to guides, but they don't seem to do much either. They did go to camp last year which was fab with loads of outdoor activities, but she hasn't done a single badge at the weekly sessions.

slalomsuki · 10/05/2012 14:42

One of mine does Beavers and loves it. Last night they went to the local co-op to look for fair trade produce and then discussed it. Week before they had a fireman there with some first aid equipment that they all got to try out and before that they did some road safety with the local police.

It sounds out that they need to pan some more activities and think more. Mine do activity games when they go in, throwing a soft ball around the hall or some game that involves jumping and then they settle down. In a couple of weeks they are doing an overnight camp and them they have to do 60 activities in a month to get another badge. All of these things seem to be off the scouting website.

If you volunteer you don't need to be crb checked in the first instance if all the other people there are crb checked. It would restrict what you could do and you wouldn't be able to be left with the children. A volunteer crb check is simple and comes back quite quickly and it may work out for them to have an extra pair of hands.

Original poster
morecoffeemorecoffee · 10/05/2012 14:42

There are about 15 children in the group, would this be considered a large group?

OP posts:
funnypeculiar · 10/05/2012 14:42

CRB thing is what they do at our local one.

Ours is fab (imo) - yes there is often colouring, but off top of my head they've also done:

  • making fruit kebabs & learning about healthy eating
  • making jointed St George models and dragons
  • project on planes/flying things - everyone had to talk about thier favourite flying maching
  • Christmas bauble decorating
  • junk monster making
  • cress growing competition
  • they always have some running around games (dodgeball/sticky toffee type)

Could you talk to the leader about plans for the next term to see if any of the more exciting ideas are on their way in? if not, I'd ditch it tbh, sounds dull.

funnypeculiar · 10/05/2012 14:44

We have fire-station trip coming up too Smile

peeriebear · 10/05/2012 14:44

DD1's Brownies seems a bit like this. A lot of free drawing or sticking cereal boxes together with sellotape (she does that at home anyway!) When I was at Brownies we did all kinds of things! I remember decorating a terracotta plant pot by covering it in Polyfilla and sticking small seashells all over it, I bloody loved that pot :o We went to the local maternity ward to see the babies once, I doubt they'd allow that now!

jenfraggle · 10/05/2012 14:44

Exit the badges are supposed to be individual achievements that are done in their own time. She should be working towards Go For Its and other resources in the Unit.

ExitPursuedByABear · 10/05/2012 14:45

I did my cooking badge at brownies about 44 years ago. They let me fry bacon in a pan at 8 years old Shock

And my sewing badge - I still have the mouse I made.

I had bloody loads of badges. Wonder what happened to them?

ExitPursuedByABear · 10/05/2012 14:46

Really jen? Better check out the web page/talk to the guide leader.

Original poster
morecoffeemorecoffee · 10/05/2012 14:46

You see funny the st Georges day activity they did was write a prayer about st George Confused

Maybe I will ring the leader and find out about what they have planned for the rest of the term.

OP posts:
ChopstheScarletduck · 10/05/2012 14:47

groups def vary. I would say ours is a mix.

This summer has -

Build a Hut
Fruit Salads
Healthy foods
Walk Yourself Fit
Games Evening
Father's Day gift
Football
Park trip
Indoor Olympics (come dressed as a sports person)
Personal Hygiene
Park and forest trip (bring a healthy picnic)

Clearly this term they are working on health and sports badges!

Last term they did their pet badge, which included a trip to Pets @ Home and a visit/talk from a lady with her guide dog.

SunshineOnARainyDay · 10/05/2012 14:48

Our local Beaver group is fabulous, the waiting list was so long they've started another group on another night. My DD has just left Beavers and has started Cubs (equally fab group in the same hut on a different night) and DS joined the Beaver group three weeks ago. So far they've been on a hike, had a talk on Fair Trade and tried foods from around the world as well as playing games.

I think it really depends on the area. I cannot fault our Beaver/Cub leaders, they do a great job and manage to keep the children in order.

weblette · 10/05/2012 14:48

I would have a riot won my hands with my Beavers if we just did that every week. This term so far we've had a games night, made stomp rockets which went 40ft in the air, done maps/compasses/tying knots with strawberry laces and tonight we'll be heading out into the wet and muddy woods to learn about bushcraft.

However if the leader is by themselves I can see why they're struggling to do anything more adventurous. How many others help? If I didn't have parent helpers and my assistant I'd be pretty stuck in terms of doing more exciting things. Children at that age need much more hands-on assistance. FWIW I have at least two parent helpers every week to allow me to break my group of 24 Beavers into smaller units.

As for the CRB check, my group insist on at least one person in each family CRBed as every family is expected to help at least once each term. Scout childr protection rules state that adults should never be on a one-to-one basis with a child away from the main group so even if an adult didn't have a CRB it's extremely unlikely that they would be in a situation where they would be in sole contact with your child.

Ultimately this comes down to the parents. Get involved so the volunteer leader can do more. Help with activities, volunteer skills you may have. Chances are the leader's not enjoying it very much either!

monkeymoma · 10/05/2012 14:48

if you are free to stay and watch then you're probably free to help out?

the "better" activities need better volunteer ratios, if you want it to happen then enable it by helping

Stinkyfeet · 10/05/2012 14:51

That is nothing like the Beavers ds2 goes to. He's just started and so far has had an Emergency Aid session (working towards a badge) and a visit from a vets - bringing snakes, puppies and lizards. They have a planned timetable for the whole term. Coming up they've got a walk around the local town and cricket at the park.

The sessions are structured with a running around game to wear them out to start with, then the main activity, a break with a drink and a biscuit, finish activity, then circle time for handing out badges, a very short prayer and information about the following week.

I think it's very much down to the enthusiasm and contacts of the leaders.

Original poster
morecoffeemorecoffee · 10/05/2012 15:06

There is the leader and 2 others (parents but help every week) in uniform plus another parent (different every week as we can choose one session a term to help) so a pretty good ratio of 4 adults to 15 children imo.

Yes I can help out and have said I will do so, but while he's been trying it out and ive stayed to 'watch' I've had my 3yr old with me whos been asleep on my lap as Dh has been at work so 3yr old has had to come along.

OP posts:
catgirl1976 · 10/05/2012 15:10

I thought you meant the animals.

I wondered what they hell they had done to dissapoint you.

Now I am disappointed with this thread :(

ArcticLemming · 10/05/2012 15:19

Me too catgirl. I'm feeling a little disillusioned with polecats at the moment, as well as a bit let down by large rodents in general, so thought I had found a kindred spirit.

jenfraggle · 10/05/2012 15:21

Can't help much with Scouting but if anyone has any Guiding questions I've started a thread here

Groovee · 10/05/2012 15:24

My ds did lots of badges in Beavers and was the first in their scout group to gain his bronze award. He did lots of things like going on country walks, planting, Did things about fire safety. I believe the leaders before the current ones only ever played games.

He's in cubs now and loving the challenge of cubs but I think it's because of a good leader there too.

IloveJudgeJudy · 10/05/2012 15:35

DB is a beaver leader and has done making spears, shields and dragons for St George's day. He has been to a mosque and/or synagogue and loads of other things I can't think of atm. It definitely depends on the leaders.

When DS2 went to Beavers they would go to the park to do a treasure hunt, go to the local green to look for various insects, play dodgeball in the hall, play other running games.

I hope you manage to find a better colony.

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