Scouts for a life long Guiding Mum

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DD2 is starting Scouts in Sept, rather than leaving Brownies for Guides. No problem it's nearer, she has friends going and the guides are dull.
But DD1 is a guide, soon to be ranger and I've done the lot including being a Brown Owl. I know nothing about Scouts, the others have been beavers, what do I need to know not to look an idiot (I don't mind looking a twit, but DD2 does)

I'm an Owl with a Beaver son and helping out there plus Cubs (you do get sucked in don't you?!)

My random observations of the differences - Guiding is much hotter on H&S. Scouting's approach seems to be that if you can't climb it or eat it then you need to set fire to it. Beaver Leader couldn't even provide me with a Scout Risk Assessment template. She also had no equivalant of a G/O form for an all day outing or parade in a nearby village followed by activities for 3 hours. I went to help and had 4 Beavers ... no contact numbers for any parents at all!

Scouting's bureaucracy is far more complex than Guiding's. Which seems ironic given what I've just said above.

They don't go for unofficial badges at all. I'm a great fan of the extra 'challenges' from www.Guiders.co.uk, but the Scouts' County meeting thought I'd grown an extra head when I proposed a badge as a fundraiser.

They do require a belief in a higher being.

Roll the necker 7 times.

Badges have VERY set places to go on the uniform - there are diagrams on the website.

The big things are the same though - it's all about letting young people have fun! :-)

Scouting's approach seems to be that if you can't climb it or eat it then you need to set fire to it.

So eloquently put!

Thanks!
Climbing and setting fire to things sounds just right, it's the falling off that's the problem, she still climbs trees despite breaking her wrist.
If I never see another day outing form I'll be delighted, DD1 is going abroad with the guides and I never want to see another form.
Thanks for the badge warning, guides just go anywhere.
As for the higher being, I've been fudging that one since I was 7 DD less so.

I didn't know you had to roll the necker 7 times! Oh God, have been sending DS1 to Scouts for 18months with his necker all wrong! I love the set fire to it comment, made me

Scouting's approach seems to be that if you can't climb it or eat it then you need to set fire to it.

Things obviously haven't changed since my db was a Scout then!

Scouting's approach seems to be that if you can't climb it or eat it then you need to set fire to it.

The last camp my DS went on, his new walking boots melted when he put them too close to the fire when drying them. We've also had a broken arm following a scouting night out (complete accident - no-one other DS to blame).

It's very interesting, and certainly not a pretty sight, when our Akela and Brown Owl are in the same room. They dislike each other intensely and it's all centred around the way they run their groups. Each thinks they're in the right. Anyway, all the children, at whichever group, have a great time.

All these leaders are great, and I'm so grateful for the free time they give up for my children.