I am in recovery here, after our hostelling overnighter went - not spectacularly but - badly wrong last weekend. We were in a hostel the troupe has used most years, but not last year (massive whole Group camp for our 50th - so all 4 troupes together). Had forgotten some of the pitfalls, and I ended up organizing, it rained, there was another big Beaver/Cub group there as well as plenty of "Joe Public".
The problems were internal (all boys in 1 room, and went feral; boys and girls not listening to "no running indoors" instructions etc), late night shenanigans (once the boys had settled, I was only asleep when a delegation of 2 girls woke me for 3 problems - Elastoplast replacement needed on a finger cut, wide awake ADHD child needed her sleeping tablets, and child who is not terribly long recovered from broken foot had hurt it on hike and now in pain) - so I was awake until almost 3 dealing with them, and another couple of hours awake myself as I was convinced I would be driving foot girl home. Woke early as troupe upstairs were a herd of thundering elephants from 7am (as they went to sleep nice and sensibly early!). But hikes went well, newbies were invested, girls bonded well, no serious injuries (lots of the expected cuts from penknives but no worse) etc.
Then the fall-out from the feral boys - bordered on bullying behavior. So lots of paperwork and meetings last week (1 leaders meeting (kept to a sub committee of 3), 1 formal meeting of leaders with a parent, felt like 101 emails (to keep other leaders informed, let Group Leader know, keep parents informed, needed to let Scout Helper know more than parents but less than all leaders). And prep and research for a serious formal session this weekend on fallout, including a workshop on respecting each other and getting each patrol to lay out their own charter for respect, including each Cub formally signing it. Older boy Cubs had to stay behind for a separate talk and re-take their promise on the flag.
It worked out ok. I have a few follow up emails to send tonight, to let people know the outcome. But my planning time was massively impacted, and I have to find a few things out urgently as well to plan after Easter. And I was utterly drained on Saturday evening - we haven't had problems like this before, and it had to be me stepping up to it with the kids as the new Section Leader (not the normal "nice/helpful mammy" mode). All leaders did step up, I wasn't isolated, it was just draining and a weight on my shoulders.
So now, I need to get a few things like spare woggles sorted, work out the plan for swim test after Easter (tides are rubbish this season and DD will miss the potentially best day for a family event, so I need to try and persuade leaders doing a first aid course in the den to also give us the space - it is our scheduled time but we don't usually meet on bank hols...), and plan a very fun session also soon (they missed out making woggles, heavy machinery, seriously creative session for the workshop; and it was also very formal; so I need to make it light and fun too - not to scare them off, now that we have done the hard work, we'll just stick to their new rules and move forwards).
And Group Treasurer has put pressure on to spend money fast - we need some equipment, and have approval, but they want it done fast to use in applying for a grant (and possibly adding on stuff we were going to do next year - we have the funds but not the time to organize it). Told me as I arrived at Den to do the workshop. And the QM of our Cubs was unavoidably away (funeral) so I have to talk to him this week.
Sorry, I know that's an offload - I am just so relieved to have come away from Saturday in 1 piece!