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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

Original poster

Beavers

38 replies

purpleme12 · 10/12/2019 16:38

One is being set up really near to us next year. (There are no other activities this near so this is really good). As we don't drive so walk everywhere. So I'm interested in this for my little girl who's 6

Can someone whose child goes to beavers tell me what it's like and what kind of stuff they do please

Is there a good mix of girls and boys

OP posts:
ineedaholidaynow · 10/12/2019 16:47

It can depend on the group. When DS was in Beavers there was quite a good mix between girls and boys. He is now a young leader for the same Beaver group and there are way more boys than girls at the moment, so it can change.

They do a variety of things, some craft, some baking, basic fist aid, (it's amazing how much bandage you can wrap round one Beaver!) games, outdoor activities. They went on their first proper District camp this year, which they all loved.

They usually like parents to help out, our group has a parent rota, so usually end up helping out on one session per term. Be warned it can get very loud!

tldr · 10/12/2019 16:48

Sex mix will depend entirely on what else is going on. Here, where there’s lots of Rainbows/Brownies there’s a handful of girls at DS’s beavers.

Activities will depend on leaders but ours are generally a good mix; cooking, games, lego challenges, walks in the woods, den building, crafts, bike fixing, first aid (if you ever want your arm strapping up by a 6yo...)

Brilliant.

ineedaholidaynow · 10/12/2019 16:51

If you go on the Scout uk website there is a members' section which details the badges Beavers can earn. Not all groups will do all the badge work but it might also give you an idea of some of the things they may do.

You may also like to read a current thread about a Beaver parent's anguish over sewing on badges Grin

Pengweng · 10/12/2019 16:54

My twin girls go to beavers and have done for about a year. There is only one other girl and about 15 boys but it doesn't bother them.

They do a mix of different badge work. This year they have done first aid, environment, science experiments, lots of team building, lighting fires, den building, nature badge, hobby badge, communications (they had a list of things they needed to be able to do including send an email and make a phone call).

Most of their friends from school go to Brownies but it was on a Sunday and we all ready had commitments then so they decided to give Beavers a try and love it.

They did have to go on the waiting list for a few months but I don't remember having to wait that long.

Pengweng · 10/12/2019 16:57

Oh yes the badge sewing on! They all have to be sewn in the correct place. So certain badges on the sleeve (pain in the ass to sew on) and some on the front etc. Fabric glue and that iron on stuff do not work either. Mine came home with 6 badges each last week as some had been on back order so now i have 12 to sew on over the Christmas holidays. Bah Humbug Grin

reginafelangee · 10/12/2019 17:00

What they do and how many girls there are will vary by group. But check the link to give you an idea.

My daughters group is about 40% girls and they go camping, hiking, play games, learn skills, crafts, all sorts.

This term they've had vista from police dogs, karate instructors, an airline pilot.

scouts.org.uk/beavers

Original poster
purpleme12 · 10/12/2019 17:01

This is interesting thank you everyone

Yes not so sure about the sewing!😆

I know there is a rainbows in our town but if we went it would be a very long walk or more likely bus ride plus it's on a day she already does swimming. So perhaps there'll be less girls cos of that then? Anyway I guess there's no way of telling

Not sure she'd want to fix a bike but she'd probably like the rest of it! She'd love the lighting fires! Apart from liking babies she's not really a 'girly' girl

OP posts:
newdeer · 10/12/2019 17:09

It will depend on the leaders, who are all volunteers. Our Beavers' troupe was very outdoorsy, so they played in the woods, built bonfires, cooked on open fires, went camping etc. They also did a lot of craft - making seasonal presents for family etc. There were some annual get togethers - great fireworks nights with sausages and tomato soup and lots of big bangs. Inside,t ehy did endless chase games, dodgeball etc - a lot of charging around Some singing. It was very good fun.

ineedaholidaynow · 10/12/2019 17:23

How could I have forgotten dodgeball Smile

milliefiori · 10/12/2019 22:25

Yes, the badge sewing. I swear those badges are lined with steel.

Starlight456 · 10/12/2019 22:31

My Ds did beavers now scouts ,

Did a mix of hiking , craft, games in the hall, visited pet shop, swimming, roller skating, visit fire station.

It does vary from leader to leader .

Mner2019 · 10/12/2019 22:35

We use fabric glue. If it starts to peel off, I just add more.

Mner2019 · 10/12/2019 22:35

For the badges that is

BackforGood · 10/12/2019 23:09

As everyone has said, it will depend on each Colony as to both the ratios and also the activities.
However, the motto is 'Fun and Friends'. My dc all loved it, and went on through Cubs, Scouts and Explorers and have just benefited so much from all they have done and experienced.

BlueGingerale · 10/12/2019 23:13

They do a lot of lighting fires!

And a lot of dodge ball.

Scouts has been the best thing my 3 DC have done. I highly recommend it.

IJustWantToWearDungarees · 10/12/2019 23:14

If you do go for joining I recommend getting a Beaver blanket. Badges can be sewn onto this instead of uniform. This has three advantages: firstly, it doesn't matter if you sew them on wonky; secondly, it buys you more time to get them sewn on as the blanket only comes out a few times a year; and thirdly, you don't have to move the badges when they get new uniform. Best tip I got when DS joined!

Original poster
purpleme12 · 10/12/2019 23:21

Ah thanks everyone this is really useful

OP posts:
ineedaholidaynow · 10/12/2019 23:52

I thought there were some badges they are meant to have on their uniform.

DS still has his Beaver blanket, even though he is now in Explorers.

BackforGood · 11/12/2019 21:38

If you do go for joining I recommend getting a Beaver blanket. Badges can be sewn onto this instead of uniform.

Well, no, they can't. I mean, they can afterwards when no longer needed, but the girls and boys like to have the badges they have earned on their sleeves.
Then, the membership badge and the District and County Badges and the Group name tape all go on the jumper to show you are invested and now a part of the movement.

The camp blanket is for older staged badges, and for badges you can buy at various campsites and for badges that have been for 'events' that are then more than a ear old.

IJustWantToWearDungarees · 11/12/2019 22:31

@BackforGood maybe it is different for different Beaver groups, but they certainly can in ours. The group badges etc have to be on the uniform, but there are relatively few of them. The rest of the badges (skills, sleepovers etc) can be sewn straight onto the blanket. OP, it's probably best to check with your own group! Smile

BackforGood · 11/12/2019 23:25

Beaver Uniform

No - it is what it is. Part of belonging to a uniformed organisation is that there is a uniform. It shouldn't be different for different Groups, it is the same nationally.

BouleBaker · 12/12/2019 06:45

Never heard of badges going straight into camp blanket, and I’m a Beaver Leader.

What they will do totally depends on the group but every young person is meant to be offered at least one camp a year. Fire lighting and dodgeball seem to happen frequently in most groups. The badges are very varied and mean they get to do loads of things which they may not otherwise do.

My favourite memory was making bug hotels. They had to use a hacksaw (1-1 supervision and if the blade slipped it was me getting hurt not them. They absolutely loved it. Oh, and then making catapults from marshmallows and wooden skewers while the leaders made one from bamboo canes and duck tape. They took it in turns to fire marshmallows over the car park with that. 😂

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 12/12/2019 06:58

This tey DD has done fire lighting, road safety, river safety, biscuit decorating, junk modelling, put on a little play, played loads of games, and other stuff. Next week they are off to the cinema. She's learnt climbing, caving, archery and axe throwing. She also comes along to Cub and Scout stuff due to her parents being leaders.

The badges aren't horrific... Honestly. Once you have the knack they take minutes.

If you're a bit careless you cM be sucked into being an adult uniformed leader. I was captured just over 2 years ago into Cubs. It's great, but can be time consuming.

IJustWantToWearDungarees · 12/12/2019 14:56

@BackforGood Our Beaver group are brilliant and my DS adheres to the uniform code - he recently marched in the Remembrance Day parade with his Beaver group and was immaculately turned out. He now has more than 30 badges and he just doesn't put those on his uniform. His excellent Beaver leaders, who do amazing work and follow the rules carefully, told him that was fine. I'm not trying to get into an argument with you - I'm perfectly happy to accept its different in your group. But that's how my DS's group does it! Isn't the wonder and variety of the world a lovely thing?!😀

OP, sorry if my casual tip has derailed the thread a bit! I'd thoroughly recommend Beavers - the volunteers in our group organise some incredible activities and its great for developing independence.

BackforGood · 12/12/2019 23:32

Not different "from my group" IJustWantToWearDungarees, different from 'Scouts' - Nationally, Internationally.

However, I am glad that your ds enjoys Beavers even if the Leaders have got the uniform rules wrong. Wink