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Extra-curricular activities

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

Original poster

Scouting staffroom type thread on Mumsnet?

113 replies

PerplexedOnceMore · 14/10/2024 13:36

I've seen one for Guides on Mumsnet and was wondering if there was anything similar for the Scouting Movement?
I'm fairly new in post and would appreciate a place to go for advice, share some hints and tips etc.

OP posts:
Original poster
PerplexedOnceMore · 07/04/2025 08:30

I've done most of the online training. I have a couple of modules outstanding from where adjustments were made to my role with the IT switchover.
Even from the link you sent, there's a heck of lot of info to sift through. I have found the relevant section, so thank you. I just thought there might be a quick place to find key information like this and didn't see the harm in asking.

OP posts:
TickingAlongNicely · 07/04/2025 08:41

I've googled ratios a few times just to double check.
Sometimes other people have outdated information...
(Plus there's local procedures!)

MysteriousUsername · 07/04/2025 09:01

Hello! I joined Scouting as a Beaver leader when my youngest started Beavers. He’s now 17 and in Explorers. I left Beavers and thought I was free, but my son moved to a different group for Scouts and when they put a call out for leaders I volunteered. So I’ve been doing it for 12 years in total.

One thing our Scouts always like is a Science evening. We did lolly stick chain reactions last week and they were all quietly concentrating, something which rarely happens!

Budgiegirlbob · 07/04/2025 09:25

PerplexedOnceMore · 07/04/2025 08:30

I've done most of the online training. I have a couple of modules outstanding from where adjustments were made to my role with the IT switchover.
Even from the link you sent, there's a heck of lot of info to sift through. I have found the relevant section, so thank you. I just thought there might be a quick place to find key information like this and didn't see the harm in asking.

It’s always worth asking! As a cub leader of 14 years, this is one of my bugbears with the Scout Association- there are so many rules (understandably), but finding the answer to a query you might have can be very difficult, as it’s often buried in pages of information. Even after the years I’ve been doing this, I sometimes worry I’ve missed something important, especially when rules change.

And when I had a query on a particular issue, couldn’t find a definitive answer, and messaged Scout HQ, the answer I got back was vague and woolly. Although it should have been a straightforward yes/no answer.

helpfulperson · 07/04/2025 09:26

PerplexedOnceMore · 07/04/2025 08:30

I've done most of the online training. I have a couple of modules outstanding from where adjustments were made to my role with the IT switchover.
Even from the link you sent, there's a heck of lot of info to sift through. I have found the relevant section, so thank you. I just thought there might be a quick place to find key information like this and didn't see the harm in asking.

It is definetley not the most user friendly site for finding information!

I was just checking about the training because of the comment about your GSL in case you didnt know about POR.

moggerhanger · 07/04/2025 22:12

I'm a lawyer by training and I hate reading POR. I wish it had a decent index or cross reference section.

helpfulperson · 07/04/2025 22:14

moggerhanger · 07/04/2025 22:12

I'm a lawyer by training and I hate reading POR. I wish it had a decent index or cross reference section.

It is horrendus, i agree.

UnalliterativeGeorge · 17/04/2025 10:22

I've just got back from camp - ten beavers on their first night away and they were brilliant. It definitely reminds you why you do it!
Now I just need to put all the sleeping bags etc away as my own two cubs went too. So much washing...

TickingAlongNicely · 13/05/2025 13:29

Has anyone seen the new Swimmer Staged badge criteria? I'm happy that's theres now hopd guidance relating it to the swimming badges they get at lessons but I'm surprised how much easier it now is.

budgiegirl · 13/05/2025 17:36

UnalliterativeGeorge · 17/04/2025 10:22

I've just got back from camp - ten beavers on their first night away and they were brilliant. It definitely reminds you why you do it!
Now I just need to put all the sleeping bags etc away as my own two cubs went too. So much washing...

So glad you enjoyed it - it's a lot of work, and I always come home exhausted after camp - but it is fun, and the kids seem to love it, so it's worth every bit of effort that we put in

budgiegirl · 13/05/2025 17:37

TickingAlongNicely · 13/05/2025 13:29

Has anyone seen the new Swimmer Staged badge criteria? I'm happy that's theres now hopd guidance relating it to the swimming badges they get at lessons but I'm surprised how much easier it now is.

I agree it does seem easier, but thank goodness they've aligned the badges with Swim England criteria - so much better!

moggerhanger · 15/05/2025 08:19

budgiegirl · 13/05/2025 17:37

I agree it does seem easier, but thank goodness they've aligned the badges with Swim England criteria - so much better!

Show quote history

They've had to rejig a lot of badges because of starting Squirrels. Not always to the good IMO, e.g. the new Beavers Space badge criteria are nothing like as interesting as the old ones. (My heart always sinks at anything saying "find out about..." as I know I'll have to put extra effort into making it not like school.)

TickingAlongNicely · 30/05/2025 16:49

Scout hut has been broken into.

Fortunately just after a couple of high value items so very minimal damage. (A nearby hut was completely ransacked just for the fun of it last year!) Also Fortunately we've just renewed insurance so we don't have to worry about premiums going up to next year.

But FFS. Why target a charity?

Original poster
PerplexedOnceMore · 31/05/2025 18:55

Oh I'm so sorry to hear about this @TickingAlongNicely that sounds so frustrating and disheartening.

OP posts:
UnalliterativeGeorge · 31/05/2025 22:41

Ugh, that's annoying! Our minibus was stolen last year, it's just more hassle you don't need!

moggerhanger · 01/06/2025 09:50

That's horrible, how annoying.

moggerhanger · 01/06/2025 09:54

I've not long come back from a joint camp with two other Beaver Colonies. It was...interesting. Basically, two Colonies worked together well, one didn't. Lots of lessons to be learned regarding expectations of other leaders, and not assuming that everyone is automatically singing from the sane hymn sheet. But I was so exhausted when I got home, it did start me wondering if I'm getting too old for Beavers camps. The getting everything ready, the constant running around, and the inevitably broken sleep was just too much.

moggerhanger · 08/06/2025 07:46

This reply has been withdrawn

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

UnalliterativeGeorge · 09/06/2025 20:12

Ooh that's a rough one - is he a beaver who wants to be a beaver or one who's ended up one because they're GLV and cub leader...?

TickingAlongNicely · 09/06/2025 22:23

At the risk of sounding like a MN cliche... has he got any additional needs?

I'd be saying his parents need to stay for a session

moggerhanger · 11/06/2025 14:48

@TickingAlongNicely I'd say not. I've had a fair few kids through the doors over the years I've been doing this, and while I'm no expert, I can usually spot the ones with some form of SEND. (Diagnosed or otherwise! I have had The Conversation with more than one set of parents - you know the one: "is there anything else I should know about Johnny?") I think he's got what my teen kids would call Main Character Syndrome. By no means the first kid I've had with that TBF.

@UnalliterativeGeorge I think he definitely wants to be in Scouting. He just wants to be the best, the most important, and the centre of attention, but without any understanding of how to achieve that positively. He's pretty intelligent as far as I can make out, but not very resilient - will scoff that a demonstrated activity is "easy", but then cries that he can't do it when it doesn't go perfectly first time.

I have to keep reminding myself that I see him for 1 hour 10 minutes every week and that I can't fix what's amiss in that time. I just have to manage things so everyone is happy and safe (and then go home and pour a large vodka). But it's a real pity - because he's unkind to the other kids and tries to get them in trouble, I am already seeing them beginning to give him a wide berth, not wanting to partner with him for activities etc.

moggerhanger · 11/06/2025 14:59

Though I am going to take the opportunity to remind parents that we have a behaviour code, that the kids all know about, and a yellow/red card system like in football. I can make it look like an update to cover all the new joiners we've had since the last update over a year ago.

Original poster
PerplexedOnceMore · 12/07/2025 16:52

As we approach the end of school term, I'm wondering if you hold special events with your Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts etc in the school holidays?

OP posts:
Ultra75 · 12/07/2025 17:23

No, all our sections finish this coming week and we return the second week of September.

VioletCrawleyForever · 12/07/2025 17:44

PerplexedOnceMore · 12/07/2025 16:52

As we approach the end of school term, I'm wondering if you hold special events with your Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts etc in the school holidays?

Scotland - so we’ve already been finished for a few weeks.

we do a summer camp for scouts and explorers.

back mid August for the new term.