Well it's a long time since I posted and this is because of a change in internet policy at work. ie when I used to update this during a lunch break, it's now totally blocked!
Expect more updates to come, but I've been off work due to a hernia operation so scouting has been somewhat restricted recently!
Thursday 22 October 2009
Wednesday 29 April 2009
Promotion Night
In my last post I mentioned that we were having a promotion night out of our own area to try and entice more kids to scouting.
I'm still suprised at the lack of knowledge about girls in scouting. Our troop is almost 50/50 now and judging by the number of girls we got last night (and the number telling us they'll be coming along next week) we may tip the scales to more girls than boys.
I have absolutely no feelings on whether we have more boys or girls in a troop because they're just as capable as each other. In one of the recent issues of scouting for boys, it was noted that Baden Powel would probably have introduced girls into scouting at the same time as the boys, however given the time it wasn't seen as right to do so. The closer we get to a 50/50 split the better however.
We got nine (maybe ten or eleven - a few turned up late and I didn't keep counting them) and they really enjoyed the night. Our scouts having practiced the week before knew everything about the night and because we didn't have to explain it all again to them, they ran the night not me. I just popped backwards and forwards between the groups to make sure they'd got everything. Unfortunately this meant the night ran quicker than before and we'd pretty much wrapped up with half an hour before the end.
So we ran a round of tag bulldog and Master-Mathew-Mark-Luke-John (a memory game).
In all we had about twenty five at the event including our own troop - how nice would it be if we stayed at that level!
I'm still suprised at the lack of knowledge about girls in scouting. Our troop is almost 50/50 now and judging by the number of girls we got last night (and the number telling us they'll be coming along next week) we may tip the scales to more girls than boys.
I have absolutely no feelings on whether we have more boys or girls in a troop because they're just as capable as each other. In one of the recent issues of scouting for boys, it was noted that Baden Powel would probably have introduced girls into scouting at the same time as the boys, however given the time it wasn't seen as right to do so. The closer we get to a 50/50 split the better however.
We got nine (maybe ten or eleven - a few turned up late and I didn't keep counting them) and they really enjoyed the night. Our scouts having practiced the week before knew everything about the night and because we didn't have to explain it all again to them, they ran the night not me. I just popped backwards and forwards between the groups to make sure they'd got everything. Unfortunately this meant the night ran quicker than before and we'd pretty much wrapped up with half an hour before the end.
So we ran a round of tag bulldog and Master-Mathew-Mark-Luke-John (a memory game).
In all we had about twenty five at the event including our own troop - how nice would it be if we stayed at that level!
Wednesday 22 April 2009
Getting ready for our promotion night
Whilst scouting has seen the closure of many small groups in the UK, it has opened some doors for those existing groups. Around our area are several small villages which no longer have troops but still have kids. Our outreach programme aims to encompass these small villages and if we have any interested kids, we’ll reel them in.
So how best to do this? Well our scouts are running the evening. We’re running a simple programme which should be fast and fun. Tonight we did a dry run of what we’re going to be doing.
- Tent pitching – just a simple hike tent
- Peppermint creams
- Cooking bacon over almonds
- Setting up a Trangia and cooking soup
- Simple first aid
Our kids really enjoyed it, so fingers crossed so will the potential-scouts-to-be next week!
So how best to do this? Well our scouts are running the evening. We’re running a simple programme which should be fast and fun. Tonight we did a dry run of what we’re going to be doing.
- Tent pitching – just a simple hike tent
- Peppermint creams
- Cooking bacon over almonds
- Setting up a Trangia and cooking soup
- Simple first aid
Our kids really enjoyed it, so fingers crossed so will the potential-scouts-to-be next week!
Wednesday 8 April 2009
End of Term Night
Sometimes we open our doors during a school holiday for various reasons, this time round we opened for a games night.
Except that those who turned up wanted to do a bit of firelighting and practiced setting up a trangia.
And we played some pool. For us as leaders it was quite a relaxing night and even we got a chance to brush up on our skills.
Except that those who turned up wanted to do a bit of firelighting and practiced setting up a trangia.
And we played some pool. For us as leaders it was quite a relaxing night and even we got a chance to brush up on our skills.
Wednesday 25 March 2009
Back to normal...
Well, I say normal but it was another off the cuff evening...
The four whom are entering operation starling were off and about doing a small hike from Belchamps to our hall via some backlanes and paths. It shouldn't take much more than an hour, but they started late because two of the kids turned up at the hall rather than at Belchamps and were late at that.
The rest stayed behind and learnt a little first aid (recovery position), how to read contour lines and plan a sensible route and played several games run by the young leader.
Quarter of an hour after flag down, the four off hiking (accompanyed by leaders) still hadn't arrived back and the search team were sent out. After the third attempt they were found walking down Hall road (adjacent to our hall) and they were somewhat covered in mud, stagnant water and sweat. They were almost lynched when they walked in covering the freshly swept floor.
The four whom are entering operation starling were off and about doing a small hike from Belchamps to our hall via some backlanes and paths. It shouldn't take much more than an hour, but they started late because two of the kids turned up at the hall rather than at Belchamps and were late at that.
The rest stayed behind and learnt a little first aid (recovery position), how to read contour lines and plan a sensible route and played several games run by the young leader.
Quarter of an hour after flag down, the four off hiking (accompanyed by leaders) still hadn't arrived back and the search team were sent out. After the third attempt they were found walking down Hall road (adjacent to our hall) and they were somewhat covered in mud, stagnant water and sweat. They were almost lynched when they walked in covering the freshly swept floor.
Sunday 22 March 2009
Tree Planting Day
Our tree planting day has been a long time coming.
We managed to get 150 trees and a £100 grant from the woodland trust. We used the £100 to get 250 more trees to plant out.
Local Councillor Jim Grey came down to open our event and plant a tree. We even got a newspaper article in the local Echo News.
We had cakes, raffle, tea/coffee/soft drinks, craft stall, teddy tombola and hot sausages in buns available to all - we raised just under £200.
But the important part of the event was getting all 400 trees in and around our boundaries, in a few years time we'll have a nice big hedge which'll give us privacy, protection, wildlife, a supply of kindling and fruit.
Because there are around 15 native species in the soil, our kids will also learn the different properties and how to recognise them.
We managed to get 150 trees and a £100 grant from the woodland trust. We used the £100 to get 250 more trees to plant out.
Local Councillor Jim Grey came down to open our event and plant a tree. We even got a newspaper article in the local Echo News.
We had cakes, raffle, tea/coffee/soft drinks, craft stall, teddy tombola and hot sausages in buns available to all - we raised just under £200.
But the important part of the event was getting all 400 trees in and around our boundaries, in a few years time we'll have a nice big hedge which'll give us privacy, protection, wildlife, a supply of kindling and fruit.
Because there are around 15 native species in the soil, our kids will also learn the different properties and how to recognise them.
Saturday 21 March 2009
Tree planting preperation #2
All the preperation for the tree planting day has been hurrying along. Today we got all the tents up, washed up the mugs for the tea for the next day (35p each from wilkinsons, bargain!) and did a bit of last minute tidying...
The afternoon saw me driving over to Woodham Ferriers to pick up the plaque we'd had made that day by a kind sole who saw us in need. I was given the chance to practice my tyre changing skills (which I'd demonstrated the Wednesday before at scouts) when I got a puncture (it wasn't the same wheel they'd changed by the way!)
See! Useful skills (and everyday adventure?)
The afternoon saw me driving over to Woodham Ferriers to pick up the plaque we'd had made that day by a kind sole who saw us in need. I was given the chance to practice my tyre changing skills (which I'd demonstrated the Wednesday before at scouts) when I got a puncture (it wasn't the same wheel they'd changed by the way!)
See! Useful skills (and everyday adventure?)
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