Return

Today I should be back from what has been a Camp experience where I have spent time away from my home region having travelled by road which does give you lovely views and the ability to take a twenty minute break from driving to stretch your legs and take everything in.

Because I am a Wolf Cub in Spirit, I have taken those values with my on this journey in my interactions with others in play with my friends and in exploring myself and the world around me.

Cooking in the open

Most likely today, we will be having a outdoor cooking session in the early evening with an improvised barbecue rather like this but we will be using part cooked on a regular oven  stuff to be 100% sure it was well cooked in the middle.

It's one the things around camp like experiences I love - no, not just the food, but helping and sitting eating in the open with the smell of charcoal being up their with bonfires for bring back child-like camp experiences.

Exploring our surroundings

It is quite possible today at camp I might well be on a field exploration because we are fortunate to have access to open countryside such as rights of way across fields that lead to lakes and old farm buildings.

That's one of things I most love about the time I'm away rather like last time not being the sort of boy who'd be content to just sit out in the sun or watch endless tv.  I just feel the need to be doing things.

A pause in the journey

Source: schooloutfitter

When you read this I will be away engaging with others, helping out and exploring which is really what is the best thing for me as difficult as doing some of things can be with my disabilities.
The preparedness to give my all, accept challenges and push my way forward as a wolf cub in spirit is helping me move on and make a life for myself.

Tug of war

There's nothing like the competitive spirit for bringing out everyone's best efforts and at camp it is no different from quizzes, team sports or as here in the Tug of War as we see which team really is the strongest.

Although I wasn't much good at things like the Tug of War I would take part  in them because it was about putting your team first, contributing to that effort even if I might end up covered in mud.

I think things like this are the kinds of memory that stick with you.

Hello everyone!

The Cubs are sat on travel type rug outside of their tents in the shade which is a very good idea at this time of year as you can easily burn or get sunstroke having eaten and had something to drink.

Their uniform which is very smart, also is fairly light with short sleeve options and all are in shorts which believe me if you've ever camped in the summer makes a lot of sense which is one reason they look so happy in this picture.

The other is boys have a sense of Wunderlust, the need to explore and learn new things and cub camps provide for that in a safe way.

One, two, three...

More fun at camp as they swing their group leader complete with standard as the others are busy doing other thing.

That kind of thing is something looking back on it I loved in my earlier days, just having fun for the heck of it.

It's your turn!

It's hard to see this occurring today with the litigious society and cottonwool-itus around but as a boy I was and joined in with being roughhoused where it formed a part of being initiated into the social world of boys.

Some complain about initiation, period but every group has this drive, this need even to draw you with a collective experience and when they are removed with good intentions, often more riskier ones take their place.

Badges and me 2

The fourth entry in the retrospective award section and fifth overall.

The ability to read a Map might seem endangered in an age of Sat-Nav's that verbalize routes but being able to read a map isn't even just a question of of finding which road or paths to take but also telling of you what to expect such as hills, streams, ancient sites and the gradients and being able to use to plan and follow a route.
It also covers being able to tell people where you are  by using grid co-ordinates and find people using that yourself.
I learned that at boarding school and so yes I certainly would of earned the Ordinance Survey sponsored badge.
Moving to the right hand side, we have the Personal Safety award which is about knowing how to keep yourself safe in the 'real' physical world, to be able to identify threats and know how to deal with them. This is something I have worked on as my disabilities potentially make more vulnerable.
Finally we have the My Faith badge which is about understand the history and teachings of your own faith and from that how you treat others. I had sufficient understanding of my Christian Science Faith at the time to had been award it.

Scouting makes a Difference

There are sometimes people who tend to question why movements such as Scouting are needed today when there are other things children and young people can do even out of doors.
I could say just read Scouting For Boys or any decent account of Baden-Powell's life and times cos while I have no issue with people asking questions sometimes people don't look up things for themselves first that might explain it and lead them to ask a more thoughtful question instead.
Actually what is on that front cover is why we need it because though what those young people learned accompanied at the time by leaders, Courtney Hall was rescued being trapped in a brook when she came off the road with some additional support.
Scouting's contribution made a real difference because they stayed calm, knew what to do with what they got and got the job done knowing their limits by applying what they had learned in their weekly Scouts meetings and studied to gain their awards for.
The car was moved so she could be freed.
Scouting has a practical application - training people to be the best they can and to take appropriate responsibility for themselves and others.
That is why we need it and as this blog's author I fully support it.

Staged IT Digital Citizen award badges

Badges come and some go as mentioned one one post but one that has been altered from introduction today is the Staged IT proficiency /Digital Citizen Badges brought under the auspicious of Microsoft and BCS. 

This wasn't really an option in the era I'd of been invested as a cub scout and moved on into Scouts as computers were things you saw in Government, banking and hospitals.
This is the current full set bought because having done IT courses, learned Basic, studied internet security and keeping myself safe online no doubt I'd of got these.
Computing is a bridge with me and today's young people having helped many get more out of computers and also having kept up to date with changes in computer systems myself.
dd

Badges and me

Those most familiar with this blog know a part of it is actually about me and dealing an injustice from my parents that was explained at the beginning of this blog.

It's that which set it aside from any 'vintage' scouting blog apart from the fact I also blog about scouting today for today's young people.

Rewinding the clock to what is the third entry around Awards, the first and guiding principal of my having awards is: Had I of been in membership, would I of qualified for and shown the proficiency of award set at the time?

That's because my having the badges today is just that - compensatory awards - for the failure to invest me but in saying that I have to have shown evidence I could of achieved them by my own merit. 

No badge should ever be disrespected by taking the attitude "I have it because I want it" because they are Earned and so in other settings I need to Earn them to own them. 

That's because I'm a Wolf Cub in spirit and I obey The Law.

In 1977, the year of the Queens Silver Jubilee I studied the life of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth and took part in events to mark twenty-five years of her reign. I would by that point of moved on to Scouts as indeed my older brother had and I did help him. 

In the 1980's computing started to come in, I used computers at school and had an early home computer too which I had learned to write short programs for and bash out long ones from magazines.

There's little doubt had I of been a cub in this era, I too would been awarded it.

Scouting publications of the past

Scouting has had publications over the year although today many young people or more likely to read either a web magazine or social media where Scouting may have an official sub site or page or their own site which I know my local Scout pack has.

This said there's something perhaps nostalgic in me that loves covers like this Winter scene from1963.

Or this that is from just a couple of months later showing a group of scouts meeting up one evening on their bicycles.

You'll note unlike some of later generations these are quite comfortable to be out in the winter evenings in their shorts and long socks with green garters.

I spent all winter in my shorts outside and found after acclimatizing, I soon felt fine and actually it was healthier for me  having less problems with colds and snuffles than when I was more wrapped up.

Taking a rest

This scout is taking a well earned rest, sitting in a sheltered lodge set into the building although the purpose of that intrigues me because it looks to be closed off at the rear by wooden paneling.

Maybe it was a lookout originally?

Of the scout himself he looks pretty smart in his uniform although I'm not keen on shorts being made from cut down jeans personally. 

Finding our way

Original source: redneckerchiefs

The seaside always was an attraction to me in my youth, something about the smell of salt water, the roar and crashing of waves and the wildlife around it always called me to it.

This also applied to camp like activities too of which there were a number I attended and took a full part in at the time and indeed even now I have the same feelings.

Here these scouts rather like us are pawing over their map, probably looking at the inset map of the area showing roads and features rather than the wider all area one of which ours were Ordnance Survey (O.S.) Maps which we had been trained to read and quote our locations by, looking for their next place to find and just maybe meet up with others at.

That kind of spirit is what comes flooding back to me.

Cutting our logs

In this co-ed group of Swedish scouts, the talents are deployed in cutting logs with a traditional cross-saw while one holds the log tightly in the woodland clearing near to their Summer Camp.

Unusually, the group have a brush with a long tail with them which to be honest isn't something I can ever recall being used in this setting before but rightly in Scouting, we leave no evidence of our activities behind and so do tidy up after ourselves ready for the next person to appreciate where we have been.

Of fires and digital awards

This group of scouts have got themselves a roaring fire going by putting some kindling down and then building a den type structure over it to help fan the flames as they sit around it having a warm during the evening.

I just live a warm outdoor fire.

A newer Award is the Staged Digital Citizen (IT) Badge available in different levels which of course was not something had I been enrolled at the time I would of had the opportunity to have been awarded however having looked at the checklist for suggested topics to show proficiency in I feel I'd certainly qualify for a Level 2, not least in having set up new computer, keeping myself and computer safe and connectivity never mind make myself a blog!

Starting a fire

Almost certainly at the same camp as the last entry, here the boys are having got some kindling together as they attempt to build and then start their very own fire which I'm sure will be a big achievement for them.

They are carefully cutting and the material using a sharp knife safely which is essential.

Anyone for hot dogs?

Still at camp on what looks very much like a warm bright summer's day, sat on a plastic box, a cub helps out a scout doing fried sausages possibly for hot dogs slicing the rolls ready insert the sausage and onions.

I can tell you know now whenever I've been camping or a similar activity with others away, there's never been a hot dog or burger left which isn't about my appetite but rather the universal appeal of cooked meats on a flame so there's no waste. 

Welcome

These French  scouts have made a spooky but welcoming entrance to their camp site using logs and wool to make a spiders web in the forest clearing that looks most attractive.

It looks the most lovely idyllic setting for a great time for these boys and their fellow scouts.

Making snacks

I think a few times I have mentioned about how as a cub or scout YOU contribute to everyone's good time by doing something, looking at making a fire, cooking and putting up tents.

This time around we're preparing sandwiches starting with slicing the loaf down the middle from front to back before applying the spread and filling then cutting along. with a team of three.

There also appears to be what I suspect are bottles of limeaid  or its local equivalent at the far end of the table to share out although I'd say ginger beer or dandelion and burdock is what we loved. 

Canada Day edition

Today is Canada Day the day that marks the establishment in 1867 of the Dominion of Canada which was called when I was younger naturally enough Dominion Day.

Scouting has been going for almost as long in Canada as it has in Great Britain and Northern Ireland being established in 1914 with its headquarters in the capital, Ottawa.

The current Chief Scout is Terry Grant and presently it has 58,881 children and young adults, 19,517 volunteers helping in various capacities to deliver the different sections programs and 239 employees aiding 5 to 26 year olds with the stated aim "to help develop well rounded youth, better prepared for success in the world."

This is the current Cub Scout (8 though 10 1/2) uniform seen her with the activepants option as parts of Canada can be very cold in the winter

As someone who has family in Canada I am proud not just of the Country but also of the society part of which has been shaped by successive generations raised in part under the guiding influence of Scouts Canada.

Happy Canada Day!