Preserving memories

One day to go before the new year and although it is a little cooler out today than it was I've been out exploring locally although sadly not on bike as with my disabilities I cannot use one in my shorts and long socks.

I would invite you however to cast out that image of the bike, make it late spring or summer and that boy would be me (indeed only the shorter and not ginger hair is different cos I look much younger than my years) a boy, a rover and Wolf Cub in Spirit out in the country.

Readers of my other blog would know in the era this picture was taken, I would of been using my X500 and XD7 (aka XDII) Minolta film cameras to take pictures as I explored guessing he's using a 35mm focal length lens as I find that was right one to have on the body with the 'standard' 50mm  with macro converter for close ups of flowers and a 135mm telephoto for details in the bag with spare film.

Today it's either my trusty Canon A470 digital compact for general pictures or the Nikon DSLR for its creative control and higher quality lenses I use while out.

The one thing that hasn't changed is I'm still that boy though!

Scouting is for all

Scouting is for all even if it took Baden-Powell a short while to make amends for not including younger boys who were attracted to what their brothers did and spoke of and for the need also for something for girls too but he recognized these omissions and acted to rectify them promptly with humbleness.

One of the great strengths over the years of Scouting as a movement has been what I'd call genuine inclusiveness to give no favours to but provide opportunities to meet all needs regardless of class, race, religion, sex and disability.

Each and every member has to put the same Standard of Effort in and is rewarded just the same when they do with no artificial quotas or inclusive targets to meet.

One challenge in scouting today is the influence of those who do believe in style and such artificial concepts looking at treating people as being in groups in isolation rather than the substance of treating each member as an individual all united through their humanity, all offered the personal support they need.
Nothing undermines a group than the notion of special rules for one and not for others.

Another element I have touched on is how within Scouting we balance equality of opportunity for girls and boys with what each group is needing which is a  complicated one the one hand the Scouting Association accepting and engaged in the recruitment of girls believing that to be being about equal opportunity even though from the outset GirlguidingUK is the dedicated section for girls who see them as meeting girls needs specifically.

It negates the need for Girlguiding while at same time removing a space for boys and young men to develop alone a move I don't think can be squared easily and does marginalize boys too.

Time to tuck in

While we are always polite, taking our turn, don't underestimate our love of food when we're away at Camp as we could eat for England.

Mind you with the amount of activity set by a good Scout Leader, they'll have you burning that off in no time at all running, building dens and the like.

The tree of life

This Boxing Day I'll be out of doors in much the same way he is except it was obviously summer when this marvellous picture of him sat on a tree branch having climbed it was taken.

To do so may well of been a great achievement for him as has much of this years activities for me between disabilities and a injury I'm recovering from but challenges, fresh air and physical plus mental stimulation do aid you and what is more you grow as a person.

Christmas

As mentioned, we are taking a break over the Christmas period on Scouting and Me because duties and responsibilities as a Wolf Cub in spirit require me to do things with my family.

Although we also worship differently, Christmas is accepted as a major celebration and I wish all this blogs followers a very happy Christmas.

While a full account of Christmas is published today elsewhere, I did have this 1975 British Sixers annual for Cub Scouts to help spur me on in this resumption of the life and principals of Scouting as a Adult Little.

It's been a great touch to a year where through this I have made personal progress, physically as as mentally being far more alert and self confident through the practice of Scouting.

Christmas Eve edition

Slough, Buckinghamshire Cub Scouts enjoy  their Christmas party which is one thing about Christmas I always loved as a boy.
Things like playing Bursting Balloons with a stick and hunting for things just excite me.

The Tumblr version of this blog is on pause and this will be updated a little less frequently than normal with it being Christmas Eve today

*** Scouting and Me wishes everyone who follows it a Happy Christmas and all the best for the New Year ***

A bit of kickabout, chaps?

We may be in our uniforms but get past the usually scouting things and we're also boys who love our Footie and actually we might well have a kickabout today actually as the exercise is good and it does develop our teamwork.

One of the great things about the Scouting programs is they are wide ranging covering things that develop mental and physical well-being, are not academic centred and are about cultivating a well rounded individual.

Xmas Party

Something else that you have in Cubs is your Christmas party which has songs such carols sang, games and competitions.
They may even be a Santa Claus.
In Britain this is likely to be held in either a dedicated Scout Hut or a Community centre of some description such as a Village Hall or as here in the Young Peoples Community Centre 

Making Decorations (Post 300)

One thing that is done in Cub scouts is themed sessions and here is one that is topical which is a Cub taking part in a Christmas Crafts night, making decorations, learning new skills while having fun.
This was in the States but it happens here too and why not as boys DO have an aptitude for crafts and hands on activities when they are given the space and encouragement to do so.
This happens to be post three hundred on the Blogger version the encouragement of this is reason I do blog.

Making things

Craft skills in Scouting are well worth teaching not least when they can be put to good effect such as making Lanterns to which a lighted candle is placed which is most apt at this time of year.

The work shown here is of the highest quality and a credit to their leader. 

Woodwork

Being able to effect repairs or make things while away is very handy as is learning to use hand towels safely and here we see one nailing down wood sections with a hammer while the other marks off the section to cut ready to for sawing.

That is teamwork!

At Home

The Cub Scout in a domestic setting is one that tends to be ignored as we see him typically as getting up for school, coming home possibly if he's ten doing a small amount of homework which is more Prep for the next days lesson and except for his Cubs night playing or watching tv.

That in better weather might be being more outdoors exploring, climbing trees and working on projects.
There are times when you might wear your uniform around the house such as if an Aunt or Uncle comes to visit and you've been asked to show your latest badges or a new item which if she saw this fine young man she'd be very proud.

He looks splendid.

Put some back into it, lads!

Source: norlington3   
Additional processing by me.

Tug of war competitions tend to bring out an awful lot of competitiveness and boyish spirit no wonder they prove so popular on this summer day in 1967.
It's interesting to note the Cub Scout Uniform these boys are in is the one introduced just after the disbanding of Wolf Cubs within the British Scout Association with the Floret replacing the Wolf Cub badge on the cap which basically the same. 

Getting things cooking

An unusual pose to take and one does wonder if bellows may not be a better idea than lying on your side and trying to blow air into it to get the fire going really well but obviously it's something this scout is familiar with.

As for what might be cooking well it could be soup or stew perhaps in the pot.

Tired and in need of rest

I know that feeling and actually I'll most probably succumb to it shortly but these two scouts are getting a bit of rest in as they're shattered, having found somewere to lay down and made an improvised pillow which they will need as stone is cold as well as hard on your ears.

The only thing they may need to watch is the sun which looks a bit bright having had the odd instance of sunburn in the past. 

Hold the front cover!

Scouting has publications stemming of course to the pre internet period where a means of sharing information and accounts of Scouting was necessary.

While it's perfectly true to say a website that may include accounts and even moving images is quite capable of doing so, studies do show that people taken in more information in print form which is why often in adult world people print off things that 'Head Office' decided not to circulate in that form.

Anyone who has been involved in magazine production knows the front cover is extremely important and for this copy of the Boy Scouts of America publication, they've gone for the instant boy appeal of the classy car, which was made a few miles from here in the adjacent County of Cheshire with the Boy Scouts showing a keen interest.

Any road up

There doesn't tend to be much on this blog connected with cycling probably because it is something I cannot do and so would not of figured in a life of scouting for me although my brothers were in scouting and could cycle.
The appeal is easy to see with it being quick, healthy and an affordable of getting about short to medium distances that might be connected to say a set activity or learning about the outdoor life.
These two as well turned out as they are look shattered however!

Taking it in

While he ponders the day's activities unfortunately I have rest from mine following an unfortunate injury earlier in the week that has left me unable to walk on one foot which is annoying as temperatures had improved from minus one degree C at the weekend too eleven degrees today making ideal for a Winter hike.

This scout does look smart in something does lend itself to scouting with the buttoned pockets on his kharki green shorts his socks and those boots with excellent grip.

Unfortunately a stone at back of mine grazed and broke the skin off my ankle before I had chance to sit down and attend to it.

Standards?

While the upper half of their uniforms look smart, honestly you can see why lacking  an actual standard for shorts is a problem because the longer pair aren't really shorts and more akin to cropped trousers and the socks are too short on the two that do wear actual shorts as they don't look balanced.

As for what they've been doing clearly they are happy which is the main thing I guess.

Play fighting

Source: roverscoutandy

The trust between these two scouts is such one can endure such physical testing knowing they are safe in their dorm, while others look on.

Skipping generations

The scout of my fathers youth, in 1956, when they went to Kibblestone Camp here in Staffordshire and had to set everything up including the washing and toilets before sites had things permanently set up.

Although he was from a working class city background without much fancy stuff, going to camp for boys of his generation was about having fun and roughing it, learning to make do, improvise and ultimately survive being on your own. 

The British Boy Scouts

A member of the British Boy Scouts engaged in seasonal craft work which I feel is important as much as learning Scouting Skills and being outdoors in his traditional uniform.

About
The British Boy Scouts and British Girl Scouts Association are a Traditional Scouting association in the UK founded in 1909 by Major Whitby having began as the Battersea Boy Scouts in 1908. The organisation was renamed as the British Boy Scouts and launched as a national organisation on 24 May 1909.

What is Different in the BBS and BGS Association?
Why Would there be Differences?
Contrary to popular belief, there is not just a single association that oversees all scouts, nor is there one association that oversees all scouts in the UK. You may be surprised to hear that there are at least five associations that practise scouting in the UK.

Some associations developed independently from others, and some are indeed schisms created by a difference of opinion, however, all associations are part of the scout movement and are there to provide activities and develop young people. Scouting began by boys forming themselves into groups (that we now call patrols) and carrying out the activities described in Scouting for Boys, adults and the associations came afterwards.

The BBS and BGS Association respects the fourth scout law and therefore treats all scouts as brother scouts regardless of to which association they belong. Therefore, our groups are happy to conduct joint activities with other scout groups even if they belong to other scout associations.
 
So,What is Different?
The main difference between the BBS and BGS Association and many other scout associations can be summarised as below:

The most obvious difference at first sight is that we wear the traditional scout uniform. More information about our uniform and why we wear it can be found Here

Our programme is based on Scouting for Boys for Scouts, and The Wolf Cub Handbook (and thus the Jungle Book) for Wolf Cubs. Baden-Powell became a war hero after the Siege of Mafeking in the Boer Wars. He wrote a book called Aids to Scouting and found that it became popular amongst boys.

He then decided to write a book based on it more applicable to boys called Scouting for Boys. It is this book that forms the basis of scouting. Other scout associations have changed their programme to encompass other ideas or activities. However, the BBS and BGS association feels that the programme is just as relevant today as it has always been and requires no such change. Baden-Powell was very far ahead of his time and he knew how to capture the imagination of Boys.

We have a progressive badge programme for all sections. Therefore, a sense of progression is achieved. For example, a new chum (as Baden-Powell called new scouts), would first need to pass his tenderfoot badge before he could be invested. The tenderfoot badge has basic tests such as folding the union flag, and tying six basic knots. Then he can progress to his second class test, which requires such activities as an eight-mile hike. He may then start to work on his first class badge etc. We feel that this structure is important for a scout to progress in a scout group, without it, scouts would be trying to undertake more complex tasks without the grounding of the basics to carry it out effectively. For example, it is hard to make a suspension bridge in pioneering if you cannot tie a clove-hitch, and it is impossible to cook on camp if you cannot lay a fire (or indeed know the burning properties of wood).

We have no paid staff. Other scout associations have volunteer leaders, but maintain a head office with full time staff. Baden-Powell did not want scouting to be an organisation, but a movement, this is from where the Scouting is a movement quote comes. Therefore all our adults are volunteers. This helps keep the price of subs down and ensures that our association does not get run under the model of a business and be concerned with such things as profits.

What about Girls?
When scouting began, society's attitude to ladies and girls was slightly different, however. now co-education is far more common place. The BBS and BGS was one of the first associations to accept girls and our troops therefore may have a combination of both boys and girls.

All above taken from https://bbsandbgs.org.uk/differences.php in its entirity.


* Not posted on Tumblr due to restrictions  by original poster of the image*