Outdoor activities

Looking back at the past today to something that's off in any form presently, outdoor events like Jamborees and Camp

Here we have Wolf Cubs taking part in games where we have teams in lines and each has to throw it to each other across the lines where the boy with the ball clearly has his aim in sight.

We have a senior organizer and a pack leader filling up the boys cups as the wait in line no doubt having to remember "Please" and "Thank You" as they present their own
.
Manners are extremely important in scouting apart from being an essential tool of being a gentleman.

It is one thing to learn academically such things, quite another to actual practise them which is what matters the most.

The Scouting world of the past

Source: gakya Colour corrected and sharpened by me.

I have mentioned a few times the changes of the Advance Party Report in 1966 and how that lead to changes within the Scouting Programs in the Scout Association and the forming of traditionalist breakaway scouting associations.

Here we can see the uniforms the Leader, Boy Scout, Brownie (in Girlguiding) and Wolf Cub as they were before the 1967 changes.

The Wolf Cub isn't far removed from the 70's Cub who I fondly remember growing up members of but the Boy Scout is very different.

See, If I'd of been in Cubs in the 70's I would of wanted upon getting my arrows and working toward transition to of been a Scout BUT I would much sooner been a Boy Scout with the thick shirt and khaki shorts, been seen as BOY not a mini adult in long trousers and more bands man uniform which is more suited to scouting.

But the cool school thought a boy of twelve or thirteen didn't want to be seen as one thinking that put ten to fourteen year olds off but the numbers dropped noticeably in Scouts afterward . 

What they didn't seem to realize was the boy that wanted to be a scout wanted that tradition of being out in a more 'safari' type uniform having fun whilst learning skills.

Our Expedition

Source: gakya Colour cast corrected by me.
A Summer expedition for this group of cubs with the duffle bags we all had back then with their drawstrings  to keep our provisions in photographed while taking a well earned break.

There are a number of interesting things in here like the lad  second to the right who has matched the colour  strips on his turn down socks to his neckerchief which is an ochreish red while the others have blue striped socks which is what I wear.

Also some are wearing the Khaki/tan shorts more common in the past with Boy Scouts which are more of a summer thing rather than school grey ones.

Personally I'd of loved to had been with them at that time as looks so much fun! 

Properly turned out

Apart from the one who appears to have forgotten his cap and different shoes, this to me is what cub uniform means: Having a uniform appearance to the same high standard for each and every cub.

It was the kind of thing that was drummed into us whenever we were out because we are representing something bigger than each other whither or not it was cubs, scouts or school and this contrasts that much with a picture on an activity I showed recently.

Their leader has high standards and personally I'd rather see more of the older uniform, a relatively minor shift from the original Wolf Cub pre 1967 one than what we have today.

Bob a Job week 2020

This week in normal times would of been Scout Job Week, a week of activities where Cubs, scouts and Explorer Scouts undertake activities to help booth raise funds for and awareness of Scouting.

This was one activity undertaken, shoe shining by Cubs in Sheffield, Yorkshire where they cleaned and shine football (soccer) boots for Sheffield United FC.

Participants get the opportunity to gain a badge for their contibutions.

Sadly as with much of the traditional face to face scouting activity this years Scout Job Week has had to be postponed due to the Coronavirus/Covid-19 emergency but on here we will pay our respects for what would of been, marking it.

Hopefully by 2021 we may be in position to bring it back even with some social distancing restrictions.

St. Georges Day

Today is St Georges Day which is a very big deal to anyone in Scouting because he is our Patron Saint.

In 'Scouting for Boys', Baden-Powell referred to the Knights of the Round Table in the Arthurian Legend, and to St George who was their Patron Saint. He then went on: 'He is also the Patron Saint of Scouts everywhere. Therefore all Scouts should know his story.'

Godalming, Surrey cubs in 2019 celebrate St Georges day in what were more normal times last year as did all the other units in that area and indeed as do all Scouts by the Scouting Association, Baden-Powell Scout Association sections, GirlGuilding UK and so on in the UK.

These sadly are anything but normal times with regular face to face scout meetings cancelled until further notice but we will still celebrate St. George's and renew our promise.

This year Scouts are going to be celebrating St Georges by donning our uniforms as we show our appreciation for all the Carers in our country at this difficult time.

Our Promise (Current version)

I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and to the Queen, to help other people and to keep the Cub Scout Law. I promise that I will do my best To uphold our Scout values, to do my duty to the Queen, To help other people And to keep the Cub Scout Law.

I shall renew My Promise today.

Helping the police

The mobile scout reporting his findings to the the local policeman which may be some mysterious happenings, a incident they have seen or a message in the days of the neighbourhood police house that in many towns and villages we had.

He may be dispatched at speed to deliver a message in return.

While the methods have changed over the years, a scout would use his communication and observation skills to get necessary assistance although he can do things such as first aid and such skills are invaluable in emergency situations.

Getting creative

Crafts may be a part of Camp, at some of the meet ups I go to sadly on hold presently arts and craft activities do feature beyond exploration and adventure to make for a more varied set of activities.

Here this scout is having a go at throwing a clay pot using an improvised potters wheel out of doors which is a new thing on me having done this usually indoors but he's happy and that's the important thing at camp.
To enjoy the opportunities to learn new skills and do your best.

Cleaning yourself off

One thing that does come into being at camp is that you and your clothes do get muddy as indeed a couple of months back in the Lake District mine did so facilities to soak and manually clean off any mud are appreciated.

Here the older scouts are doing just that although sometimes you may need to machine wash them and put them in the drier

The Parade

One thing I have many memories of is Parading usually being there in an official capacity or other

Source: gakya enhanced by me.

You would expect an official parade to show all involved standing upright, very much to attention with uniform correctly worn which is much true of the Cadets and Brownies  here as it is the scouts.

I  would say my local cub scouts were more traditional during this era even if all the scouts were in longs being in their company at the time.

The original Scout

As it is Friday, the first full week after the Tumblr of this blog was removed, I thought we'd go back to the beginning looking at the British Scout of the 1930's, very much influenced by B.P's ideas as set out in Scouting For Boys.

Thus you see the hard wearing filed shirt with their buttoned pockets, the brim hats echoing what was worn not just here but in the then Empire, the just above the knee shorts held by the Scout belt which interestingly in the 70's he had the then version of and the grey socks with garters.

Contrast that to the post 1967 Scout uniforms and you'll soon tell what was lost in this colourized picture as it's close to what was worn by Soldiers in warm climates and very practical.

Recording Badge Achievement

Ways of recording your badges have changed over the years, the one I'm more familiar worth was your record of achievement signed off that showed your progress.

This is a newer way using scratch off technology - thin aluminum foil - where you'd rub off using a coin those badges in Cubs you had been awarded for activities you had shown progress in and the challenge awards.

While sadly not running presently thanks to Coronavirus, Cubs mainly around the North West/North Midlands often had the opportunity to spend a day at Waddecar Scout Activity Centre in Lancashire working to gain their Our Adventure  challenge award in the great outdoors.

I think I have done enough things to show I had the competence to be awarded one had things of been different.

Our day out

Being outdoors matters and while I might decree the lack anything traditional when it comes to uniformed trousers with only two boys in tailored combat  shorts with most of the others in other games or football shorts and trackpants at least they're  enjoying the fresh air and exercise rather than being in a leisure complex.

This, to me is nearer what to what B.P. had in mind, learning and practising those skills in the field, improvising as indeed you would have to  working with the setting you are in with the scout leader doing the teaching so the the youngsters have a clear focus aiding the transmission of knowledge in a fun way.

Scouting should be fun, and while there is no reason fun cannot be in formal education, scouting shouldn't try to be a College for Outdoor life and Citizenship with lots of dry academic learning but a place to do, learning and enjoying that life.

It may have formal instruction but include games, some fun activities and an opportunity for all to bond.

A word on uniform:  To me this shows how far we moved from the Wolf Cub/Cubs of the 70's and 80's I recall where there was a uniform and the correct wearing was instilled in itself to more informality to the point that without his neckerchief you wouldn't know he was a scout.
It may of been hot day but a plain t ideally with the current ensignia would of been smarter and either Combat Trousers or ideally tailored shorts should of been worn so they were clearly scouts looking presentable across the board.

Keeping things clean and tidy

A cub always leaves where he has been as it was if not better than when he found it and often will help with picking up litter although today we'd be using grip sticks and NOT fingers as some material left are hazardous if you cut or puncture your skin.

Sometimes this may be organized by his pack at others he may volunteer his services to others such as Clean Teams in some districts. 

The French Scout

Although the essence of scouting uniform is the same, this one is noticeable different from it's British counterpart in having the old heavier shirt in blue, the Ochre hat and the leather shorts more associated with central Europe (Germany, Austria and Switzerland) than that of most in the North of Europe.

Getting Scouting Association scouts back in shorts over here seems an uphill struggle.

A well deserved rest

Most relatable, that moment where having hiked a good distance you sit down with a gorgeous view of the coastline behind you and the sea air having hiked around the North Wales coast before now for a good number of hours before such a moment.

The importance of correctly adjusting the straps of your rucksack and properly distributing the load in it cannot be emphasized enough.  

Fastening ones shoes

The one real bane in the doing the same as any other boy no matter what life I had as a boy was and remains my inability due to dexterity and very poor hand-eye coordination to fasten shoes in an era where unlike sandals which I loved as a younger boy I simply could not fasten the laces.

This also would work its way into such staples as football boots given that was obligatory for boys not that I took any issue with as it taught me resilence big time but also hiking boots which went into scouting type activities so having to take a pair of due to say stone getting lodged was difficult.

To do what I did I always needed a 'shoe boy' prepared to fasten them back up even if I had to do everything else.

Passing on information

One thing the cub of my era would of learnt is how to take a message and to pass that on which back then involved the use of a public telephone box.

The box contained a fixed line phone that took coinage and could give change  although there was an option to call the operator for free and ask them to request the person you wanted to pay for the call.

To make the call in this era you used a dial that required your finger to go in each digit of the number in turn pulling it all the way round and releasing it although later ones had push buttons and could use pre-paid phone cards.

Having done that you'd say who you were, where you were and what had happened  including what you think was needed agreeing what was to happen afterwards.

It could be an accident or emergency.

Today's cub may use one, a public building that has one or more likely his (or her) mobile telephone but the principles of delivering the message over it remain the same.

This was covered by an award.

The Big Tent

I am not altogether sure the younger one will be sleeping in the tent on his own given current guidance around safeguarding which may be seen as a smidgen too restrictive even of the thrust does indeed make perfect sense, almost certainly to more in either as small tent under a roof or sleeping bags in a hall as a more virtual camping as that's the sort of tents those nine plus might sleep in.

Until current restrictions are lifted and guidance from Gilwell to resume comes camping in the summer will be off this year with the Coronavirus together with any participation in International Jamborees.

Cubs of the past

The cub scout as he was in 1980 in this sadly noisy scan that took a bit of colour correction too in what would of been the last decade of shorter shorts reflecting that in schools too with just minor difference with the uniform.
Personally I'm not so sold on the current mock egyptian angular "Cubs" styled word as the brand placed on the jersey and sweatshirt to me it lacks class and breaks with the tradition were the pre 1967 Wolf Cub tied very much into the Mowgli in the Jungle Book tale that Wolf Cubs, later Cubs in the Scout Association was routed in..

Challenges.

Challenges a plenty for the modern day Cub (or Wolf Cub) doing supervised physical activities like rope climbing, going along metal structures or even climbing along a virtual rock cliff face in better times.

Today while such face to face activities are presently on hold others that can be done at home are posted on the Scout Association website for cubs to work through and recieve awards for.

Even in today's situation cubs and boys generally need challenges and interests to follow.

Exploring under lockdown

Today it was quite sunny and warm first thing so I went for a short stroll along the local canal  toward Chells Hill where I passed two cyclists a number of ramblers and dog walkers keeping the two metre distance between us.
There was much wildlife in evidence such as bees, butterflies and birds but I came by some ducks who having been in the water got out for a waddle on the towpath grass.

Keeping a low profile

Going around keeping a low profile so you're not caught by others is a basic of Scouting clearly adopted from B-P's exploits serving the Empire as after all you wouldn't want to be captured by The Enemy and practised in Cubs (and of course Wolf Cubs).

Play involving such concepts isn't so removed from what many boys such as myself did at the time thoroughly enjoying it.

Setting your course

The traditional and still valid techniques involving map reading, establishing your direction and having done that plotting in which direction to be hiking to get to your destination being carried out 'in the field' by a scout troop.

This was  all stuff I did learn and use finding it be reliable with advantages of not having batteries going flat or the lack of a mobile phone signal which can occur.

Plain Sailing?

Although I have been on relatively small vessels one thing I have not done is attempt to steer one using the big wheel and other controls as this older German scout is clearly doing no doubt having had appropriate instruction and with permission.

He appears to be fully conversant with the task in this picture, which says a lot for the quality of instruction given.

The wheel of real growing up

A circle showing the power and influence of Scouting on young people are linked and learning from each other moving on, growing as people, to be the next generation of thinkers and doers.