The 2020 Scouting and Me review

 

This year we are doing a short review which isn't something on this blog we ever did before probably because I didn't feel there was much of a need.

The first thing to say is that for reasons I rather not go into on here as they fall under speculation, I lost the Tumblr version of this blog which was disappointing but undeterred I carried on here altering the publishing cycle to make what I felt were more posts of value.

We are not a current affairs blog but Covid 19 as it crept in and regulations emerged around March 16th  had a huge impact on peoples lives not just in terms of the do's and don'ts but upon your mental well-being and many places you may of been able to visit were not possible any more.

I decided to jump two feet in with exploring, hiking and scouting in the open countryside I could get to getting more acquainted with nature, practising skills and learning more about the natural world, taking pictures.

The "& Me" bit grew as indeed I grew on here documenting those things, meeting interesting people, having experiences that I had not undertaken before.

Some of that followed on from February's week in the Lake District, just missing lockdown by weeks where I climbed over rocks and up rugged terrain even if similar weeks are on hold presently.

It showed what I could do, disabilities aside with support and that following the path of scouting was the best thing for me facing fears and conquering them, moving me on.

It also helped my mental health no end.

Image credits: Scout Association

This year was a tough year for the Scouting Movement, not just with restrictions on what could be done although much was done over the internet with virtual beaver, cub, scout, explorer and network meetings with online activities and work done to aid the wider community.

Although things are a bit grim presently with reports of a Covid new strain, Scout Groups had began to reopen for outdoor and some indoor activities following guidance.

One problem as that much of the traditional fundraising though jumble and car boot sales, events such as fireworks and so on meant that 500 groups were at risk of becoming unsustainable losing valuable experiences often in the most disadvantaged areas for children and young people.

Indeed this would have strains upon the National level with posts, paid officials and facilities such as adventure centres used.

The Race Around The World open to all scouts and with opportunities for others such as former scouts to take part raising funds though sponsored activities and the opportunity to make donations was the response.

So far over £250,000 has been raised which will be match-funded on a pound for pound basis by one of the Scouting Associations main sponsors plus additional contributions from the Pears Foundation and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

This will enable those groups to continue although there remains as in previous years difficulties in some areas with recruiting volunteers.

I made a substantial donation and encouraged friends to do likewise.

The target of £300,000 remains and donations can be made until January 8th

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 The Complete Guide To Scouting Skills to help spur me on in this resumption of the life and principals of Scouting through providing practical know-how better able to plan and contribute when with others to my outdoor adventures.

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, better able to cope the pandemics restrictions.

I've got this for after Christmas Lunch with my folks.

Christmas week edition

 

Image credits: Scouts.org

We will be pausing this blog after today with it being Christmas week that brings many things to do in the build up for Christmas Day with our next post being on Christmas Day itself.

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

BP SA 3

The final set from 1975 is notable for the Scout Marksmen badge award course pictures as a combination of concerns over the potential for accidents and the idea of children, admittedly older and more mature ones handling weapons tended to put such activities under spotlight.

Trying to balance that risk while teaching real life skills that young people can be assessed on is challenging with litigation and parental concerns.

Uses of stocks!

Practising using a rifle.

It is very clear that in the BP SA at that time the girls were equals within a program largely unaltered from its origins at the point they split from the Scouting Association.

BP SA 2

The second curated part from the 1970's at a Camp

Girls in the BP SA then wore skirts with the regular uniform and their tent area is separate while at that time the Scouts Association was just for boys.

The Boys always wore short trousers which outside of Cubs had been removed in the Scout Association from 1967.

BP SA 1

On the last week before Xmas I thought I'd post some photosets that used to be on Tumblr of the Baden-Powell Scout Association that were compiled by "School Outfitters"

The mixture of old traditions with an openness to new ideas within that structure is something I'm personally receptive to

Christmas events

There usually is a lot going on in a scout group just before Christmas although the nature of it no doubt this year would of been changed a bit.

In previous years some such as the 4th Sevenoaks, Kent Scout Group would run a Christmas camp that would feature activities such as archery, climbing but also include things like a talent show and a party

Most cubs and beavers sections would have a party where games some with scouting themes and others such as pass the parcel or Statues aka Grandmothers Steps would be played.

These Boy Scouts are American but the idea is the same the world over and Mr Claus may put in an appearance.

Some may be working with other groups towards a Gang Show with often hilarious skits and songs.

Christmas is a magical time, not least for children so naturally we have it in Scouting.

Christmas activities

As we make our way towards Christmas in more normal times many a scout group would be holding events which may be parties or a open day with things for sale but because things are a little different this year doesn't mean seasonal activities won't happen.

Many groups do seasonal  arts and crafts activities which may involve making Christmas cards and decorations which can count towards awards of which this example by the Tackley scout group is a good example.

Crafts was something I loved doing when I was younger.

The Christmas post

While we may well be able to have a more normal twenty twenty-one including Christmas that in different ways will be marked on here, sometimes in all the buzz about adventure in Scouting we forget an important element.

Community service.

In more normal times many Scout units do things for their community one popular seasonal one being operating a postal service getting Christmas Cards to older people who may struggle keeping in touch with others in this simple but important way.

These two Cubs from the Harpenden, Herts Scouts were part of a team that sent card to their elderly, taking them in person.

During lockdown as part of The Great Indoors, Scouts kept contact with people who may be isolated helping out.

Such things do count for awards and judging by their left arms these two certainly have been putting a lot of work into gaining their badges as many boys and girls do.

Whittling

The term whittling can refer to carving an object out of wood using tools such as a chisel or as here using your trusty pen knife which he's doing at Camp.

You might do so to fashion an ornamental object as a crafts exercise or it may be that the object has a more practical application.

Apart from a good knife whose blades wold be made from tempered steel, a good sharpening stone used to ensure the blade is really sharp is recommended.  

Scouting stories

 Sometimes the things in your past and other peoples can spark a genre of novel.

Books that are about adventure which certainly is a part of scouting are not unknown, not least in the English language but there have been fictional books centred on the actual experience of being in scouts.

For a number of years there had been fictional stories published in various Cub and Scout annuals usually fairly short ones that underscored core skills, abilities and values that inspired you.

Scouting is nothing if not practical so they might show improvization and quick thinking but these are two examples of the longer form in Dutch.