Leadership

Leadership can come in different forms of which the most common is the tendency to see adults and generally older ones at that as those from which it cascades downwards to which experience is something many do have.

Another way of looking at this is that any organization needs to develop and encourage those skills from its youngest members upwards giving appropriate opportunities to show it and scouting is a very good example of it from beavers and cubs upwards so you may have a situation where an older scout is in day to day charge of say a cubs section for one session who may be assisted by others.

Thus a scene like that in the picture of different sections of scouting working together as one isn't unusual and provides for practical learning opportunities first hand outside of  your personal achievements and formal training on such topics as roles, health and safety and safeguarding.

He did it!

We talk about adventure, scouting and rising to challenges here a lot past and present, both personal and that of others.

This weekend marked the last two days of one eleven year old boy Max Woosey's epic year long sleeping under the stars in a tent to raise money in memory of  two family friends who died while at the North Devon hospice from cancer.

One before his death gave him the tent and sleeping bag had served in the Armed Services in Afghanistan, telling him to have an adventure in it.

This last Saturday he encouraged other children to join in a Big Camp Out with him from wherever they are and 1,000 around the world did.

So far he got through several tents generously provided by outdoor pursuit companies and sleeping bags as weather and wear and tear over year took there toll.

He endured sleeping out even if on some occasions as he put it "a few nights when I cried myself to sleep because all my gear was soaking wet".

In this time he's had the support of celebrities such as Jonny Wilkinson and Bear Grylls, the Chief Scout of the Scouting Association.

Max's resilience has proved very strong as he originally only intended to do this for a couple of weeks and I am sure he's grown through this experience able to take on challenges and plan for adventures.

His mother is rightly proud of his achievements which are  credit to him and what children and young people are capable of.

That's why I salute him.

* Picture credit Rachel Woosey/whatsapp/bbc website

Showing the way

 

The joys of exploring as a group, making discoveries for the first time together about the natural world make for evocative memories such as the time I first saw a Badger at night at a field study centre or being transfixed by the variety of moths that came out.

To me such simple pleasures are priceless.

Spring has sprung

After Monday's entry finally spring has sprung with much activity in the woods such as the Pigeons and Sparrows sorting out their differences as there had been a noisy dispute about who could have what tree with the sparrows showing some aggression.

On Monday I saw a baby grey squirrel playing about on the ground before exploring a tree.

After a bit of wait, the daffodils have come out on the green - surprisingly those in peoples gardens came out first - and here's a picture of them.

Science and Scouting

 

In looking at one the main skills learnt in scouting, the ability to work in small groups productively, solving problems is a key one that has practical application for things such as working in the sciences later on in life as that is often how teams work being neither large scale nor of individuals as much as they contribute to the whole.

It isn't so surprising then to read of the number of scouts who got involved in and have been part of scientific research and why it is many organizations connected to contribute to scouting sponsoring awards in areas such as computer coding and website building or the RAF supporting the staged Activities Staged Badge helping to build life skills for children and young people.

It's why we marked Science Week on March 10th with activities for all.

Working together

 Now for a look at past scouting...

Looking like a really fun activity with a message, a blindfolded trek across camp isn't just a space for the Sixer to show his leadership potential but to learn co-operation and using senses such as feeling and hearing to work out which way to go

Three become One

 Fortunately here you don't have to go that far to find something pretty amazing.

Sometimes going against the rules and accepted wisdom in photography can pay off such as taking pictures against the light rather than with the sunlight being ninety degrees to the right of you although it does challenge the tendency for the lens to have issues with flares and localized hot spots.

This was a group of three Tudor cottages sympathetically converted with period techniques into a single large house.

A bit soft under foot

It's been a blustery weekend here with much blown around following on from last week when I had to hold the camera down firmly as the wind was catching it

Some indication of the amount of rainfall we've had this year can be seen in the high water table levels across the fields with your foot sinking into mud even though the rain on the day I took this picture we had only had light rainfall the day before.

Spring views

 Scouting around this come into view

Things have been somewhat stormy here over the last two days with the wind whistling past this house as I'm working on this post.

Spring is beginning to come out here with some of the flowers such as the daffodils pictured below coming out in the woods while the trees are still devoid of foliage.

The lighting shows the lay of the land well.

 

On the trail

 After Monday's one off edition we pick up the trail.

Planting has began in the fields to the left with the previous crop being cut down ready for the Nursery with the aid of tractors and trailers whose tire treads are easy to spot.

Often you can spot the odd piece of equipment left after use such as here during the drier spell following February's wet and very cold spell had left the paths less than stable for me although others with wellington boots might of been fine in it, it would be most likely I myself would be lying in it as it had been very muddy with the fields soggy.

Birthday Edition

This weekend saw my birthday come although obviously it is a little different for the restrictions in place currently although I know it is my responsibility to uphold the rules that are there for everyone's well-being including my own.

While I hope to be able in the summer to spend time with others exploring on foot, having adventures outdoors, playing games and doing craftwork, all while having fun as those rules and restrictions gradually come off, really it is this life that kept me going this last year.

This year I got more acquainted with nature, hiking, practising skills and learning more about the natural world, taking pictures, I did things that took my out of my comfort zone facing my fears head on and conquering them.

The eternal boy who had a birthday last year grew as a person through the life lived  on these pages and will be continuing on the great life changing and affirming adventure this next year in my life.

The domestic back up

 While much of this blog has centred around being outdoors for very good reasons for a number of us we recall leaving in the early evening for our weekly meeting.

Imagine if you will two fine young boys who having arrived from school had been talking with Mum as she prepared the meal they'd had with their Dad before it was time to go upstairs and put on their Cub or Scouts uniform ready to attend that days session.

No doubt she'd inspect their uniform to see it looked smart on them and everything was just so before no doubt reminding them to be good.

For many it often was Mum who did things like sow on your badges and help you pack for camp or any excursions that were run to places of interest.

It wasn't unknown for a Mum to play apart in the running of a scout group either so as we approach Mothering Sunday here in the UK, maybe it's time to reflect on her part in scouting too.

Moving on

 

The companionship of friends on an rugged adventure filled with challenges lead by experienced  guides leads you on as you grow in stature better able to take on any challenges you may face along the way.

Personal growth matters.

Lane wise exploring

Things will start hopefully to change by the end of the month as a few restrictions come off in England with more a emphasis on being out locally rather than having to stay at home with just a handful of permitted exemptions for exercise and the like.

We are now very much in Spring having moved into March as I am continuing my exploring locally with this road having a footpath only down one side looking across to a field where often you will find sheep in with the characteristic black and white metal fencing which is typical of this area.

You can walk along here and seldom see anyone about, becoming totally immersed in the environment even though it's just a few miles from the urban core of this district.