The birth of a movement

Baden-Powell (pronounced Pole) with some of the 20 boys at an experimental camp on Brownsea Island near Poole, Dorset UK 1907.

It was that camp which provided the basis for modern day scouting.

Post 600

Today we mark what is the 600th post on Scouting and Me which began back in 2018 in conjunction with a Tumblr because in the throws of issues with tumblr itself, losing an account I realized I was blogging a fair bit around scouting and felt what would be the replacement for that tumblr should have a focus just on Scouting.

Part of  that idea was to plan posts better so I could look at scouting as it was during my youth and part was looking at scouting in today's world which while being different many of the skills and character building needed remain the same, as for that matter do the children and young people.

But then there is another bit which is looking at a age dysphoric eternal boy's needs,  what the resumption of scouting related activities can do meet my needs, helping me to be more independent, be involved in and form interests in things, making a life with a sense of purpose.

That without going into things that belong elsewhere can be a problem where adult roles may be beyond you but you are officially too old for youth sections even if you may have more supervisory needs than those over 12.

So it was initially with company I picked up from where my life had been parked and started to go out exploring in terrain that with my physical disabilities is challenging sometimes requiring to pulled with two or three others to go forward standing up over step hills or like last year over rocks becoming more resilient and toughened up.

Then lockdown struck which cut out meeting up and exploring  at the same time as being expected to stay home was as with a good number of others taking its toil on my outlook, I decided to plan periods around the regulations I could manage by myself to do that taking notes.

Thus the "and me" side of the blog grew because if children and young people in scouting could and were adapting to lockdown then so could I setting challenges that could be done which helped with the mental health issues around lockdown and also moved me along towards what with my limitations I could actually do and feel I now had a goal in life.

We all hope many of the restrictions we've had can be lifted for good and that being together outdoors  can resume so I can work on some more challenging things with support as in its own way for children and young people in scouting it can too.

Days can be spent again together under sunlight and nights under the stars.

Having got our tent erected in a secluded spot, we've got our fire going quite nicely.

That looking towards the future is really what I am looking forward to as we move past this post seeing that eternal boy grow in character and confidence.

The Faith Walk at Gilwell Park

 At Gilwell Park, the activity centre and camp site for all scouts, near Chingford, London, there are five buildings that represent the five major world faiths, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism and provide places of worship for scouts in attendance.

Often groups of scouts go on walk around all five buildings, visiting, learning about other faiths and what they mean, reflecting upon them and how religion shapes our lives around the world.

It is also to remember that when we take our pledge often we do so on the honour of our god or other important source of enduring values that underpin our commitment to ourselves, our pack and others in what we do.

The Buddha found inside the Sala was a gift from the Thai government and is over 1000 years old. 

Thai ambassadors to the United Kingdom often visit the sala, as it is their responsibility to care for it.

The Jewish Synagogue

The Islamic Mosque

St Georges Day 2021

Today is St. Georges Day which was always marked at Boarding School by raising the flag of St George but St George is big in scouting.

St George is the Patron Saint of scouting and was chosen by Baden-Powell (the Father of Scouting) for a very good reason. St George was picked because of the story that shows him overcoming adversity in the shape of a dragon or more accurately, religious persecution. Baden-Powell said at the time:

“All Scouts should know his story! St George was typical of what a Scout should be… faced by difficulty or danger, however great, even in the shape of a dragon – he did not avoid it or fear it but went at it with all the power he could muster.”

This is, of course, what Cubs and Scouts aspire to – facing problems, analysing, improvising and finally overcoming them to succeed.

SAINT GEORGE AND SCOUTING FOR BOYS

In Scouting for Boys, Baden-Powell wrote of chivalry and the knights of old. He tried to show Scouts a new path to chivalry and honor. Saint George was the Patron Saint of England, and of the Knights of the Garter, the oldest order of chivalry in Europe. They were familiar subjects to most English boys when B-P was writing. Here is what he wrote:

ST. GEORGE

They (the knights of the Round Table) had as their patron saint St. George, because he was the only one of all the saints who was a horseman. He is the Patron Saint of cavalry from which the word Chivalry is derived, and the special saint of England.

He is also the Patron Saint of Boy Scouts everywhere. Therefore, all Scouts should know his story.

This is the story of St. George.

St. George was born in Cappadocia in the year AD 303. He enlisted as a cavalry soldier when he was seventeen, and soon became renowned for his bravery.

On one occasion he came to a city named Selem, near which lived a dragon who had to be fed daily with one of the citizens, drawn by lot.

The day St. George came there, the lot had fallen upon the king's daughter, Cleolinda. St. George resolved that she should not die, and so he went out and attacked the dragon, who lived in a swamp close by, and killed him.

When he was faced by a difficulty or danger, however great it appeared 4even in the shape of a dragon” he did not avoid it or fear it, but went at it with all the power he could put into himself and his horse. Although inadequately armed for such an encounter, having merely a spear, he charged in, did his best, and finally succeeded in overcoming a difficulty which nobody had dared to tackle.

That is exactly the way in which a Scout should face a difficulty or danger, no matter how great or terrifying it may appear to him or how ill-equipped he may be for the struggle.

He should go at it boldly and confidently, using every power that he can to try to overcome it, and the probability is that he will succeed.

Normally there would be a parade but while we are slowly making our way out of the restrictions due to the Covid pandemic such activities sadly cannot be undertaken.

It is being marked in a number of ways such as having virtual Awards celebrations, taking time out to stop and think about this year, the online pack meetings.

Some will be doing arts and crafts activities like making your own dragon and swords (from cardboard) and possibly putting it all together to act out the story together.

The other thing people will be doing and the thing I'll be be doing is renewing My Promise.

The Cub Scout Promise

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.

And

Cub Scouts always do their best 

Think of others before themselves 

And do a good turn every day.

The Cub Scout law

Picture credits: the Scouting Association.

Settled

We're in a drier period while the temperatures have been moderate with cold starts soon getting around the eight to ten degrees mark by late morning which lent itself for going into the fields.

While out I spotted this distanced group of cows sunbathing, spending a fair bit of time just watching them, very much 'in the moment' feeling carefree.

To me a benefit of being out is while you do take some precautions, it is to literally leave everything else including those things that you may find troubling behind.

The smallholding

When people think of spaces for growing crops or raising animals they tend to think about farms but in some areas like mine you might rent a small plot a 'smallholding' for a period instead.

Whilst out I came past one such smallholding  used for livestock normally but was greeted by this male horse and a companion which was nice to see as I've always loved horses.

They did have pure livestock though and so I saw this pig and a few others in a separate area foraging which isn't something I had seen there before because usually it's poultry they keep. 

Just being in the sunshine spending time with them was so lovely and therapeutic during this lockdown. 

Late spring blossoms

 

Blossoms have always fascinated me and in the last few days I noticed a few more out as the weather is improving and this was one I really liked  taken along the way to a field using the close focusing end of the telezoom.

Absolutely no additional processing used.

Making your promise in the modern era

 

Although parts of the past seem rather like another country at odds with the present, the nature of how you make your promise in scouting remains very much as it was as shown by these Cubs today which also shows the current co-ed nature of all the Scouting Associations programs.

It is also is telling the extent of uniformity around the uniform that was once very obvious with the entire pack more or less dressed the same has moved on reflecting thee more casual and personalized approach of that other staple of youth, schools.

Upon the death of Prince Philip

 

On Friday shortly after noon, it was announced his royal highness Prince Philip, husband of her royal highness The Queen had died overnight.

Prince Philip was a person who supported youth movements such as Scouting and took a very active interest in the well-being of children and young people and having had a difficult upbringing being forced to flee his own country of birth and in marrying into the Royal Family understood how hard it can be find your way in and niche in something you were not born into.

He also was a man who understood the challenges of young people in moving into adulthood and in 1956 established a program, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, that provided opportunities for 14 to 24 year olds  to work towards in five main areas with assistance from adult Leaders, participants select and set objectives in each of the following areas:

Volunteering: undertaking service to individuals or the community.

Physical: improving in an area of sport, dance or fitness activities.

Skills: developing practical and social skills and personal interests.

Expedition: planning, training for, and completion of an adventurous journey in the UK or abroad.

At Gold level, participants must do an additional fifth Residential section, which involves staying and working away from home for five days, doing a shared activity.

To achieve an award, the participant must work on each section for a minimum period of time, and must be monitored and assessed by someone with knowledge of the chosen activities. Each progressive level demands more time and commitment from participants: Bronze 3–6 months; Silver: 6–9 months; Gold: 12–18 months. Participants are required to show regular activity and commitment to the award for the duration of their DofE programme, which is usually at least one hour per week.

Individuals need not belong to any organization in order to participate although it it is common for people to do so though Explorers in Scouting and the like because it is a stand alone program that can and does fit into other youth organizations own schemes

Depending on the Award such work may take from 1 to 4 years only needing to be completed by their 25th birthday.

In the United Kingdom over 6 million young people have taken part in the scheme from all social, religious and racial backgrounds, transforming lives some from very troubled backgrounds for the better.

This interest in young people, his practical response to their challenges in enabling them to have the opportunities to grow is why many of us had the utmost respect for him and why it is upon his death I am paying tribute to him today.

Shapes in the ground

 

Continuing on from Wednesday's theme we look across from that side of the canal to an area that is undeveloped due to it being unstable.

The meandering nature of the stream can be seen looking towards the bottom of the valley where we are fortunate to see much wildlife on a regular basis and where wind damage impact upon the fencing is in evidence.

Moored up

 Following on a bit from Monday here's a view anyone around the district could of observed.

Although it has been a bit cool for the season, it has been quite sunny so while an a bit of ramble I thought I'd try a bit more Contre Jour photography working with subject behind the light for a softer more diffused effect.

I think it works well with the reflections in the canal. 

Easter Monday edition

This Easter Monday apart from going for a stroll, I'll be taking a rest and so for today here's a picture of the fence near a field I visited recently where the daffodils had emerged from hibernation contrasting well with the ivy around the fence panels. 

While some may of had their Easter Egg hunts today I'll be getting through mine!

HAPPY EASTER!

Easter edition

 Today we're looking at Easter in Scouting.

Easter is marked in different ways and one the First North Sutton, Surrey scouts are doing this year is a easter crafts challenge which fits the "At Home" agenda with the pandemic where people will make things as I did when I was younger and they'll be all shared.

 

Scouting Ireland for instance in Beavers and Cubs is running a design and send a Easter Card that will be dropped off to care homes to add a bit cheer to elderly residents who haven't been able to have visitors at easter in the way we normally would.

In Northern Ireland they had a bake off with an easter theme.

That perennial, the Easter Egg Hunt is still happening this year which was and is a load of fun.