Scouting and Me review 2022

 Last year we decided to do a bit of a review of the year unlike previous years and I am inclined to devote a bit of time to that this time.

The year has seen some health challenges not least around mid January through February with major maigraines and what can only be described as electrical discharges around my head and face that reduced some planned time scouting away.

I did however continue exploring the woods, meeting people and helping out in the community in various ways all of which have helped deal with some of the long term effects of not just the pandemic but having contracted it myself.

We looked on this blog a bit the places I had visited when I was younger and got the bug for all this with the skills and lessons I have learned along the way.

Uniform was renewed too from quality suppliers.

I wrote about modern day scouting on this blog, the challenges, the sterling work of all in it running the programs and how the War in Ukraine has had an effect too not just in Ukraine but with refugees living here.

This blog beyond the "And me" always looks outwards and this year I contributed not just on a monthly basis to Gilwell aiding the Scout Association nationally in its work but with the Squirrel appeal for our four to six year olds that were established in their Dreys last year.

I also contributed to our own scouts, here in the Potteries North district in a number of ways enjoying seeing them taking part in community life, something that cheers me up no end.

Overall in excess of £500 was raised through the Santa appeal through peoples generosity locally in December which was amazing and testiment to how we feel about Scouts.

Here's to Twenty Twenty Three!

If you go camping at Christmas

 

If You Go Camping at Christmas

A poem by Chris James, Head of Brand and Ambassadors, Scout Association.

If you go camping at Christmas

You’re courting disaster and ruin.

Your mince pies will freeze, and so will your cheese

Which will create problems when chewin’.

As for going to the loo, I’m telling you,

You don’t know the trouble it’ll bring.  

Because when you go, you’ll vanish in snow

And they won’t find you until spring.

If you go camping at Christmas,

You’ll sleep under oak, under willow.

But you won’t feel so jolly, when you find some holly

Has popped your inflatable pillow.

When you play a board game, it won’t be the same,

You know there are bound to be dramas.

You’ll find Colonel Mustard in a pint of cold custard,

And Scrabble tiles in your pyjamas.

If you go camping at Christmas,

There’s nowhere to hang up your stocking.

You’ll mix up a cold slug, with an earplug

And you won’t hear Santa come knocking.

There’s no chimney to climb down,

There’s no room to lie down; Santa’s bound to be late.

But will he get there, before all the air

has escaped and you entirely deflate?

If you go camping at Christmas,

You might feel a little bit distant.

When friends try to call, there’s no reception at all,

And your wi-fi will be non-existent.

If you go camping at Christmas,

People might think you’re a little bit quirky.

What trouble they’ll say, on Christmas

They’ll have when defrosting their turkey.  

But think of the peace and the magic,

You’ll have all the world to yourself.

They'll think you’re bobbins, singing carols with robins

While the squirrels all wish you good health.

You’ll find you won’t need any presents,

Because you’ll have all the stars in the sky,

Gleaming like sapphires or embers from campfires;

That’s better than socks and a tie.

So if you go camping this Christmas,

Maybe you’re onto a winner.

With snow in the wood, it could do you some good,

If you like instant noodles for dinner.

Source: scouts.org.

A few things from Christmas and some thoughts

 Today is the first post Christmas edition on this blog so in with the everyday things of value such as a diary for next year were a couple of what today people would see as "vintage" publications not that in my mind they are more than a few minutes away.

 

The 1980's were an interesting decade although it took a while for things to really change and they show a bit within each.

Around the late 1980's we saw the development of commercial activity centres and holidays such as PGL as incomes for some at least did rise and there was interest in the mass media around Challenges of endurance.

That made its way into scouting as did the increased awareness of the need to assess risks and concerns around safeguarding which still reverberate around anything in young people were being addressed.

We're all for adventure but can do without cavalier make it up as we go along attitudes that can easily lead to dangerous situations developing.

Increasingly more use of specialist centres with instructors crept in.

The early 80's were in lots of ways a run on from the 70's with the only thing that would of appealed to a cub then was the advent of affordable personal computing from either having access to a parents TRS 80 to perhaps getting a Sinclair ZX81 which at the time was the cheapest personal computer going to the BBC Micros that were for a long time the standard in UK education.

This was reflected in scouting by Information Technology awards and badges scouting offered around this time.

Cubs uniform didn't change much before the changes around 2000's that saw the old style clothe cap go for a branded baseball cap and more widespread long trouser wearing.

As we got into the second decade of this century, the annual stopped presumably for financial reasons although many children's publications especially at under elevens in the UK still have annuals so children are used to and expect them from parents and grand parents.

Scouts win QE II Platinum Jubilee Award for Volunteering

On Wednesday December 21st, the award winners of the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Award for Volunteering were announced.

This is a special, new award to commemorate the late HM The Queen and her Platinum Jubilee of this year that celebrates the excellent work done by national charities and their volunteers to give young people skills and opportunities.

In considering the awards the panel chaired by Martyn Lewis CBE focused on the impact the charities had on young people aged 16–25, and how much they involved volunteers in their work.

His Majesty The King, Charles III personally approved the award as one of his first acts as Monarch.

One on the twenty bodies awarded it was Scouts.

Scouts has been involved from the start in volunteering, specifically through the programs offered the opportunities for its younger members to themselves volunteer either in scouts or other organizations and in recent years Explorers have helped to combat isolation and loneliness in care homes through the Pandemic, help and raise funds for foodbanks enabling people who'd struggle the opportunity of  getting something to eat and help staff at vaccination centres amongst many things.

I know having helped young volunteers out in their training in other organizations the enthusiasm, committment and care so many of them put into their work.

The Chief Scout Bear Grylls said: ‘This award shows how Scout volunteers make all the difference in their communities. Our 16–25-year-olds are our shining lights – inspiring us with their commitment, kindness and care for communities and their planet. Giving a little time as a volunteer to help as a Young Leader, driver, trustee, chair, treasurer, or simply doing the catering at Cub camp, will have a long-lasting, positive impact on young people’s lives and help them gain vital skills for life.’

I could not agree more so congratulations on gaining this Award.

Carols

Today's unscheduled post remains on this side of Christmas and something young or old many of us do and have strong memories of from our younger days.

The singing of often quite traditional Christmas Carols that may go back to Victorian times where much of our modern day christmas originates that touch on the the Nativity and life of Jesus Christ is something many of us do and in scouting it is by no means uncommon for Groups to host a Carol Service or to join in a municipal one.

Earlier in the month our local Scout Camp centre hosted an event which given all we endoured throught the pandemic I am sure was much appreciated because time spent together singing carols is so much fun.

Christmas Pause Edition

 It's the usual thing on this blog that we take a break over the christmas period not least cos there's a lot of things I am involved making Christmas which is more important  ultimately than keeping a schedule all year around.

Weather here is starting improve making being out safer from the very cold conditions we've had over the last week or so meaning I can get back to exploring which is really what I really love although perhaps unlike some today I was brought up on more a wrap up and get on with it approach than those who seldom go out under their own steam as it were.

Cub or not, we were a hardy set of lads back then when many of our folks didn't have a car never mind the numbers we have per household today so no cold weather lifts.

Regular posts will pause from today until after Boxing Day where we'll pick up from where we were and possibly look back at the year.

Thank you for reading this blog this year and may I wish every reader a very happy Christmas.

Organizing the Christmas Post

 

A great tradition has returned in a good number of Scout Groups this year as we, with care, emerge out of the Covid era with all its restrictions on what we could do especially at this time of year.

Running a Santa post in your area where christmas cards would be collected and distibuted using your whole membership colonies of beavers, packs of Cubs and so on for a fee was a common way of both raising awareness of scouting and also of fundraising .

Here Scouts in Arbroath, Scotland are pictured with their collection boxes and storage systems to do the job most efficiently.

Fresh posts on this blog should pause on Monday as we move towards Christmas Day and resume around Boxing Day as we exit the year that was twenty twenty-two.

A date with Mr. Claus

 

Fun for cubs when Santa puts an appearence in at a special get together with lots of santa hats and maybe a sing-song too.

When you're this old the rituals of Christmas, passed from generation to generation are things you really look forward to being almost magical and this is much true in cubs as it is at school and home.

It's everything.

Santa arrives!

 It's a pretty cold weekend here needing me to be well wrapped up with tempertures well below freezing ready for a long established childhood ritual that's a part of the countdown for Christmas.

In many communities one S. Claus makes appearences, often posing the question just how come he can do it as you see him in different places on the same day!

It's a magical ability he has.

Here he was spotted out doing a thing I was brought up, raising funds for the local scout group, with the Explorers at the front ringing the bells to announce his presence apart from a loud sound system.

The explorers were followed by scouts, cubs and beavers with helpers clearing enjoying themselves as we all waved.

For me Santa makes christmas so time outdoors, very well wrapped up is well worth it beyond ones donation to our group.

Christmas camp

We may be in the build up to a very busy and exciting time but that doesn't mean things in Scouting are winding down.

It's not unknown for a scout group to run a Christmas themed camp for Cubs where there would be a mixture of of out of doors activities such as competitions and sports activity apart from the amazing cooking by camp fire.

Somehow that from the earliest years makes a big impression on you and it never goes away.

In addition arts and crafts with a christmas theme may be run such as making your very own christmas cards, decorations and yes, a christmas stocking.

You can't beat a well run camp!

Post 800 - What this blog is all about

Today, resisting my tendency to hyphenate that first word, is a special day in the history of this blog because it is the day we mark its eight hundreth post in just over five years of existance.

Its history goes back to my earliest days on Tumblr with people sadly no longer on there and battles fought and lost over accounts before totally breaking free some two and a quarter years ago.

It's really about three things that intersect with each other, one being scouting in all is forms in the past, often as I and no doubt others recall it.

That was a start point to the original tumblr form of which, thank heavens, posts were stored here for safe keeping and often expanded upon, looking at old programs, units, publications and yes, the uniforms!

Then there's scouting related activity by me, exploring places, meeting people very much in the spirit of a cub, learning and learning about new things as very much a "forever boy" informed by the past, going forward with the modern world.

And finally, as news presenters are want to say, it's about modern scouting, the sections of modern scouts, the activities and events they run today, the things I help raise funds for to aid modern day scouts in the official movement and discussion of some the issues that pertain to it.

It's all here because SCOUTS MATTER.

It's here because IT'S THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE IN MY LIFE

It's here because IT'S YOU

It's here because LIFE'S AN ADVENTURE and YOU CAN JOIN IT

Advent in scouts

 Today, I'm doing something a little different  from the past here.

Different scouts organizations around the World do things differently when it comes to things the celebrate and also how they go about fund raising.

In Finland, a part of Europe collectively termed Scandinavia, Scouts and Guides publish an advent calendar which they sell typically in malls or on high streets from late November to today.

This years design shows an idylic lapland Christmas with reindeer, bears, snow and a christmas tree.

Often the spouse of a Finnish President is presented with it.

Generally most of the funds help found the programs run by Scouts and Guides in the country.

In this country depending on the age groups, they may look at the Christmas story and make christmas arts and crafts or take part in community carolling.

Time for a pause

 Not been the best week for medium to longish hikes with fog, rain and lowish temperatures here but taking a breather, having a warm drink and cake has its appeals trust me.

At appears on of the Explorer Scouts is straightening his neckerchief, starting with the time honoured way of folding it before reapplying it around your neck and pushing it through the woggle.

I've been a bit busy doing things for Dad as he's been a bit unwell with a virus but he's on the mend now thankfully.

St. Andrew's Day

 Today is Saint Andrew's Day, the day of the patron saint of Scotland, one of the four Home Countries of the United Kingdom.

Andrew the Apostle also called Saint Andrew, was an apostle of Jesus according to the New Testament. He is the brother of Simon Peter and is a son of Jonah.

One legend builds upon Andrew’s extensive travels, claiming that he actually came to Scotland and built a church in Fife. This town is now called St Andrews, and the church became a centre for evangelism, and pilgrims came from all over Britain to pray there.

Another ancient legend recalls how it was after the death of Andrew, sometime in the 4th century, that several of his relics where brought to Fife by Rule, a native of Patras.

On or around the 30th November many local scout groups will be running a celebratory night of all things Scottish.

This may involve wearing a piece of tartan, play Scotland inspired games, finding out about a famous Scottish person etc. 

Others may put on a Scottish based feast.

It's not uncommon in Scotland, especially for ceremonial events such as parades for male Scouts to wear kilts and females to wear plaid skirts.

The Derbyshire Peak District - Mam Tor

Today I'm looking at Mam Tor which sits on the edge of the Dark Peak (gritstone) and the White Peak (limestone) areas of the Peak District  which is just to the North East of  here.

From there you get some fantastic views of the limestone parts of the National Park, such as the dry gorge of Winnats Pass which many a hiker has photographed.

Mam Tor is the main link between the eastern end of Rushup Edge and the western end of the Great Ridge, making this one of the most popular ridge walks in the entire Peak District.

From there on a good day you can see as far out as Manchester.

Being located near Castleton, it has a number of caverns just below it, such as: Treak Cliff Cavern, Blue John Cavern which I visited several times as a boy, Speedwell Cavern and Peak Cavern.

Thanksgiving

 

Different countries have different national days that feed their way into incorporation into Scouting so today I'm looking at Thanksgiving which is marked in October in Canada and more famously the United States of America today.

Thanksgiving is a national holiday celebrated on various dates in the United States, Canada, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Liberia.

It began as a day of giving thanks for the blessings of the harvest and of the preceding year. Similarly named festival holidays occur in Germany and Japan. 

Thanksgiving is celebrated on the second Monday of October in Canada and on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States and around the same part of the year in other places. 

Scouts may assist at home or in community settings in "making" thanksgiving, preparing the food or setting the dining area.

Here Scouts have thanksgiving together as a unit which I'm sure would be most memorable for all.

Why we in Great Britain don't do thanksgiving is probably lost in time because we do have Harvest Festivals in our Churches and Chapels in October which schools traditionally collected non-perishable foods for relief to the old and less well off.

It might be a tradition well worth importing.

Things to do when it's raining

 As I'm typing this out it's very dull and raining hard here so it was fortunate I did get out early but when it comes to organized activities it's a great idea to have some indoor options lined up not least at this time of year.

You might keep a few boxes with objects gathered from the woods, local beaches or connected with activities that you may place within a room which members might look for and, working with others find what they were used for and any connections.

You might organize a collage that a pack might work together on and then be shown together with others.

Being resourceful, finding things you can do when you might of preferred isn't possibe is something that can be encouraged.

The seasons march on

 

It's been a rough weekend here with strong winds and rather a lot of rain about with partial flooding in places here so I've had to pick my moments to get out exploring.

We are on the march towards Winter, with the winds seeing off a good deal of the foilage in the last week or so but in the woods, the trees are made of hardier stuff.

This one looked great in the low sun in the morning while watching the birds and looking at insect life.

Scouting in the Staffordshire Peak District

 Today I'm not going far away but in some ways it may seem more like it because Staffordshire and especially North Staffordshire is an area of contrasts from the heavily urbanized core which I'm in the edge of to areas of quite unspoilt countryside.

For the adventous child in this city region in Scouting or not, we are not so far from great places to explore and so we have two scout camps of which one was written about sometime back.

It is under appreciated that we have as one gets beyond Leek in the Staffordshire Moorlands that actually a good portion of the Peak District National Park does fall in this county as much as I like our neighbours in Derbyshire.

This area was very much the playground in my back yard growing up.

Gradbach Scouting Centre is to be found where our county intersects with Derbyshire and Cheshire placing it well within the reach of youngsters in the North West Midlands with its core being a traditional stone farmhouse.

It lends itself to traditional under the stars scout camps while having more permanent structures for the base camp

There are a good many trails you can go hiking or cycling around here while getting a break from the noise and activity of our busy urban centres.

Meet the Beavers!

I hadn't said much about Beavers, probably because when I was young they weren't a thing in Scouting, here so today we'll take a brief look them.

Beaver Scouts, often shortened to Beavers, is the second youngest official section of Scouting operated by The Scout Association in the United Kingdom. The core age range for Beaver Scouts is six to eight years. 

Sections of Beaver Scouts are known as Colonies and are run locally by Scout Groups that enables easy moving on to Cubs.

In Beavers together you get with your Colony you might build a den, or go on a trip to the seaside, or host a Beaver sleepover beneath the stars enjoying the great outdoors.

Things you learn include things like integrity – which is about being honest and doing what you think is right – and initiative – which means knowing how to take the lead on something without being asked. It’s all about having the courage to try new things and learn from them.

You also get to learn about helping others both at your meeting and beyond.

It's an awesome program for boys and girls within that age range.

Thoughts on Remembrance Sunday

Yesterday was Remembrance Sunday which for me always started  the day before polishing up ones shoes and then getting permission to stay up to watch the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance on the Saturday seeing the different arms of the Services and hearing inspiring stories and poignant reminders of the sacrifice given.

It was also something to see them all in full highly polished uniform.

Parades on Remembrance Sunday are etched into my memories, marching with the local Scout Group from the community hall to the church for the afternoon service.

I have laid wreaths a number of times and there is a protocol to it you observe.

Having laid it and stood back, you are stuck with the sobering realization of the loss not least as minutes before you heard the Post and the Roll Call of those who lost their lives.

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, We Will remember them"

From the poem "For The Fallen" by Laurence Binyon.

Remembrance Day

 

Today is Remembrance or Armistice Day where we mark the moment what became known as the First World War ended and has become the day we think about the sacrifices given for our freedom and liberty

In The U.K. apart from providing advice and support for those who have left the armed  services, the Royal British Legion is front and centre of the transmission of what that act of sacrifice meant - the loss of lives, the injuries sustained and its impact together with the freedom that was preserved at that cost so they work with the Scouts Association who provided support during both World Wars at home and in the Field too in teaching this to children and young adults.

Shown is this years badge set.

For reasons probably more connected around convenience since W.W.2. in this country more store by way of acts of Remembrance has been given to Remembrance Sunday which will be in two days time where Scouts and Girl Guides will parade, lay down their Standards and present their wreath at the local cenotaph

A pause along the way

 

I'm afraid that won't be me, as much as I would love to be out there today because I have hurt the hamstrings in my left leg and have to rest them for a bit being unable to get down the stairs on foot, having to pull myself up and down on my bottom.

Instead I'm reading my books on scouting tips and planning adventures for the future.

At our Post Office and General Store, the post box has been decked out to mark the sacrifice the members of our armed services made and all who suffered in conflicts in advance of Remembrance Day by locals.

There were fireworks displays nearby apart from in peoples own gardens and this is a picture from an event I attended.

Cubs wherever you may be

 

Usually if one mentions Scouting the usual context is that as after school activity with a once a week hourly session in the early evening with other events slotted in because the majority of schildren attend day schools but this isn't always the case.

Some like me attended boarding schools which either had weekly boarding or term based which means that connected with school would be organized at or with arrangements made in order for you to attend such using school buses or lifts.

Scouting often featured, some having their very own Scout Groups when it came to Prep Schools and some like while mine did host the local cubs which give 8 to 10 1/2 year olds the chance to join in.

Cubs can and does involve a variety of things some may involve fund raising for local charitable concerns or community facilities such a  Children's Hospice by a group of Cubs in Cornwall shown here.

Treemendous trees

 

There just is something really magical about being in a wood or forest at this time of year with a carpet of leaves and beautiful colourful leaves in the glistening sun.

It's not uncommon to find acorns about ready to be buried by the squirrels.

Spooky Bonfire Season

We are at that inbetween stage between Halloween which has just gone and Guy Fawkes Night which is to come Saturday where we don't usually publish on here.

I recall Penny For The Guy but never Penny for the scout!

At the sort of age you'd be in Beavers or especially Cubs or Scouts these two events are very much a part of your social currency, attending, having a role within them or making something for them.

Not unsurprisingly it does with me so recently while away, I made this lantern although it was meant to be supported  on an apax really.

Equally I enjoyed being suitably wrapped up a traditional Bonfire and Fireworks display which with the crackling, smell of smoke and colourful fireworks whizzing through the air in star shapes just took me back to my yoouth and what I loved about the Scout Firework displays I attended.

Preparing for a night under the stars

Today camping may seem easier, a site may have all facilities in purpose built blocks, some may sleep less under the stars as in a hall not least younger children but for many a part of the appeal is being directly involved in your own survival.

This may well main physically erecting and securing your own tent on assigned but not otherwise prepared grassland which this probably German scout is doing, making sure ever peg is right down and the groundsheet is set up right to help keep the damp out.

Fire is light and a warm meal is underway

Spooky weekend edition

Having fun at halloween is something that's always been popular one reason it's in Scouting apart from using skills you can learn while doing so.

You could perform a little review with funny halloween based skits for everyone to enjoy

We can enjoy a b-bq and toasted marshmallows together while wearing fancy dress and singing songs while holding camp.

Even make lanterns with scouting based designs

Now who doesn't want to do it?