Awards B.S.A. style

 

The matter of Awards and how they are marked varies between various Scouting Associations and here the B.S.A use a system of "Knots" to symbolize them as they apply across the variety of programs offered.

The evolution of the B.S.A

 

A look with an obvious American bias at some of the great moments in development of scouting at as it run in the B.S.A in the last century as the movement spread from the UK that perhaps we may be unfamiliar with.

Autumn Camp III

 

Well situated on the edge of the trees with a carpet of colourful autumn leaves the Scouts enjoy their camp observing the birds and squirrels, visiting places and having fun around a camp fire.

There always was something really magical about that

Back to Cubs

 

It's the introductory season for New Cubs and with all that excitement indoors and out and fantastic colours what more could you want?

Autumn Camp II

 

Ooo a Camp. Better work on getting myself down on the list to attend and then work through the list of items to bring with me but then there's a proper layout with our flag, a circle for the fire whhich we need to keep warm in the evenings and cook things.

You have to get that tent properly pitched so it can't take off on a strong gust of wind or let rain in as that's going to be your base for a few days.

Fortunately advice is at hand if needed.

Autumn camp

 Seeing it is cooler but we don't hibenate as Scouts, just take sound precautions, a camp in the Autumn isn't unknown and you could gain a badge for it.

You'll observe so much over a few days.

Autumn scenes

 

Autumn scenes near the stream that feeds into the River Wheelock which thanks to subsidence has grown somewhat in over a hundred years.

A great view but you need to careful getting near thedges for land giving way.

Go Wild with diplomacy!

 

Pix credits: Nathan Howard WPA/Getty

Ignoring the politics of the second State Visit of the President of the United States, Melania Trump, the Presidents wife, Kate, The Princess of Wales and Dwayne, the Chief Scout are with a group of Beavers working on their "Go Wild" badge on Thursday morning in the grounds of Windsor castle.

Apart from learning something about how Scouting works in the U.K. this was an opportunity to interact with the Beavers and give them something to remember in years to come beyond the badge while helping to keep scouts visable.

A colourful view

 

As I just dry out from torrential rain this is the kind of scene we start to see in our woodlands crisp, colourful trees as we walk on a bed of fallen leaves and sometimes various fungi starting to come out as things break down.

Castles

 The history of Castles in Wales is interesting and one that is interesting is Harlech Castle, Gwynned, which is most ispressing set on a hill with clear views - an advantage for defence purposes.

It's hardly surprising then as Britions we make castles as either models or indeed oon the beach during our childhood holidays often adding a moat for good measure.

The impact of the hot spell

 

I think it'll be another two to three weeks before the autumn colours bring forth here looking around the local park and play area but you can see the impact of the hot dry spell on things quite clearly and why climate change is very much a hot issue presently.

Auturm begins

 

The autumn may be coming earlier even if "officially" we're in the autumn months as these berries are out ready for our feathered friends to consume and His Nutkin was seen leaping across the burial grounds of one local church one day last week trying to find a spot to bury his hidden treasure for Spring.

Scouts help

 As a Scout during WW2, you could be asked to help in great number of ways as the war had taken many from general society from fixing repairs, running errands or helping up up air raid shelters.

Scouts contribution was formally recognized at the end of WW2 apart from individual contributions where awards were issued and rightly so as it all helped this Country survive and from that free Europe from the scourge of Nazism.

Things are different today, thank goodness but we're helping to make things better, saving lives, training the next generation to ensure we can look after each other.

Getting Stuff

 

Scouts do things in extra ordinary times and non so than during both World Wars and here durng WW21 where food was in short supply and men were generally called for  Military Service, scouts assisted in growing food, preparing plots of any usable size such this outside a teaching hopsital.

Past as inspiration?

 

With perhaps the addition of a skort option reflecting the Co-ed nature of Scouts today, perhaps a return to much of the 1970's Cubs look might be a good starting point to a return to smarter looking Cubs than some we see today?

Something that stands out, that you wear with pride and are encouraged to keep in good shape on you as well as off.

Just branding leisure wear with Scout Logo's  just doesn't give the right impression.

Inspection!

 The old days, older than me actually, and at the opening of the New District in Bramhall, Stockport, Cheshire, as part of the local reorganization of scouts, they are inspected with the lad on the right loking a bit apprehensive.

Nobody wants children and young people to be apprehensive but given we do have a uniform I really don't see what's wrong with the odd inspection, handled senstively, so everybody is looking smart and looking smart still matters in much of society.

In time of course much reorganization happened although parts were over time  reversedbut looking at pictures of troops between the decades you can see the slide in standards.

A Past

 

The ways things were, Stateside...

The badges you could earn when there was only  BOY in the B.S.A. and a smart practical uniform suited to outdoors and in.

Other ideas on Uniform

 

Going over the Atlantic for some vintage uniform ideas and we're back to the 80'a but as it applied for Canadian Boy Scouts, noting the use of the Sash as in Girl Guiding to hold awards on and the more formal styled shirt..

Things fit together

 

You often have interests that aren't exclusive to being a scout but maybe that you'll encounter others that share them along your path as that scout like playing games such as Chess, perhaps vintage , often steam railways or as with this scout vintage cars.

All three were things with me and do have the potential do build on skills you'll find useful as a scout such as thinking, developing stratagies, having a role within team, learning about how things work, doing day to day maintance.

It could easily of been me aged ten taking an interest in that car.

Run!

 

More fun at camp this time in 1985, obviously having a great time and looking just right.

Out but looking the part

 In view of my comments last time regarding tidiness and having a destinctive uniform, here's proof it doesn't have to be as hit or miss as it currently is where older leaders may use more suasion to get their pcks out looking smart in current uniform and others who tend not to bother much with that at all so as as they've got on what they have to.

That's 1981, in Scotland at camp so there will be more casual periods like for playing football where you may get muddy but at other times their expected to be in uniform even if the cap, then a feature of it isn't being worn.

Of course you need to be prepared to make temporary consessions in extreme hot or cold weather as children's welfare matters but generally you expect them to turn up smart in full uniform.

If they could do that back then, where is the problem now?

The Cub Scout

It should be getting cooler again in a day or so as I was out a couple of days back seeing butterflies and small birds about but this week we've floated thousands of miles Westwards.

I don't generally post much about American scouts not least cos I'm not American and in so far as keeping up traditions go, I'd sooner we'd keep our own up like Grand Howl in all its glory but this was the Boy Scouts of America summer uniform of the 1980's which with the odd change stayed in place to the early 2000's.

Smart, practical and more in tune with B-P's ideas than some of the stuff we've had of late, it doesn't aim to "blend in" with everyday boys leisure wear, it identifies you as that Cub Scout with even the socks being distinctive.

Equally I don't post anything around American badges although they follow the basic concept of the badge and award system we know cos they reflect U.S. cultural norms which you'd understand and like here you have to earn them which is a great idea.

There are times where I feel a slightly more modern and inclusive version of the 70's and 80's cubs uniform here backed up by a "stay smart" campaign would be a good thing.

Enjoying the views

 

The allure of The Lakes is easy to understand when you consider the natural beauty, how agriculture has changed the fells and its promixity to the big cities of the Midlands and North with great road and rail connections.

Summer Camps of the 80's

 

Summer Camp as it was in the 1980's with uniforms very much worn with pride this time at Auchengillan, Scotland in 1981, Tent well secured and nobody has mentioned that summer visitor, McMidge that likes your legs and arms!

Uniforms from a far

 

And now for something different as we do to the otherside of the movement and on the other side of the Atlantic!

Here we have a  complete 1980’s Canadian Girl Guide uniform with all the badges, pins, All-Round cord, whistle, fully adorned hat, the 1984 policy book and the World association Guide and Scout handbook.

Now that uniform does look smart and the badge sash is very practical.

Back in time...

 Well it may be getting warmer soon but what goes on your Uniform?

@Pix credits A.P. Ltd

Your badges and these are of the adjacent scouting region to us although I attended parades in Newcastle Under Lyme and spent time by their events in that town.

These are from the late 1980's under the "Cub Scout" banner rather than Wolf Cubs which did cut across why Wolf Cubs was set up - it was designed to be different than the Scouts older boys joined.

Today we're back to Cubs which is a better idea.

A foretaste of what's to come?

 

Going further into the the Conurbation, a autumn scene at Church Lawton before one arrives at Hardings Wood, Kidsgrove showing some of the more recent development to the far right on what would of been untouched fields as the northern suburbs get more intensly built up.

I expect "fall" to arrive early this year.

Back with thoughts

Well that was the  week that was all right so there's a big pile of stuff to be washed so so much fun!

Of course one follows your inner Cub while away but if I've had little to say about the Cub of the early 1960's it's cos it's just a bit before my time when they were Wolf Cubs and well before that regrettable decision following a survey to discontinue cub Headwear in 1989.

In a lot of way they like the earliest just surving pictures of me but as a Wolf Cub as our shorts in the late 60's were similar, bagger and a bit longer than what we'd wear when we were old enough for school but it's a practical uniform, ideal for being physical, playing and running about while looking smart.

Had I'd of born earlier I'd of loved to have joined them.

j

On to lakes...

 

Because you may prefer to have you "base" well away from the tourist hot spots in and around Westmorland doesn't mean you can't access what this area has in spades, the countryside and lakes.

Coniston Water offers walks, going on boats across it and a great spot for a picnic but do help to keep the area clean and tidy!

Arnside

 

The majestic sweep of the coastline at Arnside, thankfully one of least over visted places in Westmoreland and the Lakes never fails to impress me as do the the shops that are not so overtly touristy.

You feel more as if you're visiting where other people live, enjoying their way of life rather than one centred just about visitors and there are few born and bred locals still about.

A touch of steam

 

Carnforth station isn't just an attractive railway station on the West Coast Mainline serving Scotland, the North West and Midlands but the home of a lovely hertitage railway centre where you can see various engines and carriages but from time to time see live steam that soften seems to have "soul" than current modes of traction.

Onwards to Malkins Bank

 

Continuing along the canal towards Wheelock we come to the small village of Malkins Bank most of the original houses of which were connected to the coming of the Trent & Mersey canal built in terraces while today itis mainly a dormitory village serving the town of Sandbach.

Some mainly diary farming takes place in surrounding fields.

Here we see the lockgates closed awaiting passing narrow boats

Continuing along

 

Continuing with Monday's theme, along the same canal we have the two main uses of canals today, those vacationing on their barges passing through  in this instance towards Wheelock near Sandbach while others take steady walks along the towpaths.

Whatever option you take it certainly can be relaxing.

Pastoral haunts

One area not that far away that I enjoy going to is Hassall Green just out of the sprawl of this area near Sandbach, Cheshire that you can access vis the Salt Line , a former railway line I did play along as a boy that transported Brine Extracted Salt towards Stoke and the major ports of the North West of England.

This intresting church is St. Phillips which is actually a corrigated tin structure famously painted pink, erected as the village population grew and the Church of England didn't wish to lose followers to the Methodists who were massive in our area.

When we talked about the former railway being a way of transporting salt, so was the Trent & Mersey Canal of which Lock 59,shown here is a good example of the locks you encounter along this stretch that runs very close to that of the M6 Motorway linking the Midlands with the North West so really the whole area is a transport hub with trains along the Stoke-Nottingham line and from Crewe to Manchester (plus loads of places) completing the picture.

Resting points

 

Getting toward the end of the month and the annual break around North Lancashire and Westmorland where lush grass meets stone paths and streams where picnics may be held.

Making posts

Today we'll be doing things a bit different having been out this morning as the computer that wasn't working properly has been replaced by something a bit better

Naturally being a Chromebook I have to set up my account again which is quite straightforward as you sort out your Wifi connection first and then enter your account details which having comfirmed it is really you puts everything in place.

Well almost as I have transfer over some of my vintage pictures by hand that I had backed up and any photos get transferred straight from camera to Chromebook as needed.

It's a Chromebook Plus 14 inch model which means it comes with A.I. theykeyboard is backlight and has more Ram to help with very busy websites that can "gum up" your machine as you try to read them.

The modern cub uses technology for projects and generally keeping in touch and having a great quick to get going  machine really would help.

Post heatwave update

 

Well it is thank goodness cooling down so we can get on with a bit work rather than just beng centred on staying cool and hydrated.

Indeed it's been so warm I've had to sleep with just my trusty Scout blanket downstairs on the couch with the fan running overnight just to keep cool.

One thing I have been working on is gathering up images here as a chromebook that I use to make posts on has having major connecting issues that weren't responding to resets and the like so I can see myself getting a new machine and I did find an older one whose technical bits and bods are way too out of date that needed scrubbing down electronically to remove anything I don't wish for others to access and desposing of.

2,000th post

When I started writing this piece temperatures had started to climb so we'll be keeping cool, drinking much and with the fans running but there is something really special about today that we're marking.

The blog started out of a tumblr during the period of great tumblr purges of 2018-20 when I discovered that I was increasing blogging around scouting and related topics and felt that really it needed a focus so a tumblr was launched with a blog elsewhere that would have more extended posts on as with tumblr you tend to eith make original posts or you reblog perhaps with a extra bit.

That went in suspicious circumstances in 2020 but that did leave a legacy issue of posts whose images were "hyperlinked" that either went or for various reasons blocked.

It was never just a blog about past scouting or heaven's above just uniforms although past connections to Scouts, knowing those who were in GirlGuiding too were a part of but about how we take that on be that formal involvement fundraising, helping your local group or perhaps doing more of those activities seeing yourself as that eternal scout.

We also look at interests such as hiking, camping, visiting places and places that I remember in that context as a young boy and what they mean to me, the things I learned.

Obviously things in my lifetime have changed, the rebranding of and creation of new scouts programs open to girls and boys, the changes in the programs and perodic changes in Guide uniforms which you, like me may have opinions on but nonetheless we must focus on what their achievements and the amount of effort they put in have done for them.

Scouting in its differing forms is above a program, a way of life that helps you be the best you learning things that will help you throughout your life it's the adventure of life we joined.

What I learned picking up from where things were parked have helped me immeasurably in recent years deal with many challenging situations. Being the eternal cub is good for me.

Here's to the next set of posts.

The visit

 

Visiting places is a part of what exploring is although by defination that will be man made settlements  be they castles, deserted villages or busy centres of which this is a scene of and a popular choice for a day out.

Llandudno has a number of advantages such as ease of access from much of Wales and the West Midlands of England, a fairly flat terrain which helps if you have a physical disability and a number of attractions that tie into say a school residential trip or a scout day out that might take in beach activities, museums, walking along the Great Orme, noting wild life and flora plus sailing opportunities.

Achievements

 

After a medical incident on Friday we're back with what might be seen as new-old Cubs look from a formal presentation so while the socks may be short and the necker plain, much of the spirit of the pre 1967 wolf Cub is here and by modern standards fairly smart.

Given the many award badges gained, he's on his way to not only being a great scout but a real asset to the community.

Baa II

Cattle walking down a country lane is not an uncommon appearence from Farmer Rowe's cows in the 90's nearby to sheep while holidaying in North Wales and this picture realy appeals giving some idea of scale in the hilly area and what looks like a semi deserted farm building.
 

Now that's better

 

While it was a bit hot, so hot I slept with the windows open, fan running with just my trusty scout blanket over me, I decided to enhance this classic 70's Cubs picture that was scanned in at a lowish resolution as it reminded me so much of my own era.

The country path

 I really enjoy going along country paths that I don't have to travel far to join and love how deliberately using a wide aperture to throw the background out focus lends a softer  dreamy feel to this scene rather than having front to back in sharp focus.

Baa

 

Looking ahead while the others enjoysa lie down in the sun surrounded by bluebells, what could be better for them or for that matter for you visiting enjoying the scene on your ramble.

Streams II

 Rich vegitation can often be observed around streams at this time of year, often posing challenges when it comes to the wide contrast compared to the sensors in modern cameras and especially film emulsions.

Guides uniform

 

We did look at Brownies uniforms over time and today we'll look at Guides, which started off as a two piece uniform rather tyhan the tunic of Brownies but got heavily made over in from the 1990's.

While I can see advantages to skorts or shorts for more physical activities like hiking over skirts I really don't see where 6/8ths length trousers fit in not least when on parade.