An example to us all?

 

Something that by British standards seems a tadge old-fashioned but very welcome, the U.S. Scout, this one from Raleigh, North Carolina, out in the woods looking very smart.

Just why is it presently over here we seem to have a problem of being practically dressed AND smart?

Back to the seventies

 

Memories from the past include seeing and knowing Cubs know at the time as Cub Scouts at church at various services looking smart like these two posed ones did, common place in many suburban and country districts .

8 Fun games while hiking

 

8 Fun Hiking Activities for Kids (and Adults)

Scavenger Hunt Hike

Penny Flip Hike

Fit on a Penny Hike

ABC Hike

Monogram Hike

Insect Hike

Sketching or Drawing Hike

Nature Friends

1. Scavenger Hunt Hike

Make a list of things the Scouts will look for, but these won’t be things they’ll pick up and take home. They’re things they’ll experience. List 3 or 4 items in these categories:  Smell, Texture, Sound, and Sight.

For example, your Sound category might include a bird chirping and leaves rustling. Smells could be dirt and flowers. 

2. Penny Flip Hike

Flip a penny to decide which direction you’ll take on your hike. You might say, “Heads, we’ll go toward the creek, and tails, we’ll walk toward that big tree.” 

Flip your penny for silly stuff too like, “Heads, we’ll sing Yankee Doodle Dandy, and tails, we’ll moo like a cow until we get to that rock.”

3. Fit on a Penny Hike

For this hike, walk to a designated spot and give each Scout a penny. They have 5 minutes to find as many things as possible that will fit on the penny. 

Remind the Scouts that they should only pick up things that are on the ground. Cub Scouts should always follow Scouting’s Outdoor Code.

4. ABC Hike

Pair up the Scouts. They are looking for items that start with each letter of the alphabet. When they find an item that begins with A (acorn, for example), they’ll call out the name and begin looking for the next letter.

5. Monogram Hike

Scouts try to find something that begins with each of their initials. The items don’t have to be physical–they can be sounds or smells too.

6. Insect Hike

Each Scout should bring a camera. If all of them don’t have one, you can pair them up. Tell the Scouts to take as many pictures of different kinds of insects as possible.

7. Sketching or Drawing Hike

Bring along paper and pencils or crayons. Hike to a scenic location, and have the Scouts draw what they see.

8. Nature Friends

Each Scout picks up an item from the ground to be their “friend.” As you hike, have each child explain why the item is their friend.

Spring fundraising

 

It looks highly likely last weeks fundraiser raised over 1K including direct contributions along the way and that but apart from a sponsered overnight hike there are other ways groups do such as this group of scouts who are doing a sponsered cycle ride around their district.

It doesn't matter how you do it, it's that you undertake a challenge in your own time to raise fund yourself that counts rather than waiting on somebody else.

It's over there!

 

That classic moment when on your group hike where we attempt to relate the physical features such as lakes and streams before us to the map and detirmine exactly where we are and in what direction to proceed.

It's over there!

Chefs Badge 2026 style

 

Monday saw the new launch of the Chefs Badge which has always been a part of scouting and not just doing hot dogs and toasted marshmallows over the campfire as much as some of us adore all of that.

No, aided by Ainsley Harriet promoting it, this badge requires you to plan a meal including the shopping bit, learn some basic cookery skills to turn all of that into a meal that is presented so it tastes good while staying safe around sharp knives and hot ovens.

It's not really fancy cookery but really a essential life skill that with less being taught in schools, even less going on in the home, you do need to life beyond putting ready meals in the microwave.

When you consider beyond the issue of so many people including children and young people feeling unable to cook, the sheer amount of wasted food that gets tossed away, this is so timely.

Fundraising locally

Today, something that matters, fundraising, and our local Scout leaders went on a 24 hour sponsered walk to see how far they could go, fully supported of course.

The £500 target was smashed!  So far £970 was raised. I made a substancial donation given it was my birthday weekend feeling it could really do some good.

The great spring tidy up

 

Things we can do this Spring include clearing up our green's parks and camp sites as it's that time we spend a bit more time out of doors although it goes without saying children should be supervised when using any tools.

It sometimes seems too easy for our green spaces to get covered in tissues, crisp packets and the like.

Post 1,300

We do hit a anniversary in this blog today, a physically challenge or two aside when from when we started in 2018 during a period of issues with Tumblr and initially simicasting on Tumblr when I found I wanted to talk about scouting, past and present and the great outdoors.

One group in Scouting we're inclined to forget about is those over 14.

Many of us loved Cubs, you might of been a Beaver and moved up to Scouts at 10 1/2 to about 14 years where for some other interests may come more to the fore, some may see Scouts as a bit too "childish" or uncool and so drop out.

In scouting it need not be this way, there are programs that are more suited to your abilities and awards you can work toward, all of which do add something that helps you stand out looking for work or getting a place at college or university.

From the time of Baden-Powell, there have been arrangements for young people who wanted to continue after their time in the Scout Section,and in 1967, Venture Scouts were formed from the existing Senior Scout and Rover Scout Sections. 

During the late 1990s the Scout Association decided that, to meet the changing needs of young people, there should be two sections for the over-14s:

Explorer Scouts for 14 to 18-year-olds, and the Scout Network.

The Scout Network allows 18 to 25 year-olds who have an interest in both Scouting and their own personal development,and ultimately want to have fun, the opportunity to do so.

This also enables them to continue and complete their Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award and/or become a King’s Scout.

Activities

Scout Network members take part in a variety of activities, which they undertake and organise themselves

with the support of a Scout Network Leader.

Example activities include Abseiling, award work, bowling, camping, circus skills, climbing, cooking, games, go-karting, gorge walking, hiking,pioneering, shooting and watersports.

Some may help running the younger programs or events too.

There we have it, life continues for scouts and in a uncertain world facing challenges children and young people being prepared to deal with whatever happens while having fun.

Saint David's day

 

St David is the patron saint of Wales and St David's Day is celebrated on 1st March each year. This marks the anniversary of his death in 589AD. The day is traditionally celebrated by hosting parades, and eating traditional Welsh food, such as Welsh rarebit which is made from cheese.

In Scouts we do market it with activities like baking Welsh Cakes, learning about St. David and making cards with daffodils.

Out and about

 

More things are out seeing spring happens officially Sunday as things slowly warm up.

The Catkins are here!

 

More signs of Spring here where the Catkins are out.

Catkins are long, slim, often drooping clusters of tiny, wind-pollinated, petal-less flowers found on trees such as hazel, birch, oak, and willow. Appearing in winter and spring, these "lamb’s tails" are actually the male flowers releasing pollen to female flowers. They are crucial for early-season pollination before leaves appear.

They're out!

 

After a long wait and some seriously cold days here, the daffodils are finally out ready for Spring which is not far off at all looking great.

Seeing things come back to life, the resumption of the Dawn Chorus is what I really love.

Outdoor fun

 

Trees have figured in both stories and imaginary play and actually some Scouts have been involved in making Tree Trails that people have to spot which can be used to raise environmental awareness and also as test of observation skills.

Just the sort of thing as make our way towards Spring.

Standing tall

 

Looking smart in the thick of it, these two are a credit to the grown ups in their lives.

Things to do in this cold Winter

Sometimes it may be hard to think of something fresh and really interesting that could be run this time of year not least outside

Winter hikes can be exciting. Scouts can look for animal tracks in the snow learning to identify different tracks and understand animal behaviour.

Believe me, scavenger hunts are fun. What you do is make a list of things to find, like pinecones, animal tracks, or specific types of leaves. This keeps Scouts engaged and observant.

Play games like “I Spy” or “20 Questions” during the hike. It keeps the group entertained and thinking. These games are simple and require no equipment.

Teach Scouts about winter survival. Show them how to find shelter or identify safe drinking water sources as it’s a practical skill that adds purpose to the hike.

In the event of it being impossible to get out you could create a scenario that could be talked through indoors looking at what things we need to remember in order to enjoy being out of doors and stay safe.

It may even take the form of a game you could play!

Meet Scouts newest ambassador

 

Recently it was announced Lucy Spraggan a singersongwriter had been appointed Scouts Ambassador who themslves had been in Scouts.

She spends her spare time in the outdoors and won Celebrity SAS Who Dares Wins. 

Ambassadors help raise the Awareness of Scouting, assisting within the body in various, often hands on ways and in doing so help grow scouting as a Movement.

How it was here

Pasts are a thing I've spoke of here over the years by that the pasts of many members of Scouts or that of those I knew.

The past sometimes seems a different kind of a place and here with Our Cubs it was because until the 1990's we didn't have a centre for youth, only a Community Hall and two places of worship that offered rooms when not in for services.

These are some of that generation I knew here the way it was with the 70's, early 80's cub uniform - well most are, two have very different ideas - with leaders at the Village Hall which they'd set up for a meeting enjoying themselves although the floor from memory was always rather "glidy" and not that comfortable.

What do you do?

 

There are lots of ways you can try to attract more to join your pack, word of mouth short leaflets you might arrange to placed around the area or there is this just listing everythung you do with a collage of photo's that illustrate them.

That's a busy pack.

Desktops

 

In the modern era we tend to use different forms of working.

We may of made covers for our guidebooks to keep them in great shape and we had - some of us still do have - various posters around where we sit to do work of which a few may well have connections with scouting.

It's very common for people to have screen savers and the like on their computers so some Scouts do have a few you can download that don't just personalize your computer but as with this one remind us of what our true standards are even when you're not at a meeting or taking part in an organized event.

I find it helps especially in more stressful situations.

Spouting...

 Officially January has been the wettest this year in many a while with the ground being really quite soft in many areas.

Recently I notices the Daffodils have began to emerge from their Winter sleep, not quite out but it won't be more than three weeks or so weather permitting when that sign of Spring will emerge along our greens while the snow drops are already out.

Snowtime!

 

If you believe some people we may have heavy snow and sub zero temperatures in a few days time but as these Canadian Scouts show that need not prevent you from being out and havin g fun with friends so long as you wrap up warm.

Snowfest

 

Just the kind of thing that would of appealed to me at the time and I'm sure all attendees of Camp Grizzly will have a great time with winter sports such as skiing and curling plus fun including camping options with fire.

Winter Fitness

 

It's a chilly morning as I go out but did you know there is such a thing as Winter Fitness Award as during winter it is easy to get into a more sedentary, calorie heavy lifestyle not least in an age of instant fun on our phones and tablets.

This one is run by Scouts Canada and I feel a great idea.

Knots

 

It's a cool day and time perhaps for a quick reminder of the many knots available when we need to fasten things securely out of doors as challenging with damaged hands as it is for me to do.

Cookery and scouting

 

While it is fashionable to deride anything connected to cookery on the grounds of sexism, not fittingin with  super fast lifestyles and that nonetheless in order to live well with less risks of becoming unwell, we need to eat good quality food and too much of ready meals and the like are just not healthy.

This vintage cook book from the U.S. is all based on things children from around 8 upwards could make perhaps with a bit of assistance from a adult or older sibling and while to modern eyes it may be wrong to single such attention to just girls, actually boys too need to be able cook rather putting things in the microwave for a minute.

Perhaps a modern form of this is needed?

Ice!

Depending who you believe we *may* have more cold and snow toward the weekend although the last threat for here was something of a damp squid.

Something you may well find is iclicles as I did several days back where you have strips of often on structures such as roofs and windows and these beauties were found by a Vermont Girl Scout while on winter camp.

As ever, if you're going out in very cold temperature prepare and do wrap up well.

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The Shaping Us badge

Straight from the tree, this week we have news about a new Blanket Badge for Squirrels  recently launched by the Scout Association in conjunction with the Royal Foundation.

The badge can be given to anyone who engages with the Shaping Us Framework, initiated by our Joint President, HRH The Princess of Wales.

The framework describes, in a clear and accessible way, the social and emotional skills that young people need to thrive and forms a part of passing on opportunities to discuss and develop particular social and emotional skills.

This might in game form where learning to play a game helps develop communication skills such as listening, speaking, taking turns and things like understanding each others feelings though empathy so we're able to complete the task and work with each other effectively.

This is fun!

 

Canadian Cubs out in the winter enjoying themselves on an organized day out in the woods.

Wayfaring

 

Finding your way really is a thing that matters and here these Canadian Cubs are doing an exercise armed with just what you need - a map with distinctive local features  showing and a compass - as part of a course on survival skills.

The tendency for children to be taken to everywhere by car does lessen the skills may of us aquired doing things like walking to school, our friends houses and the shop where you make a mental note of what roads and paths to cross, things along the way that we need to pass or turn into and so on which form the backbone of getting about independently on foot.

The freeze

 

Pix credits: BBC

Recent weather here resulted in snow earlier in the week and even a partially frozen canal on Saturday as temperatures plummited which has made getting about a bit akward having had a few near misses with the ice. 

That's where being prepared to do a "good turn" can be really appreciated as some people do struggle with things like getting to the shops locally or feel more isolated as tehy cannot visit friends as easy as they notmally would.

Skiing in the snow

 

We were supposed to have had a a major deluge of snow here but you know what?

It only showed up for a few hours and melted completely away but Winter doesn't mean in Cubs you cannot take part in sports as there's winter sports such as skiing that nearby we do have a ski centre for and that is what these cubs from Lancashire are doing, clearly enjoying the experience.

How does it help?

Seeing it is New Year and I'm wrapped up by the gas fire we might look really what this thing really is about beyond it's history and founder.

That is a simple summary of what it can do not least for those in their teens who often are bewildered by a seemingly endless set of choices, potential distractions and where peer pressure can replace careful thought and reflection in these matters.

Any notion of children being "chattle" has long gone socially and legally so you cannot "make" any child take any path be it to follow a cause, get involved in a specific interest or just do whatever as a parent or aunt or uncle you did.

Providing an opportunity to explore options, come up with a workable plan with support while they learn to take more responsibility for directing their own progress working towards achievements, badges and above all the confidence to take on challenges is what in scouting we can offer.

It's certainly possible to progress to poistions of real leadership in scouts but so much of what you do does translate well into things like seeing a course of academic or vocational training through or showing the kind of interest that helps secure a job.

That's why Scouts matters.

mm

Memories

 

There may be different ways of entering the New Year but something very much in it's past, over one hundred and ten years old with that sepia, beloved at the time but today often in black and white greyscales.

Uniform reflected the Edwardian era of Scouting in its infancy and not how the neckerchief is fastened too.

Sending wishes, the old school way by Postcard, in Twenty Twenty Six and endangered species and yet the fact we can see it is something that with current trends in 2126 we may not as sd's cards fail and file formats drift.

We can read a lot too into how it is written by the handwriting.

There is something to be said for us sending a Postcard even if we post updates  from our tablets and smartphones while we are visiting places: A truely permanent memory.