Goals

Goals, not just literally the ones scored in the backs of football nets matter not least if we are not to just drift aimlessly on, not really working towards achieving anything in our lives and many have found Scouting helped snd is helping them in developing a sense of direction and opportunities to discover what really makes them tick.
 

Scouts and the War in Iran

Few of us can avoid it but there's another war going on not that we're getting into the politics of that but that creates issues that do concern Scouting of one Scouts in the affected region - The Middle East - such as the effects of bombing and the loss of parents and siblings.

Scouting is endeavoring to support all affected without favour.

An issue that applies to us here in the U.K. is that various groups in society push harmful and very damaging narratives around Jews and Muslims that risk undermining the sense of unity of Britains of all heritages and faiths, spreading the politics of that region into our communities including schools and scouts.

As scouts we are called upon to look beyond such matters, treating each other as equals, respecting differences of view and working together  and to call out such attitudes and associated behaviours where they endanger all of us.

We all have a part however small to help ensure we all are valued and treated with fairness and compassion in scouts and in the reminder of our lives.

Getting about Scots style

 

Exploring and hiking be it in scouts or outside of it can take different forms and some prefer especially whilst in Scotland to wear traditional dress including a kilt which after all used in battle over the centuries over more modern forms.

Having worn kilts out exploring I can understand that although keeping your socks fully up and defeating the midges can be a challenge!

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.