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?

Restful views

 As I walk around the tree lined roads by woodland and fields here there is little escaping we are in autumn from the lower temperatures as much as they may rally by early afternoon as warmer coats and gloves are put on.

Nor as the low sun causes the richly coloured leaves in their final stages before departing for winter to look so attractive with a warm glow.

That captured in soft focus is one the things I just love to be surround in outdoors.

Halloween

Tis the season to be spooky and the various sections of Scouting organize events such as competitions, games and the like such as a fancy dress event.

 This was one organized by a Beaver Colony just over a decade ago with ghosts, werewolves and the like putting in an appearence which no doubt was an absolute hoot for all involved.

Sometimes older traditions such as "bobbing" the apple happen which used to be the case when we marked All Saints rather more as society adapted the mainly American rituals.

First Squirrels anniversary

 This week marks the first year since the latest program in Scouting was launched.

Squirrels is for four to six year olds where storytelling, routine and play to help young children learn vital skills in area Dray units and awards can be gained too, just like their older siblings in Beavers and Cubs.

It is the first new age range offered by Scouts in 35 years

There is a formal uniform with jersey but as you would expect with children of this age who may be still grappling with the sorts of fine control and co-ordination required for things like dressing, a less strict approach is taken

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SQUIRRELS!

Mastering skills

There are a number of ways of learning from osmosis to directed instruction such as in this classic Norman Rockwell picture - a guiding hand - where the older scout teaches the wolf cub one of several knots he needs to master to move up and gain a award.

Everyone from what I have read from people like Edward De Bono appears to have their own style of learning and fortunately in Scouts this is understood making life easier for those of us who are dyslexic struggling with the printed word and following sequences.

Learning to care

 

A love of animals can start from an early age from the first you may see out to as you get older having a pet of your very own such as my brothers infamous gerbil who escaped during one cage cleaning session to a all hands to the pump hunt in the bedroom for him before either he went of the room or encountered our cats!

Having a pet is not just a simple case of emotional attachment although you have that but is about caring for it no matter how you may be feeling or what else you feel like doing instead.

You just have to put it first and from that you start to bear the fruit sown of responsibility for another living creature and you become more mature.

It's telling how much this Scout from Cobham, Surrey cares for his hamster.

Sometimes that responsibility takes us out of the house such as walking your puppy and from that we also learn about nature, those things that may harm him and share in the magic of the seasons together.

You can gain awards for learning how to look after pets and caring for the environment.