1st Stotfold Scout Group are part of the Biggleswade District. Our Beaver members are aged between 6 and 8, and they take part in an active, exciting, fun, and adventurous programme of activities.
Uniform
The Colony uniform consists of:-
• Turquoise sweatshirt
• Navy Blue Activity Trousers
• A green and yellow neckerchief (with a woggle which is supplied when the Beaver is invested)
Uniforms can be purchased from our local Scout Shop at Boyd Field in Henlow SG16 6AN on a Tuesday or Thursday evening between 7:00 and 8:30 pm. See here.
They are also available on-line at The Scout Store.
The Beaver uniform and the positions of badges are shown to the right (click on the picture to expand it).
Money Matters
Making Payments
Payments are made online to the Scout Group bank account, we administer these through a system called Online Scout Manager (OSM) via direct debits.
Subs
Subs are collected each half-term, and are currently at £20 per half-term. This money covers:-
• Annual fees to District, County and National bodies for insurance and leader training. Unfortunately, the group don’t get to see a penny of this money.
• A small amount of the subs are kept by the group to cover running costs such as electric and water bills and the purchasing of equipment.
• Badges.
• Equipment needed for Colony meetings.
Contacts
If you have any problems or queries, please don’t hesitate in contacting any of the leaders. You will be given their contact details when your child joins Beavers or you can use the email address of the Group Scout Leader (GSL): gslstotfold@gmail.com. We are there to help you and your child.
If you are interested in helping out with the Colony, or doing something else to help with the Group, with any of the uniformed sections (Beavers, Cubs or Scouts) or behind the scenes, then please contact us via the GSL email address. There are no payments for being a leader or helper, but what you get out of it is much better than that – seeing the children having fun and enjoying themselves. The Scout Group can only run with the time, energy and dedication of the volunteers.
The Scout Group is supported by a Board of Trustees. The role of the Trustees is to run the Group and the Scout Hut, help organise Group Events and fundraising events to maintain the Group and to purchase new equipment. If you can spare a little bit of time – a couple of hours one evening a month for a meeting, plus a few extra hours to help at events – please make yourselves known to one of the leaders, to the GSL, or to one of the Trustees.
Health / Contact Information
We have personal information forms that we require to be filled in. These will give us all the information required should there be any need to contact parents or for medical purposes.
You will be emailed the relevant forms when your child starts at Beavers, or given them on the first evening, and increasingly sections are moving over to this information being held within OSM where it can be filled in online and edited by parents / guardians. An additional form that is likely to be given out or requested to be filled in online deals with Gift Aid (the Scout group is a registered charity and subs can be claimed as Gift Aid, please fill in these forms if you are able to as this is a valuable source of extra income to the group).
Please return these forms / complete online as soon as possible.
What is Beaver Scouting?
In October 1982, The Scout Association introduced ‘Beavers’ for 6 and 7 year old boys in response to a growing demand within the Movement for such an optional activity to be available at the discretion of Scout Groups.
Provision for this age range had, in fact, existed for some years in a number of countries. Beavers started in Northern Ireland some 15 years earlier and, later, there were similar approaches in the Republic of Ireland, Australia, Canada and New Zealand and in some European countries. Some informal projects also developed in places in Scotland and England. Initially, Beavers were not full Members of the Movement. In April 1986 they became a recognised training Section and took the title of Beaver Scouts. In 1991, girls were admitted to the Beaver Scouts for the first time. The Beaver Scout Programme was extensively overhauled in 1995.
In the United Kingdom, Beaver Scouts wear a turquoise sweatshirt, a Group scarf, with a coloured plastic woggle to hold it in place. Their Promise, which is appropriate for the age range, is, – ‘I promise to do my best, to be kind and helpful, and to love God’. Beaver Scouts usually meet once a week. Beaver Scouts have the opportunity to work in a variety of groupings, sometimes called Lodges. The Colony normally comprises a maximum membership of 24 Beavers though currently the Stotfold colonies are smaller than this as a reflection of the number of adult volunteers that are currently able to run the sections. The Beaver Scout Motto is ‘Be Prepared’ which describes the ethos of the section.
The Beaver Scout programme and activities are based on four Activity areas. These are:
- Beaver Scouts Learn about themselves– Exploring their feelings and developing good habits of health and personal safety.
- Beaver Scouts get to know people- Finding out about people in their family, the family of Scouting, and the local community and wider world.
- Beaver Scouts explore- Discovering the exciting world of science, nature and technology, exploring the natural and man- made world
- Beaver Scouts care- Growing in their love of God and responding to the needs of others, the local community and the wider world.
The elements of their activities do, indeed, aim towards having fun and making friends and there is an exciting spicing of adventure and achievement.
The ‘Scouts help others’ principle of the Scout Movement’s ethos is readily accepted by boys and girls of Beaver Scout age so that appropriate community service is possible right from the start.
Beaver Scout Leaders are appointed under the Policy, Organisation and Rules of the Association and are men and women between the ages of 20 and 65 who are in sympathy with the aims of Scouting. Assistant Leaders may be appointed from the age of 18. Parents and Helpers are a valuable asset to the running of a successful Beaver Scout Colony.
In April 1986, there were already over 60,000 Beaver Scouts in the United Kingdom and in the 1997 Census, there were 133,245.
What do we do?
What do Beaver Scouts really do?
Beaver Scouts will enjoy a great deal of fun and adventure whilst in the Colony. They will also have opportunities to gain awards and badges. These awards are given in recognition of the effort made by each youngster at their own level of development and understanding.
The Beaver Scout Programme includes such activities as:-
- Caring for the environment
- Model making
- Cooking
- First Aid
- Exploring
- Helping others
- + many more fun and exciting activities
The Programme
Beaver Scout Leaders run a balanced programme which provides the Beavers with exciting and rewarding challenges. A range of activities, events and experiences are built around six zones (Outdoor & Adventure, Community, Fitness, Creative, Global, Beliefs and Attitudes). For more information visit the Scout Association website here or ask the Beaver Leaders.
A large number of badges are available to Beaver Scouts to recognise their progress through the Colony. These are described in this link to the Scout Association.
Information about Beaver activities and events will be emailed by the leaders, and will also be accessible via the parent section of OSM.
Do You Want to Help?
Your youngster may come home from a Beavers meeting and say “I need a picture of a Panda for Beavers!”
Your youngster expects you to be interested and will get much more out of Scouting if you are prepared to offer your support. There are lots of ways in which you can help, for example:-
- Offering a skill or hobby to train or test the Beaver Scouts for awards and badges
- Helping prepare refreshments for a Group or Colony event
- Helping transport Beaver Scouts to events and outings
- Supporting the Scout Group Board of Trustees to help them run the group and manage the Scout Group
- Joining the Supporters Association which helps raise funds for the group
The Board of Trustees
Each year, the Scout Group elects a Board of Trustees consisting of a number of volunteers to carry out the strategic tasks of running the Scout Group. They are responsible for purchasing equipment and maintaining Group property. The function of the Board is also to support and help the Group
Each year, the Scout Group elects a Board of Trustees consisting of a number of volunteers to carry out the strategic tasks of running the Scout Group. They are responsible for purchasing equipment and maintaining Group property. The function of the Board is also to support and help the Group Leader carry out his or her role in maintaining an effective and successful Scout Group.
What do you gain from helping?
You will have the opportunity to meet a variety of new people and make a real contribution to help your local community. Please do not be shy to offer your help and if you feel you have any skills to offer to the Beaver Scout Colony, other sections or Trustees please contact your Beaver Scout Leader or the GSL (the email address is on the Contacts page). By playing your part and supporting your child you will share the enjoyment, friendship and fun of the family of Scouting.
The Beaver Promise, Prayer and Motto
The Beaver Scout Promise
I promise to do my best
To be kind and helpful
and to love God
The Beaver Scout Prayer
Help us God to be this day
Kind and good in every way
Never greedy and always sharing
A Beaver Scout should be kind and caring
Amen
The Beaver Scout Motto
Be Prepared
