Boys groups

[Guest guest]

As a novice, can someone enlighten me about all these groups (Beavers, cubs,

scouts, boys brigade, etc.)?? I guess I'd like to know what the difference

is between them and if anyone has any recommendations, although I expect it

depends on each local group. My boys are 4, 2 and 6 months - I'm not sure

whether to start putting their names down for these sorts of groups, or

whether we'll organise individual activities according to what they like, or

both or nothing!!

Thanks for any suggestions.

Hannah

Re:Brownies / Hard days work

Glad my boys do Boys Brigade - Anchor Boys (the youngest

group) are very flexible - they take from 5.5 - no waiting list - and

they will take Joe a month earlier so that he can be out with his

brother at the same time -due to the new baby.

Caroline

[Guest guest]

Ooh, can I second that? And add woodcraft folk and other 'alternatives'

too? Can anyone be a fund of knowledge on them??

Vicki

At 13:24 19/10/01, you wrote:

>As a novice, can someone enlighten me about all these groups (Beavers, cubs,

>scouts, boys brigade, etc.)?? I guess I'd like to know what the difference

>is between them and if anyone has any recommendations,

[Guest guest]

Hannah asked

> As a novice, can someone enlighten me about all these groups (Beavers, cubs,

> scouts, boys brigade, etc.)??

Vicki added

> Ooh, can I second that? And add woodcraft folk and other 'alternatives'

> too?

I am no expert, but I have had dealings with some of the above. Everything I

have written here is based on my experience and observations only - nothing

official! The websites are worth looking at as they are very informative.

DS1 went through Beavers and is now a Cub. Beavers (from 6), Cubs (from 8)

then Scouts are all Baden- organisations, the " male " version of Rainbows,

Brownies and Guides - they are all open to girls as well now, though IME they

do remain predominantly boys' groups. At Cubs the children make a promise in

which they agree to do their duty to God and the Queen as well as helping

others and doing good turns. Beavers promise to love God. Some groups have

church parades but ours doesn't. At Beavers the boys earn their Beaver badges

for time spent in Beavers- not a great deal of input required. There is also a

challenge badge which they can earn before moving on to Cubs. At meetings they

do crafty things, play games and have themed evenings, bbqs, walks etc.

http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/activity/beavers/prntinfo.htm

Cubs is more of the same but obviously aimed at older children. They work for

badges which demonstrate competence in all sorts of areas - DS1 has just got

his cyclists badge for which he had to learn a bit of basic bike maintenance,

demonstrate that he could control his bike properly, and show an appreciation

for the rules of the road and safe cycling. Some meetings are spent on badge

work. Other meetings that DS1 has had this term include ball skills, knot

tying, first aid, an Italian evening, signalling. They have walks, football

tournaments, go swimming etc and in May there is cub camp, 3 nights under

canvas - foot and mouth permitting - it was cancelled this year :-(

Scouts is from 11 I think, and they do lots of outdoory things like rock

climbing, canoeing etc.

http://www.scoutbase.org.uk/

DS2 has just started at Boys Brigade - much against my wishes as I wanted him

to join Beavers like his brother, but he was adamant that he wanted to go to

BB, mostly because he has friends there. It is a very strongly Christian

organisation with its object being " the advancement of Christ's Kingdom among

Boys and the promotion of habits of Obedience, Reverence, Discipline,

Self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian Manliness " . Each

meeting the boys have their finger nails and shoes inspected for cleanliness,

they have 15 minutes of scriptures, and they do crafty stuff and games. They

have regular church parades. I haven't quite got the structure of the

organisation sussed yet, but the boys are divided by age - I think the youngest

(from 6) are called Anchor Boys, then they move to Juniors. I haven't found

out anything about the badge system yet other than that there is one! Our

Anchors have an annual 'camp' in a house that the BB owns. The older boys camp

for real I think, and as with the scouting movement, the further up the boys

go, the more adventurous the activities.

http://www.boys-brigade.org.uk/

Woodcraft Folk is a non-religious organisation - " an educational movement for

children and young people, designed to develop self confidence and activity in

society, with the aim of building a world based on equality, friendship, peace

and co-operation. "

http://www.poptel.org.uk/woodcraft/

In our area there is quite a big waiting list for the groups so it's worth

getting names down. As the boys cannot start before the right age though, you

will find that older children appear to jump the queue if a space becomes

available before your child is eligible, even if they only recently applied for

a place.

HTH

Lynda

SAHM to (8), (6), Fraser (3), Callum (15/5/00)

Newsletter editor, Mid-Northumberland Branch

Area Rep, Region 7

www.familygarland.co.uk

[Guest guest]

Brilliant, Lynda! Thanks! At least that gives me some idea of what might

be for us and what might not - I think we'd be unlikely to pass a

fingernail inspection )

Vicki

[Guest guest]

Thanks very much for all of that Lynda, I will have a look through the

websites. I'm sure it will be a real education - I'd never even heard of

the woodcraft people thing. And like Vicki says, we'd never pass a

fingernail test!! I'll also find out what kind of things are offered after

school.

Thanks again ;o))

Hannah

-----Original Message-----

From: Lynda Garland

I am no expert, but I have had dealings with some of the above.

Everything I

have written here is based on my experience and observations only -

nothing

official! The websites are worth looking at as they are very informative.