Cambridgeshire Scouts

Beaver Scouts

Beaver Scouting
For boys and girls aged 6 - 8

Beaver Scouts are boys and girls usually aged between six and eight years old (Note: they can join in the three months leading up to their sixth birthday). They belong to the first and youngest section of the Scouting family.

Easily recognised by their distinctive turquoise sweatshirts, Beaver Scouts enjoy making friends, playing games, going on visits and helping others. They usually meet together once a week in a Beaver Scout Colony.

Some Beaver Scout Colonies also organise Sleepovers in suitable buildings such as Scout centres. This is often the first time a young person spends a night away from home.

I want to join

If you or your child wishes to get involved with Beaver Scouting in Cambridgeshire, please complete the Scout Association's online enquiry form by clicking here.

 Beavers Scan the Summer Sky

The 14th Cambridge Beavers have been scanning the heavens with an evening at a local observatory. Though they didn't find any signs of extra-terrestrial activity, they did spot the moon, some stars and distant planets Read the full story here

 Animal Friendly Beavers in Nature-based sleepover

30 Beavers from the 12th, 18th and 26th Cambridge have been learning about wildlife at a special nature-based sleepover. The event, held at Milton Community Centre and Country Park, took advantage of the local surroundings and provided a great opportunity for the Beavers to investigate animal habitats and ecosystems. Read the full story here

 Beavers get Soaked at District Aquathon

120 Beavers from across Cambridge and Granta Districts have descended on Abington campsite for an activity day with a difference. The District Beaver Aquathon was an event with one sole purpose...to get everyone extremely wet! Read the full story here

 Beaver Scouts Promote Healthy Eating

Beaver Scouts from the 2nd Nene Scout Group in Peterborough have been sharing some Healthy Eating tips with BBC Radio Cambridgeshire listeners in order to promote the new Healthy Eating Badge. They teaming up with Breakfast presenter, Jane Smith, to discuss their perfect recipe for a fruit salad! Read the full story here

 Autumn of Adventure for Cambridge Beavers

Beavers in Cambridge have celebrated the end of the Centenary with an Autumn packed full of adventure. Between September and December, the beavers have been given various opportunities to take part in events all over the city: Read the full story here

 Beavers 'Go Global' with Beaveree 2007!

680 Beaver Scouts from across Cambridgeshire have gathered at Cottenham Village College for the biennial County Beaver Jamboree. Beaveree 2007, the biggest event of any single section in the county, gave Beavers an opportunity to celebrate 'International Customs and Cultures' in a variety of ways and was held in conjunction with the Centenary of Scouting. Read the full story here

 Ely Beavers show off their Cycling Skills!

Beaver Scouts from across Ely District gathered at Witchford Village College over the weekend for the annual District Beaver Cyclo-cross. Split into small groups, their task was to complete a number of cycling challenges, ranging from simple slaloms to more advanced bicycle skills. So how did they get on and what were the tasks? Read the full story here

 Beavers Unite for Easter Adventure

Around 80 Beaver Scouts from Cambridge and Granta Districts have run wild at Abington Campsite in search of some specially donated Easter Eggs. The event, sponsored by 'Russells Estate Agents' saw 100 Boxed Easter Eggs hidden all over the site, hanging and hiding in plastic bags. It was the job of the Beavers to work in small groups and collect as many as they could. Read the full story here

Beavering Away

As Assistant County Commissioner for Beaver Scouts, Sue Best has been out and about visiting Colonies in the county during 2007. Sharing in their weekly programme, Sue has joined Beavers learning about road and water safety, whilst others shared their knowledge of compass points and some experimented with balloon rockets. Others have been following tree trails and planting seeds ready for transferring to their Centenary Garden.

Sue has also had the pleasure of joining some Beavers and leaders at their Colony sleepovers with great topical themes including Grand Prix, Red Nose Day, Brownsea Island and Mothers Day. She is delighted to see Beavers sharing their personal challenges with their Colonies and being awarded their Chief Scouts Bronze Awards.

Sue says "If you're planning something unusual or would simply like to share your weekly programme, let me know when and where and I'll try and make it along."

 Icenorum Living History Group

Icenorum Living History Group covers the Iron Age, Roman, Anglo Saxon and Viking periods and they would love the opportunity to present their displays.

They have recently received a grant from the Local Network Fund to enable them to do just that, to put on events for community groups such as the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, a grant which has reduced the cost a great deal to just £1 per child.

The group is particularly interested in exploring ideas raised concerning changes arising from immigration/invasion, the improvements this brought and how this country became what it is thanks to excellent new ideas.

Although this might sound rather serious and daunting, in actual fact it is great fun trying out, for example, Roman weaponry and armour (all child-safe), talking about a day in the life of an auxiliary, or preparing (very smelly) Roman food!

If you would like further information then contact Mary Hannigan at icenorum@hotmail.co.uk

By the way, they are all teachers and parents and are all CRB checked.

Cromwell Crafts "Wow" Public

Creative Beaver Scouts from Cromwell District gather in St Ives for their annual Craft Competition. There were five categories to choose from, and over 100 Beavers took part in the weeks building up to the event. Now it's time for the judging and public exhibition! Read the full story here

Where have all the Beavers gone?

Answer - On an 'experimental' sleepover

21 Beaver Scouts and 10 leaders, not from one group or even from one District but from around the County got together in November at the Copley Centre in St.Ives for the first ever County Beaver Scout Sleepover.

Following a scientific theme, the Beavers made air powered rockets that they launched over 20 feet into the night sky and miniature rafts with glow stick masts which were tested in the stream under the cover of darkness. Beavers searched by torchlight for nocturnal animals and then gathered around a campfire with Professor Wontolla to sing about other Mad Professors and test the incredible enlarging machine. And that was only part of it!

Keeping them all going for the evening wasn't hard as they prepared their own Pizzas and fresh fruit punch, sizzled sausages over open fires and decorated their cakes with as many e-numbers as we could find (maybe we'll review this activity before next time!)

We're going to do it all again next year, if you want to join us, get in touch with sue.best@cambridgeshirescouts.org.uk

click on a picture to enlarge image

New Beaver Scout Colonies

Five new Colonies opened in the county last year; at the 12th Cambridge, 1st Hemingford, 2nd Newmarket, 1st Witchford and 26th Cambridge.

2007 has been a fantastic year for Beaver Scouting and there had been some terrific District events. For example; Ely had a an enjoyable visit to Stikes and Planet Zoom; Newmarket District Beaver Fun Day based and Cambridge and Cromwell Districts have held their annual handicraft competitions. Outings to theme parks, Activity Days, Sausage Sizzles and Cyclo-cross had also been on the agenda; all with remarkable turnouts.

All great news for Beaver Scouts in Cambridgshire.

Amendments to adult to Beaver ratios

There have been some changes to the adult to Beaver ratio, which can be found in the Policy, Organisation & Rules of the Scout Association (2006 version, rule 3.7).

The minimum ratio for outdoor activities and sleepovers is now one adult to six Beaver Scouts plus the Leader in charge. A full list of amendments can be found at: www.scoutbase.org.uk/library/hqdocs/por/index.htm

For further clarification and guidance contact Sue Best. Email: sue.best@cambridgeshirescouts.org.uk

Programmes Online in Cambridgeshire

Programmes Online is a tool designed to make it easier for adults to programme plan. It is for members only and can be found at www.scouts.org.uk/pol

Cambridgeshire Beaver Scout Push Ball

Cambridgeshire Beaver section is the proud owners of a giant push ball which is available for hire. It is great fun and ideal for District or Group events and not just Beavers!

Hire charges are as follows: £5 per evening, £10 for a day or £15 for a weekend.

There are also three indoor boxes stacked with games like Connect4, Buckaroo and Bingo, which are free for use by any Colony.

For further information contact Sue Best, ACC Beavers (email: sue.best@cambridgeshirescouts.org.uk or telephone 01480 494487)

Milton Country Park

If you are planning to use Milton Country Park, Cambridge for an activity in future, please remember to book with the Park Rangers in advance on 01223 420060 or email: miltoncp@scambs.gov.uk

 Duxford Air Museum

If you are looking for somewhere to take your Colony, think about a visit to the Imperial War Museum, Duxford for a great day out.

If you book your visit through the Education Department then one adult enters free with every six Beavers. For further information see the museum website where you will find all sorts of information, quiz sheets etc http://duxford.iwm.org.uk

A terrific opportunity and it's in our County

Revving up for the new Beaver Scout Badge

Free resources for the Beaver Scout Creative Badges are available from the Scout Information Centre. Sponsored by Hot Wheels Acceleracers, the badge offers lots of creative activity ideas related to Acceleracers - Mattel's TV animation and toy range. Call the Scout Information Centre on 0845 300 1818 for a free leaders pack.