Beaver Scouts meet penpal from Canada
On 17th August three very excited Beaver Scouts met one of their Canadian penpals - in person! Especially excited was Patrick Baynes (aged 7), who will be emigrating to Canada with his own family in just a few days time.
Patrick and his fellow Beaver Scouts, Catherine and Samuel Hitchins (both aged 6), met Cole and his family at Shepreth Wildlife Park at 11.00am for a day of fun. A tour was taken at 11.30am so they could learn even more about the animals, and get to handle some, from an expert.
For the first time ever the 25 boys and girls of the 1st Fenstanton and Hilton Beaver Colony became pen pals with a Colony in another country in January 2009 when they received a parcel from a Colony in Toronto, Canada.
In the parcel were letters from the 22 Canadian youngsters, along with goodies such as scouting badges, Canadian pin badges and delicious maple syrup biscuits. April Stevens, the Canadian leader, first made contact when looking for new ideas for her youngsters and came across the web site of the 1st Fenstanton and Hilton Scout Group.
The Beaver Scouts here were asked to write letters and to also suggest items to include in the package that were a “taste of England”. The parcel to their new friends in Toronto therefore included some photographs, scouting badges, a “Beavers are Best” statue, some marmite and a box of chocolate frog bars!
Earlier this term the Colony had a whole night of Canadian fun, based in part on what they had learned from the Canadian youngsters.
Cole Baker, Canadian Beaver Scout “ It was great fun to meet with some of our penpals and I showed them my Canadian Beaver Scout uniform. I can’t wait to get Patrick to meet our Beaver Colony once he moves to
Heather Baker, Cole’s Mum “We had a lovely day today with the beavers and others! Took the usual few moments for everyone to warm up to each other, but then they got along fabulously! It was a great setting for them to see some wildlife, and also just to hang out in the play area and get to know each other. It will make a lasting memory for all of us, but really helped to give a personal connection to Cole of our visit. We can’t wait to arrange to introduce Patrick to the other Beavers once he arrives in
Jo Hitchins, Assistant Beaver Scout Leader “Being on the radio this morning was quite a start to a brilliant day! Favourite animal for Catherine and Samuel was the monkey being fed. For me it was walking through the bat enclosure! Catherine spent the best part of an hour on the arial runway too - she's sooo going to love Cubs and Scouts! Cole's family were lovely - all the children seemed to get on, and Heather had done some photos of places in
Louise Clover – Chairman 1st Fenstanton and Hilton Scout Group “The chance to learn about life in another country at this young age is wonderful, although we have had to disappoint the youngsters that their request
