A Round the Badges
Starting in January 2012 and as a regular feature of Cub Chatter, we would like to introduce a feature called ‘A Round the Badges’.
In this feature every month we will consider one of the Activity Badges that a Cub Scout can earn during their time with the Pack; look at its requirements and provide advice and suggest opportunities and resources that will help your Cubs to achieve it.
Of course, we would like to incorporate examples of Cub Scout Packs that have attempted the Activity Badge, how you found it and any tips that you may have for other leaders looking to introduce the Activity Badge to their programme.
So for the January edition of Cub Chatter, we will be considering the Air Activities Activity Badge and to do so, we would like to hear from you by 1st December 2011 if your Pack have:
- Attempted the Activity Badge with your Cub Scout Pack,
- Found it particularly easy, tricky, difficult or even impossible!
- Any tips that you would like to share with other Cub Scout Leaders on resources, places to visit or good ideas on how to achieve one or more parts of the Activity Badge.
South West in the Park
This was an opportunity for all adults in Scouting in South West Scotland Region to get together to exchange ideas with their counterparts in neighbouring Districts to take away to benefit their own.
It was nice to see those of you who were there and see this exchange of ideas in action from leaders chatting about badges and issues to swapping ideas and tips and agreeing to work together to organise inter-District events.
Please do keep in touch to let us know how some of these ideas progress!
Cub Scout Weekends at Lochgoilhead
Are you looking for an opportunity to take your Cub Scout Pack to a camp with other Cub Scouts?
Lochgoilhead National Activity Centre in Argyll have designated the following weekends for Cub Scouts:-
- 31st March – 1st April 2012
- 23rd – 24th June 2012
- 27th – 28th October 2012
The Activities Manager, Neil Baird can help you to put together programmes to help you achieve many of the Activity and Challenge Badges including Water Activities, Map Reader, Navigator and Outdoor Challenge to name a few.
Give him a call on 01301 703217 to see what he can organise for your Cub Scout Pack.
There is also a special offer available of £199 per person and one free adult per ten Scouts during the first 3-weeks of July. Places are limited so contact Lochgoilhead quickly if you want to secure places.
Recording Achievement
Do you find having several different record cards to be a pain?
Our Educational Links Officer Ross Donald has created a new Cub Scout Record Card to incorporate both the Scottish Cub Scout Challenge Badge and the new International Events Staged Activity Badge.
It would also make an ideal record for your Cub Scouts to take to school with them to share with their teachers what they have been learning and achieving in Cub Scouts.
Special Dietary Requirements
Doe you have Cub Scouts with different food intolerances?
The SHQ Adviser for Special Needs, John Kitson is currently working on a range of resources to be available on the SHQ website providing guidance as to where to buy certain foods and what to avoid for those with food intolerances.
Watch this space and in the meantime, an excellent book called book “Simply Gluten-free and Dairy-free” by Grace Cheetham is currently available from The Book People priced £4.99.
Other Dates to think about…
Although we celebrate Christmas on 25th December, many other countries celebrate the Festive Season in different ways. For example:
The Netherlands celebrate the Feast Day of Sinterklaas on 5th December and in Sweden, they celebrate the feast of St Lucia for a whole month from 13th December until 13th January!
Have a look at www.the-north-pole.com for more ideas and share some different Christmas traditions with your Cub Scouts.
i.Promise
Finally, can you help? Some new leaders are looking for ideas to help their Cubs learn - and remember - their Promise. What do you do?
Your ideas are important to the rest of us. Please get in touch and share your methods.
Make a Difference! Join the Cub Section Support Team!
If you are interested and enthusiastic in helping make a difference to the Cub Section across Scotland in delivering the programme, then consider putting your name forward to join the Cub Section Support Team.
For further details and an application form contact Programme@scouts-scotland.org.uk
Contact Us
If you have any news stories, good ideas, photos or anything relating to the Scout Section, then please let me know at cubs@scouts-scotland.org.uk
I look forward to hearing from you.
Ruth Bennett
SHQ Commissioner (Cubs)
cubs@scouts-scotland.org.uk
