Happy Christmas (opens in a new tab)
To everyone that comes by and reads and listens to what I have to say, I'd like to wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Topic
UK Scouting
Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers and the Network. Posts from UK leaders and The Scout Association bring a different flavor of the same movement, with plenty to borrow for any troop.
1,355 posts · 2006–2020
UK Scouting posts from 2009
Showing 1–50 of 150 posts
Prophetic Writing (opens in a new tab)
I was looking in my bookcase the other day and came across a book by a hero of mine that I'd forgotten I had. 'Great Contemporaries' by Winston S. Churchill is a series of essays he wrote in the late 1920's and early 1930's about famous people (Douglas Haig, Adolph Hitler, Franklin D.
A Kind Gift (opens in a new tab)
My Group's Assistant Scout Leader popped round to see me last night to drop off some Christmas cards and let me know how the Troop was getting on in my absence (I'm taking a break from day to day Scouting for the next month or so for obvious reasons).
Thank You All! (opens in a new tab)
At some point on Monday, i recorded my 10,000th hit on my blog! This figure is based on the Wordpress stats that have been recorded since January 2008, although my Feedproxy stats give a totally different figure! So to everyone who has stopped by and read or listened to what I have to say – a…
A New Scouting Podcast (opens in a new tab)
Those fine folks at PTC Media have done it again and created a new podcast! The new one is 'Moms In Scouting Service' and is a podcast 'from the perspective of volunteering mothers'. Obviously, it has an American slant (odd that, as they are all Americans!), but it is still an interesting listen and puts…
A Scout's Anthem (opens in a new tab)
This is the song/poem my Scouts are performing for the Group Christmas Carol Concert tomorrow evening. It is a bit old fashioned (it refers to a Scout as male the whole way through, but the first verse is being read by a girl and the gender will be changed to suit) and refers to Scout…
Hello, Goodbye (podcast) (opens in a new tab)
‘I don't know why you say goodbye, I say hello!' This is a quick update and Christmas greetings.
InTouch (opens in a new tab)
Following an extensive review and trials, InTouch has now been launched as the replacement to the Home Contact system.
A Couple of Bits of Good News (opens in a new tab)
It's nice to be able to mention a couple of items of good news from my Group this week. First of all, one of our Scouts has just completed all the requirements to gain his Chief Scouts Gold Award . This is our first Scout to gain this award since we restarted the Troop in March…
A Healthy Group (opens in a new tab)
At our Group's Leader meeting the other night, I put on the agenda that each of the Section Leaders were to report how things were going in their own section. However, before they spoke, I decided to go first. I had realised what a good position the Group is in and how we had improved…
Group Scout Leader Support Day (opens in a new tab)
Yesterday I went to the GSL Support Day run by the County. This was kind of a follow up to the one I went to last year and also to cover some of the topics for the GSLs who couldn't make it to the previous session.
Scouts and Food (opens in a new tab)
While reading Lotta's blog about the District Training weekend she'd just been on, it dawned on me how much thought we give to food and drink within Scouting. It could be the good food that Lotta and her colleagues have at their training sessions, Scoutmaster Jerry's quest to come up with great, but light and…
My Evening (opens in a new tab)
At the Troop meeting tonight I didn't actually get to do much with the Scouts themselves (although there were a lot there and we seem to have a lot of Cubs joining the Troop at the moment!). Once I'd taken in the subs, I had a chat with a parent who is going to become…
Something Silly (opens in a new tab)
After the seriousness of the last couple of days, here is something silly - On the Ning Nang Nong On the Ning Nang Nong Where the Cows go Bong! And the Monkeys all say Boo! There's a Nong Nang Ning Where the trees go Ping!
The Soldier (War Sonnets No. 5) (opens in a new tab)
If I should die, think only this of me: That there's some corner of a foreign field That is for ever England. There shall be In that rich earth a richer dust concealed; A dust whom England bore, shaped, made aware, Gave, once her flowers to love, her ways to roam, A body of England's…
The Remembrance Day Parade (opens in a new tab)
Today's parade at church went really well! When I got to church this morning, the Scouts who were there to carry the flag and escort it, were already there and looking very smart. The Assistant Scout Leader and I then went to have a chat with the stand in vicar.
Cooperating and Planning (opens in a new tab)
Tomorrow (Sunday), is Remembrance Sunday , which is an important date in the Scouting, and indeed the country's calendar. This is the time we remember those who have served and died in the armed forces in the various wars. As part of this people gather around war memorials and observe the two minutes silence at 11…
Bullying (opens in a new tab)
Not a very pleasant topic, but one we potentially have to deal with. A while ago I came back from a meeting having found out that my Group should have an anti bullying policy ( see here ). So I wrote one and the Group's Executive agreed it with some changes and it's now Group policy.
Cub Camp, Beaver Sleepover and Disappointment! (opens in a new tab)
This coming weekend our Cubs are off to camp with another local Pack from our old District. We've been doing a joint camp with them for quite a few years now and it's always an enjoyable weekend and the Cubs make new friends and renew old friendships.
Some Reflections on Podcasting (opens in a new tab)
It's nearly a year since I produced my first podcast and since then I've produced another 19. A few thoughts so far. As I reflect on the podcasts I've done so far, I know that the quality has been variable!
A Conversation with Shawn Cleary – part 2 (Podcast) (opens in a new tab)
Podcast number 19. This is part two of the conversation I had with Shawn Cleary from the True North Scouting blog and podcast. This time we talk about camp fire, songs & skits, Scouting both internationally and locally and the enthusiasm of the Scouts.
Leaders 'Sacked' For Not Following the Rules! (opens in a new tab)
This kind of relates back to a post I made in July about Leaders refusing to accept girls in their Group. Well, it now seems that a different Group has been refusing to accept girls (despite having to since 1st January 2007) and that their District has removed them form their roles.
Ending the Jambo (opens in a new tab)
World Scouting Jamborees – the name being derived from "jambo", the Swahili term for "hello" – of which there have been 21 since 1920 the latest held in the Uk in 2007, may be coming to an end. The new ISA (Independent Safeguarding Authority) requirements may well mean that Jamborees in the UK are no longer able…
A Conversation with Shawn Cleary – part 1 (Podcast) (opens in a new tab)
Podcast number 18. As promised last time, I've done something a little different – I have a guest! Shawn Cleary from the True North Scouting blog and podcast was good enough to join me for a chat on Sunday afternoon / morning depending on your time zone!
Scout's TV (opens in a new tab)
One of the items in the weekly newsletter I get from the Scout Association was that the SA's YouTube channel has been launched as Scout's TV . Here are all the SA's videos including the six episodes of the Everyday Adventure TV series.
Waiting Lists (opens in a new tab)
Sorry, Joining Lists as we now call them! Just recently, I've had a handful of people get in touch with the Group, through our website , with regards to getting their children to join Beavers, Cubs or Scouts. The problem is that I've had to put their names on the waiting (joining ) list.
Branding (opens in a new tab)
The Scouts have always had a strong visual brand, whether it is - The last logo represents the latest update from around 2001. Now the brand is being updated again. However, it's not a huge change this time but more of a 'tweak'!
The Missing Photograph's Companion (opens in a new tab)
Back in May I talked about trying to find an old photo that was taken of the Troop in January 1926 (as I now know). We had a vague photo of it and that was all. It was taken to be presented to the Church's Vicar, Fr.
A Quick Update (Podcast) (opens in a new tab)
Podcast number 17. A quick update of what my Group has been up to in September. I will doing another podcast within the next 10 –14 which will be somewhat different, so watch this space. I actually recorded this on Monday, uploaded it and forgot it was saved as a draft, hence the delay in…
Behind the Stereotypes… (opens in a new tab)
The following was posted by Charlie Roper on his blog . I wanted to make a reply, but as it's limited to 140 characters, I thought I'd use my blog to put my own thoughts down. Every young person has had the experience.
District Archery Competition (opens in a new tab)
I've just come back from helping out at the District's archery competition which 5 of our Scouts took part in. They all did very well and they came 4th out of 6 Troops. This is an improvement on last year as they were in last place!
Chocolate Night (opens in a new tab)
It was a total coincidence that I happened to pop in to see the Beavers this evening and they were having a chocolate night! Honest!
Lending Web Space – Scouts Help School! (opens in a new tab)
In the school where I work, we have a diary system which is a web based one. All members of staff have access to it so they can record if they are going out, having visitors or record any other information that the members of staff might need to know about.
Cub's Doing Their Own Video (opens in a new tab)
In the summer the Cubs wrote and starred in their own video for the Creative Challenge badge. They did it in the style of a news programme. I was a little delayed in being put together, but I got it on Thursday and put it on YouTube today, so enjoy!
Phew, Busy Night! (opens in a new tab)
This evening, I've been to the Beavers to talk to the parents about the forthcoming sleepover and also the family camp we're doing next year. They were all very interested, asked a lot of questions and the majority went away with Criminal Record Bureau forms so the can have their backgrounds checked, which will enable…
Scout's Backwoods Camp (opens in a new tab)
The Scouts have come back from a weekends camping at Consall with 12th Golden Hill Scouts. I couldn't go out for the full weekend, so I went to see them on the Saturday. Typically it was a lovely weekend and didn't rain once!
Scouts Banned From Using Knives! (opens in a new tab)
No, not really! But if you read this article from Saturday's Daily Mail, you'd get that impression! I first heard of this story on Sunday morning, when one of my friends in the BSA retweeted another American chap's comment on the article.
Scouts and penknives
The Daily Mail is, as usual, misrepresentating people. This time it has picked on the Scout Movement and is " reporting " as the fight against Britain's growing blade culture intensifies, Scouts have been told not to take penknives on camping trips.
UK Scouts, Knives, Reportage, Objectivity, Reactivity, and Equanimity
If one reads this story in Britain's Daily Mail they will get the idea that UK Scouts have adopted a hyper-reactive policy to what the Mail calls 'blade culture' that bans pocket knives. The story is followed with outraged comments predicting the end of the world.
Happy Birthday Guiding! (opens in a new tab)
Guiding is celebrating it's 100th birthday this weekend! I can't add any more than Chris has said on his blog , so please have a read. Happy Birthday to our sister organisation.
A centenary of Guiding
Scouting celebrated its centenary two years ago, and now it is Guiding's turn . Originally set up because Victorian morals would not allow boys and girls to be mixed in Scouting – something which has now been corrected in the Scout Association.
Abandoned Equipment (opens in a new tab)
The other weekend the VFestival was held at Weston Park which is quite close to where we are. At the end of the festival, various groups are invited to go onto the site to help clear up. They are allowed to keep any equipment they want or get it sent out to people who are…
Scout Hut Burgled and Vandalised (opens in a new tab)
In May this year it was very pleasing to hear that our friends from the 85th Stoke-on-Trent & Newcastle, Milton Scout Group opened their new Scout hut. They managed to raise well over £100,000 to pay for their new building and it's very impressive.
Mountain Walking and Being Prepared (opens in a new tab)
While we were on holiday, one item on the local news caught my eye. The Mountain Rescue Teams in the Lake District have been called out more times this year than last and the Keswick team (where coincidentally we were staying) had 70% more call outs than last year.
1st Gilwell Park Scout Group Website (opens in a new tab)
It's gone live! The world's largest Scout Group's website is now up and running. Kind of! It is actually live now, but in final testing and will be fully operational for the Gilwell reunion on 5th September. All Scouts, from all around the world that hold the Wood Badge are members of the 1st Gilwell…
Holidays, Camping and Electronics (opens in a new tab)
We've just got back from our holiday in the Lake District . Of course, being the Lakes, it rained, but we weren't too bothered as we had our waterproofs with us so we were ready for anything! As I now have a digital SLR camera, when we go away I take my laptop with me, so…
Girls and BBQs (Podcast) (opens in a new tab)
Podcast number 16. Talking about girls in Scouting and BBQs! The Scout Association's One Movement Pages here and here .
Volunteering Awards (opens in a new tab)
I've had an email from vinspired which talks about the awards they are doing for young people who volunteer. So please read on – My name is Laurence from Cake Public Relations contacting you on behalf of Youth Volunteering Charity vinspired.
Training Leaders (opens in a new tab)
When a potential new Leader attends their initial interview one of the things that happens is that they are assigned a Training Assessor. The TA's job is to take the new Leader through the training modules and assess which ones they need to complete and by which methods.
Scouter Jeff Speaks! (opens in a new tab)
I was chatting to Scouter Jeff the other night (or afternoon in his part of the world – California) and he mentioned that he's started a podcast. So I checked it out. And very good it is too. He talks about about himself, gives a camping tip, a Leader's tip, his Favourite (ok I've used English…