Beaver and Cub Sleepover

We are holding a Beaver and Cub sleep over from 16:00 Saturday 1st October, which will be followed by our annual Harvest Festival with Church on Sunday 2nd October.

There will be games, a movie, pizza and other snacks.

This will give both the Cubs and Beavers chance to mix as a group and it will also count towards their nights away badge total.


The cost will be £5 to be returned with your consent form (available from your leader) no later than 29th September.

'Big Adventure' District Camp, 1 - 3 July

Here's one for all Sections... In July the whole of Barnsley District will be gathering at Silverwood for a Big Adventure Camp packed full of activities. We're taking over the whole campsite and some adjoining fields. Hundreds of Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers will be taking part. The camp starts on Friday evening and finishes Sunday afternoon.

At the end of March we'll be holding a series of briefings about this event for parents and members. So here are some dates for your diary: The Beaver and Scout briefings will take place on Wednesday 30 March, and the Cub briefing will take place on Thursday 31 March. At these briefings you'll find out more about the kind of activities you can expect, and how you can take part.

We're particularly interested in hearing from any parents who would be interested in camping and helping out over the weekend.

More details on this blog as we get them.

Beavers update

Just wanted to let you all know that it looks very likely that we will have a new Beaver Leader in place for September. I have been told there have been tears amongst my Beavers at my standing aside as Leader. Well, be assured, I'll still be part of the section as and when I'm needed.

The plan will stand as we set it out throughout the summer. That is, meet as we do now until the end of July, meet with Cubs on Thursdays through August and then back to Wednesdays as normal from 1st September. We will keep you updated as we go so you all know what's happening.

I just wanted to reassure you all that the Section will not be closing or winding down. We'll have a new intake of Beavers joining us from September.

Can I also take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone who has expressed sadness at my standing down as Beaver Leader and told me how much their child loves Beavers. It is lovely to hear. I have a great team with me who work hard to make our Section a fun place for Beavers to be. The new Leader brings with her a new enthusiasm and will inject a fresh approach to make us even better. Sara, Emma, Emily, Lynne and Steve are still very much involved and that will continue. I'll be there to help the transition process from Beavers to Cubs.

I have been part of this Group for 16 years now and am very proud of what we have all achieved over that time. We have grown bigger and better with each passing year and I look forward to the future and what it holds for myself, my fellow leaders and friends and our children. We couldn't do what we do without your support too.

Right, I'm off to the Scout shop now to get some badges!

Beavers - Important Notice

Unfortunately, due to work commitments, Kim is finding it increasingly difficult to run Beavers as well as Cubs, and we do not have another adult able to take on the Beaver Leader role at this time.

Over the coming weeks we will be advertising in the hopes that we can attract an enthusiastic person to take over as Beaver Leader. If we are successful, Beavers will continue to run as it does now, though possibly on a different night to suit the new Leader.

However, if we do not attract a Leader then our plan is to wind down the Beaver section, as follows:-

• We will run as normal until the end of July, when Kim will be camping with Cubs and Scouts. There will be an immediate freeze on new admissions.

• During August we will run a joint Beaver/Cub meeting on Thursdays from 6pm to 8pm.

• From the first week in September, Beavers will run alongside Cubs on Thursdays from 6pm to 7:15pm (with Cubs from 6:30pm to 8:15pm as now).

If we have not managed to attract a Leader by the end of December we will unfortunately have to close the Beaver section until such times as a new Leader is found. The remaining Beavers will be offered a place in Cubs as soon as they reach 7½ years old.

Closing the section is a last resort and we’re hoping it won’t come to that. We will keep you fully informed on our efforts to find someone.

Anything you can do to help us find a new Beaver Leader and avoid closure will be greatly appreciated. Please help spread the word, and think about the people you know who might be interested. All the current adult helpers are willing to stay on to support a new Beaver Leader if we can find one, so there is a ready-made team to share the work.

If you are interested in becoming Beaver Leader, or if you think you can help us find someone, please have a word with Kim or any of the Leaders or email ian at ardsleyscouts dot org dot uk.

Animal Masks

Last week the beaver's were little animals.

Directions to wombwell scout hut

Wombwell scout hut is located halfway along Wainwright place on your left down a little sniket / ginal / alleyway (which ever you prefer to use).

Click here to view a map of how to get to Wainwright Place

Curry Night

You should have recieved a letter informing you about the Curry Night we'll be hosting on Saturday 21st of March.

Apologies to Beaver parents, we didn't quite get the letters ready for last weeks meeting.

If you'd like to attend, please fill in and return the form as soon as possible.

You can download a copy of the form by clicking here.

Beavers District Campfire

Tuesday 11th November is the Beaver Campfire at Darfield. Meet there at 6pm and collect beavers at 7:30 from Darfield Church Hall (next to the Cross Keys pub). Wear uniform. No money necessary. Bring outdoor clothes as weather permitting we will be outside.

Updated 4/11/2008: Darfield have been in touch....you need to collect Beavers at 7:15 NOT 7:30 now. Also there will be Pudsey bear chocolates and buns on sale with all proceeds going to Children in Need - if you wish to buy some.

Beavers Update

Swimming Gala Nov 8th - Beavers will be able to have a free swim during the gala as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Not a Leader I'm afraid. Details to follow

Church Parade Nov 9th - Beavers are NOT required to attend this service due to the solemness of the occasion.

Campfire Nov 11th - Beavers are invited to attend the District Beaver Campfire. Meet at Darfield Church Hall just before 6pm. Parents are welcome to stay or can collect children at 7:30. Full uniform please and a coat as we may hold this outside if the weather permits. No money needed and refreshments will be given. Watch out for the letter and reply slip coming your way this week.

Bowling Nov 19th - you already have details of this. Please let Kim have your meal requests asap.

We invested Hannah, Ciera, William and Joseph into our Group this week after the older Beavers helped Ed and Ethan build a fire in the carpark. Everyone then helped to keep it going by collecting sticks from the churchyard.

Leaders figured this was a more appropriate activity then the one all the media are saying we want to do! Don't believe all you read or hear. Our response to any questions will be as it always would be should one ever be asked (never in my experience) "ask your mam."

Spooky activities this week......

Beavers Bowling Night

Following on the success of the Cubs event I have booked a session for Beavers. This will be on Weds 19 November at 5:30. As I haven't been able to plan a sleepover due to work commitments I am going to use some of the money put by for Beavers from the Summer Gala to pay for both the game of bowling and a meal and drink. Watch out for the letter coming home this week. I'm still planning to have a sleepover in the new year when the weather gets warmer though.
Kim

Beaver Sleepover at Silverwood

We're organising a Beaver Sleepover for the weekend of 15/16 September at Silverwood Scout Camp. For most Beavers this will be their first night away from home and a chance to earn their Nights Away 1 badge. We'll be having a campfire on the Saturday night.

The plan is for parents to drop the beavers off at Silverwood Scout Camp at 5pm on Saturday 15 September and collect them at 12 noon on the Sunday. We will be providing an evening meal (probably burgers), a bedtime drink, and a breakfast of cereals.

We've kept the kit list fairly simple: Beavers will need a sleeping bag, activity clothes, change of underwear and socks, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, soap, towel, and a torch. We will supply cutlery, etc.

We'll be issuing permission-to camp forms this week at Beavers.

Update: If you couldn't make it to Beavers last night and you'd like a permission-to-camp form send an email to the address in the sidebar and we'll send you a pdf version.

Update: Just to clarify, we've booked indoor accommodation at Silverwood for this event.