A massive thank you to the coaches and young assistant coaches at North Coast Grappling for giving our Beaver scouts a taster session of Brazilian Ju-Jitsu. They started off with a game of bear crawl tag, then tried their best to do arm bars, became ninjas jumping over walls and had great fun trying to push each other off the training mats! Lots of fun and laughter đđ Check out their moves in the video below âŦī¸
At the weekend some of our Beavers joined us for an ocean themed sleepover at the scout hall. They arrived on Saturday evening to find the hall transformed to an under the sea world with jellyfish overhead and sea creatures all around.
They enjoyed sea life scratch art, a turtle weaving craft, some YL ran sea themed games, a scavenger hunt walk looking for sea life facts around town followed by a quiz about the facts found, then a movie in the loft (finding Nemo) with pizza and popcorn!
After a good nights sleep they enjoyed a decorating shortbread sea animals and learned some map skills with an ocean themed map activity. Finally they had some snacks and chilled out with friends colouring in, drawing and doing puzzles.
Thanks to all leaders (including 2 squirrel leaders) and young leaders for all their help preparing, setting up and running camp. Also a big thank you to our brilliant Beavers who behaved so well for the duration of camp đĻĢ đ đĒŧ đĻ
Beavers enjoyed lots of fairground style games at their Halloween party night. There was mummy bowling using a pumpkin as a bowling ball, pumpkin toss, feeding stick people to the one-eyed, one-horned flying purple people eater, a pumpkin shooting range, toss the rings onto witches hats and a gross feely box alongside colouring in and tabletop games. Lots of sweet treats won. Finally some party food and balloons.
This week Beavers met in the Riverside Park to complete their cyclist badge. After an update on how they were doing with their animal friend badge, we split into 2 groups. One did safe cycling, first practising around the green before following the longer route. Staying between the lines, weaving between dots, stopping safely with brakes, ringing bells to alert pedestrians and cycling slowly around bends.
The other group were learning about the âMâ checks. Tyres pumped, checked lights/reflectors, handlebars, pedals etc. Then they switched around. Thanks to Scout leaders Alex and David for their help with Beaver section tonight.
Finally a log chew about the coronation and challenging them to do their part for the Big Help Out on Monday. They have to do something helpful without expecting anything in return #volunteer.
This week the PSNI helped us to cover some more aspects of the safety activity badge – road safety (green cross code), cycle safety and stranger danger. Everyone had chance to ask some questions too They looked at all the gear the PSNI were wearing, heard walkie-talkie messages and had fun in the police car. They also completed a water safety activity with the Young leaders guiding them while waiting for their turn to visit the police car. Many thanks đŽââī¸ đŽââī¸
This week we welcomed some Ballymoney fire fighters to our session to start the beavers off on their safety badge. Lots of useful information and many questions from our young people. They also got to see inside the fire engine and shoot some water from the fire hose đ
Thank you so much guys!! Beavers, remember Test Tuesdays to check your fire alarm!
During January, Beavers have been working towards their cook activity badge. Theyâve made cupcakes, soda pizzas, sausage and veg skewers and sâmores. They also looked at kitchen hazards and had a survey on which healthy foods they enjoy. Young leaders entertained the youths with games when necessary. Check out the video below to see them busy working towards their badge.
Throughout December Beavers have been enjoying lots of winter crafts and games. Weâve had snowball fights, Melted snowman biscuits, making snowflakes, sewing felt Xmas tree decorations with bead bobbles, worked together to make a paper chain longer than our hall and finally had party night playing games and eating snacks.
We visited Ballymoney library tonight to begin our book reader badge. Everyone made bookmarks, browsed through various books, checked some out, some coloured pictures and all enjoyed a short story read by our leader Chris. Printout sent home with a book log and a blank book cover to create a new cover for their favourite book.
Theyâll be working hard at home for the next 6 weeks (or less if theyâre avid readers) to complete the badge. Thanks to the staff at the library for being so accommodating.
This weekend 14 fabulous Beaver scouts took part in our Globetrotters sleepover. On arrival they filled in their passport details and then began their trip around the world in a hot air balloon (parachute mushroom). With the help of our YLs we took Beavers to Latvia (Lotars), Australia (Luke and Robyn) and Canada (Nathan) and had their passport stamped on arrival at each country.
On the arrival at each country Beavers were shown a flag. They had to find the flag on the world map and locate where the country was on the world map. Once found our YLâs shared facts, food and games relating to those countries.
Latvia (ancient pagan symbols, introducing yourself in Latvian and facts – widest waterfall in Europe is in Latvia), Australia (Beavers are Joey scouts in Australia, kangaroo hop game, Australian wildlife and food – fairy bread yes, Vegemite no) and Canada (facts/info, pancakes with maple syrups and âice puckâ hockey).
Some cookies and hot choc before heading to bed (a couple of hours before all Beavers finally slept đđ)
Up at 7:00 returning to NI for a matinee movie (the Lorax) and an Ulster fry. Some games and a hot air balloon crafts (which taught a knot) before packing up. A fruit snack and some parachute games before home.Well done to all on camp for earning your international activity badge and beaver sleepover badges. We had 10 1st time campers and 4 who camped with us before. Thanks to all Young Leaders and leaders for making camp possible
With our sleepover coming up this weekend we had a practice run at putting up our tents. This also gave beavers not attending the camp the chance to learn how to put them up, to tick off some badge work and hopefully theyâll make it to a future camp đ¤đģđ¤đģ
After a demo by 2 YLs, all beavers successfully put their tents up with the guidance of leaders, YLs and 2 new squirrel leaders đđģđđģ Thanks Andrea and Lynsey.
Once up, they had some time to play card/board games or draw pictures in their tents before packing everything away again.
Over the past 2 weeks Beaver Scouts have been completing their navigator staged badge. They learned how to find North, East, South and West using compasses (then played the game of course). They looked at different maps – street maps of Ballymoney , OS maps of the local area & Northern Ireland and a map of the world. Tonight they completed a night hike. During their 1.8 mile hike they had to locate themselves on the map at 3 different locations, using OS symbols to help them. Finally a break from walking for a snack stop and play at the park before returning to the hall. Well done Beavers đđģ
This week Beavers were encouraged to dress up for a fun night. Lots of games, a couple of crafts (lollipop stick monsters and halloween puppets) and some tasty treats đģđ
Beaver scouts have completed their space activity badge over the last 2 weeks. They made biscuit constellations, learnt about planets, drew a planet of their choice, star gazed using binoculars and planets app, completed rocket experiments (balloon propulsion and mini rockets) and designed their own rockets!! Not many photos from week 2âĻtoo busy! Check out the comment on our Facebook post for the mini rocket blasting off đ Also, did you know one of the UK scout ambassadors is astronaut Tim Peake? And that 11 of the 12 people to have walked on the moon were scouts??
This week Beaver scouts were doing teamwork activities. Playing games (crossing the lava field and hungry hippos) in their lodges to earn points, and a communication challenge planned by one of our YLs. One member from each lodge was given a picture, then they had to describe the picture for the other lodge members to draw. Great for listening skills! Finally, parents were invited in to see 16 new Beavers and new assistant beaver leaders being invested.
This our 2nd week back. 17 new beavers and 7 returning!! Weâve been playing friendship bingo, learning our promise, getting to know each other and having some fun games. All beavers have been put into lodges and red lodge was the 1st to earn lodge points đđģđđģ
We also had a log chew to talk about our code of conduct, including punishments that they suggested themselves if they broke their own rules.
Beavers had a pirate themed sleepover in the Peter Thompson Hall, in Castlerock. After signing our Pirate code, Beavers were split into two pirate crews, The Ocean Bandits and The Sea Devils, for a bit of teamwork and friendly competition during the camp.
We had face painting, sword fighting, colouring in competition, a trip to the beach and play park, treasure chest crafts, smores on mini campfires and a pinata filled with booty.
There was a relay riddle solving race in their crews to find out the location of some treasure. They used their skills to follow the map to the treasure, found a message in a bottle which told them to travel Northwest when on the beach (compass required). Another crew challenge was walking the planks races. The final crew challenge was playing captains calling in the park, the winner of which got the point for his crew. At the end of the camp both crews won 2 points. Well done Ocean Bandits and Sea Devils on being equally good pirates đ´ââ ī¸
This week beavers made savoury campfire twists, cheese and bacon added for flavour. They worked together measuring and mixing the ingredients in their lodges. Then wrapped the tasty dough around bamboo sticks. Then they cooked them in the yard over the fire. A few fell off but all beavers were given the chance to taste some. đ¤¤
