Author: Julie-Anne Peden

Throughout December Beavers have been enjoying lots of winter crafts and games. We’ve 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.

They’ll be working hard at home for the next 6 weeks (or less if they’re 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 YL’s 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 “ice puck” hockey).

Some cookies and hot choc before heading to bed (a couple of hours before all Beavers finally slept 😂😂)

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 they’ll make it to a future camp 🤞🏻🤞🏻

After a demo by 2 YLs, all beavers successfully put their tents up with the guidance of leaders, YLs and 2 new squirrel leaders 👏🏻👏🏻 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 👏🏻

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 2…too busy! Check out the comment on our Facebook post for the mini rocket blasting off 🚀 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 our 2nd week back. 17 new beavers and 7 returning!! We’ve 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 👏🏻👏🏻

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 completed their Health and Fitness badge this week. A quick game of Fruit Salad with our YL and then they worked together in their lodges to make posters about healthy eating. Then time to make some tasty fruit kebabs 😋.

Tonight Beavers started the Health and fitness badge (chosen by them during a you shape evening). We tackled the fitness part tonight with lots of exercises (jogging, planks, star jumps, squats to name a few), feeling our heart rates and playing agility games.

A wee game of crab football and then we invested 10 of our new Beavers (those who weren’t there will get invested the next time they attend). Our Beavers promised “To do their best, to be kind and helpful, and to love our world” ⚜️🦫