Click the link below to view a PDF newsletter for the Beavers
Foxes and a New Year
A New Year started for Foxes last night when the Sixers, Seconds and leaders had a planning meeting for what they would like to do at Cubs this term. I must confess I was not looking forward to it, I had got out of the habit of Cubs. The end of last term finished very suddenly when the school, in which we meet, needed the school hall for their Christmas disco. It meant our programme that should have finished with a Christmas party finished the week before - a whole month ago.
Since the end of last term my time has been taken up with family and the whole celebration that is Christmas. I love Christmas the fun and joy it can bring but felt disappointed I didn’t get time to share this with the Cubs. We collected food for the food bank, four carrier bags and completed lots of Christmas craft but we didn’t get to finish everything the Cubs had planned.
Last night the cubs came to the meeting full of enthusiasm, it was very contagious. This term we will have four sixes, blue, red, orange and green. At first the Cubs were almost timid with their ideas. ‘How do you want to start the new term?’ after a few minutes silence ‘Do we have new cubs?’ ’Can we play games?’ ’I like crafts’. It didn’t take very long for the Cubs to become more vocal ‘Can we go on stargazing live?’ ’there is a stargazing badge, can we do that?’ ‘You mean the Astronomer? I don’t see why not.’ so we spent some time looking at what the badge involves and planning what we would do each week. The Cubs were a little disappointed when I said it was unlikely to involve being on stargazing live, but they have planned to write a letter to the show.
Mothers Day was next on the list and inspiration was sort in the Baker Ross catalogue. The Cubs decided the cost was high and would make cards, sweets and coupons. Boxercise, Zumba and go to the Golf range were the next suggestions, I made furious notes. Healthy eating, turning our gardens into a fitness zone, go to the park, clean the Scout hut, cutting trees down, pancake races, cooking, making fake sick… The list went on.
After a break of chocolate ‘fish and chips’ the Cubs decided on a programme for the term. Just a few days for us Leaders to find someone who can teach Boxercise and Zumba, find the costs of the driving range, source the Mother’s day card and decorations, gen up on Astrology and possibly get hold of Brian Cox and see if he wants to answer questions on Astronomy the Cubs are bound to ask. Just as well the enthusiasm rubs off I can wait for such a fun filled term to start.
Poppy Appeal
I’m pleased to be able to report 2nd Bracknell collected £121.06 on behalf of the RBL this year. Special thanks go to Margaret Kemp and Sara Prower for their Sunday efforts.
We are looking for a parent coordinator for this activity next year, anyone interested in this role should contact me (via our general enquiry form).
Steve Prower Group Scout Leader – 2nd Bracknell Scout Group
& Deputy District Commisioner – South East Berkshire
Group Sponsored Walk 2013
Bears Rails Sponsored Walk – A Great Success and Even Missed The Rain
Click the image for more photos
The Group Sponsored Walk was organised for 20th October with 47 Young People signed up. Although rain was forecast, we managed to avoid all of the rain and have a great time for the 23 young people who actually made it and were living the scout motto of “Be Prepared”.
The walk was organised as a group fund raising activity with hot and cold drinks and a BBQ available after the walk.
Fortunately the weather gods were smiling upon us as the initial forecasts did not look very encouraging. The organising crew had all the wet weather gear, footwear, shelters, umbrellas ready but by 9am the rain stopped and sun came out staying dry until 2pm. The only people who got wet were the crew of helpers clearing away and dismantling.
Everyone who did turn up thoroughly enjoyed the walk, for some it was their first time in Windsor Great Park and everyone appreciated the availability of drinks and food at the finish. We had one family group making a whole morning of it, enjoying the scenery, the wild deer, the Copper Horse, as well as collecting pockets full of lovely shiny conkers.
To date we have raised in excess of £300 for the group so well done. Just think what we could have raised if so many people hadn’t been put off by an inclement weather forecast!
Thank you to those who turned up, making it a very enjoyable and worthwhile event for all the helpers and the organisers. Thank you also to our little army of helpers, marshals, equipment movers etc. as the walk would not have happened without your support and time.
Rain or Shine See you at the next Walk…!!
More Photographs can be viewed on our photo album site here.
Narrowboating – a Cubs view
My name is George, I am nine and I go to 2nd Bracknell cubs (Foxes). On Saturday we went on the minibus to a narrowboat. I and my friends, Oliver and Christopher were on Star. Oliver and I were on the top bunks and Christopher was below us. We met Richard, the Skipper, he told us all how to be safe. We had to wear life jackets if we went outside. Going to bed was the hardest bit about the trip because they were not comfortable and I was really excited.
We woke up and had a cooked breakfast, Chris the Scout leader said he didn’t come on a camp without a cooked breakfast. It was a rush to eat breakfast, pack our kit away and tidy up before we had to open the first lock but we did it because we all worked together.
The first lock was really hard. It took all of us to get the gates opened. We had to wait until the water was dead level before we could push the gates open. Getting off Star was easier than getting on. We had to help each other getting off and on Star. Star kept moving all the time.
The worst bit was the rain because it rained a lot but we all had to wear our coats with the hoods up. The best bits were when I got to drive the boat, opening the first lock, meeting Richard because he was a really interesting, fun and caring Skipper and just being with all the cubs.
George steers the narrowboat (click to enlarge).
George & his cub friends (click to enlarge).
Posted on behalf of George Creber, Foxes Cub Pack.