Bicycle Maintenance

With our cycle weekend only a few weeks away, we asked the Scouts to bring their bikes down so we could check their roadworthiness and make sure that everything was appropriately sized.  We had three bases:
1.  Tyre repairs - where the scouts practised replacing an inner tube
2.  seat and handlebar height - where we explained the heights that the bars and seats should be - and adapted them where we needed to
3.  Brakes and general maintenance - where we talked about the different types of brakes, the importance of ensuring the brakes work correctly, repair kits and bicycle maintenance books.
We had also hoped to take the Scouts from the winning patrol to MacDonalds as their prize; however when we got to Scouts the church youth group said that they had leftover party food - and did we want it; not a difficult choice, so we’ve had to reschedule…..

Map and Compass

The first meeting back from the half term and it was nice to see so many Scouts in attendance. We started the evening with a navigational version of “Captain’s Calling” using compass points instead of the usual nautical version.  It was fun to see the confusion on Scouts faces when I called “North-South-West”!!

For the evening itself, rather than have bases and move the Scouts round, we stayed in the same groups - and progressed through the maps. 

The first “base” consisted of Scouts detailing how to get from one point to another using a Road Atlas.
The second “Base” consisted of a similar activity, but instead using a 1:50,000 map.  We also discussed the differences between the two maps, which was easier to use - and what information could be read on the map.

We then played a navigational story.  When the reader gets to a navigational item (for example MILESTONE) the patrol then chooses the symbol from a set of cards laid out on the table - and runs to the other end of the hall and presents it to the receiving leader, who marks “right or wrong” (the same leader that has been working with Scouts during the bases).  The Scouts can’t change their mind, or swap the cards.  The cards were copies of the Ordnance Survey “flash” cards showing the symbols.

The third “Base” started with a quick review of the symbols - and in particular which were right or wrong… and how they could learn from this.  Finally, the Scouts were asked to describe a route from a 1:25,000 map - including contours etc.

It made a change to our normal map reading evening as we didn’t touch on grid references at all - except to show the Scouts that a grid reference on a 1:50,000 map would identify the same location on a 1:25,000 map.  What we were able to focus on was the richness of detail that can be found on a map - and so why there are so useful.

Wide Games

Having met at the Scout Hut, we got the Scouts into the van - and started to head off to the woods.  However, we had a couple of concerns about Scouts tripping over branches etc - and given the scale of the reporting following an incident decided to head to a more open area.

When we got there, we played a few games of “Fox and Hounds” - The “fox” heads off with a flashing torch, and about 30 seconds later the “hounds” are set after them.  The “hound” that catches the “fox” is the next “fox” (variations of this also have the fox using a whistle that they blow every 30 seconds)

Afterwards, we broke 1 lightstick per Scout - and played “tag”.  When a Scout was “tagged” they would have to hand their “life” (the lightstick) over - and being “dead” would have to return to base.  This was reasonably successful - although there were arguments about who tagged whom.

Finally, we had a “firefight”. A simple concept that works well with the lightsticks; two teams, both armed with the sticks.  You can make up rules about if people are hit they are out - or you can let simple fun take over.  As you watch the sticks being thrown it starts to look like a science fiction laser war…. and because it’s dark the sticks are hard to judge to catch or dodge…  All good fun.

World Issues

The last of the Promise Challenge evenings.  After an active game of “Knee Tag” we then focused on the main subject for the evening.

Each team (we split the Scouts into age groups so that an older Scout wouldn’t dominate the discussions) we asked to think of areas that they thought were outstanding (examples being open spaces, national parks, coastal beaches etc).  Once they had decided upon a particular example, they had to think of what could damage or destroy that area (using realistic considerations – volcanic activity in North London was not on the list!).  Once they had drawn up this list, they then invented their Super hero who could help – and had to think what special powers they would have to solve the problem.  Just to make it a little more interesting, we also asked them to think what their superhero’s weaknesses might be.

Certainly the ideas the Scouts had were worthy of discussion – even if the report back didn’t always convey that!

  

Overall, I’d say that the Promise Challenge badge has been an interesting one.  It has enabled the Scouts to think about some of the local and world issues that effect them – and hopefully will start to educate them to consider the world around them a little more and not just take it for granted.

 

Meaning of Promise and Law

As the next step towards the Promise Challenge, the requirement was to demonstrate to a new Scout that they understood the promise.  Rather than just “do it” - which would be short and potentially boring - we divided the Scouts into four teams and got them to randomly select 2 “Laws” each (yup, there are only 7 laws, so one was split into two).  They then randomly selected two “methods” (I’ll list them at the end); then armed with this each team had to develop a sketch between 30 seconds and 2 minutes.

I think it’s fair to say that the results were varied.  At the end of each presentation, most teams were unable to properly identify the Law - but then many of the answers seem to be in the region of “A scout may not… except on a Tuesday or Thursday afternoon when they wear a purple tie…” rather than just “A Scout is.”

But whilst “in the moment” there was a degree of frustration about the results, thinking back the Scouts did demonstrate their understanding.  There was little mucking about, everyone made use of the time to develop the sketch, all the scouts had a go (even the quiet ones), they were (in part) quiet to listen to the presentations… etc.

The Laws as presented:
1.  A SCOUT IS TO BE TRUSTED
2.  A SCOUT IS LOYAL
3. A SCOUT IS FRIENDLY AND CONSIDERATE
4. A SCOUT BELONGS TO THE WORLD-WIDE FAMILY OF SCOUTS
5. A SCOUT HAS COURAGE IN ALL DIFFICULTIES
6. A SCOUT MAKES GOOD USE OF HIS TIME…
7. … AND IS CAREFUL OF POSSESSIONS AND PROPERTY
8. A SCOUT HAS SELF-RESPECT AND RESPECT FOR OTHERS
The Methods:
1.  AS A SHOPPING TV PRESENTATION
2. IN MIME (NO TALKING)
3. AS A “SCOUTING ACTIVITY”
4. AS A SECRET OPS / SECRET AGENT BRIEFING
5. AS IF ON A LONG CAR JOURNEY
6. AS A FILM TRAILER
7. AS AN ADVERT FOR A BOARD GAME
8. AS IF  ON A SHOPPING TRIP - COMPARING BRANDS OF PRODUCT

A local Debate

This was the first evening for the Promise Challenge.  The general scope presented to the Scouts was that the local council was considering putting a new, unmanned skate park in a local park.  Irrespective of a Scouts actual view on this, they had to adopt a Patrol stance … either for, against, or not really in either camp.

We gave the patrols about 10 minutes to consider what the issues might be - and how the other groups might perceive this.  They then had up to 2 minutes to present their case, uninterrupted, then the other patrols could ask them 3 questions (so they would have 6 questions to answer).  We then moved to the next patrol and then onto the last.

After a quick game, the patrols then thought about the answers until we finally got them back for their responses - and the leaders gave their “decision” based on the information presented at flag break.

What could have been a difficult evening for young Scouts turned out to be quite good.  Within the patrols there were some good discussions about perceptions of young people, the problems that the council might face and how such a project would be seen.  Occaisonally the leaders would have to promote the subjects, but this was little more than a small prod.

All said, I was really pleased with the evening and the way it went - although I’m not wholly sure that all the Scouts left believing that the proposal wasn’t real (even though I carefully explained how I drew up the scope of the project!)

Lessons Learned

This evening we started to embark on probably one of the hardest programme ideas we’ve had for our troop - that of reviewing events and activities.

Using the Winter camp as our activity to review, we started by just getting the Scouts to answer the question “how was it?” - and we got the responses “Brilliant” “Excellent”.  We then introduced SWOT analysis (Strengths - what was good, Weaknesses - what was not so good, Opportunities - what could we do better, Threats - what could cause problems) and set them talking for about 10-15 minutes.  At the end we gathered the list up.  From a Leaders perspective it was good as we had separately identified many of the points they raised - and it’s certainly food for thought going forward.

We then asked them (using their lessons learned) to tell us how to “sell” the camp to a new person…. at the end we put it to a couple of new people… and they’re not too keen on coming with us next year!! Oh dear!!

The final part of the evening was to re-inforce PATROL.  We set them a challenge - to get a set of playing cards across a “no go” area; but rather than just getting them started, we said that we wanted them to think of as many possible ways as they could (P-Problem, A-Assess).  We then told them to allocate jobs and start the activity (T-Tasks, R-Responsibility, O-Off you Go)

At the end of the activity, we quickly reviewed the activity, using SWOT again.  Generally the Scouts felt that they could have used PATROL better - and that planning is quite important.  So I think we’re slowly getting the message across - and I think the Scouts are learning this.

Nandesh’s poem

This is the second collaborative piece on this blog - and it’s from Nandesh who now joins Joshua as the second successful person to complete their Writers Badge.

 Is this the right way?

Marching in the blistering cold,
are soldiers brave and bold,
Take to their task without being told
Is this the right way?

Mothers not sleeping in fear,
Of what is happening out here,
Tears also are very near,
Is this the right way?

Men dying both near and afar,
All lying there with a scar,
The sight of them is just too bizarre,
Is this the right way?

Trenches full of cold and dead,
Some shot straight through the head,
The mud acting like a baby s bed,
Is this the right way?

Bullets are racing,
Soldiers bracing,
And death is embracing
Is this the right way?

Is this the right way,
Taking lives of the innocent,
Stop this madness and ask youself,
IS THIS THE RIGHT WAY?

By Nandesh Patel

Gilwell Winter camp - Sunday 13 January - and awards

Sunday morning we go up quite quickly - and the Scouts were much more perky (I think most had decided to turn in early).  We got the trailer packed with kit and the tent inners - and whilst the Scouts enjoyed the activities in the morning we finished packing the tents.

After lunch, Ivor went to get the trailer brought to the main car park - and I went to get the van.  Unfortunately, there were a number of vehicles that had come onto the site and had just blocked the main routes - which meant the shuttle bus took ages to arrive and everyone had to queue again for what seemed like an hour to drive round to the trailers.  However, once hitched up we headed back to the church to unload the boys and their kit.

What surprises me was at the end of the camp, by the wardens hut was about 20 pairs of very muddy wellies… one can only wonder what was being by the owners of the boots….

Camp Awards
From this summer camp, we have now introduced a new award… the Two Left Wellies Award. This is to be awarded to anyone (and it can be more than one recipient) during a camp who manages to do something that was felt to be memorable.

The first recipient for this award (by the leaders) goes to Anand - Sunday morning he got out of his tent and one of the leaders says “your boots are on the wrong feet”.  Rather than checking, he disappeared off to his tent and swapped them over!  A few minutes later he came back (with the boots on the right feet still) - and it was clear that he had been thinking “why don’t my boots fit - but the leaders said that they were wrong - but my boots are round the right way…”

Final Thoughts

On watching the mud slide, David:

“Why can’t we just deal with normal kids, sat in one place with their Playstations?  Why do they have to try and do what we used to when we were youngers?”

On Watching the Scouts walking back, covered in mud, Ivor:

“Do you think the parents will notice?”

On the events on Sunday, Lewis

“I have no intention in getting muddy today.”

The invention of the Nonivor:  A person who does not eat anything (’cos they don’t like it..)

Gilwell Winter camp - Saturday 12 January

Very bleary, red-eyed Scouts got up from their tents at 07:30.  We walked over to the canteen for breakfast.  After issuing the wristbands (and being told about last night) the Scouts disappeared off to have a go at all the activities that had been laid on for them… quad bikes, climbing, Zorbing (rolling down a slope in a giant inflatable ball), high ropes, very high swing, dodgems, waltzers, Segway two wheeled vehicles (and I’ve never seen the off road versions before!), laser clay shooting, archery, simulator.  Many of them also took part in the very unofficial (but popular) mud slide out the back of the site.  The ground was already of very slushy proportions - and nothing was going to stay white - or clean - for long.

As leaders, we found somewhere warm and dry (and that sold coffee) and planned our summer camp and term programmes! We met for lunch to get the feedback on the day - and it would seem that the pace and the freedom (plus the lack of sleep) was starting to take its toll on the younger Scouts.  However, they bravely set off again in the afternoon to continue their enjoyment.

After tea, a couple of the Scouts went to bed very early - the pace was clearly too much for them.  As we made sure one was properly bedded down, we asked if he wanted another sleeping mat to further insulate him… which was when we found that he hadn’t unpacked one for last night (so in addition to Scouts talking all night, he would have had the cold ground further taking heat away from him)