Welcome to the Beaver Scout Section

Beavers are our youngest members, and generally meet for an hour per week. They enjoy all that Scouting has to offer; being introduced to outdoor activities, having the opportunity to be creative, explore their local community and experience the excitement of a Beaver Scout Sleepover with their friends.

The Beaver Colony is the first and youngest section of the Scout Group. Beaver Scouts are young people aged between 6 and 8 years old.  There is core flexibility in the age range:  young people can join from age 5¾, and can move to Cubs between age 7½ and 8½.  It may sometimes be appropriate to extend this flexibility for young people with additional needs.

Structure

A Beaver Colony may be organised into smaller groups called Lodges. Lodges can be used in a number of ways to facilitate the organisation of the Beaver Scout Colony. They may provide a ‘home’ area for Beaver Scouts to gather at points at the start, during or at the end of the Colony meeting.

Activities

During their time in the Colony, Beaver Scouts will get a chance to try a wide range of different activities as well as going on trips, days out, and on sleepovers. Participation, rather than meeting set standards, is the key approach, and there are a range of badges and challenge awards that Beaver Scouts can gain to recognise their achievements.

2nd Squirrels Heath Beavers - Remembrance Day Designs:

In commemoration of Remembrance Day, we believe that it is vital that our Beavers understand the sacrifices of all soldiers who have fought and are still fighting for this country. And so, we did our little bit to thank them for their sacrifices. Our Beavers drew colourful Remembrance pictures; some chose to draw a poppy, outline of a soldier or reflect on a well known Remembrance poem. The designs that we received were all excellent and very creative, and our Beavers Leadership Team were all very impressed at the amount of effort that went into each of them. Well done to all of our Beavers, that took part in this very important project. You should all be very proud of yourselves. Please see the video below, showing all of our Beavers’ amazing Remembrance designs.

‘They shall not grow old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn:
At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, we will remember them:
We will remember them.’

2nd Squirrels Heath Beavers Leadership Team.

Celebrating Saint George

HSTG

 

2nd SQH Beavers St Francis Hospice

2ndSQH2ndSQH2

12345

Our Beavers have recently taken part in a very special and important project for St Francis Hospice. The Beavers drew and coloured Cheerful Pictures for display at a local hospice and also collected money for the Jam Jar Army, to donate to the independent charity. The project links to the Beavers World Challenge Badge and involves a community project and helping the wider community. Due to the pandemic, helping the local community together at this time is difficult, however we thought of an excellent project with St Francis Hospice for the Beavers to take part in safely. The hospice have worked tirelessly throughout the course of the pandemic so it was important for us to provide them with some donations to contribute to their endless quality care for their patients. The photo collages below show our Beavers Jam Jars and their amazing drawings, which they should be extremely proud of! Their generous contributions will make a massive difference to the hospice!

Charlie Lovegrove

button1

2nd Squirrels Heath Beavers and Cubs Remembrance Day Designs

image023

 

 

In commemoration of Remembrance Day, we believed that it was vital that we as a group did our part to remember the fallen soldiers and commemorate this very important day in our history. Due to the current lockdown restrictions, we asked our Beavers and Cubs to create a drawing of a relevant image (eg- a soldier, poppy etc.) on a sheet of A4 and colour it, at home. Once drawn and coloured, we then asked for the Beavers and Cubs to write a few simple sentences at the bottom of their work, answering the question “Why is it important that we wear a poppy?”

We asked the parents of our Beavers and Cubs to then email us two photos- one of just their child’s design, and one of their child in uniform holding their design up.

The designs we received were excellent and very creative, and we were astonished at the amount of our group that took part to commemorate the fallen soldiers and their sacrifice for our country. Well done to all of our Beavers and Cubs that took part in this very important project. You should all be very proud of yourselves.

When we return to normal meetings, hopefully in the new year, we have the intention of creating a collage with all of the designs.

Charlie L- Young Leader for 2nd Squirrels Heath Beavers Colony

button1

2nd Squirrels Heath Beavers Stone Competition

This week, I asked the Beavers to design, draw, colour or paint on a Pebble; either a design thanking the NHS or something inshimage005 relation to Beavers and our colony. We are aiming to create a ‘Pebble Patch’, with all of our Beavers’ designs, in the field of our meeting headquarters- Arnold Lodge. I asked for an emailed image of the pebbles, and I was astonished by the designs I received. We had a great response and all of our Beavers’ designs were brilliant! I promised a prize for everyone that sent me a design, when we return to Beavers eventually! Well Done to all those who got involved at 2nd Squirrels Heath Beavers.

Charlie YL

button1

 

2nd Squirrels Heath Beavers

shimage003Whilst looking for something that we could do to complete part 2 of the My World Challenge (Very difficult during a lockdown) 3 of our Beavers came up with the idea of making up a hamper for NHS staff. Whilst discussing the idea they suggested that it should go to a department that was less publicised on national news. At first we thought of Phlebotomy as our Beaver leader is a phlebotomist but most of them had been re-deployed around Queens hospital. Then during an email exchange with one of our ex Scouts who was a Young Leader with the Beaver colony I was surprised to find out that she now works in the Aseptic Pharmacy at Queens. There they make up all the drugs used in Chemo therapy and also the drugs used for patients with COVID  – 19 that are on ventilators. Problem solved.shimage004

The Beavers, Jake Baines, Dylan Hothi and Cian Stone decided that the hamper should be made up of things that can be eaten at tea breaks and during the day. That meant that all that we had taught them about healthy eating was instantly forgotten. The hamper was made up of various sweets (Especially Heroes) cakes and biscuits, Tea bags and coffee.

I asked Emma if she would take the hamper into work and she was only too pleased to.

This effort that the three beavers made completed the My World Challenge and also completed the work they needed to do to gain their Chief Scout’s Bronze Award. Well done you three and as can be seen from the photographs and letter your effort is really appreciated by the staff at Queens hospital.

This goes to show that with a bit of work at home and a bit of inventiveness badges can be gained even during a lockdown so please encourage your Beavers to complete the badge work that is being emailed to you.

Charlie YL

 

2nd Squirrels Heath clapping for the NHS

image004

 

 

 

2nd Squirrels Heath took part in clapping for the NHS, Care workers and other key workers in their uniforms, on Thursday 23rd April 2020 in honour of St George’s day.

button1

 

 

 

District Spooks Day

District Spooks Day was held at Thriftwood scout camp and 165 Beavers attended.

Although the morning was a bit chilly the weather was very kind to us and the sun shone all day, happy leaders & beavers.

This year the beavers was asked to bring along recycled rubbish to make a scary monster and what a pile of rubbish we had, the winning group was chosen by Roger Fall and because the beavers had done such a great job, there was 3 winning groups in total.

The beavers were treated to a spooky tour, where they met 2 witches in their house where they answered questions to carry on the path to a wooden house, were they had to put their hand into holes to guess what was in it.

They decorated biscuits, made edible jewelery , made spider and ghosts from lolly pops and made scary finger puppets, they navigated their way through the wood to find on a golden pumpkin.

The Beavers showed their archery skills, bean bag throwing and got very messy with apple bobbing and mummy brains.

At the end of the day the beavers had hot chocolate & cake, then they had a camp fire, were there was a very large fire waiting for us to have camp songs around. All the very creative monsters that the beavers had made was put on the fire with a great big raw from the beavers.

The Beavers was presented with a spooks day badge for their blankets and went home very happy.
As always, the day would not have gone ahead and been very a successful day without the support and help from all the leaders and helpers attending. Not forgetting Sam for a great camp fire and songs.

Michelle Haddon
ADC Beavers

 

District Beaver Spy Sleepover 2019

The Beavers descended on Thriftwood Scout camp for their District sleepover - this year’s theme was ‘Beavers in Black’ Spy 194659 2Academy.

7 groups Friday to Saturday and another 7 groups Saturday to Sunday.

The Beavers had supper and then went for a night walk, which led them to a camp fire where they sang songs.
On returning to base they all had a hot chocolate & snack, then off to their dorms for the night.

The following morning after breakfast, the Beavers were officially enrolled in to the spy academy where they received their spy kits, disguises and ID badges.

After this, they were put into their elite task forces, and given the main mission of the day to find my brief case that had been stolen, which contained top secret documents. The spy that had stolen the brief case was described to be dressed in orange and wearing a mask. The Beavers spent all day guessing who this could have been, it was great to see them all using their imaginations.

As part of the Beavers spy training, they tackled an assault course and had an archery session - the Beavers showed good team work throughout. The Beavers also had the opportunity to learn how to lift finger prints, use their skills to decode secret messages, including writing their own codes with invisible ink. They also had a chance to test their steady hands as they manoeuvred their way along a giant buzzer wire.

For each mission that the Beavers completed throughout the day, they would receive a clue which would help them find the missing brief case.
The Beavers showed great courage as they climbed a very high wall as part of these missions, to retrieve a clue from the very top.

Each team was also given map coordinates, which they used to lead them to Headquarters and even found some more clues along the way.

I think the favourite mission of the day for both the Beavers and leaders, was Mission Impossible. The Beavers had to make their way from one end of basecamp to the other, to retrieve gadgets, however the tent was covered in tape and laser beams which they had to duck and dodge to avoid getting caught.

By the end of the day, the Beavers had become fully fledged special agents, as they discovered all the clues and put them together to find the missing brief case.

We all look forward to seeing what the next District sleepover will bring!

Michelle Haddon
Assistant District Commissioner (Beavers)

button1

 

District Beavers Team Challenge 2019

The Team Challenge was attended by 10 Colonies.

Beavers worked in teams where their problem-solving, team-working and leadership skills were put to the test. There was a Photo 17 03 2018 15 02 51variety of tasks which included Building a free-standing flag pole, design a flag to put on the top, using string, bamboo canes, sticky tap, elastic bands and paper.

The beavers created amazing pieces of art using mosaic squares to make a picture of a beaver. Then build a house from puzzle pieces. Each team got to answer 2 quiz sheets, to test their general knowledge.

There was great team work to decode questions to find the next task, that took them outside to find the longest blade of grass, believe me, I was surprised how long the grass was. The teams showed fantastic team spirit and encouraged each other to do their best.

2nd Upminster Gridirons Beavers came first and 3rd Upminster Wesley Beavers came second. Well done to all of the Beavers taking part.

Another Fantastic Team challenge, thanks to Sue Cruse and her team.

button1

 

 

Beaver Badge Day 2018

On a very sunny day for October, at Thriftwood scout camp.
A 150 Beavers took part in our Badge day and worked on 3 badges:

Photography Badge: The beavers each made a scrap book with their photos they had taken, they had a lesson from a photographer and took lots of selfies using a camera.

Explore Badge: They went exploring the surrounding areas and worked together as a team to find a list of things.

Music stage 1: This badge has 4 elements. Skills, they repeated a tune or song on musical instruments and covered Knowledge and Interest as well. The beavers made a shaker and a drum to practice what they had learnt when they went home.
The beavers performed a new song that they had learnt around the camp fire, to finish of the fun filled day.
I’m sure we all went home signing the baby shark tune.

Michelle Haddon

ADC Beavers

 

District Beaver Sleepover 2018

This year 106 excited beavers and 40 leaders from 13 colonies across the District descended on Belchamps Scout Campsite for ourPhoto 12 05 2018 13 46 16 annual sleepover. The circus themed event was held over 2 nights in order to accommodate all the participants, 7 colonies attended on Friday night and 6 on Saturday night.

Friday evening’s activities began with costume designing and badge-making before heading off to the campfire circle for a good old sing-song. After a quick supper, the Beavers were eager to get to bed and prepare for an exciting day ahead.

After breakfast, the Beavers dressed in their circus inspired t-shirts and teamed up with their fellow circus performers. Faces were decorated, tattoos proudly displayed and muscles flexed, we were ready to show off our prowess in the ring!

Throughout the day the Beavers trained to be clowns, practiced their circus skills including plate spinning, juggling and stilt-walking. They mastered the art of tightrope-walking and demonstrated great teamwork, balance and acrobatics. The day was rounded off by a masterclass in balloon-modelling.

After a quick respite, we were ready for a repeat performance and the second batch of beavers arrived to do it all over again. On Sunday we were joined by a special guest who entertained both beavers and leaders throughout the day with magic and silly antics.

The Beavers had an excellent time and went home happy and exhausted!

button1

 

 

 

Teamwork Challenge 2018

This year’s Teamwork Challenge event took place on a freezing cold, snowy afternoon in March. It was attended by 9 colonies from Photo 17 03 2018 15 09 00across the District. 
Beavers worked in teams where their problem-solving, team-working and leadership skills were put to the test.They tackled a variety of tasks which included creating animal paper sculptures using small pieces of paper which had to be easily identifiable by  their leaders, building the tallest tower, present wrapping, quizzes and a scavenger hunt in the snow! The final task required them to work well as a team using their pioneering skills to create a gadget that would enable them to retrieve a bag of goodies from the other side of the hall using bamboo canes, sticky tape, elastic bands, string and garden wire!

A big thank you to Sue Cruse and her team for organising such a fantastic event. The beavers thoroughly enjoy themselves and are already looking forward to next year’s event.

Allyson

button1