1st Roade Scouts - BASECAMP Nov 2023 Newsletter

Official Newsletter of 1st Roade Scouting

November 2023

BASECAMP Beavers’ cooking on gas Cubs’ pet project Squirrels’ anniversary glow up 1st Roade girl power

Discover Inside

Fanning Investing Campfire flames new faces fun + Plenty more

Inside this month’s BASECAMP Badger’s Blog

An update from our Group Scout Leader (GSL)

And the survey says

Quick takeaways from our scouting survey

S’more fun

Campfires are hot hot hot for Autumn.

Since we last spoke

News from the 1st Roade Scouting community

Promises, Promises

Investing new faces in Beavers & Cubs

Cubs’ pet project

Earning badges with fur, feathers & four legged friends

Cooking on gas

We revisit the Beavers’ brilliant badge-related cook-up

Everybody is kung fu fighting The Martial Arts badge catches our eye

Looking ahead

A preview of what’s coming up in November

Girls just wanna have fun The rise of Girl Power at 1st Roade

Log in to Online Scout Manager

Badger’s blog.

Welcome back to BASECAMP; our official monthly e-newsletter that puts our young people, and their scouting journey with 1st Roade, right at the heart of everything!

I am glad that October’s launch of the digital newsletter was largely well received by parents and carers. You asked for more updates as part of a survey we did back before the summer, and we listened.

A month on, and November is always a significant month for the group.

Remembrance Sunday, and getting a large turnout of young people - proud in their uniform - is an important date in our calendar. Personally, it is one I especially look forward to as it’s one of the few occasions in the year when the whole of 1st Roade get together.

Attending the church service, and parading through the village, has long been a proud tradition; one I think is important that we keep up in the community.

I will wear my poppy with pride alongside my uniform. And it will be good to be out and about again.

It’s been frustrating for me having to sit some of October out to recover from surgery, but I have been able to keep a close eye on the goings on at sessions.

During my time on the sidelines, one thing that has kept my spirits up has been hearing the number of new young people we have invested of late. Another 21 were officially welcomed into our Beaver colony, Cubs pack and Scout troop last month, with more to come in Squirrels later this month.

They bring even more energy and extra enthusiasm to the Tuesday sessions, not that they need it! Enjoy November.

Badger

And our survey says.

Just before the summer, we sent out a short questionnaire to gauge the opinion and feedback of parents and carers when it comes to all things 1st Roade scouting.

With a 55% completion rate, and with replies from all sections, we had a fantastic response and we’ve taken time to digest the results - the positives and the stuff we can always improve on - so

Family feel to it and leaders know what they’re doing.

to continually offer a scouting experience you can have trust and have confidence in.

Here are the key takeaways we love to hear, and learn from.

95% of responses said they believed scouting with us represented great value for money at £40 termly subs.

We were well praised for the range and quality of activities we offer in each section on a Tuesday. 100% satisfaction.

Parents and carers commended sessions as a ‘happy place my child feels safe and confident’.

The majority of responses said they would be very comfortable recommending us to others.

The activities you guys provide for the children as well as your time are outstanding.

Drop Off and Pick up (hand over) organisation could be improved.

More frequent - less last minute communication would be welcomed.

Increased interaction between sections should be encouraged to aid transition (ie Cubs to Scouts).

With camps, trips out & special evens regularly added it can be quite costly - it all adds up.

Sometimes events are too short notice and communication is a bit late.

More campfires & outdoor cooking please

Just put Archie to bed and I said you had such a good time today at scouts didn’t you? He replies…. ‘Yeah it was the best one ever xx’

S’more & more fun. ‘‘Oh you’ll never get to heaven on a baked bin tin, cos a baked bean tin’s got baked beans in…”

Scouting campfires have come on a long way from the days of singing about Quartermasters Stores and ging gang gooleys whilst watching foil wrapped potatoes singe.

Now it’s more s’mores, toasting marshmallows, popping corn, pitta pizza pockets and even making Welsh cakes. But one thing remains the same; the young people still love a campfire evening.

And nothing brings more joy than the coming of the Autumn season as

darker evenings bring more opportunity.

Our usual campfire circle at the football club has been left to get somewhat more wild than we’d ideally like, so the leaders of all sections are already exploring new places to ignite the flames.

All four sections have plans for a campfire evening where the embers will entertain either this term or next.

But it’s our Squirrels drey who have been quickest out the traps with 12 Squirrels, and their families, making the short journey to Cosgrove for the first exploration of fire this term.

It was an evening of fun, firewood hunting, sparks and chocolate bananas!

Now November will see our Beaver colony venture out to Cosgrove on 7 November for a family campsite evening of fun.

15 Beavers have already accepted the invite to join on OSM (Online Scout Manager).

Since we last spoke

The price of scouting.

Did you know that a large share of the termly fees you pay us don’t actually land in the 1st Roade coffers? Instead we send near 33% of all fees off to UK Scouting HQ as a national membership fee for each young person who joins.

This covers things like national insurances and training for our leaders. The national fee actually rises by 6% for 2024 - due to ‘inflation pressures’ - but we have taken the decision to freeze our own termly subs at £40 for January.

This means we’re below the average cost (£44) in the UK.

Oscar, winning.

Back in May, Northamptonshire County Cubs ran a competition to design the camp blanket badge for the medievil themed county cub camp we attended later that summer.

And like our own knight in shining scouting uniform, 1st Roade’s Oscar Aird only went and won the whole thing.

It’s been somewhat of a wait, but his winning design (opposite) has now been turned into the official 2023 patch. Oscar received the first patch from Fox in October, and it has now been handed as a camp keepsake to more than 300 cubs from right across the county who took part at the camp.

It really is a thing of beauty.

Well done Oscar.

The Bear Necessities This month’s recommendation to work towards your Book Lovers badge.

Dubbed ’the ultimate handbook for the scout in all of us’ this new guide by Chief Ambassdor of World Scouting, Bear Grylls OBE is stuffed like a rucksack with stories, inspiration, tips and tricks about outdoor adventure and survival.

Bear reminds you that life is adventure; Find out how to pitch a tent, protect the planet, lead a team, keep fit, tie knots, identify trees, stars and birds. Along the way, you’ll pick up survival skills like building a shelter in the snow, how to survive an avalanche and how to light a fire without a match.

Cal of Duty.

Congratulations to Callum H who has been promoted to be Lodge Leader of Maple Lodge (Red woggle).

Callum is one of our older Beavers having joined in May 2023. We hope he continues to love his time with us with his new, extra responsibilty.

A Lodge Leader is a young person who takes on a peer leadership role, doing things like welcoming new people to the colony, being extra helpful during a camp, or taking charge of a game or activity.

Birthday Roll call.

Everyone connected to 1st Roade Scouts would like to wish a big scouting Happy Birthday, in November, to:

Ethan Ruby Poppy Lily Toby Bailey-Rose Have a fab day, however you choose to celebrate.

Lest we forget.

We are very pleased that over 70 young people and leaders have confirmed they will be representing 1st Roade during the Remembrance Sunday church service and village parade to Memorial Green on 12 November. Each young person attending will receive a special uniform badge as a mark of respect, from the official scouting collection in collaboration with the Poppy Appeal.

We need you!

Can you offer a much needed and inspiring helping hand to our Scout troop (aged 10+)?

The Scouts are keen to add new parent/adult volunteers to the ranks for their weekly Tuesday meets at the football club (7.30pm-9pm). We provide free training and can arrange all the necessary checks and insurances.

If you are interested, contact BADGER.

Promises, Promises.

It’s investiture season at 1st Roade as we see our ranks grow by a further 10 young people, brand new to the group - with more to come during November.

Each made their scouting promise to do their best and serve the King in front of friends, family and the flag.

After the appeal of summer scouting, and outdoor adventure, the Autumn scouting term is always a busy one when it comes to officially welcoming new young faces to 1st Roade by way of presenting them with their group necker.

It’s also a time when existing members of the group step up into a new section, and continue their scouting journey with us.

For 2023, the evening of Investiture on 17 October saw our ranks rise once again.

Beavers invested 11 new faces, including those making the step up from Squirrels to continue their scouting journey. For Beavers leader Owl it means 1st Roade Beavers now have a waiting list, getting longer by the day as the winter term approaches.

It also gives established members of the colony the chance to hold the flag to which the new faces make their scouting promise.

For Cubs, 6 new faces to 1st Roade made their promise, including Aurelia who got invested on her 9th birthday - double reason to celebrate. A number of Beavers ‘swam up’ to join Cubs too.

Squirrels and Scouts will keep up the momentum when then invest early in November,

Congratulations to the following Beavers and Cubs who were invested: Beavers Billy, Rebecca, Annabella, Cruz, Henry T, Henry L, Joshua, Cooper, Harper, Alex and Elliott.

Cubs Harper, Bailey-Rose, Olivia, Robert, Lily, Sam, Jessica, Grace and Aurelia.

Scouts Charlie

Where Eagle dares.

For new starters Here’s a reminder that 1st Roade now ask for an Investiture fee of £15 to be paid ahead of your child’s official welcome to the group.

This contribution helps cover the increasing costs of their group A reminder to new starters necker, woggle and badge set they receive for their uniform.

It is a one-off fee, payable when firsting joining the group, and it is not then charged when moving up through the various different agerelated sections to continue their scouting journey with us.

We also took the opportunity to invest, and officially welcome, our newest leader in Eagle into the group.

Eagle (real name Kris) joined Beavers as an adult volunteer during the summer term and has proved a big hit with the colony, supporting Owl Hedgehog and the leadership team.

His outward bound spirit will be of big benefit to 1st Roade. Go, Eagle.

10 OCTOBER

Cubs’ pet project.

“Never work with children and animals”, they say. Good job then that our Cubs Leader Fox is unfazed by old wisdom.

Fox invited his Cubs to each show and tell their ‘pawsome’ family pets at a recent Tuesday meet, giving each young person a chance to earn towards their Animal Carer badge.

It proved to be a right dogs dinner of fur, feathers and four legged friends of all sizes at the football club.

It was great meeting the likes of Ruby, Chase, Coco Lola, Blue, Dusty, Snowball the rabbit, Thatcher and Anakin. And it was fab hearing of all the other pets - often in proud photo form - in the mini presentations each Cub gave.

For some Cubs, like Robert and Olivia, this all came very naturally, indeed. It helps when you spend much of your spare time, and homely surroundings with 14 alpacas, 3 geese, 4 ducks, 6 ducklings, 2 dogs, a flock of chickens and even a praying mantis, at one point.

The Animal Carers badge is one of the most popular badge in the Cubs’ collection, and Is in the Top 5 of badges awarded nationally.

It is in-depth too; requiring a two-month round-the-clock hands-on care of a farm animal or family pet on a daily basis. Knowing feeding routines and special diets, animal welfare, handling and habits, natural habitat and grooming are part and parcel of the award.

The perfect pet meet and greet came hot on the heels of the Cubs having visited the Farm Park during their recent sleepover at Gullivers World, where they were able to interact with donkeys, pigs, alpacas, rabbits and other domestic animals.

They were also able to enjoy different species of bird in the aviary.

Check out the full programme

10 OCTOBER

Ready, steady, cook.

Beavers cooked up a real feast of fun at the football club to kick off the month of October, as they whisked their way towards their Cook badge.

Showing off all their chef skills on camping stoves, having previously designed their own menu the week before, each lodge prepared a tasty dish from scratch to share, and enjoy at the end of the session.

And what a buffet of delight it was, with 3 dishes lovingly created - even if the chicken curry wasn’t ‘as good’ as the one an extra keen Beaver enjoys at home!

Still, they all tucked in to the macaroni cheese, vegetable pasta and chicken korma and rice - with some even returning for seconds (and thirds!).

“It tastes like something I have at grandmas’ was a fitting description given the teamwork they put into.

The 40 minute menu cook up followed a group chat about kitchen safety, the importance of being careful around fire and flames, and why we should be tidy cooks in the kitchen whenever we help out at home (and they should as they were all really capable of following instruction and got stuck in), The Cook badge also rewards an understanding of a balanced diet and the role it plays in a healthy lifestyle..

Check out the full programme

Cooking on gas.

A new badge is on the menu for one ur Beavers.

Everybody is kung fu fighting.

It’s always amazing when we get to award activity badges that have been earned at home, outside of the Tuesday sessions, thanks to hobbies, interests and other clubs.

We find it interesting in the choice of badges our young people are keen to achieve.

We’ve seen everything from Gardeners, Book Reader and Swimming levels to Paddle Sports and budding Musicians.

One badge that has recently proved particularly popular is the Martial Arts badge.

We know plenty of our group are regulars at Taekwondo, Karate and Jajitsu clubs locally and have the skills to earn the Martial Arts badge as they progress through gradings.

The latest to start earning it are Annabella (Beavers) and Oscar (Cubs), both of whom were awarded new belts at a recent Jado grading session, Jado is a ancient self defence art that installs family values.

Annabella earned her White belt whilst Oscar impressed on route to getting his orange belt.

Both belts, improving skills and certificates will count towards activity badges for their scouting uniform.

Oscar can show his certificate to Fox and talk about his progression in the ancient self defence art of Jado to other Cubs to earn his Martial Arts badge. Annabella’s belt can count towards her Beavers Sporting badge,

What has your child achieved outside of Scouts?

Be it artistic, sporting, musical or academic, we love celebrating ALL the achievements of our young people, in and out of scouting. Let us know about any new achievements, and we’ll do our best to feature them in BASECAMP

Squirrels glow up.

Squirrels will celebrate a successful first full year of scouting fun in Roade this December with an illuminated Christmas evening out at the Land of Lights at Gullivers World in Milton Keynes.

Booked for 19 December - to mark exactly the first anniversary as a drey in the village we have already seen a good number of Squirrels and their families take up their allocation of discounted tickets as part of the festivities.

Tickets are now available to book on OSM (Online Scout Manager) at £15 per guest.

This represents a £4.50 saving on a child’s normal advance entry fee.

With demand already high, the usual Tuesday 4.30pm meet (19 Dec) at the football club will not be held.

The initial idea for the group glow up was put forward by Squirrels leader Rabbit and, conscious of the additional costs such trips put on parents, she negotiated a group rate that has been well received.

Squirrels and their families can look forward to a brand new mile-long trail featuring 12 incredible glow up worlds. Each is inspired by legendary fairytales and iconic characters..

The Land of Lights creators promise it will be ‘‘bigger, better and bolder’with more lanterns and photo opportunities.

Check out the full programme

10 OCTOBER

21 NOVEMBER

One giant leap for Cubs.

12 people have walked on the moon. 11 of them were Scouts. And later this month, the 1st Roade Cub pack will reach for the stars themselves in a Tuesday session that is out of this world.

0ur intergalatic Cubs will be exploring the solar system, observing the moon and discovering the difference between planets, stars and constellations as they go on a mission to complete their Astronomy badge.

They will use binoculars or a telescope and identify 3 constellations, before presenting back their findings - astro-style - on a choice of space missions, NASA tech, the space station or planets, to the rest of the pack.

They will also also learn how the earth moves around the sun, and how to observe the sun safely.

Will some fall into a black hole and be lost in space? Or will Fox and his Cub pack successfully land back to earth with a bump, and a new badge to their name?

Check out the full programme

Scouts was the first step on a journey that led to me becoming an astronaut. Tim Peake

Fanning flames.

A Tuesday evening trip to Mereway Fire Station to see the crews at work will headline the Scouts’ mission to earn their Fire Safefy activity badge during November.

In the month of smokey bonfires, campfires and fireworks, the Scouts will learn all about estinguishing the flames in back-to-back sessions focussing on fire precaution and prevention.

They will explore combustion, the effects of heat and smoke, and discover the different types of extinguisher to use.

And, following a summer of wildfires in Europe and further afield, they will discuss the impact of fire on different ecosystems, including grasslands, forest and heath.

But fire safety also starts at home, and the scouts will be drilled on precautionary measures in everyday activity.

Check out the full programme

Girls just wanna have fun.

The Year is 1993, 3 years before the nation had even heard whisper of ‘Girl Power’. With the bravado of Spice Girls to come, 2 eager girls walk into the 1st Roade Scouting AGM, asking if they could join.

“I remember they were both called Vicki,” Badger recalls after checking her memory bank. “They were the first two girls to join 1st Roade. We’d never had girls wanting to join before but they were very welcome.”

Truth is the 2 pioneering Vickis – then Helen and Heidi a year later - were true trailblazers. Well ahead of the time in a scouting movement that, despite having ditched the ‘boys only’ tag in 1976, only became truly mixed gender in 2007 when troops were given no option but to open their doors fully wide.

Up to that point it was down to the GSL’s decision if girls could join in.

Thankfully for 1st Roade, Badger has been all in from day dot.

She lives and breathes the Scouting mantra of ‘every child has a right to adventure’.

Take a look at your standard scouting Tuesday at the football club. It is a well oiled machine of mixed genders.

And it’s a machine that is outproducing the national stats.

FEATURE

Girls can get just as much healthy fun and as Thank you for giving up much value out of your weekends and looking scouting as boys can. after our little ones so well. ROBERT BADEN POWELL, 1908 Children especially loved the Lost World She had a ball!

River Tour, Jungle River ride, Jousting A recent national scouting survey From the log flume, which proved a big splash, to The Whirlwind balloon ride and Dragon Siege, with its 360 loop that gave even Fox the jitters, each young person had their pick of the 30 rides and attractions on offer.

Castles, and but also found fun in the more traditional fairground attractions such as carousel, dodgems, rocking tub pirate ship and tree top swingers.

revealed that 1 in every 5 cubs were now female.

At Roade, that figure is closer to 1 in 3 across all divisions; Over 37% female.

At last count in October, we have 33 female Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. At some sessions, the number of girl Scouts outnumbered the boys.

The numbers are even more impressive given other weekly social options for girls in the village.

And what’s the lure? Well national studies suggests its the attraction of outdoor adventure, energetic sessions and the good old fashioned, traditional values that scouting stands for.

At 1st Roade, it’s no different. As a former Rainbows leader for the village, before becoming Beavers leader in 2020, our very own Owl is better placed than most to give opinion on why girls are flocking to 1st Roade.

She believes its about empowerment, confidence, independence and a chance to push themselves out of their comfort zone. The learning of practical skills is also important.

“Scouting provides skills for life. At each point in their journey, the girls get to participate in activities that encourage them to grow through adventure, and new challenges.

“They make new friends, learn new skills and just be themselves. Why would you not want to be part of it?”

Whatever the motivation, girl power is definitely on the rise at 1st Roade - and Ginger, Posh, Sporty, Baby and Scary would certainly approve.

BASECAMP

We’d like to celebrate all achievements of our young people, in and outside of Scouting.

Send any photos and details, and we’ll do our best to feature them in future editions of BASE :

roade.chairman@hotmail.com roade.treasurer@hotmail.com