Beavers Camping

I was chatting to my Group’s Beaver Leader about the forthcoming Beaver camp (of course Beavers don’t actually camp as such, they have to stay indoors) and she was concerned about the costs.

A little background: Beavers can only stay in indoor accommodation and cannot stay away from their parents for more than 24 hours. This means that when going ‘camping’ buildings have to be hired. On most campsites this means that you have to hire the buildings for the whole weekend and not for a 24 hour period. The other thing to bear in mind is that you can’t really charge a Beaver the same as, say a Cub, ‘camping’ in the same building for a whole weekend.

All this means that a Beaver camp is relatively expensive to run and will most likely run at a loss. So with this in mind, do we then think that we cannot run the camp as we will lose money?

Well, no. That is what the Group’s funds are for. If we take the attitude that we cannot run the camp then the Beavers don’t get to enjoy the experience of being at a campsite with all their friends, being away from Mum and Dad and family, in some cases for the first time and experiencing Scouting activities for the first time, for example climbing or cooking on a fire. If we as a Group have the money available then this is what it is there for. it’s kind of nice to know we have £xxx in the bank, but it was raised for the kids in the Group.

I don’t actually think that we will have to put too much Group money to the camp, but we will and it’ll mean that the Beavers have a great time at camp.

Rachael and I will be going out to see them all, although we’ll just be observers as I can’t do a great deal of Scouting activities with a baby with me!

5 Replies to “Beavers Camping”

  1. Nick — Interesting differences. Here in the States, our Tiger Cubs must have a parent involved in all aspects of the program — so, there really is no “time away from mum and dad” until they get a bit older.

  2. That’s quite interesting Ron as, if I remember correctly, your Tiger Cubs are 7, whereas Beavers start at 6. I think it’s good for them to have the time away from their parents, but despite the practical problems, 24 hours is the right amount of time!

  3. I was wondering what a Beaver was in the UK. Tigers need to be 7 by the end of their first year. There are several councils doing a pilot of “Lions” which would be Beavers.

    I do understand that Beavers would be more touchy about being away from home. Tigers are almost in the same boat. Wolves (8) are good at overnights.

    You are also breaking in the new parents to how scout camps work and run. It can be a culture shock.

  4. From my contacts in Scouting the plan is to allow beavers to camp under canvas within the next couple of years. Now this could be wrong, but my contact is fairly in the now and from the Beaver Leaders I know this would be a welcome move.

    Back to the issue of costs, to be honest. Colonies shouldn’t be paying out fortunes for accommodation, Counties and Scout sites should be offering discounts as Beavers can only use a place for 24 hours. The two relatives I know who are BSL’s in different parts of the country often use the Scout Hall for the first timers, but also village halls and centres. There are many village halls that would love to cater for scout groups, but they are never asked. One of the ones my wife uses charges just £20, because it an activity for young people. They get full use of the hall, facilities, grounds and play area, it’s also situated in a rural area so they can go out and do walks and nature trails.

    I would say all leaders should be thinking outside the box and using facilities outside of scouting. Many community places and communities are happy to help scouting, and if things are costing a lot, leaders need to be asking for discounts.

  5. It will be interesting if Beavers are allowed to camp under canvas. I do think it will have to be very strictly monitored though – we’ll see.
    I must admit I’d never thought of the Village Hall option. A number of our local Groups have their own huts and are in or close to the countryside. Might be a plan! However, I do think the Beavers do need to stay on a traditional camp site as well. This will ensure they are familiar with these sites when they are older.

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