3rd Brampton Scouts

3rd Brampton Scouts

3rd Brampton Scout Group

Family Camp June 2024

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No doubt we have around 80 exhausted people after returning from our annual family camp!  With 24 families attending, it was sure to be a successful weekend and it didn’t disappoint. 

What an amazing weekend it was!  Our scouting family joined together to make the best family camp so far!  

Everyone has given positive feedback and we all can’t wait to do it again, so we have decided to set a date in the near future for FC2025.  Watch out for it on Facebook.

It was a packed full weekend of games, activities, singing and playing and joining together to embrace unity and nature. 

 

We camped at the amazing Walesby Forest Activity Centre, who have been creating adventures since 1938, is an International Outdoor Adventure Activity Centre set in over 250 acres of forest, with over 30 adventure activities and a range of accommodation for a multitude of visitor groups. 

activities

The weather was kind to us and we had a whole host of activities to join in with and our families made good use of them, trying out new activities, with the young people working towards new badges.

Of course a camp wouldn’t be a camp without a campfire and a few songs, so we invited our very own Ben Widdowson to entertain us, and what a job he did! 

We sang our hearts out to favourites like “Who we are”, “The Pirate Shanty”, “Cecil the Caterpillar”, ” Penguin’s attention” and many more, finishing off with our tradition of kumbaya. Kumbaya refers to moments of harmony and unity, and we certainly had lots of them whilst gathered together around the dying embers of the campfire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

HM King Charles III has been confirmed as our new Patron. This is a great honour for the UK Scout movement.

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Continuing a long tradition

The King takes on the role with immediate effect and continues a long tradition of the monarch giving their Patronage, dating back to 1912. This was when Scouts was granted its Royal Charter and HM George V became our first Patron.
 
Before His Majesty King Charles III, the post was previously held by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for the duration of her 70 year reign.

A champion for young people

Patronages typically reflect the interests of the member of the Royal Family involved. Over many years, HM King Charles III has consistently championed young people across a range of causes, including Scouts and The Prince’s Trust.

To watch in full screen, double click the video

Bear Grylls OBE, Chief Scout, says: ‘We’re honoured that His Majesty The King is Patron of Scouts. He continues a great tradition of the monarch championing our Scouts and volunteers since our first Patron, King George V in 1912.
 
‘HM The King’s example of service is an inspiration to us all, and we’re especially grateful for The King’s endorsement of the highest achievement for young people in Scouts: the King’s Scout Award. We promise to continue to do our best to help other people, to make our communities closer, kinder and stronger. As Chief Scout, and on behalf of the whole Scout movement, I thank His Majesty for his unwavering support.’ 

Ayesha Karim, UK Youth Lead, says: ‘As a Scout, I’m so proud that The King is our Patron. He’s lived his whole life giving service to others, and this is what we do in Scouts too. I know he’ll continue to be such a good friend to Scouts, and it’s so encouraging to have him at our side.’

https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2024/june/hm-king-charles-becomes-our-patron/?utm_campaign=2497728_June%202024%20leadership%20email&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Scouts&dm_i=31ME,1HJ9C,5YUI3R,5XAHM,1

The Duke of Edinburgh Award

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dofeThe Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is something every young person should get involved in. In this article, Elysia Gorman, an active Regional Youth Ambassador for the Cardiff area gives us the background on the award and tips on how you can get started. Elysia is currently working on her Lowland Leaders Qualification and speaks with schools, participants and other leaders to provide feedback and improve DofE experiences.

 

What is the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award?

Since being set up by Prince Philip in 1965, over 3.1 million young people have achieved a Duke of Edinburgh’s award! Prince Philip knew that the programme would help to inspire young people on their own journey of personal development regardless of their background, culture, ability or interests! 

The DofE award is available to anyone between the ages of 14 and 24. Most youth groups, schools and clubs offer the chance to do DofE. However, DofE Direct is available for anyone who is over 18, wanting to get involved with the Gold Award.

How is the Award Structured?

Divided into Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards, there are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level and awalkers scouts dofe fifth section for those going for Gold. These are volunteering, physical, skills, expedition and for Gold only, a residential trip. 

  • 1) Volunteering section: you can help the community or environment. For example, helping in a charity shop. 
  • 2) Physical section: you should show improvement in a fitness activity. You could choose to play a sport here and improve your skills! 
  • 3) Skills section: you need to choose an activity that will help you increase your expertise in a chosen field. It should not be a physical activity. For example, coaching a sports team would work but not playing the sport. 
  • 4) Expedition section: you need to plan, train for and complete an expedition. 
  • 5) Residential section: you must complete a shared activity with people you’ve never met on a residential trip. 

You need to be over 14 to start your Bronze Award, then 15+ for Silver and 16+ for Gold. Each award level takes a different amount of time, but they range from a minimum of 6-18 months depending on which award you are completing. Once you have finished your Gold Award, you will be invited to a Gold Award presentation at the Royal Palace.

Why Should You Get Involved?

DofE enables young people to give back to their communities. In 2021, young people doing their DofE volunteered over 1.8million hours. That’s about 205 years when you add it all together! 

Also, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards offers young people the chance to gain essential life skills such as: teamwork, problem solving and resilience. While 62% of people had said that completing Duke of Edinburgh had helped them boost their confidence. 

A widely recognised award, the DofE looks great on your CV and can help boost job prospects for young people. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards allow people to form friendships, develop their interests, learn about themselves and most importantly … have fun!

Interested in taking part? Find out more on our Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expedition Page, or visit the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award website. 

Gear Up at GO Outdoors

GO Outdoors is proud to be a DofE Recommended Retailer of Expedition Kit. Every year, 300,000 young people in the UK start their DofE and we’re on hand to kit them out with the tents, sleeping bags, cooking equipment, waterproofs and other hiking essentials they need. Whether you’re looking to complete your expedition on foot, horseback, canoe or bike, we have everything you need to enjoy your adventure. When it comes to preparing for any level of DofE expedition, our top tips are to invest in a quality  rucksack and a pair of sturdy walking boots. You can get them both expertly fitted by us; simply visit us at your local GO Outdoors store.

Don’t forget to take your neckerchief in to receive a discount on all items.

red necker

Introduction to the DofE Award

7 healthy lunch box ideas to take on a camping trip

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campingCamping season is coming! 

We love a bit of camping, here at 3rd Brampton, getting into the great outdoors and exploring the unknown. And it’s getting into that season again. As parents though, we tend to be more about the detail. What’s the weather going to be like? What should we pack? How long are we going to go for? That, and how do we continue to eat well? With that in mind, here are seven quick and easy healthy lunch box ideas, perfect for your next camping trip.

  1. Flatbreads

One of the best things about flatbreads is that they are easy to pack versus a chunky loaf of bread. Fill them with your choice of protein and salad, or pack everything separately and have fun making a healthy wrap, pitta or maybe even a flatbread pizza together.

  1. Rice bowls

This one’s really easy, all you have to do is cook up a big batch of rice, combine it with chicken slices, onions, peppers, mushrooms – whatever you like – and pack it away in a bowl. You can prepare all of your healthy ingredients beforehand and then just pop it in your bag.

  1. Pasta pots

pastaJust like rice bowls, pasta pots are super convenient too. Boil up plenty of wholewheat pasta in a saucepan, and add in your tomato sauce, basil and other ingredients for a hearty Italian camping feast. Let it cool and then simply spoon into individual pots.

 

 

 

  1. Soup

Soup is one of the easiest and most nutritious meals you can prepare for camping. Whether you decide to go withsoup chunky soups or a blitzed up version, this is great opportunity to pack your kids’ camping lunches with goodness. Use a base of tomato or flavoursome stock and you’ll be able to mask all manner of healthy ingredients within the soup. Spinach, broccoli, peppers… the choice is yours.

5.Hearty salads

We’re not talking about a little lettuce, cucumber and tomato here – although they are all fine and could be included in any salad – we’re talking the nutrient punch that comes from quinoa, lentils and beans. Mix with a little lemon vinegar dressing, add in some salad leaves, tuna and boiled eggs and you’ve got a twist on a nicoise salad. Fuel and flavour all in one.

6.Homemade granola

Granola is the perfect start to the day and it’s also great for a lunchtime snack. But rather than pour it out of a cardboard box you can make your own. Toast off some oats, nuts and pumpkin seeds, combine with some dried fruit and you’ve got homemade granola on the go. The slow-release carbohydrate kick will keep everyone going until the next meal.

eggs7.Eggs

This one’s a little different, as you definitely will need a heat supply, or at least have to eat them within a day of cooking. Scrambled, poached, boiled or fried, pop your pan over the campfire and enjoy the goodness. Alternatively you can take some hard-boiled eggs with you and pop them into your rice bowls, pasta pots or flatbreads.

Pack some or all of these healthy lunch box ideas and you’ll have happy campers!

 

 

Adapted from bigmaninthewoods

World Scout Jamboree – South Korea

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south korea jamboree logoAccording to the dictionary a jamboree is a party, celebration, or other gathering where there is a large number of people and a lot of excitement, fun, and enjoyment.  And that is exactly what it is!

The word “jamboree” is used primarily by the Scouting program following the first Boy Scout jamboree in 1920. Baden-Powell deliberately chose the name “jamboree” where attendees were warmly welcomed attending this first Boy Scout rally or meeting with the word “jambo.”

The World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) is a World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) event, it happens every four years, each time hosted by a different country.

The 25th World Scout Jamboree will be held August 1–12, 2023 at Saemangeum, North Jeolla, South Korea, hosted by Korea Scout Association with the theme, “Draw Your Dream”. About 30,000 to 50,000 participants are expected to attend from approximately 169 countries.

chingu

Mascot – Saebeomi is a baby tiger raised in Saemangeum. Saebeomi denotes not only young and progressive Scouts who are poised to unfold and explore new horizons and grow into reliable leaders but also their bravery.

The UK contingent mascot is Chingu, keeping to the theme of the tiger. The Korean word 친구 (chingu) translates to “friend” but usage is a little bit different in Korean than it is in English. This is because Koreans generally only use the word for people of the same age or to refer to their close friends. The word 친구 (chingu) is quite easy to remember.

 

 

Jamboree Site – SaeManGeum

The 25th World Scout Jamboree will take place at a newly built campground in Saemangeum, Jeollabuk-do,seamangeum encompassing 8.8 square kilometers.. The largest section is 6.1 kilometers wide and 1.8 kilometers long. Stretching beside the West Coast near Byeonsanbando National Park, the huge Jamboree campground (35’42”N 126’35”E) is endowed with rich natural surroundings—one side of the venue adjoins the ocean.(35’42”N 126’35”E)

Objectives and curriculum

The 25th World Scout Jamboree program consists of the 4S+ACT (Adventure, Culture and Tradition) elements—each designed to support social, physical, intellectual, emotional, mental, and personality development in Scouts in attendance.

  • Self-improvement
  • Capacity reinforcement as an upright citizen
  • Acceptance of diversity and profound connection with other Scouts
  • Commitment to world peace and ecological enhancement
  • Throughout the Jamboree, a broad array of individual and team activities, which contain involvement-based rewards, will inspire participants to ignite fulfillment. Not only that, will also deliver the opportunity for career awareness and exploration under the theme ‘Draw your Dream.’
  • Activities
    • Young people will be  engaged in 2-3 activities a day out of more than 200. There is contingency planning for bad weather.

Shape the future by teenagers from around the globe.

 

The next Jamboree will be in 2027 and located on Poland – will you be applying to go?

More information about the jamboree can be found here. 

Synonyms: festival, party, fête, celebration 

The joys of hay fever!

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Oh the joys of having Hay Fever!

Are you or your scout a sufferer? Everyone cheers up as soon as the weather gets warmer. Everyone except people who suffer from Hay fever, knowing that the moment they wake up they will be constantly sneezing for the next few months.

Oh the joys of suffering with Hay Fever!

Tree pollen starts the season off around March, grass pollen kicks in around May and certain weeds can affect hay fever till around September time.

The sneezing: All the time sneezing from the moment you wake up in the morning until the time you go to bed. All the time achoo achoo aaaaachooo!

Constantly telling people: “No, you don’t have a cold

Wanting to spend the day outside in the wonderful sunshine: But getting so annoyed of sneezing and itchy eyes, that you then spend the whole day inside feeling depressed and sorry for yourself whilst watching the kids and family playing in the garden.

Constant painful itchy Eyes: This is generally the most painful thing with suffering from hay fever. The nonstop itchy eyes and then when you put a cold flannel over them ooooooooh my! Feels like heaven.

eyes with pollonBut it’s not just the eyes that itch: The nose twitches, the neck basically the whole. body can get itchy!

Devil eyes: Having Red swollen eyes and no that’s not a lack of sleep!

do you actually love flowers?: The answer is yes!  We go out and spend £100s every year making the back garden looking lovely. Cutting the grass means you are going to pay for it later with the sneezing and itchy eyes.  So why bother?

The Struggle with family picnics: It’s great to spend time outside during the spring and summer. And then someone suggests “let’s have a picnic”.  It’s going to be a lovely couple of hours sitting on the picnic rug but then you know you are going to spend hours sneezing

Always having to carry a packet of tissues with you: The nonstop blowing of your nose turns you into a summer version of Rudolph the Red nose reindeer.

Spending a fortune on hay fever medicine: Knowing it doesn’t really have any effect on stopping the sneezing and itchy eyes, it’s more of a placebo effect.

tipsIf this is you, here are some little tips to help you along through these tough months.

Dr Ranj Singh from ITV’s This Morning suggests applying Vaseline under the nose. Lube up the inside your nose to block pollen from entering.

Garlic also has anti histamine properties.

Drink chamomile tea – It is claimed that drinking a cup of Chamomile tea will help relieve Hay fever due to the flower having has Anti Histamine properties.

Avoid Dairy and also tomatoes as these can stimulate your glands.

Eat local honey. Studies have shown that local honey as a healing agent and is better than over-the-counter remediescamomile for hay fever.

Eat chilli peppers. Because peppers contain capsaicin which, when consumed, has the ability to reduce congestion by opening up our nasal passages.

Lemons, oranges and also grapefruit is rumored to help with hay fever due to these fruits containing natural antihistamines.

Apparently Acupuncture can be used to deal with Hay Fever- Worth a try?

Do you have any ways of beating Hayfever rather than taking daily medicines?

Do you have any tips/ Old wives tales on dealing with Hay fever?

Please feel free to share in the comments.

 

The NHS guide to dealing with Hay fever

Adapted from thebigmaninthewoods

Famous Female Scouts

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international womans dayToday  the 8th of March 2023, we’re celebrating International Women’s Day. Celebrating women all around the world, and the magnificent things that they do.

So we thought we would do a special one all about Scouts. And those famous ladies that have created scouting into the way it is now. So let’s have a dive into finding Famous Female Scouts.

 

Why is 1910 so special for International Women’s Day? Well, that is the day that Baden Powell and his sister Agnesbaden powell set up Girl Guiding, as it’s known as today. Girls weren’t always allowed in Scouts. It was known as Boy Scouts. But over 40 years ago, girls were allowed. But officially girls in all sections started in 2007. 29% of girls make up the UK Scout youth membership, and 43% of the adult volunteers here in UK Scouts are female.

hannah kentishIn 2014, we welcomed the first UK Youth Commissioner, Hannah Kentish. And in January 2020, she was awarded an MBE, British Empire Metal. Well done Hannah!. And in 2020, the Duchess of Cambridge, She doubled up with the Duke of Kent to become President of UK scouting.

 

 

We have many female UK ambassadors for scouting. Let’s have a recap over those female Scouts.

  • Megan Hine, an amazing adventurer.
  • Ellie Simmonds, the Paralympic swimmer.
  • Saray Khumalo, the climber.
  • Anita Rani, the TV presenter.
  • Julia Bradbury, TV presenter,
  • Helen Glover, Olympic rower,

Let’s go global and see what famous female Scouts are there. Whether they’re in Scouts or Girl Guiding, Hey, we’re all one big family. Let’s see those famous girls.

The Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle. She was a Scout back in America, and a mum was her troop leader.

Now let’s go to the White House. Hillary Clinton. 1981 to 89, the First Lady of the United States, Nancy Reagan was also a Scout.

Music

  • Mariah Carey,
  • Celine Dion,
  • Taylor Swift
  • Taylor Swift- still support Scouts, and she gives away free concert tickets to Scouts.
  • Dion Warrick.
  • Sheryl Crow.
  • Queen Latifa.

Back in 1983 Sally Ride was the first female astronaut. She was the first ever female to go up into space.

astronaught

 

Tv & Film

  • Gwyneth Paltrow-
  • Reese Witherspoon.
  • Venus and Serena Williams, the famous tennis players.

elizabethNow this might surprise you. I kept this one for last. International women’s day, who do you think in the whole of the world is the most famous scout? Of course, Queen Elizabeth II, the UK’s queen, she was a scout. She also went to Scouts with her sister, Princess Margaret, and they started back in 1937. Well, let’s not forget the Queen’s daughter Princess Anne. She also was a member of Girl Guides.

So there you go. Amazing. Celebrating International Women’s Day, looking at thesescouting amazing Scouts and what they’ve done for themselves, and proving that Scouts can make you go to places even such as in space. You never know some of these Scouts that are in 3rd Brampton Scouts now could well be famous ladies in our near future!  

 

 

 

Adapted from bigmaninthewoods

10 facts about Squirrels you probably didn’t know

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UK Scouts have reently celebrated one year of the Squirrels Scout section.

squirrel logo

Here’s 10 facts about Squirrels you probably didn’t know. If you’ve not heard about the Squirrel section, it’s a new section here in UK scouting for young people aged four to six.

1-There is 11,000 young people participating as Squirrels.

2- The Squirrels section is known as a Drey, and there is at least 700 of them across the UK.

3- Each Drey is then split up into smaller groups known as Nests.

4-There is 12 activity badges and 4 challenge badges.

5- The top Squirrel badge that any Squirrel can achieve is the Chief Scout Acorn Badge.

6- The meaning of the red jumper that the Squirrels wear? Well, that represents the Red Squirrels that can be found on Brownsea Island.

7 –The leader ratio is one to six indoors plus the Squirrel leader, one to four outside plus the leader, and you must have a minimum of three adult helpers, no matter how many Squirrels attend that meeting.

8- Squirrel Scouts have a motto and a promise, but no Scout law.

9- The last new section to open in Scouts UK was over 35 years ago. Do you remember that section? Yes, it was the Beavers, and they were introduced in 1986.

10 – What’s the scout leader’s name? So in Cubs we have Akela. In Scouts, we have Skip. Squirrel Scouts’ leader is known as Red.  Beaver leaders are nicknamed after characters from nature, books or films and vary from section to section, at 3rd Brampton we use animals.

There you go. 10 fascinating facts as we celebrate one year of the UK Scout Squirrel section. And if you’re a Squirrel Scout, I hope you’re having fun.

When you join our squirrel section at 3rd Brampton Scouts, you are expected to join the parent rota and help out as often as you can, so that we can run our sessions safely. 

For more information about joining our squirrel sections please get in touch using our contact form.

Adapted from bigmaninthewoods

Family activities over Xmas

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christmas countdownThe countdown to Christmas is on!

MONDAY 12th December @ 18:30, St Thomas’ Church.

We are hosting a Scout Xmas Market on the 12th December at 6:30pm.  Please come along and support us.  Our Rother scouts have been busy making handmade products for you to purchase (They are working towards their fundraising badge along with many others for this project).  We’ve got bird boxes, Xmas wall plaques, gift boxes and tags, tree decorations and lots lots more.

We hope you have a wonderful time.  As we will not be meeting during the holiday, we’ve put together a selection of fun things to do together with the family to get everyone in a festive mood.

Most of these ideas can be linked into badges for your young person, just make a note, take a few pics and let your section leader have them when we start back in January 2023.  The leader will then update your child’s badge records, it’s a great way to bump up the badge earning ?

Read a Christmas story together

There’s no better way to get into the Christmas spirit than with a Christmas story (or two!). Fantastically festive tales like The Snowman, The Jolly Christmas Postman, or The Nightmare Before Christmas will help you spread a little cheer and give you a chance to spend some quality time together. Why not make it a daily occurrence throughout December? Make a note and take to your section leader to link into badges.

Everyone can take turns choosing a story to read whilst you all chomp on some delicious festive snacks. Speaking of which…

Bake some Christmassy food

Nothing says Christmas quite like some brilliant bakes! So, get your pinny on and flour those work surfaces, because it’s time to get messy. Some of our favourite recipes include these The Snowman-inspired cookies and Christmas tree-shaped biscuits, but there are so many other Christmassy treats you can make. Spread the cheer further by making big batches of your creations and sharing them with neighbours, family and friends. This is a wonderful gift as well as a great and easy way to help out those in need.

Make and send some Christmas cards

Another lovely way to connect with friends and family is to make your own Christmas cards. You can download and use our Wimpy Kid and Christmasaurus card templates, or make one really personal to you. You could all dress up and take a nice family photo – great for relatives to keep and see how you’re all doing – or enlist the help of your pet and get them to pose for a photo (you will need some treats for this!). Or just grab all the art supplies you have and go for it!

Better still, you can buy some gifts from our Scout Xmas market!

home alone xmasOr watch some classic Christmas films at home

You can’t beat a good ol’ Christmas movie from the comfort of your own sofa. Turn it into a family weekend ritual during December and give everyone a chance to pick a festive film to watch. The only prep work you’ll need to do is make a hot chocolate, grab some sweet treats from a selection box and pick a spot on the sofa. If you have Netflix or Disney+, you could try Teleparty (formerly known as Netflix Party). It’s a Google Chrome extension that syncs video playback so you can watch films or TV programmes with friends and family online. There’s even a chat function!

See some Christmas lights

If you don’t fancy travelling to a Christmas light switch-on event, go for a walk around your neighbourhood and spot some luminous holiday displays. Great to do as a family, you can tally up the houses you see with white lights and those with multicoloured lights. You could also play ‘I Spy’ for all the Christmas trees you can spot in the windows of homes.

Have a video call with Santa Claus

Is it even Christmas if you haven’t visited Santa’s grotto? However, if you are strapped for time or anxious about going to one, thanks to the wonders of technology, you won’t have to miss out on seeing the main guy – you can have a video call with him instead. Santa’s Calling You allows you to book a private Zoom call with either Santa, Mrs Claus, or one of Santa’s elves, and you can even request them to read you a story. All you have to do is decide on a time and date!

Build a snowman

If you’re lucky enough to get some snow over the Christmas period (apparently it is forecast we can live in dreams),snowman take a trip outdoors – whether that’s to your garden or local park – and build a magical snowman together. All you need to do is grab some mittens, pull on those wellies, wrap up warm and get building! Don’t forget to take a carrot for a nose and an extra scarf to keep your wintery creation nice and warm.

Turn your home into a winter wonderland

Go all out with the Christmas decorations this year and turn your home into a festive wonderland! If you’re on a budget, get crafty and make some homemade decorations. Or buy from our Market. We’ve got step-by-step tutorials and plenty of printables: make a Greg the Sausage Roll bauble or some comic-like Wimpy Kid baubles. Or print out these Hetty Feather tree decorations. There are lots of tutorials online for making wreaths, festive garlands, and other ornaments. Then when it comes to decorating, you can make a day of it. Everyone can have a job – Christmas light technician, bauble colour consultant, tinsel specialist – or a room they’re in charge of turning into a festive utopia. Don’t forget to make a jolly playlist so you can all jam along whilst you decorate.

Donate this season

Christmas is a time of giving; there’s no better time to donate than during the festive season. As a family, go through any toys, games, books or accessories you no longer need and donate them to The Salvation Army, who run a Christmas Present Appeal. We know there’s nothing nicer than receiving a book for Christmas, so give £10 to BookTrust to send a special book gift to a vulnerable child. Many families struggle with the extra costs that come with Christmas, so why not contribute to Feeding Families by donating individual food items at a collection point or by putting together a whole hamper and delivering it to the family yourself?

Make a Christmas Eve box

Start a new tradition, if you haven’t already and make a Christmas Eve box you can all enjoy. Believed to have been inspired by countries such as Germany, where they open their presents on Christmas Eve, this is a fun way to maximise the Christmas spirit. Use a cardboard box, crate, or wooden chest, and then pack in a set of new PJs, homemade goodies, Christmas stories, films, board games – whatever you want!

Host a craft party

Looking for another fun but budget-friendly activity? Host a Christmas craft party with friends or family! Simply choose some cool things to make – such as this mason jar snow globe or paper plate Christmas masks – make sure you have all the supplies, snacks, and refreshments you need, and then schedule a time and date. You could even turn it into a contest and organise prizes for the winner, if you wanted to.

board games monoployFamily game nights

It wouldn’t be Christmas without playing a game (or several) with your family. Board games such as Cluedo, Scrabble, and Monopoly are good for those with a competitive streak. If you like team games, try Charades, Pictionary or Trivia. If you want to get really creative, you could make this Christmas tree bowling game using empty plastic bottles or toilet rolls, or follow this poke-a-pumpkin game tutorial but make it a Christmas tree instead.

Put together a scavenger hunt

Another fun activity to do at home, especially if it’s cold and wet outside, is a scavenger hunt. Put together a list of things to find, such as an ugly Christmas jumper, a red decoration or your favourite gift of all time. Alternatively, the organiser of the hunt could place different clues around the house that everyone has to search for together. The end reward can be a secret message or some yummy Christmas treats.

Adapted from www.penquin.co.uk

What’s the point in a woggle?

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Well, there’s many reasons, but it all started back in 1896, when the founder of scouting, Lord Baden-Powell, while off at war was working with an American born scout, called Frederick Russell Burnham, who gave him the idea of the scarf.

Frederick Russell Burnham

Frederick Russell Burnham

Frederick Russell Burnham

A sketch of Frederick Russell Burnham by Baden Powell

 

Where did it come from and why do we have it? Well, when scouting started, it was just a bit of cloth, the scarf or the Necker, with a loose knot. It wasn’t actually anything. And over time, as we know now, the Necker got really creased and it looked ugly with just some random scarf.

 

 

Again, BP went back to America and he got the inspiration for using a bit of bone. So William Hillcourt (August 6, 1900 – November 9, 1992), known within the Scouting movement as “Green Bar Bill” took the idea of the American’s bone ring, but wanted something a bit better. So what he did, he went back to his shed and rustled up some ideas and he went to his sewing machine and he took some leather and he invented this thing as we know, called the Turk’s Head.

The inspiration comes from America and the Americans call it the Boon Doggle, Bill wanted to take the inspiration of America, but didn’t like the word boon doggle. He thought about it and he copied the idea and he came up with woggle because it rhymes with doggle. The Boon Doggle turned into the English woggle. After a few attempts, he made up this Turk’s Head using thin sewing machine leather. And then he presented it to the camp chief and also rumour has it, he gave it to the Chief Scout, and they gave it the all okay.

On the 9th of June 1923 in a scouting magazine, the woggle was born, There was an article in a magazine giving some ideas about having this woggle and it became very popular and very fashionable in scouting. And the scouts loved this idea of having a woggle rather than an ugly knot. They took it on board and it went crazy. But as we know, the Turk’s Head is only actually allowed to be worn by a leader who has done their wood badge. And that Turk’s Head wobble is known as the first Gilwell Woggle.

Baden-Powell references the woggle in the 14th edition  The Scouts magazine in 1929. said, “It, the scarf, may be fastened at the throat by a knot or woggle, which is some form of ring made of cord, metal or bone or anything you like”. Previous editions only refer to it as a ring. The design of the Gilwell Woggle, formally the Turk’s Head knot, as I say, is only really allowed to be worn by members of the first Gilwell Park who have done their wood beads and completed their training. But now it’s fashionable for anyone to do it.

 

There’s lots of different designs of the Turk’s Head, lots of Scouts actually do it, part of their camp craft and make them out of para cord, some amazing stuff  and also some stuff that the Turk’s Head made out of LED lights. And there are hundreds of designs of woggles antler, bone, leather, plastic, many ones that we all do as scouts and make it ourselves to make a bit more personalized. 

It’s a scout woggle woggle, is what we call it. Yeah, but there we are. The history of why scouts wear these, the woggle, or is it the boondoggle? I’ll leave it to you.

Adapted from big man in the woods