Beavers (Scouting)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Beavers in Scouting is one name for the youngest section of Scouting with members (most commonly boys) younger than Cub Scouts and sometimes going to as young as five years of age. Other names are used in some countries. The programme is based on the concept of co-operating and sharing with "Sharing, sharing, sharing" its motto.
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[edit] History
The Beaver programme started in the 1960s and 1970s in various countries around the world, with Canada and Northern Ireland leading the way.
The reasons for Beaver Scouting to be started were similar to the Cub Scout, or Wolf Cub, section in 1916: that adult leaders were bringing their younger children to meetings, and the youth members were in turn bringing their younger siblings.
Beaver Scouts were not formally recognised by many Scouting Associations until well into the 1980s, but were still run with the ideals of Scouting, as laid down by Baden-Powell in 1907, influencing them.
Beaver groups are often called colonies and meetings sometimes include a ceremony with a "beaver dam" in which the Beavers work together to fix a breach in the dam.
[edit] Beaver Scouting Around the World
[edit] Australia
In Scouts Australia, this section is called Joey Scouts. (A joey is an infant kangaroo.)
[edit] Canada
In Scouts Canada Beavers are aged five to seven. Members normally wear a brown vest as a uniform with a blue t-shirt and a blue and brown Beaver Hat. The program is based around a specially written story called Friends of the Forest.
Beaver Promise: I promise to love God and help take care of the world.
Beaver Law: A Beaver has fun, works hard and helps family and friends.
Beaver Motto: Sharing, Sharing, Sharing
A new Beaver is called a "Kit"; a kit must learn the Beaver Promise, Law, and Motto and go through an investiture ceremony to become an "Eager Beaver". The investiture ceremony officially welcomes the Beaver into the Scouting program and during this ceremony the Beaver receives a tail, neckercheif, and badges for their uniform.
A five year old beaver is a brown tail, a six year old is a blue tail and a seven year old is a white tail. The tail is attached to the back brim of the Beaver Hat.
The beavers 'swim up' to cubs towards the end of the year that they are white tails.
Beavers do not collect any individual badges.
In the Association des Scouts du Canada Castors (Beavers in French) are aged from seven to nine. Members normally wear a yellow t-shirt and tan or brown pants. The program is based around a specially written story called : Les aventures de Cartouche et Namor (The adventures of Cartouche and Namor.)
Castor Promise: Je m'engage à faire des efforts pour jouer avec et comme les autres. (I promise to do my best to play with and like others)
Castor Motto: Effort (Effort)
The newcoming beaver receive it's neckercheif and uniform at a promise ceremony where the beaver, usually, must demonstrate that it has integrate the unit. From that moment, the new beavers has enter the scouting program.
Beavers collect individual badges following a four-step program :
Source (spring) whitch as for objective integration Russeau (stream) whitch as for objective participation Cascades (waterfall) witch as for objective initiative Étang (pond) whitch as for objective sharing
They can also collect two technique badges whitch are calles buchettes (splint): Security and Environnement
When they climb to cubs, they receive a badge called Castor découvreur (discovering beaver)
[edit] Mexico
In Asociación de Scouts de México, A.C. there was a Beaver Section, but it has been closed down[1]. However there are many beaver groups or "castores" in Spanish working unofficially in parallel.
[edit] New Zealand
In Scouting New Zealand, this section is called Keas. (A kea is a New Zealand parrot.)
[edit] United Kingdom
[edit] The Scout Association
The Scout Association officially recognised Beaver Scouts in 1986, but there had been informal colonies around the country for some years beforehand. The programme is run for six-to-eight year olds, and precedes Cub Scouts
The Beaver Scout section currently has the largest proportion of members within Scouting in the United Kingdom, with many colonies servicing waiting lists, some of which may have several times as many waiting as there are actual members.
The uniform is a turquoise sweatshirt or t-shirt, with the group colours for the neckerchief.
[edit] Baden-Powell Scouts' Association
The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association recognised Beaver Scouts in 1982, although some Groups do not operate Beaver colonies as they were not part of Baden-Powell's concept. The programme serves 5 to eight year olds, and is followed by Wolf Cubs[2].
The uniform is a turquoise polo shirt and jumper, with the group colours for the neckerchief. Some groups also issue Beavers with caps.
[edit] Switzerland
Various troops in Switzerland also have Beaver Scouts (in some Cantons also called Fünkli, Füchse or Murmeli), but they are not officially recognised by the Swiss Guide and Scout Movement.[3]
They usually only wear the troop's neckerchief but have no uniform.
[edit] Notes
- ^ The Canadian Leader Magazine, August/September 2006, page 37.
- ^ Baden-Powell Beavers
- ^ "Pfadiwiki.ch - Entry on Beaver Scouts". Pfadiwiki.ch (Independent Swiss Scout wiki). http://www.pfadiwiki.ch/index.php/0._Stufe. Retrieved on 2007-05-08.
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Beaver Scouts of Canada
- Beaver Scouts of UK Scout Association
- Beaver Scouts (Castorini) of an Italian Colony
