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Beavers News

Early St Patricks activities

Beavers had some Irish themed activities this week as it’s St Patricks day this Sunday. This counts towards their world challenge badge.

We had our fabulous young leader doing some Irish dancing, hot potato game (with a leprechaun handing out some gold coins), blind tasting Tayto crisps to guess the flavour and a code cracking activities for all things Irish. Also another 2 beavers shared their collection with us.

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Beavers

Beavers baking and YLs take the lead

Last week our YLs ran a team games night, this week we had some baking buns (one for them, one to give to someone they love) and some beavers shared their collections for their collector badge.

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Beavers Cubs News Squirrels

Squirrels, Beavers & Cubs Visit W5

Our youngest 3 sections enjoyed a trip to W5 at the weekend. We visited the lost planet soft play first to burn off some energy, then visited levels 2, climbit and level 4. Lots of exploring the exhibitions and fun with friends. Time whizzed by and before we knew it 5 hours had passed and it was time to travel back to Ballymoney. Everyone received a W5 pencil as a wee souvenir of their day out. Thanks to all our youths for being so well behaved, to our young leaders for their help and our adult volunteers for giving their time.

Check out the video of our visit ⬇️

https://studio.youtube.com/video/w5l2n69fkg4/edit
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Beavers News

Beavers Junk Model challenge 🤖

Leaders and Beavers brought lots of recyclables along to this week’s meeting for a junk model challenge.

Build a robot!! They could use anything on the floor and used cello tape and hot glue to attach pieces. Main rule was if someone already had their hand on an item then they couldn’t snatch it for themselves 😂 321 GO!! Beavers literally launched themselves into the pile of recyclables 🤣🤣

While building we asked what their robot could do to help them…mostly chores, homework and getting them food 😂😂😂 Badge links were builder badge and make a machine (skills challenge badge)

After everyone was helpful tidying up the excess pieces we had a wee game of duck, duck, goose ran by Lotars.

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Beavers News

Pancake day with Beavers

Beaver section met up as usual this half term, playing the ladders game to start and then making pancakes after. Lots of measuring flour, sugar, eggs, milk and a pinch of salt in their groups. Once fried, they had a variety of toppings to choose from…chocolate spread and banana/strawberries were the most popular toppings 😋 Once beavers finished eating they all washed and dried their plates of course.

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Beavers News

Beavers try Brazilian Ju-Jitsu

A massive thank you to the coaches and young assistant coaches at North Coast Grappling for giving our Beaver scouts a taster session of Brazilian Ju-Jitsu. They started off with a game of bear crawl tag, then tried their best to do arm bars, became ninjas jumping over walls and had great fun trying to push each other off the training mats! Lots of fun and laughter 😂😂 Check out their moves in the video below ⬇️

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Beavers News

Beavers Ocean Sleepover

At the weekend some of our Beavers joined us for an ocean themed sleepover at the scout hall. They arrived on Saturday evening to find the hall transformed to an under the sea world with jellyfish overhead and sea creatures all around.

They enjoyed sea life scratch art, a turtle weaving craft, some YL ran sea themed games, a scavenger hunt walk looking for sea life facts around town followed by a quiz about the facts found, then a movie in the loft (finding Nemo) with pizza and popcorn!

After a good nights sleep they enjoyed a decorating shortbread sea animals and learned some map skills with an ocean themed map activity. Finally they had some snacks and chilled out with friends colouring in, drawing and doing puzzles.

Thanks to all leaders (including 2 squirrel leaders) and young leaders for all their help preparing, setting up and running camp. Also a big thank you to our brilliant Beavers who behaved so well for the duration of camp 🦫 🐟 🪼 🦈

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Beavers News

Beavers Global Issues

For the last 2 weeks Chris has been guiding our youths through the global issues activity badge We had log chews on recycling and endangered animals, learned about Fairtrade and tasted some fairtrade goodies. We made water filters and endangered animal masks and played some related games throughout. Well done everyone 😃

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Beavers News

Beavers Halloween fun night 🎃

Beavers enjoyed lots of fairground style games at their Halloween party night. There was mummy bowling using a pumpkin as a bowling ball, pumpkin toss, feeding stick people to the one-eyed, one-horned flying purple people eater, a pumpkin shooting range, toss the rings onto witches hats and a gross feely box alongside colouring in and tabletop games. Lots of sweet treats won. Finally some party food and balloons.

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Beavers

Busy Beavers 🦫

Beavers have been very busy recently, earning a couple of badges and starting another!!

Our fantastic YLs planned and ran the experiment badge. Good work guys 👏🏻

Then coach Rob started them off on their Health and fitness activity badge with fitness fundamentals and some fitness games. They also made tasty rice cake fruit faces.

Martin from the ambulance service guided them through the emergency aid level 1. Covering what an emergency is, who to contact in an emergency and teaching the recovery position.

Finally we invested all our new beavers and our newest assistant beaver leader ⭐️ 🦫⚜️

Great work everyone!! Thanks to our guests and YLs for all their help 😊

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Beavers Camps Cubs Executive Explorers News Scouts Squirrels

Group Camp 2023 @ Lislagan Farm

Ballymoney Scout Group enjoyed an all section camp at the weekend. Smallest squirrels (4 year olds) to our tallest explorers (17 year olds) and leaders/network/executive helpers took part!

Friday – Cubs, Scouts and Explorers arrived on site and listened to camp rules. Scout sections worked on pioneering wash stands. Explorers discussed DofE for September, cooked and sampled different ration packs on a jet boil. Cubs enjoyed a movie in the Hen Hoose.

Saturday – relaxing morning, then Beavers and squirrels arrived just after lunch time. Phoenix Explorers and some scouts helped to set up camp for the wee ones. Busy day doing crafts, bouncy castle, face painting, laser tag and team games. BBQ for dinner then Squirrels enjoyed a mini campfire before heading home. Main campfire led by our fabulous explorers (renamed Phoenix entertainers by our Beavers) with campfire cones, songs, skits, dancing and singalong!

Sunday – Breakfast then pack up before wacky relay races 😂😂

Well done to all the young people, your behaviour on camp was exceptional!

A HUGE well done to our older sections for all their help and entertainment throughout the weekend. You guys are awesome 😎

Again, massive thanks to Lislagan Farm for allowing us to camp at their farm. Also to all the volunteer leaders and executive. Well done to our newest section leaders (squirrels) for getting stuck in 🌟

Also thanks to #limitless for running laser tag. Thanks to a friend of the group for a donation of £40 towards food.



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Beavers News

Beavers Balloon Games and badges at end of year party 🎉

We had some silly games this week to finish up for the year. Balloons were used for the over and under game, pairs race, balloon hopping race, longest keepy uppie and other fun games. Good work YLs. Then some party foods and social time followed by badge awards.

Well done to 10 of our Beavers who managed to complete their Chief Scout Bronze during their time with us 👏🏻👏🏻

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Beavers News

Beavers Bouldering and make a machine

This week Beavers met at the hall. They enjoyed an ice lolly on arrival before starting into activities. They were working in their lodges to build a machine out of Lego. They discussed their ideas in their lodges, drew their design and then attempted to create them from Lego.

At the same time they took turns in their lodges to conquer our new bouldering wall. Well done to our YL Lotars for running this activity with leaders assisting.

Some very interesting machine ideas, especially the diamond making machine and the teleporter car which send people who are bad to jail and people who are good to their favourite place. Well done to all lodges for presenting their machines at the end of the night to all the other lodges and leaders 👏🏻

Next week is our end of year party and awards and group camp at the weekend 🏕️

Finally we say goodbye to one of our leaders, Ash, who will be missed by all. Enjoy your chocolates 😋

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Beavers News

Beavers teddy bears Pique-nique 🇫🇷

Beavers met at the Riverside park for some fun tonight. After some parachute games ran by our YLs, we had some teddy bear 1st aid to learn how to treat small cuts.

Then they all had a mini teddy bears picnic French style. They learned some French words and sampled some Brie, Camembert and Saint Agur blue cheese on crackers, followed up with some pain au chocolat. Mixed reactions to the cheeses but everyone enjoyed the pain au chocolat.

Finally, time for a nature walk around the trim trail before home time

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Beavers News

Beavers Hike and Firelighting 🔥

Beavers took advantage of another beautiful evening by meeting at Downhill forest. They went for a hike identifying tree leaves and wildflowers. Then once up on the hill they practiced making sparks with fire steel before lighting 4 mini campfires to make s’mores.

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Beavers Cubs

Beavers & Cubs Adventure @ We are Vertigo

Some of our Beavers and cubs joined up for a day out at we are Vertigo, Newtownbreda.  They enjoyed an hour in the inflatapark, had a picnic on the pavement 😂 followed up with some fun in the adventure centre.   

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Beavers

Beavers and Bugs

This week Beavers were ticking off some challenge badge work. They were making bee hotels for solitary bees (complete with some decorated wood slices to personalise them) and hunting for bugs outside the scout hall.

 

 

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Beavers News

Beavers on Bikes

This week Beavers met in the Riverside Park to complete their cyclist badge. After an update on how they were doing with their animal friend badge, we split into 2 groups. One did safe cycling, first practising around the green before following the longer route. Staying between the lines, weaving between dots, stopping safely with brakes, ringing bells to alert pedestrians and cycling slowly around bends.

The other group were learning about the “M” checks. Tyres pumped, checked lights/reflectors, handlebars, pedals etc. Then they switched around. Thanks to Scout leaders Alex and David for their help with Beaver section tonight.

Finally a log chew about the coronation and challenging them to do their part for the Big Help Out on Monday. They have to do something helpful without expecting anything in return #volunteer.

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Beavers News

Beavers visit Pets @ Home

Beavers visited Pets @ Home to start their animal friends badge. They learned about Guinea pigs, Rabbits and fish (cold water and tropical).

Massive thanks to Melissa from Pets @ home for her patience and enthusiasm (and her artistic beaver drawing to welcome our young people.

Beavers wanting to earn their badge need to look after an animal for the next 4 weeks.

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Beavers News

Knotty Beavers 😉😂

Before and after our Easter break beavers were learning their knots as part of their outdoor/skills challenge. We had strawberry laces to learn reef knots and figure 8 knots. They created luggage tags for their rucksacks/school bags so they could spot their gear easily. They also tried to learn how to tie shoe laces. Finally they learnt knots to make giant bubble wands. Lots of games played too of course 😉 Well done Beavers!!!

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Beavers

Beavers Dino Sleepover

This weekend Beavers were dropped off at the Peter Thompson Hall, Castlerock, for a sleepover with a prehistoric theme. The sun was shining so a trip to the nearby park to burn off some energy. A quick game of the floor is lava and then free play with young leaders (YLs) entertaining.

Back to the hall for some dinner….turkey dinosaurs, waffles and beans 🦖. A dinosaur nest for pudding (ice cream, mini “dino”eggs and sprinkles). Then they all helped scout leader David to construct a massive “blanket” fort for sleeping under when it was bed time.

After dinner our YLs stepped up and ran some games and crafts (Dino pegs and clay fossils) with leaders assisting. Some of the YLs set up a Dino trail outside for the beavers to follow. Then our beavers got their torches and followed then footprints to find the nest with dinosaur eggs then back into the hall to build their dinosaurs.

After saying goodbye to our YLs the Beavers enjoyed some birthday cake (Happy Birthday Conor) before getting into PJs to watch a movie. Some dinosaur themed books also looked at during the wind down.

After a wee bit of sleep, time to get up and carry on. Breakfast, a colouring in competition, well done Marcie, dinosaur gliders in the main hall, “hatching” dinosaur eggs (balloons), team tug of war (don’t touch the lava pits) and some raptor races on the path around the bowling green before one last play in the park. Top raptor racers were Harvey and Patrick 👏🏻

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Beavers

Beavers Lodge Work

This week Beavers followed on from their photography badgework with lodge photo posters (anyone missing can add their frames pics next week). Frames included their names and information about things they liked. They also took part in some problem solving and teamwork activities and a team game.

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Beavers

PSNI Visit Beavers

This week the PSNI helped us to cover some more aspects of the safety activity badge – road safety (green cross code), cycle safety and stranger danger. Everyone had chance to ask some questions too They looked at all the gear the PSNI were wearing, heard walkie-talkie messages and had fun in the police car. They also completed a water safety activity with the Young leaders guiding them while waiting for their turn to visit the police car. Many thanks 👮‍♀️ 👮‍♂️

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Beavers News

Beavers Fire Safety

This week we welcomed some Ballymoney fire fighters to our session to start the beavers off on their safety badge. Lots of useful information and many questions from our young people. They also got to see inside the fire engine and shoot some water from the fire hose 🚒

Thank you so much guys!! Beavers, remember Test Tuesdays to check your fire alarm!

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Beavers

Beavers Cook Badge

During January, Beavers have been working towards their cook activity badge. They’ve made cupcakes, soda pizzas, sausage and veg skewers and s’mores. They also looked at kitchen hazards and had a survey on which healthy foods they enjoy. Young leaders entertained the youths with games when necessary. Check out the video below to see them busy working towards their badge.

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Beavers

Beavers Halloween Fun

This week Beavers were encouraged to dress up for a fun night. Lots of games, a couple of crafts (lollipop stick monsters and halloween puppets) and some tasty treats 👻🎃

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Beavers

Beavers Teamwork and Investitures 🦫⚜️


This week Beaver scouts were doing teamwork activities. Playing games (crossing the lava field and hungry hippos) in their lodges to earn points, and a communication challenge planned by one of our YLs. One member from each lodge was given a picture, then they had to describe the picture for the other lodge members to draw. Great for listening skills! Finally, parents were invited in to see 16 new Beavers and new assistant beaver leaders being invested.


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Beavers Uncategorised

Beavers End of Year Party

Lots of fun this week. Bouncy castle, games, snacks and face painting. We said a sad farewell to our Beavers moving up to Cubs. Thanks to Cub leader Bagheera and ACL Kaa for joining us tonight and welcoming the beavers moving to cubs 😃

Lots of badges awarded, Lodge of the year certificates awarded…well done Yellow lodge and watch out for a post for those achieving Chief scout Bronze awards.

Finally we are sad to be saying good bye to Holly (Lisa). She was a fantastic assistant beaver leader and we will miss her so much. Luckily, she is still available now and again to help out if we’re stuck.

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Beavers Camps

Beavers Pirate Camp

Beavers had a pirate themed sleepover in the Peter Thompson Hall, in Castlerock. After signing our Pirate code, Beavers were split into two pirate crews, The Ocean Bandits and The Sea Devils, for a bit of teamwork and friendly competition during the camp.

We had face painting, sword fighting, colouring in competition, a trip to the beach and play park, treasure chest crafts, smores on mini campfires and a pinata filled with booty.

There was a relay riddle solving race in their crews to find out the location of some treasure. They used their skills to follow the map to the treasure, found a message in a bottle which told them to travel Northwest when on the beach (compass required). Another crew challenge was walking the planks races. The final crew challenge was playing captains calling in the park, the winner of which got the point for his crew. At the end of the camp both crews won 2 points. Well done Ocean Bandits and Sea Devils on being equally good pirates 🏴‍☠️

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Beavers

Beavers Campfire Cooking

This week beavers made savoury campfire twists, cheese and bacon added for flavour. They worked together measuring and mixing the ingredients in their lodges. Then wrapped the tasty dough around bamboo sticks. Then they cooked them in the yard over the fire. A few fell off but all beavers were given the chance to taste some. 🤤

We were also catching up on their personal challenge badgework. Well done everyone 👏🏻👏🏻