Beavers (Scouting)
Encyclopedia
Beavers in Scouting is one name for the youngest section of Scouting
with members 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.
and Northern Ireland
leading the way.
The reasons for Beaver Scouting to be started were similar to the Wolf Cub, or Cub Scout
, 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.
, this section is called Joey Scouts. A joey is an infant kangaroo
.
Beaver Scouts are aged five to seven. Members normally wear a brown vest as a uniform with a cream t-shirt and a blue Beaver Hat. The programme 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 their 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 programme and during this ceremony the Beaver receives a tail, neckerchief, and badges for his 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.
Castors (Beavers in French) are aged from seven to nine. Members normally wear a yellow t-shirt and tan or brown pants. The programme 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 new Beaver receives his neckerchief and uniform at a promise ceremony where the Beaver, generally, must demonstrate that he has joined the unit. From that moment, the new Beavers have entered the scouting programme.
Beavers collect individual badges following a four-step programme:
They can also collect two technique badges which are called buchettes (splint): Security and Environnement.
When they climb to Cubs, they receive a badge called "Castor découvreur" (discovering beaver).
there was a Beaver Section, but it has been closed down. However there are many beaver groups or "castores" in Spanish working unofficially in parallel.
, this section is called Keas. A kea
is a New Zealand parrot.
officially recognised Beaver Scouts in 1986, but there had been informal colonies around the country for some years beforehand. The programme is run for Five and ¾ 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.
The motto, shared with the rest of the UK Scout Association sections, is "Be Prepared".
.
The uniform is a vest that can be many colours, with the group colours for the neckerchief. Some groups also issue Beavers with caps.
also called Fünkli, Füchse or Murmeli), but they are not officially recognised by the Swiss Guide and Scout Movement
.
They usually only wear the troop's neckerchief but have no uniform.
Scouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
with members 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.
History
The Beaver programme started in the 1960s and 1970s in various countries around the world, with CanadaCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
leading the way.
The reasons for Beaver Scouting to be started were similar to the Wolf Cub, or Cub Scout
Cub Scout
A Cub Scout is a member of the section of the worldwide Scouting movement for young persons, mainly boys normally aged about 7 to 11. In some countries they are known by their original name of Wolf Cubs and are often referred to simply as Cubs. The movement is often referred to simply as Cubbing...
, 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
Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB , also known as B-P or Lord Baden-Powell, was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement....
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.
Australia
In Scouts AustraliaScouts Australia
Scouts Australia is an organisation for children and young adults from 6 to 26 years of age. Scouts Australia is part of the global Scouting movement and has been a national member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement since 1953...
, this section is called Joey Scouts. A joey is an infant kangaroo
Kangaroo
A kangaroo is a marsupial from the family Macropodidae . In common use the term is used to describe the largest species from this family, especially those of the genus Macropus, Red Kangaroo, Antilopine Kangaroo, Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Western Grey Kangaroo. Kangaroos are endemic to the country...
.
Canada
In Scouts CanadaScouts Canada
Scouts Canada is a Canadian Scouting association that, in affiliation with the French-language Association des Scouts du Canada, is a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement...
Beaver Scouts are aged five to seven. Members normally wear a brown vest as a uniform with a cream t-shirt and a blue Beaver Hat. The programme 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 their 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 programme and during this ceremony the Beaver receives a tail, neckerchief, and badges for his 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.
Castors
In the Association des Scouts du CanadaAssociation des Scouts du Canada
L'Association des Scouts du Canada is a World Organization of the Scout Movement "affiliated organization" through affiliation with Scouts Canada in Canada. The biggest difference between the two associations is the language spoken and the religion behind it...
Castors (Beavers in French) are aged from seven to nine. Members normally wear a yellow t-shirt and tan or brown pants. The programme 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 new Beaver receives his neckerchief and uniform at a promise ceremony where the Beaver, generally, must demonstrate that he has joined the unit. From that moment, the new Beavers have entered the scouting programme.
Beavers collect individual badges following a four-step programme:
- Source (spring) which as for objective integration
- Ruisseau (stream) which as for objective participation
- Cascades (waterfall) witch as for objective initiative
- Étang (pond) which as for objective sharing
They can also collect two technique badges which are called buchettes (splint): Security and Environnement.
When they climb to Cubs, they receive a badge called "Castor découvreur" (discovering beaver).
Mexico
In Asociación de Scouts de México, A.C.Asociación de Scouts de México, A.C.
The Asociación de Scouts de México, Asociación Civil is the national Scouting association of Mexico. Scouting was founded in Mexico in 1920 and became a member of the World Organization of the Scout Movement on August 26, 1926. It was registered to Mexican civil authorities on 24 February 1943...
there was a Beaver Section, but it has been closed down. However there are many beaver groups or "castores" in Spanish working unofficially in parallel.
New Zealand
In Scouting New ZealandScouting New Zealand
Scouts New Zealand, officially registered as "The Scout Association of New Zealand" is the national Scouting association in New Zealand, affiliated to the World Organization of the Scout Movement since 1953. It has 18,649 members...
, this section is called Keas. A kea
Kea
The Kea is a large species of parrot found in forested and alpine regions of the South Island of New Zealand. About long, it is mostly olive-green with a brilliant orange under its wings and has a large narrow curved grey-brown upper beak. The Kea is the world's only alpine parrot...
is a New Zealand parrot.
The Scout Association
The Scout AssociationThe Scout Association
The Scout Association is the World Organization of the Scout Movement recognised Scouting association in the United Kingdom. Scouting began in 1907 through the efforts of Robert Baden-Powell. The Scout Association was formed under its previous name, The Boy Scout Association, in 1910 by the grant...
officially recognised Beaver Scouts in 1986, but there had been informal colonies around the country for some years beforehand. The programme is run for Five and ¾ to eight year olds, and precedes Cub Scouts
Cub Scouts (The Scout Association)
Cub Scouts or Cubs are an age-based section of The Scout Association for young boys and girls ages 8 to 10½. This section follows on from the Beaver Scouts and Cubs will move on to Scouts at the age of 10½. The section originally opened as Wolf Cubs in 1916...
.
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.
The motto, shared with the rest of the UK Scout Association sections, is "Be Prepared".
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 CubsWolf Cubs (Baden-Powell Scouts' Association)
Wolf Cubs, usually referred to as Cubs, is the second youngest section of Scouting operated by the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association, following on from the Beaver Scouts section. The core age range for Wolf Cubs is seven and eleven, though exceptions can be granted. Individual sections of Wolf Cubs,...
.
The uniform is a vest that can be many colours, with the group colours for the neckerchief. Some groups also issue Beavers with caps.
Switzerland
Various troops in Switzerland also have Beaver Scouts (in some CantonsCantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
also called Fünkli, Füchse or Murmeli), but they are not officially recognised by the Swiss Guide and Scout Movement
Swiss Guide and Scout Movement
The Swiss Guide and Scout Movement is the national Scouting and Guiding association of Switzerland...
.
They usually only wear the troop's neckerchief but have no uniform.