Author Archives: Colin Sills

What do Cubs do? Part 1: Pioneering

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So what is pioneering? Perhaps it’s best to show some examples. Building rafts out of wooden poles and plastic barrels is pioneering, and requires good knotting skills if you’re not going to sink! The Scouts and Explorers at our recent group camp built these ones (see here), but the Cubs certainly enjoyed having a go on them.

raft1

raft2

The Cubs themselves built bridges (big sticks, but no knots!)

Cubs cross a "friction bridge"

Cubs cross a “friction bridge”

and then last week started learning how to build with knots (so they can build the rafts next time).

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Here’s a nifty washstand and a flag pole (and they’re almost staying up by themselves!)

Cubs Winter Camp ’14

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It seems like a very long time ago now, but here are some images from our Winter Camp at Phasels Wood.

We built stuff, climbed stuff, burnt stuff, sang loudly and ate loads of cake. A typical Cub camp then! Congratulations to Oliver, Elo and Izzy on being awarded their Chief Scout’s Silver Award (the highest award in Cub Scouting) for the contribution they’ve made to cubs over the last 2 1/2 years.

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In the hut, nobody can hear you scream…

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Well that’s not quite true. However, you might now be able to talk without having to shout!

factory

 

The weekend of the 8th & 9th February saw some great team-work in the HQ.  Volunteers young and old assembled early in the morning to set up a factory producing sound-absorbing panels.

 

assembly

 

The team sawed, glued, stapled, drilled and drank tea all day.  The GSL handed out biscuits and tried in vain to remove glue from his hands.

 

 

finshed goods

 

Finally, the Quartermaster had a stock of 40 padded panels ready for mounting.

 

 

 

hope that B-P and HM approve!

 

 

Sunday saw deployment of the scaffold tower, drills, screwdrivers and long-forgotten knot-tying skills.  Slowly, the echoeyness diminished until you could actually hear your own blood pumping (according to our Group Secretary).

 

Thank you to all our volunteers: John, Rob, Michael, Roger, Eliane, Leonie, Mark, Max, Lucas, Neil, Catherine, Rebekah, Sophie, Issy, Valerie, Jamie, Robin, Graeme and Gregor.  [Editor: If I have missed out anyone, please let me know!]

If it’s too quiet now, the Cubs will just have to practice louder Grand Howls!

 

Report from one of our young helpers (Jamie, Cub aged 8)

Why did we build the panels?: “Because the hall was really echoey and it was giving us headaches!”

What jobs did you do?: “Completing the panels, sticking the blocks of wood on, drilling the brackets, tying the ropes and cleaning up”

What was different when we finished?: “There is hardly any echo at all now!”

What did you enjoy most?: “Learning a new knot! The round turn and 2 half hitches”

Do you think that the hall is better now?: “Yes, a lot better. It’s nothing like it was before.”

 

 

 

 

Now hear this!

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Please help to make the HQ sound better by coming to a work weekend on 8th and 9th February.

If you have ever tried to hold a conversation in our hall, you will know that it can be difficult.   The echo is so strong that hearing anything is a challenge.  Now, imagine what it sounds like with 20 excited Cubs running around.

Fortunately, we have a plan!  We will build some sound-absorbing panels and mount them on the walls and ceiling.  This will massively reduce the echo and make the hall a much more pleasant place.

hall panels

We aim to build around 35 panels, each one consisting of a wooden frame and a sheet of rockwool insulation, covered in fire-retardant fabric.  The design is simple and easy to construct, but the effect will be massive.

The production will need people to cut, glue, staple, assemble, cover, drill, climb, hang and applaud. It is likely that any Scouts who fancy using some tools to do something worthwhile will receive credit towards a badge or two.  And it should be fun for parents too!

If you can come along and help on either the 8th or 9th, please pop an email to Colin.

 

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Treasurer needed

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Fancy looking after the gold? This is an opportunity for someone who’d prefer not to get involved with the weekly meetings to make a real contribution to the running of the group. The systems are all in place, accounts have been filed for the last year and everything is in order, we (ie the kids) just need someone to keep it in order. Basic numeracy and an attention to detail are all that is required. Please let us know if you can help.
I’ve only recently learnt of the history of scouting. Most know the story of Baden-Powell a treasurenational hero after the siege of Mafeking who was persuaded to rewrite his scouting manual for a younger audience. I hadn’t realised what came next. “Scouting for boys” was published in fortnightly instalments, much like a comic, and was enormously successful. Groups of boys organised themselves into troops, and only later started recruiting adults to help them pursue the game of scouting. Baden-Powell hadn’t any intention of founding an organisation, hoping his book would be picked up by existing organisations, but soon realised that the adults being recruited required training. Thus was born the scout association. In 100 years very little has changed, the organisation still exists to support adults to enable young people to pursue the aims of scouting.

 

 

Do you spark?

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Calling all parents: do you know what the 17th edition is?  If so, we want to hear from you!

The HQ gets pretty chilly in the winter.  Just think of all those poor shivering Beavers.
Now, we have a plan.
We’re going to buy some heaters for the hall….big ones.consort-heatzone
They will need wiring in properly, so we need an electrician and some willing volunteers to mount the heaters, run cables and install according to the regulations.
If you can help, please contact our GSL, Colin

Ha ha Jim m’lad!

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Summer 2013 saw the troop attending the pirate themed Kernow Jamboree in Cornwall accompanied by contingents from 14th Cambridge Explorers and 12th Cambridge Scouts, Ontario Canada.

A cracking week and huge thanks to everyone in Cornwall for making it happen!

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Remembrance Sunday at Duxford

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Cubs were at Duxford for Remembrance Sunday, where they attended a moving and Untitledpowerful memorial service as well as completing their Air Activities badge during their exploration of the museum. Their behaviour during the service was exemplary. Well done Cubs!

New Website

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Welcome to our new website. The 12th Cambridge Scout Group is one of the oldest in the county, and celebrated it’s 100 year anniversary in 2011.

We have very active Scout, Cub and Beaver sections, providing scouting to over 70 young people in the West Chesterton area of Cambridge. This is the place to find out about what they’re all doing.

Cubs go Geocaching

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The cubs had a great time on what was probably the last sunny Sunday afternoon of the IMG_0818year, geocaching in the hills west of Cambridge. Fantastic views, and a great opportunity for map work!