Sending your Cub to camp can be daunting: what do they need? Why not denim? How many shoes? Here's a guide to what you need: you'll find a list in Online Scout Manager for the actual event, which you should use to check off everything.
- You'll usually travel to and from camp in Cub uniform.
- Cubs won't be hiking with packs on their backs. Make sure they have a bag - gym bag, rucksack, whatever - that they can carry or wheel short distances. But otherwise any bag is OK: in fact, holdalls are easier than rucksacks.
- You'll need clothing: this should be synthetic (nylon), not cotton, because it dries faster and the weather is often wet. So no jeans or thick cotton joggers. The ideal stuff is hiking gear from Decathlon or similar, called "Technical".
- For summer, a sun hat is great because it reduces the chance of sunburn or even heatstroke.
- For winter, get your Cub to wear multiple layers. A snood is great to keep their necks warm. Gloves are great. But basically: send more tops so they can wear a T-shirt under a long-sleeve T-shirt under a fleece under another fleece under their coat.
- If you Cub does football or rugby and has sport under-armour then that is perfect for camp, it is warm and dries well.
- Or thermals.
- Always send a woolly hat: it gets cold at night.
- And of course a waterproof coat. Waterproof trousers are fine things, if your Cub will wear them. But you must must must have a waterproof coat with a hood.
- Shoes really depend on the weather. If the weather is fine and the Cubs aren't going on the water, they can probably just wear trainers all weekend and will be just fine! But we usually can't rely on the weather, so some kind of stronger shoe is desirable: a lightweight hiking boot or even wellies. The key thing is that they have worn them a bit before: brand-new shoes will give them blisters, so take them out for a few walks first. If you can, at least two pairs is good. Sliders or flip-flops can be useful because we make Cubs take off their outside shoes if we go inside.
- If the camp has a hall or hut (usually does) and we eat or meet in it (depends on weather) then slippers will be useful to change into when inside. But they are another thing to lose.
- If there are water sports on camp then you have to assume your Cub will get completely soaked and need a complete change of clothes. This is particularly tricky for shoes: they can't wear Crocs or sliders in boats because they will fall off their feet in the water. An old pair of trainers is ideal, but you may not have them. If you can, a pair of walking/hiking shoes, plus trainers, will cover all eventualities. If that doesn't work for you, ask the leaders and we will see if we can rustle up some boots.
- At night it can get cold. Warm pyjamas, but also layers of warm tops to put on. They'll be in their sleeping bag, but another blanket to go over the top can be helpful.
- On sleeping: you'll need a sleeping bag and a sleeping mat as an absolute minimum. If you send an inflatable mattress (with its pump) you'll still need a sleeping mat (and inflatable mattresses are hard for Cubs to use). You can send a pillow if you want, send it in a plastic bag to keep it dry, or inflatable.
- You must supply a bin bag for dirty and wet clothes.
- Lots of socks. To be honest, Cubs don't wash or shower, so other underwear is pretty optional (ugh) but socks get wet all the time.
- They do brush their teeth so toothbrush and toothpaste. Some hankies are good.
- Make sure your Cub has a torch for going to the loo in the night and because everyone else will have one.
- Send a cuddly toy to help with going to bed in a strange place.
- Consider sending a book or magazine that they might want to retreat to read if they want some alone time. Some sweets are frowned upon by the leaders but will make your child popular.
- A water bottle.
- We have a tuck shop or souvenir shop usually: send no more than £5 and tell your Cub to keep hold of it, not lend it to anyone.
- But send nothing you will miss if it does not come home! The Cubs are great, but tracking belongings and keeping tents tidy are challenging for eight-year-olds. Yes, your kid will love taking their Pokémon cards. But they have to be fine with losing them.
We can't stress enough how you have to label absolutely everything and if you do not it might not come home. Especially Cub jumpers, Cub tops, and Cub neckers: to label neckers unwind them, there is a label inside!
You should get all the things together, with your Cub, but they should pack their own bag at home. This means they will recognise their own stuff, and they will be able to pack it away themselves at the end of the camp.
No penknives, mobile phones, electronic games, or anything else that presents a hazard, is a screen, or you might mind not coming home.
Eddie Johnson
Eddie joined the group in 1921 and was involved until 1977 when he moved nearer to his son after his wife had died.
He was awarded the medel or merit in 1965 , see below
He died in 1983,
We start a Cubs meeting with our Grand Howl, which is pretty much as the Scout Website.
Before you start the Grand Howl, choose a duty Sixer
- The leader calls out ‘Pack! Pack! Pack!’
- Everyone makes a circle, standing in their Sixes.
- The leader calls ‘Pack! Pack alert!’
- Everyone stands up straight and smart with their hands by their sides.
- The leader raises and lowers their arms.
- Cubs squat low on the ground with their hands between their feet.
- Cubs call out ‘(leader's name), we will do our best!’
- Everyone stands up and makes the Scout sign.
- The duty Sixer calls out ‘Cubs, do your best’.
- Cubs reply ‘We will do our best!’
- The duty Sixer goes forward and gently pulls the cord to unfurl the flag.
- The Sixer takes a step backwards and leads everyone in saluting the flag, before returning to their Six.
- The leader calls ‘Pack! Pack at ease!’
We need to know anything that might affect how we look after your Cub when in our care: we also have to record that you have told us of anything we need to know, like if they have special needs or religious requirements.
First, log into OSM at https://www.onlinescoutmanager.co.uk
Next, click on Personal Details on the left.
Scroll down and fill in any or all of the boxes there:
- Medical details for any health information, like asthma.
- Allergies for any allergies, like shellfish or nuts.
- Dietary requirements for any food needs, like kosher or halal.
- Additional Needs for any behaviour, cognitive or other information, like colour blindness or speech impairments.
- Notes to Leaders for anything else we might find useful, like English as a second language or has a nappy at night.
(We don't mind which box you put information in, don't worry about that.)
Click the button at the top labelled “I confirm these details are correct.” If you don’t do this then we don’t know that you have told us anything, so we might have missed some vital information.
Then we log in we can see that you have told us what we need to know to keep your Beaver safe:
Annual Report 2024
AGM 17-9-24
Chair’s report
Since being appointed chair at the last AGM I have been meeting volunteers and leaders and getting to grips with how the group operates. I very much enjoyed attending the camp in October - my first experience of scout camps. I am hugely impressed by, and grateful for, the dedication and expertise shown by our leaders and volunteers.
The National scout movement has originated some changes in scouting governance, which we are in the process of implementing. My hope is that they will lead to a more streamlined meeting structure and greater parental engagement in our programme of group activities.
We have welcomed Georg Christ as Group secretary and I would like to express my thanks to Georg for the energy and rigour that he is bringing to the role."
Mike Arundale (Chair of Trustees)
GSL’s (Lead Volunteer) report
Leadership
All sections are in need of regular adult volunteers (Leaders), see sections reports. We used to have two scout troops, we had to amalgamate them due to lack of leaders after covid. The number in the one troop is such that we really could do with being able to start the second again but we can only do this if we have more leaders (this is the same as I wrote last year). Both cub sections need more leaders too Anita from Thursday and Nikhil from Monday have both finished helping this year.
Garden
The garden is looking better than ever, the garden was judged as part of Didsbury in Bloom. We do not know the results yet. A big thank you to Helen Hampson, Rosemary Fielding, Hillary Lowe and Penny Robinson for all the work they put in throughout the year to keep it looking so good. If you would like to help get in touch with Helen
Chair
Mike Arundale has taken over smoothly from Chris Pearse and co-opted George Christ in as minutes secretary. They have both worked had to transform the group exec committee into the group’s board of Trustees which is now the way the scout group needs to be run.
Deputy Group scout leader
I am please to welcome Brian Cosgrove as my deputy, we have managed to formalise this appointment and Brian now has this as a full role as well as lead with the explorers
Scout association changes
It is hoped that by the end of October the scout association database (compass at the moment) will have changed over to a new system and we will all change from sections with leaders to “Teams with volunteers”. It is hoped that the new database will make life easier for volunteers (leaders)
Many thanks, to all our leaders and supporters, who are all volunteers. Well done.
Keith Hampson
Group scout Leader
Treasures report
Although the expenditure has risen considerably in this financial year the accounts are still in a healthy position with a credit balance of £28,610.34 at 31/03/24, this is £9500.00 less than the previous year.
The rise in expenditure is due to paying £6006.00 for the legal fees associated with renewing the lease for the land, also general running costs have gone up. We have also had an increase on repairs to the hut.
As you will see the income is down by around £4000.00 this is due to receiving £1000.00 less is subs and I did not submit a gift aid claim for this year because we were waiting for parents to tick the gift aid box on OSM.
The gift aid claim will be submitted as soon as possible in the new financial year.
Pat Ramsden
Group Treasure
Beaver report
We have been busy with badge work gaining many different badges We have covered elements in all challenge awards, many have gained activity badges which range from experiment to health and fitness to hobbies to builder. Many have gained staged activity awards in swimmer, snowsports, hikes, air activities to name a few. To gain a bronze chief scout award, the highest badge that can be obtained in beavers, each beaver needs to complete the 6 challenge awards and 4 other badge. I am pleased to say that 2 beavers have gained these badges this year. A total of 253 badges have been awarded well done to the beavers for their hard work.
We have had visits from the fire brigade, RNLI, a wheelchair user, a blind person with their dog. We have done a survey in the village about what people thought about Didsbury, following this we wrote to the MP who responded saying he would visit if he was able. We have had only one sleepover this year which was when we did our survey of the village.
We continue to struggle for leaders as a number have work commitments. On a Tuesday we have a regular team of 3 parents who help but we are now starting a rota for other parents to help. On a Wednesday a number of leaders can help less frequently so again we are staring a rota for assistance.
Thank you to all my leader volunteers for all their commitment.
Helen Hampson, Beaver Lead volunteer (Beaver scout leader)
Cub report
The two cub sections, Celts and Saxons, have continued to work together sharing a similar programme with special joint meetings and camps.
In October we joined the Scouts and Explorers for a very chilly Sixers and Seconders’ camp. The smaller group of older cubs allowed us to focus on skills such as backwoods cooking, pioneering and fire lighting.
Then in April, we were able to enter 2 teams into Pike View Hike giving the cubs the chance to practice their navigation and team working skills. Unfortunately we didn’t win a trophy this year, but we’re sure that the opportunity to teach cubs map reading skills as young leaders, helped the explorers to their victory!
We held an exciting summer camp at Dunham in June with kayaking, grass sledging, archery, iron branding, backwoods cooking and a very impressive campfire.
Thank you to Glenn and Mat, our regular parent helpers. Our Young Leaders, Will, Maaria, Caelan, Matty and Edmund have been a huge help- thanks to them. Thank you to Emma, Chung, Michaela and Ian for helping with our camp and to all the parents who helped with our outdoor meetings over the year.
We have awarded 341 badges this year including 7 Silver Chief Scout cub awards, the highest award within Cubs.
Sadly for us, but happily for him, Nikhil has completed his University course and returned to his native London- thank you for your time with us. Matthew (Hathi) has had a change in work circumstances so will not be available as much now. We will need parent help particularly for outdoor and practical activities.
Alison Malkin (for the cub tem)
Scout report
Peter Mayhew
Phoenix Scout Leader
DVESU (Didsbury Viking explorer scout unit)
We have had another strong year in Explorers this year with membership at 24 and regular attendance at meeting between 16 and 20. Our leaders this year are Brian and Kevin with support provided by Keith. I’d like to thank both Kevin and Keith for their help this year.
The highlight for this year was our entry into the Bibby’s Farm Yomp, the explorer event at the Pike View Hike, our team of 4 were successful in winning the event, a huge congratulations on the achievement.
We have had a joint summer camp with the scouts and have an upcoming camp in October. We have built on the explorers skills this year in planning events and the majority of our summer camp was put together by the young people with support from the leaders. We have a growing number of the explorers who currently help in some of the other sections as young leaders and their help is appreciated by all the other leaders. This year we have awarded 4 explorers with their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award and we have also award a platinum Chief Scout award. Congrats to all the young people on their efforts.
Brian Cosgrove
Explorer Scout Leader