1st Wargrave Beavers meet every Thursday, between 17:30 and 18:40, during School term times
Meetings often take place in and around the Scout Hut at the Rec.
We also regularly leave the Hut to play games and do activities in the surrounding area – like Wargrave village and Bowsey Woods.
At least once or twice a term, we will also have ‘away day’ meetings where we visit somewhere else to explore, learn and have fun!
Beavers is for 6-8 year olds
At 1st Wargrave, we move all children between the Sections over the summer break.
We find that it helps them to settle into their new environment if they are joining at the same time as their friends. It also helps us to plan a 2-year programme for every child.
In practice, this means most children are in Beavers during School Years 2 & 3, before moving to Cubs at the start of Year 4.
Learn the Lingo
Sections
Scouting is made up of Sections – Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, and Network. A young person moves through the Sections as they get older. The activities and opportunities within the Section reflect that age range. All Sections earn badges, take part in outdoor activities and sleepovers/camps
Salute
The Scout Salute is always with the right hand held open. The thumb and last finger are tucked, with the other three fingers aloft. This might be tricky at first, but don’t worry! You’ll have plenty of chance to practice. Beavers do the Salute when they recite the Beaver Promise
Colonies and Lodges
Each Section has a different collective name. A Beavers group is a Colony. In Wargrave, we’re the Lumberjacks.
Within a Colony, Beavers are sometimes split into smaller groups, to carry out activities and tasks together. These smaller groups are called Lodges
Necker
A Necker is the scarf that Scouts wear around their neck. Different groups wear different colours. In Wargrave, all Sections wear a yellow necker.
Woggle
A woggle is used to secure a Necker around the neck. In Beavers, woggles are coloured – the colour can indicate the group or Lodge
The Beaver Promise
The Beaver Promise is the cornerstone of what Beavers is all about. It covers our behaviours, our attitude, and our community and environmental spirit.
New joiners will learn the Beaver Promise and say it out loud at their Investiture as part of formally joining Scouting.
Every Beavers meeting starts with the Beaver Promise, and our programme of activities is always tied into one of these three key elements.
“I Promise, to do my Best, to be Kind and Helpful, and to Love our World”
The Beaver Promise
Investiture
This is the ceremony where young people ‘formally’ become Beaver Scouts. It usually happens after they have been to four or five Meetings.
They’ll be welcomed into the group, say the Beaver Promise, and be given their Necker, Woggle, and Membership badges.
Joining Information
We have a list of children waiting to join. Spaces will be offered based on the date of joining the list, as they become available (during the year if any children decide to stop Beavers, or at the end of the school year, when the Year 3s ‘Swim Up’ to Cubs.
You can join the waiting list from any age – don’t wait until your child is old enough to join.
Due to the length of the current waiting list, if your child is already in Year 2 or 3, it is very unlikely that we will be able to offer them a space at Beavers before they are too old.
But… there is another option! We are actively trying to restart the second Wargrave Beavers group. We already have some interest from parents like you, and just need one or two more volunteers to help.
If you volunteer, your child will automatically be offered a place at Beavers (or Cubs/Scouts, as appropriate).
If this sounds unachievable or intimidating – don’t worry! You will not be alone. There’s support from the other new volunteers, as well as all of the other Section Leaders. Meeting plans are already ready. You don’t even have to commit to being available every week.
Our Beaver Leaders (Grey Hare and Falcon) were once right where you are now.
We are all volunteers, doing what we can to give as many children around Wargrave the chance to experience something magical. If you join us, we can do more.
