Beavers report July 2023
Since our last report the beavers have been busy having lots of fun and we managed to recruit a new leader, Hawkeye. So what have the beavers been up to well… the beavers have taken part in lots of craft activities, learnt about disabilities and how these impact on activities of daily living, as well as about water, internet, and fire safety, which included a special visit to the Wyre Forest Fire station.
The beavers have also given back to the community by donating goods to the Kidderminster food bank and completed a local litter pick for the Great British spring clean event. Beavers had the opportunity to take part in taster sessions, which involved a visit to the Samurai judo club and a Tag Rugby session organised by our very own Malak. The beavers did canal walks, our traditional Christmas lights walk and some of the beavers even took part in the 52nd pledged plod to raise money for the group.
We had some special celebrations too this year which consisted of the annual St George’s day parade and King Charles III’s Coronation. Beavers went and saw the pantomime at the civic centre performed by the Monday Night Group from whom we have received a donation for beavers. We treated the beavers to a trip to the cinema for easter and they also went on a trip to the Space centre in Leicester where they were able to complete the space badge.
The beavers have learnt new skills such as tent pitching, cooking on an open fire, and gardening. They did some pond dipping where they managed to catch quite a few small fish, and for the first time ever since doing this activity, one of them managed to catch a water scorpion. They took part in adventurous activities such as: sliding down the water slide at Rhydd and Tubing which is always a firm favourite with the beavers and the leaders. For the last week of the term they will get the chance to try out the new bouldering wall at Rhydd and the climbing wall.
We have also been able to offer the beavers the opportunity to take part in camps, which for some is quite a challenge, as some of them have never slept away from parents before. We had a sleepover at the west midlands’ safari park with the district, we did a group camp with scouts, cubs, and our youngest and newest section squirrels, and we attended the district Alice in wonderland camp, which unfortunately due to some extreme weather had to be cut short, and we lost our two gazebos which were damaged by the weather.
We have given out approximately 450 badges over the last 12 months to our beavers and the beavers’ section has grown massively, currently sitting at 32. But we have had as many as 36 making us one of the largest beavers’ sections in the Wyre Forest. We also have a waiting list of children desperately waiting to start and on the 21st of July will be losing 6 beavers up to cubs. This will then allow us to welcome some new starters in September, including some squirrels moving up, which will then take our numbers up again to maximum capacity.
We will be having a planning meeting over the summer holidays to plan the next terms fun activities and all being well, will be welcoming some new leaders too.
The beaver leader team
Rainbow, Sunshine, Ladybird, Malak, Rusty, Bubbles, Hawkeye, Ringtail, Bluebird, and Echo.