Beavers (Scouting)
Beavers in Scouting is one name for the youngest section of Scouting with members (most commonly boys) 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 with "Sharing, sharing, sharing" its motto.
History
The Beaver programme started in the 1960s and 1970s in various countries around the world, with Canada and Northern Ireland leading the way.
The reasons for Beaver Scouting to be started were similar to the Cub Scout, or Wolf Cub, 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.
Beaver Scouting Around the World
Australia
In Scouts Australia, this section is called Joey Scouts. (A joey is an infant kangaroo.)
Canada
In Scouts Canada Beavers are aged five to seven. Members normally wear a brown vest as a uniform with a blue t-shirt and a blue and brown Beaver Hat. The program 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 family and friends.
Beaver Motto: Sharing, Sharing, Sharing
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.
New Zealand
In Scouting New Zealand, this section is called Keas. (A kea is a New Zealand parrot.)
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom officially recognised Beaver Scouts in 1986, but there had been informal colonies around the country for some years beforehand. The programme is run for six-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.
Switzerland
Various troops in Switzerland also have Beaver Scouts (in some Cantons also called Fünkli, Füchse or Murmeli), but they are not officially recognised by the Swiss Guide and Scout Movement.[1]
They usually only wear the troop's neckerchief but have no uniform.
Notes
- ^ "Pfadiwiki.ch - Entry on Beaver Scouts". Pfadiwiki.ch (Independent Swiss Scout wiki). Retrieved 2007-05-08.
