Our Beaver Colonies are where our youngest children meet aged 5-8. Both boys and girls use the moto of "Busy and Bright".
The leaders take great care to ensure they give a balanced programme of outdoor activities which includes basic cooking, learning simple camp fire songs as well as playing team games with their friends. All of this is aimed at developing their confidence in a social and safe environment.
The Beaver Colony is made up of a number of lodges which are often named after forest animals. Each Lodge has a Lodge Leader (usually one of the older and more experienced Beavers) whose responsibility is to ensure that his/her Lodge works together well and looks after the Lodges younger and newer members.
Beavers were first formed in Canada in 1973 and later came the UK to fill the gap for younger brothers and sisters. Whilst in the Colony the Beavers learn the ‘Friends of the Forest' story which is about a beaver growing up and moving onto be a wolf cub. When you are introduced to the Leaders of the Beaver Colony you will find that they have names taken from the ‘Friends of the Forest' book. Ahmeek is always the Colony Leader - just like in the book.
Beavers learn about their local community, their county and country and the wider world by visiting local public services and places of interest. All of this goes towards ensuring our Beavers achieve their four footprint badges for Learning, Developing, Exploring and Discovering before aiming to achieve their Dam Builder badge. Beavers can also earn a Project Award, Hobby Award and Friendship Badge (just to name a few).
Together and within the Colony they regularly do nature walks, and generally explore their local surroundings through this they get an appreciation and respect of their world around them.
Whilst the Beavers are not old enough to go camping on their own in tents - they don't miss out because sleepovers, fun with their friends on weekend day trips are all part of a Beavers two year program. Some Colonies are even brave enough to run Beaver and Parent Camps!
If all of the above sounds like something you would like your child to take part in, maybe it's time to contact us & find a group near you...
If you'd like to find out more about what we do, check out the Beaver Programme page!
