37th Bournemouth 

Scout Group

 

6 to 8 years

Try new things. Make new friends. Joining Beavers is just the beginning of your big adventure.

"I hang out all the time with kids and young Scouts and I never meet kids who don't want adventure" - Bear Grylls - Chief Scout

Who are Beavers?

Beavers are young people aged 6 to 8 who:

  • Master new skills and try new things
  • Have fun and go on adventures
  • Make friends
  • Are curious about the world around them
  • Help others and make a difference, on their own doorsteps and beyond

Every week, they gather in groups called Beaver Colonies to hop, skip and jump their way through lots of different games and activities – achieving anything they set their minds to, and having lots of fun along the way.

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What do Beavers get up to?

Exploring the great outdoors

You’ll spend lots of time outside with your Colony. Together, you might build a den, or go on a trip to the seaside, or host a Beaver sleepover beneath the stars. And even though you might not be ready to climb Mount Everest just yet, you’re guaranteed to have plenty of adventures on your own doorstop, because being a Beaver is all about making the most of what you have, wherever and whoever you are.


Trying new activities and learning new things

Going to Beavers is very different from going to school. Instead of learning from books, you’ll figure the world out by exploring, playing and doing.  

The most important skills you’ll learn at Beavers are the ones that will make you feel super strong standing on your own two feet. We call these character skills. They include things like integrity – which means being honest and doing what you think is right – and initiative – which means knowing how to take the lead on something without being asked. It’s all about having the courage to try new things and learn from them.


Trying new activities and learning new things

Going to Beavers is very different from going to school. Instead of learning from books, you’ll figure the world out by exploring, playing and doing.  

The most important skills you’ll learn at Beavers are the ones that will make you feel super strong standing on your own two feet. We call these character skills. They include things like integrity – which means being honest and doing what you think is right – and initiative – which means knowing how to take the lead on something without being asked. It’s all about having the courage to try new things and learn from them.



Who leads Beavers?

Each Colony is made up of young people aged 6 to 8, led by an adult Beaver leader. Other adult volunteers are on hand to supervise activities, share their skills and keep everyone safe. In some groups, Beaver leaders are nicknamed after characters from nature, books or films. In others, Beavers call their leader by their real first name.

Within their Colony, some Beavers are also part of a Lodge. A Lodge is a smaller group of Beavers, usually headed up by a young person who takes on a peer leadership role (sometimes known as a Lodge Leader or Junior Leader).

Being a peer leader is about being a superhero for a little while – doing things like welcoming new people to the Colony, being extra helpful during a camp, or taking charge of a game or activity. Everyone takes it in turns to take on the challenge.

Beavers usually stand together in their Lodges at the beginning and end of meetings. They tend to stick together on trips away, or during certain activities.

The bigger Scout family

There are Scouts all over the world. From the rainy rainforests of the Amazon to the smallest of the Scottish Isles, Beavers are a part of this worldwide Scout family. Closer to home, they’re also part of their wider local Scout Group, alongside Cubs (aged 8 to 10 1/2), and Scouts (aged 10 1/2 to 14). When they're older, they can also join Explorers (for young people aged 14 to 18) and Scout Network (for young people aged 18-25). Although both of these are closely associated with the younger sections, they are not part of the local Scout Group.

Promises and ceremonies

As well as enjoying plenty of adventures, being a Beaver is about exploring who you are and what you stand for. These are big ideas, and when you join the Colony, you’ll start thinking about them by making a promise. A promise is a set of words that mean something to you, which you try to follow everyday.

Making the promise is a big celebration within the Colony. Every time a new Beaver decides to join, they chat through their promise with their leader before saying it out loud in front of their fellow Beavers. Family and friends might come along to see this, too. Doing this is called being ‘invested’ into Beavers, and it usually takes place once you’ve had a few weeks to settle in.

Everyone is unique but there are some things all Beavers agree on – such as treating everyone with kindness and promising to do their best. Depending on their own beliefs, they might also promise to live by their faith.

Beavers choose the promise that best suits them.



Versions of the Beaver Scout Promise (in Alphabetical order)


The Beaver Scout Promise for members who are Atheist or of no faith background

I promise to do my best to be kind and helpful and to love our world.

The Beaver Scout Promise for members who are Buddhist

I promise to do my best to be kind and helpful and to act with love towards everyone.

The Beaver Scout Promise for members who are Christian

I promise to do my best and to be kind and helpful and to love God

 The Beaver Scout Promise for members who are Hindu

I promise to do my best and to be kind and helpful and to love the world.  

The Beaver Scout Promise for members who are Humanist

I promise to do my best and to be kind and helpful and to love our world.

The Beaver Scout Promise for members who are Jewish

I promise to do my best and to be kind and helpful and to love God

The Beaver Scout Promise for members who are Muslim

I promise to do my best and to be kind and helpful and to love Allah

The Beaver Scout Promise for members who are Sikh

I promise to do my best and to be kind and helpful and to love Waheguru.

How to join

The first step to becoming a Beaver with the 37th Bournemouth is to contact us. We'll let you know if spaces are available or if you'll have to wait a short while. We can accept a new Beaver from age 5 3/4 years so getting in touch before that age might be useful. We will be happy to tell you if spaces are available and where and when the group meets.

Beavers is open to all, and we can usually tweak things to make sure everyone can join in the fun. If you have any questions about accessibility, chat with your local leader as soon as possible. The Scout Group publishes a guide on supporting those with additional needs, and you can read it here


Is there a waiting list?

Lots of young people want to join Beavers and you might have to wait a short while for a space to become available before you can start your journey. 



What should I wear?

On your first night at Beavers, you’ll be taking part in lots of activities, and should just wear something you feel comfortable in.

Eventually, you’ll get your own Beaver uniform to wear to meetings and on trips and nights away. Wearing a uniform is comfy and practical. It means no one feels uncomfortable or left out and helps everyone to feel a part of the Colony. It also gives you a place to show off all the Beaver badges you earn.

For Beavers, the uniform consists of a blue sweatshirt with your badges sewn on and a coloured scarf or ‘necker’ to represent your local group. There are lots of other optional accessories you can wear such as hats and hoodies. Uniform can either be bought from the Scout Association online shop - Scout Store - or from a local supplier. If you’re not sure where to start, we can give you more information about what to buy and where to buy it.  Visit our Beavers uniform and badge placement page to find out more. If you’re not sure where to start, we will be happy to give you more information about what to buy and where to buy it.



How much does it cost?

The cost of going to Beavers at the 37th is currently £12.50 per calendar month. Trips, camps and activities that take place away from the usual meeting place are usually charged separately, but they are kept affordable.

Beavers is designed to be an accessible and affordable way for young people to learn lots of new skills through a single membership. Nobody should feel excluded from Beaver activities because of money worries. If they’re concerned about costs, adults should speak to their local leader in confidence, to see what they can do to help. In most cases, support is available to make sure nobody misses out.


If you would like a young person to join our Beavers Colony, please visit the Contact page and fill in the form at the foot of the page and email it to us at info@37thscouts.org.

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Annunciation Church Hall

218 Charminster Road

Bournemouth

BH8 9RW

 
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The Scout Association is incorporated by Royal Charter. Bournemouth Scouts is a Registered charity - Charity Number 1128103