About Beavers |
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Beavers is a fun program designed to
meet the interests of boys and
girls 5, 6 and 7 years old. This simple flexible program is based
upon the theme of Beavers and the Beaver Colony. It focuses on
sharing and learning in a group situation in harmony with nature.
Individual competition and structured achievement are not part of
the program.
Through an adventurous program of outdoor activities, creative play,
music and cooperative games, Beavers enjoy time with their friends
(and meet new ones), learn how to get along within a group and develop
the confidence to be themselves.
Beaver colours are brown and blue; brown to symbolize the earth and
the beaver's fur coat; blue to symbolize the clear sky and fresh,
sparkling water. The Beaver program is based on the story
"Friends of the Forest", which describes the Jones family and their
adventures. Scouting's Aim is expressed in the Beaver promise, law
and motto.
When a youth puts on a Beaver uniform and comes to the Pond,
the name of the meeting place, they enter a special world for young
people. Normally, meetings are held once a week for about an hour in
the early evening, or on weekends. At a Beaver meeting the youth enjoy
active and quiet games, stories, creative crafts, singing and opening
and closing ceremonies. About once a month, they may have a special
program; a hike, party, visit, picnic or special celebration. Through
these activities, Beavers develop an appreciation and a sense of caring
for the environment.
The Colony is split up into smaller groups called lodges with
one leader for every five Beavers. Each Beaver learns a promise, law
and motto to help guide their personal development:
Beaver Promise: I promise to love God and help take care of the world.
Beaver Law: A Beaver has fun, works hard and helps his family and friends.
Beaver Motto: Sharing, Sharing, Sharing
A new member begins as a Kit and works to become an
Eager Beaver by learning their Beaver Promise, Motto,
Law and salute. Kits may wear the Beaver hat and vest but not
the neckerchief. This they receive as part of their
Investiture Ceremony. Parents/Guardians are invited
to be part of this ceremony.
Our meetings are full of fun!! Some
of the activities enjoyed at Beaver meetings include active and quiet
games, stories, creative crafts, singing, drama and nature study.
About once a month there are special events and activities which include
walks, visits and parties. There is also an annual Regional Beaver Day
(Beaveree).
In past years the Beavers have had several outings:
Scouting began as a Movement in
which members wore a simple but distinctive uniform. The uniforms
worn today have a number of purposes, including identification of
the wearer as a member of Scouts Canada
and the World Organization of the Scout Movement,
encouraging pride of belonging to Scouting, and providing a common
dress in which members from all segments of Canadian society can
meet as equals.
The Beaver uniform is blue and brown. These colours symbolize colours
of nature; brown for the earth and the Beaver's fur coat and blue for
the clear sky and the fresh sparkling water. It consists of a hat
(where the their tail is attached) and a vest where some of the crests
they will acquire are attached.
A Beaver should be taught at the outset to respect his uniform and to
wear it proudly. The Beaver should be encouraged to wear the full
uniform after investiture. Our Colony requires that a full uniform be
worn by all members as shown below:
In the colony the tail colours, mentioned above, indicate age groups
of our Beavers:
At 7-8 years the White Tails are transferred to Cubs in the Swimming Up Ceremony.
In the opening ceremonies, the
Beavers first form two lines, or "riverbanks", then join
hands and make a circle, or "build a dam" and then are
called to "lodge" position (hands at the sides). One of the
leaders then calls "Chopping positions" and then ask,
"Who are you and what do you do?" to which all Beavers answer
"Beavers, Beavers, Beavers. Sharing, Sharing, Sharing."
Then they all leap up and slap their "tails" behind them.
In the closing ceremonies the Beavers once again form riverbanks and
build a dam. Then they sink down with their head as if going to sleep
as someone says "Sleeping, sleeping, sleeping. Busy Beavers building for tomorrow".
Then they slap their hands on the floor -- "a big Tail-Slap"
-- and then they are led in saying "Good-night" to each leader.
The Beaver program is based upon the story,
"Friends of the Forest",
which is sometimes read to the Beavers at meetings. In the story, the
colony is led by Big Brown Beaver. They meet a family of humans who
have come to live on the river bank and the beavers give each person
a "forest name", just as your child's colony names it's leaders. The
little beavers, or kits, become "eager beavers" once they learn how
to help one another, just as once your child has spent a few weeks
learning the Beaver law, promise and motto, is familiar with tail-slap
and closing, the he will receive his neckerchief and be invested as an
"Eager Beaver".
There is a special Beaver in the story named Keeo. A brilliant
flash of light during a storm turns him silver and gives him the
magical power to be able to speak to both beavers and humans. In the
Beaver program there is also a Keeo; he is a Cub who works with the
Beavers. Keeo is important to the Beavers because they can relate to
him, an older child in a way they cannot with adult leaders. He also
acts as a link to the Cubs program. When the time comes that a Beaver
is old enough to join Cubs, Keeo, as in the story, leads the children
as they "swim up" to the jungle and become Wolf Cubs.
Beavers began as an experimental
program at St. Cuthbert's Anglican Church in Winnipeg in the fall of
1971.
It was the brainchild of two dedicated Scouters: Jim Gillis
(President of the Winnipeg Region), and Harry McCartney
(Executive Director, Manitoba Provincial Council). They saw
a need for a program for pre-Cub aged youth after witnessing
several children being turned away from Cubs because they
were too young.
Harry enlisted one of his Field Executives, Alan Jones, to
help design a program. After many brainstorming sessions,
a casual chat at a coffee break created the Beaver concept,
with children meeting in "lodges" and "colonies". From these
basic ideas, Harry and Alan developed the Promise, Objectives
and other program elements. Harry began to write
"Friends of the Forest"
, and the first colony opened.
Other groups quickly followed. Harry continued to write
"Friends of the Forest"
, uniforms were designed and by December 1971 they had
reached 500 members!
In May 1972, National Council approved Beavers as a three-year
experimental program.
After two years of wildly successful colonies, National Council
unanimously approved Beavers as an official program section of
Scouts Canada in November 1974.
Since its beginnings, the Beaver program has been fine-tuned
to remain current with Scouting's Mission and Principles,
and to continue to meet the needs and interests of Canadian
youth.
Copyright © 2003 Easthill Scout Group
All Rights Reserved.
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