Be prepared...... to have fun!

Welcome to the Beaver pages on the Derbyshire County Website.

I hope these pages will help to tell you more about Beaver Scouts in general as well as what they are doing in Derbyshire. If you need to contact me to find out more about anything to do with Beaver Scouting then please use the contact form on the website.

What are Beaver Scouts?

Beaver Scouts are the youngest members of the Scouting family. They are boys and girls aged 6-8 years. They usually meet each week in a Beaver Scout Colony.

During their time in the Colony , Beaver Scouts will play games, make things, listen to stories and learn about themselves, their community and the world around us.

Hopefully this will include parties, visits, meeting interesting people and even a Beaver Scout Sleepover, usually held in an approved Scout Group Headquarters.

Most of all Beaver Scouts (and their leaders and helpers) have FUN!

How do I join Beaver Scouts?

If you are not already involved in Beavers and would like to take part in the fun of Scouting either as a Beaver Scout, or as an adult Leader or helper, please feel free to contact the Assistant County Commissioner for the Beavers section, who will be pleased to give you details of Colony near you.

If she doesn't know all the answers she will know someone who does!

The ACC (Beavers) can be contacted by using the Contact form on the website

Beaver Scouting in Derbyshire

We have around 1700 Beaver Scouts in Derbyshire meeting each week, mostly during term time. Each Beaver Scout Colony is a member of a Scout Group. Each Scout Group is a member of a District, of which there are 15 in Derbyshire!.

Most Districts have a person who is responsible for supporting the Beaver Scout Leadership teams in their District. These people are called an ADC (Assistant District Commissioner) or a DBSL (District Beaver Scout Leader).

All the ADCs (and DBSLs) meet together about 4 times a year to keep in touch with what is happing in the Beaver Scout world, both nationally and within Derbyshire.

Beavers We are very proud to have our own County mascot "Furry Fred". Here is a picture of him.

Beavers 2007 - the Centenary year for Scouting was also a significant year for Beaver Scouts as we were 21years old!

Furry Fred set the County's Beaver Scouts 21 Celebration Challenges to complete during the year and also arranged for them to wear a special badge to show that they were taking part.

Beaver Bonanza 2007

Every four years, Furry Fred and his friends organise a giant fun day especially for Beavers from the whole county. 8th July 2007 was one such day.

Bonanza 4 - "Celebrating 100 Years" was held at Drumhill County Scout Campsite and was attended by 1,200 Beaver Scouts from Derbyshire.

There were four "lands" for Beaver Scouts to visit. Each land represented a 25 year period from 1907 to 2007+ and were packed full of games, crafts and activities.

A summary of Beaver Bonanza 4 - "Celebrating 100 years"

The day started with a magic show and outdoor garden games followed by a short opening ceremony which finished with a bang (two large rockets) to indicate the time to head for the lands and main activities.

We all met back together on the main Cub field for a picnic lunch. The Derbyshire Fire Service and Road Traffic police provided a smoke tent and vehicles to explore. There were also ice creams to purchase and a chance to develop your Circus Skills. After another couple of hours on the lands we returned to the main Cub field for a short campfire sing-a-long and brief closing ceremony.

Here is a little bit about each land and some photographs for you to enjoy.

"In the Beginning" 1907 - 1934

Here Beaver Scouts were able to make "Baden Powell" hats, go Arctic exploring, visit Tutankhamen's tomb, try some campfire cooking and go to an Edwardian School as well as escape from a sinking Titanic and discover lots more about life in early part of the 20th Century.

"Underneath the Arches" 1934 - 1957

The main attractions here were the crazy golf course which featured Jamboree destinations over the 25 year period as well as the Great escape tunnel and simulated Spitfire ride. There were also lots of wonderful funfair side shows and some remote control vehicles to play with.

"Celebrate Good Times" 1957 - 1984

This featured space travel with water rockets and golfing on moon boots together with Beaver Scouts acting the parts in human "table football", being Hungry Hippos, taking part in some Olympic games and creating pavement paintings of the Beaver Scout Awards. There was also the opportunity to make some very tasty healthy eating snacks.

"Gizmo" 1984 to 2007 and beyond

Not only were Beaver Scouts given the chance to find out exactly what's inside a computer or mobile phone, but they also discovered the delights of a rope bridge and in the woods. They got pretty damp helping to build the Channel tunnel, made their own Dalek and had lots of fun in the giant sand pit. You could spot a "Harry Pottered" Beaver Scout by his scar and glasses ingeniously applied by face paints.

Thank you to all the leaders, helpers and supporters who came along to make this a very special, memorable, exciting and fun filled day for Derbyshire Beaver Scouts.

An especially big thank you goes to those who were responsible for creating the lands, their gateways and the spectacular bases and not forgetting the "behind the scenes" team who helped with advice, equipment and administration.

Joy ACC Beavers

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