Beavers

When you join Beavers at the 2nd Cambridge Scout Group, you’ll be introduced to lots of new activities, people and things. Here’s everything you need to know.

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. Young people can start Beavers from 5 years and 9 months.

What do Beavers get up to?

Being a Beaver is all about growing and learning in small but mighty ways. Here are some of the things you’ll get up to with your new friends.

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.

Helping others

Beavers work as a team to help other people, in their local communities and beyond. Whether they’re changing the whole world or helping a friend take the leap to try something new on a rainy Tuesday night, they always lend a hand.

Where do Beavers meet?

The Beaver Colony meets weekly (during term time) on Tuesdays 6.00-7.15pm at Netherhall School, Queen Edith’s Way, Cambridge CB1 8NN.

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.

Beaver Scout Promise at 2nd Cambridge

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

Uniform

You don’t need a uniform to join. But once you’ve settled in, you’ll start speedily earning badges, and you’ll need to know where to put them!

What Beavers wear

Beaver uniform consists of a blue sweatshirt with your badges sewn on and a coloured scarf or ‘necker’ to represent the 2nd Cambridge Scouts Group. There are lots of other optional accessories you can wear such as hats, hoodies or navy blue trousers, if you’d like to. 

Why uniform is important

Wearing a uniform is comfy and practical. It means you can run around and get messy without ruining your other clothes. It makes you feel part of a team. It means no one feels uncomfortable or left out. And it gives you a place to show off all the brilliant badges you earn.

Please click on the image above to download a PDF version for reference. You can order the uniform from the Scout Store.

Beaver Scouts Uniform Sweatshirt | Scout Store

Badges and Awards

Become an expert in something you love, or try something shiny and new. There’s a badge to suit each and every Beaver. Completing awards challenges you to do more, learn more and be more. See what’s on offer and start your journey to the top.

Please click on the image above to download a PDF version for reference. You can learn more about Badges and Awards at The Scouts Association (TSA) website.

Beaver Activity Badges | TSA
Beaver Awards | TSA

Beaver Leaders

All of our leaders are trained volunteers, working to make sure Scouting is safe and open to all. Some lead the Colony week in and week out. Others visit occasionally to help run a session or drop in to share their skills. No matter how much time you have to spare, find out about volunteering on your own terms.

Volunteering at 2nd Cambridge

Meet Your Leaders

• Musthafa Ahamed
• Salma Ahamed
• Fathima Farouk
• Nadia Zine Alao
• Monah Zaghloul
• Safia Abdulcadir
• Nagham Elberishy
• Shaheera Usman

Membership Subscription

We charge a small fee called the membership subscription to cover the costs and sustain the group. The fee covers, among other things, rental for Netherhall School; materials used at the section meetings; badges; and The Scout Association membership fee (which includes public liability insurance, training materials, legal advice and insurance for Scout activities). Trips, camps and activities that take place away from our usual meeting place are usually charged separately.

All our managers, leaders and helpers are volunteers, and no one gets paid. 2nd Cambridge Scout Group is a 100% volunteer run youth charity recognised by the Charity Commission of England and Wales, and HM Revenue and Customs. Your subscription payment is eligible for Gift Aid.

The current membership subscription for Beavers is £40 per term per young person, payable at the beginning of the term.

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 you are concerned about costs, please speak to the Beaver leader in confidence, to see what we can do to help.

Parents Guide

Please click on the image above to download the PDF guide.

Documents

Beavers Code of Behaviour

2nd Cambridge Beaver Programme

Spring 2023 Term