If you are about to do the Beaver Scout Challenge then this page should helpfully give you some ideas. All of these ideas are also available in a word document which you can download from this page as well.

Download the Beaver Scout Challenge Book (77KB Word Document)
 

The Beaver Scout Challenge

This is an exciting time for you in scouting. It is a time when you will be moving from one section to another. In a few months time you will be invested as a Cub Scout. The Cub Scout Section encourages the individual to make more choices and be more responsible for them. In order to prepare them for this, the Beaver Scout Section has a Challenge Badge for the older Beaver Scouts to achieve a few months before moving to the Cub Scout Section.

The Beaver Scout Challenge is an optional award and is only taken up by Beaver Scouts who want to do it. It is divided into the four areas of the Beaver Scout Programme:

1. Learning about themselves

2. Getting to know people

3. Exploring

4. Caring

All the four challenges must be completed. The activities chosen should be challenging to the INDIVIDUAL Beaver Scout. What may be challenging to one child may be an easy option to another. Therefore, there are no set standards for this award.

The challenges have to be chosen by you and the Beaver Scout Leader. You parents could help you with this by talking through the challenges with you and help you to start thinking about what to do, ready to share with the Leader. All the challenges can be done as part of a group or individually. These are the four challenges in the Beaver Scout Challenge:

Personal Challenge

"Achieving something you have not done before by setting yourself a personal Challenge"

The Beaver Scout should achieve something, which is a challenge to them. It could be a difficulty overcome, a fear conquered, a skill learned, an activity attempted, an attitude changed, a hobby adopted, an interest developed, a sports or physical target achieved.

It could involve a particular visit or event set up by the parents or the colony Leaders. The challenge can either be done in the Colony meetings, at home or in School. It depends on the individual and what their needs are. Remember, it must be a joint arrangement between yourself and the Beaver Scout.

By completing this part of the challenge the Beaver Scout will have:

Ideas that can be used for the challenge

1. To be able to tie shoelaces or a school tie

2. To listen at all times

3. To make bed for a week

4. To keep bedroom tidy for a week

5. To do their homework before watching television

6. To stop biting their nails

7. To learn their scales for instruments they play

8. To learn to sew

9. To walk to school everyday

10. To learn to ride a bicycle

Scouting Challenge

"Take part in an activity with other Members of the Scout Group"

As part of this challenge it would be a good idea to involve the Group Scout Leader. He or she would have an overview of the Scout Group and what activities are in the group diary for the year. This particular challenge will need suggestions from adults for the Beaver Scouts. Remember it should be something special and challenging.

As a start, look at some ideas and activities with the Cub Pack. This would encourage the Beaver Scouts to get to know the Cub Scout Leader and some of the Cubs Scouts. It may also be possible to ask the Scout Section and Venture Section to put on some activities for a group of older Beavers.

By completing this part of the challenge, the Beavers will have:

Ideas that can be used for challenges

1. To visit the cubs on camp

2. To have a joint camp /sleepover

3. Attend a group walk

4. To help on fun day/fundraising event

5. To go on a cook out with another section

6. Have an activity day together

Exploring Challenge

"Take part in an exciting activity out of Doors that you have helped to choose"

This should be a particularly exciting part of the challenge and make the older Beaver Scouts feel very special. This could be part of a Colony, School or family expedition.

By completing this part of the challenge the Beaver Scout will have:

Ideas of challenges that can be used

1. To visit a theme park

2. Visit a campsite   

3. Attend a sleepover

4. Attend a camp with their parents

5. Visit a nature reserve

6. Visit a craft centre or place of interest

7. Take part in a wide game

8. Follow a string trail

9. Have a cook out

10. Take part in a night-time walk

11. Go bird watching

Caring Challenge

"Carry out a good turn that you have helped to choose"

This could either be achieved by helping people such as their immediate family, older people, and people with Special Needs or even help within the Colony. This could be done as part of a group or as an individual.

By completing this challenge the Beaver Scout will have:

Ideas of challenges that can be used.

1. Looking after pets for a week

2. Walking the dog

3. Cleaning the car

4. Removing weeds from the garden

5. Doing Grandparents shopping

6. Collecting objects for charity

7. Raising funds for the group

8. Looking after someone who has been ill

9. Making tea

10. Cleaning the school grounds

11. Helping in church at the service on Sunday

12. Looking after a brother or sister on their first day at school

The Aim of the Challenge

The aim of the challenge is for the Beaver Scouts to help choose something the think would be helpful to other people.

When your child has completed all four challenges he will be awarded the:

Beaver Scout Challenge Badge

 This can be worn on the Cub Scout Uniform until the Cub Scout Award is earned. Your child can be justly proud of his achievements during his time in the Beaver Colony.