Bushcraft for Beaver Scouts.

[craig]

My scout group is starting a Beaver section(6-8yrs) and apart from simple knot work and plant and tree ID, what bushcrafty ideas would think would be good. We think we'll have approx 15-20 beavers. I'm not in the mind to start knife and axe work at the moment so to leave that when the get to cubs.

Cheers
Craig.

[Snowfire]

I'd say just about anything, at that age they are usually happy "helping" with stuff that needs more co-ordination or strength than they have. Stuff our Beavers have done:

- simple orienteering (N, S, E, W through a course of cones with gold chocolate coins to find at the end)
- building shelters and dens either with natural materials for their cuddly toys / mascot or with old tarps, sheets or anything you can get for them to sit under
- very basic first aid
- plaster casts of footprints
- firelighting (well, they do lots of collecting sticks and adults get to do the firelighting, then they sit round drinking hot chocolate)
- going for walks in the rain / dark / snow / sun

[roger-uk]

Toasting Marshmellows over a fire
Collecting grass sticks laeves for a collage
walking at night [short walks]
getting them dirty
planting bulbs

[brancho]

I'm not in the mind to start knife and axe work at the moment so to leave that when the get to cubs.

Knife work is Ok (even for Beavers) if its basic as for axes only older Cubs and up are supposed to used them.

[jamin]

knife work is fine for bevers small groups and supervised by someone who know what there doing and can talk to the little'ns.we have made spike trolls with themhttp://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...JeKA0AXZwICICA

there simple to make uses 2 safe basic cuts and they get to paint them after.

[Harvestman]

Forage a few blackberries in the autumn, make some basic drop scones or similar, and make blackberry scones. They get to do the mixing, and with a bit of supervision can do the cooking too. Good fun on a bakestone/griddle/whatever people call those flat cast iron skillett things in your part of the world.

[welchyd1]

When I was a beaver, one of the best things I remember was making pancakes on an old baked bean tin. Get each o them to bring an empty tin and a tea light and just pierce a few holes in the can, light the candle underneath, then poor on your mixture and voila mini pancakes.

[bushwacker bob]

Pooh sticks..

[Scout Leader]

Leave rubbings. and then make a wall size picture of a forest.

[roger-uk]

knife work is fine for bevers small groups and supervised by someone who know what there doing and can talk to the little'ns.we have made spike trolls with themhttp://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en...JeKA0AXZwICICA

there simple to make uses 2 safe basic cuts and they get to paint them after.

I love that idea - thanks

[Lister]

tarpology and the art of knots
backwoods cooking (the prep work anyway with the adult putting the meals on the fire)
tree ID
nature's kitchen (edible fruits, nuts and plants)
tracking