report

30th Belfast Beaver Scout Colony Annual Report 2003

JANUARY: 2003 was a very good year for our Beavers with 40 boys on the roll, the Leaders were kept on their toes. One of the first visitors of the year was a member of the PSNI, who gave a talk on road safety.

FEBRUARY: the Beavers were taken to Knock Fire Station where they were given a talk about home safety and the chance to use hoses, which they enjoyed so much we had trouble getting them to go home.

MARCH: the Beavers had a visit from a vet who showed them how a dog was tagged. Later in the month the World of Owls give a demonstration of birds of prey.

APRIL: was a busy month, which started off with a sponsored walk in aid of the Malcolm Sargent Cancer Fund. We started at Crawfordsburn County Park and walked to Bangor. We raised £380 and I would like to thank all of the Beavers and their parents and everyone who took part in the walk.

MAY: found us down at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre for our Beaver Rally Day; once again it was wet and muddy much to the delight of the boys. I think they were more interested in the mud than the crafts, face painting and wildlife stall.

JUNE: no surprise to find us down at Crawfordsburn again but this time at the seafront, where we were joined by 4th Beavers for a sandcastle competition. The turnout was fantastic and the detail that was put into the castle was unbelievable. I’m still trying to work out who had the most fun, the Leaders or the children. That was the last activity for the first half of the year (I think it will take the next 3 months to get our strength back!).

SEPTEMBER: started with 6 new kits up from Squirrels and saying goodbye to 8 Beavers swimming up to Cubs. Later on in the month we had a visit from the RSPB. The Beavers sat very quietly as they were told about birds, how to look after and feed them etc.

OCTOBER: started off very quietly just Beavering along until the night we were invaded by the Rainbow Guides. The theme on that night was decorating Wellington Boots, everyone enjoyed it immensely. Thanks to the Rainbow Leaders for the idea.

NOVEMBER: this was to prove to be another very busy month. We made a picture for our District competition which we won. We entered a team of 6 Beavers in the District Sports Day and were placed 2nd, receiving silver medals.

DECEMBER: the start of the Christmas season; we had the District Christingle Service at Knocknagoney Parish Church. The highlight of the month was Christmas at Crawfordsburn where the Beavers met Santa who answered the question of how he was able to go around the world in one night.

Another year has passed and I would like to thank Pauline for all the work she did in the background. Next all my helpers, Gail, Amy, Amanda, Suzanne, Rachel, William, Christopher and Simon without whose support, help and ideas I couldn’t have run the Colony,