4th Glasgow Scout Group Web Site

It's been awhile since I wrote on the topic of ScoutBlogs.  I recently came across a blog cluster setup by the 4th Glasgow Scout Group.  The reason I'd like to bring your attention to it is that the 4th has put together a first class scout web site using what largely looks like free social networking tools and free hosting.

• The blogs are hosted by Google (Blogger) and are likely classified as not-for-profit
• Each section has it's own blog on blogger (Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, and Leaders)
• There is a single look and feel to the site - all sections are tied together in a common header and transition is seamless.
• They take advantage of other free tools like Google Calendars to showcase events and gmail for communication

Using the same concept of a blog cluster a group could even have some private sections.

Well done 4th!

Check them out at The 4th Glasgow Scout Group.
And check out my other ScoutBlogs and ScoutReach articles.


I just have one question for the 4th, what character in the Jungle Book is known as SPUD?   :)

UK Astronomy Badge

A few weeks back I received my second exchange in the The Great Astronomers Badge Swap.

The Astronomer's Badge from the 12th Winchester Cubs in the UK (Winchester District).

This is a great example of how to make earning a badge fun and shows a creative way to overcome the challenges of the UK's famously cloudy skies. We face similar challenges here in Toronto during the fall and winter.

The requirements for this badge are:

1. Make a model or draw a simple diagram of the solar system.
2. Explain the difference between a planet and a star.
3. Identify three constellations.
4. Find out about and present some information on the two of the following: Planets, Comets, the Northern Lights, The Sun, Eclipses,Meteorites, Black holes, The Moon, Light years, Space exploration or any other space related subject.
5. Observe the moon, if possible using binoculars or a telescope. Describe some of its features.
6. Know how to locate and identify the Pole star or Southern Star. Know how explorers used it to navigate and plot courses.

Their approach:

1. They played a simple relay game where the cubs had to put the planets in the correct order from the sun. Then we made 3D models of the planets to hang up in their scout hut. They discussed how far apart to hang them to maintain scale. They thought Jupiter would have ended up about 100km away from the hut!
2. Each of the cubs explained the difference between stars and planets and gave an example. It was interesting to see how many different correct answers they could give!
3. With lots of cloudy nights their opportunities to actually observe the night sky were limited. They ended up constructing representations of constellations using candles and tin cans with holes. The Cubs were challenged to identify the constellations shown. They talked about some of the meanings behind the names for constellations.
4. Each cub came up with different information about objects in space. They also played a true/false game with some facts.
5. The Cubs did this at home. Drawing a picture or writing about what they saw. One even wrote a rather good poem!
6. The Cubs practised finding north. Everyone drew a diagram at home to illustrate it. They also visited a local hands-on science centre, and saw some of the shows in the planetarium which the everyone really enjoyed.Badges were presented the day of the outing.

Thanks to Scouter Emma (Riki-Tiki-Tava)!

Please click on the BadgeSwap label below to see other related badges and entries.

Ciao Padua - Welcome the Light of the Peace!

Back in October during our first JOTI we found out about a remarkable project being put together by the AVSC Scouts of Padua Italy.  Their simple request for audio and video greetings of peace from Scouts around the world met with great success.   They've put together a 30 minute video world tour to celebrate the Light of the Peace. 

The 433rd Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts each sent a greeting.

Congratulations to the AVSC Scouts, Scouter Ugo, and all those who sent messages!

Enjoy ...

 
Light of the Peace around the world from Light of the Peace on Vimeo.

The AVSC Scouts announcment can be found here.
Scouts Trieste Light of the Peace page can be found here.
Our original post about the project can be found at the Padua JOTI "Light of the Peace" Video Project

First JOTI

I had been hoping to arrange to do a full and proper event around JOTI, but this was not to be. Instead I'll report on my JOTI baby steps.

• JOTI coincided with Apple Day which is a major fund raiser for our group. As a result this put a bit of a crimp in scheduling an event around JOTI. I had hoped to see if there was an Internet connection at our meeting hall and Apple Day coordination centre but wasn't able to do so.
• The second challenge was setting up a computer and test the requisite chat software to ensure it operated correctly. Again, time and other commitments were the enemy.
• I fell back to e-mail and web chat. I found the web chat software to be finicky. At one point I seemed to be connected but out of channel where no one could hear me.
• e-mail using the station lookup proved reliable but far less interactive than the full JOTI experience promised.

I sent hello messages from our group to a number of groups in such places as: Alaska, Russia, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina, Barbados, Iceland, Brazil, Croatia, Sweden, Ireland, Mexico, Egypt, Norway, Israel, Finland, and others. I also received some hellos from several different groups around the world. Below I've listed their web sites (if they have them).

• Dalyellup Scouts in Western Australia, here. Hi Joanne.
• Palmerston North Scouts in New Zealand, here. Hi Penny, Harry, William and Edward
• 243rd Tuscany Scouts in Alberta Canada, here. Hi Aklea Scott.
• Oulu Finland, here. Hi Andrew.
• AVSC in Padua Italy, here. Hi Ugo.
• 9th Benoni in South Africa, here. Hi Joy and Peter.
  

Also, some of the groups may not have yet had a chance to reply to the messages but should be able to find me through this web site's E-mail Me widget.

Unfortunately, the JOTI search stations / send message doesn't cc you back. If you don't keep track of who you said hi to - you could be out of luck.

Skies Badge - South Africa

Here are the requirements:

This week the I received my first exchange in the The Great Astronomers Badge Swap.

The Skies Badge from the 9th Benoni Cubs in South Africa.

1. Identify TWO constellations and the Southern Cross
2. Make a pinhole planetarium and show THREE constellations
3. Identify FOUR cloud types
4. Visit a planetarium or spot a satelite and record the time of sighting and its path across the sky.

My thanks to Akela Joy!

Please click on the BadgeSwap label below to see other related badges and entries.

The Great Astronomers Badge Swap

I'd like to propose a modest project. To gather a collection of one of each astronomers badges from Scouters across the world.

Phase one would be a virtual collection. Please send me a digital photo of the badge and a photo or scanned image of the badge requirements. Please include group information and address. I'll put the collection together and make it available later. I'm thinking that I'll use the information in a Google map (like the map of the Solar System in Toronto in Astronomical Distances). And I'll track progress below.

Later it would be very nice to arrange a physical collection. I'd be willing to send a Canadian Astronomers badge to other Scouters that send me one from their country. But I want to coordinate this on a first come first serve basis so I don't have a bunch of folks send badges from the same place. If you are interested in this second phase, please contact me by email to coordinate an exchange.

Anyone wishing to send me one from their country can contact me at the email address on the sidebar (its obscured as an image so I don't get buried in spam) using the E-mail Me link under Contact and the GuestBook widget on the sidebar.

Thanks - Mang!

Note: contact information will not be published.

Progress Updates:

1. Astronomer Badge - Canada.
2. Skies Badge - South Africa
3. UK Astronomy Badge 
   

Please click on the BadgeSwap label below to see other related badges and entries.

Linking with the 9th Benoni Cubs

The 443rd Cubs wanted to link with a pack from another country. We were fortunate enough to find the 9th Benoni Pack outside Johannesburg South Africa.

Since we wanted to learn about how they were like and unlike us, we decided to have a question exchange. Each pack was asked to put together a list of 5 to 10 questions that they would want to ask the other Pack.

We found out that Cubs are Cubs and despite some differences, including 13,000 km of distance, we were surprisingly alike. Both packs wanted to know about things:

• each others uniform and scarves
• meeting places and meeting structure
• favorite activities and games
• camps attended in a year and where
  
• badges and advancement
• climate
• ages of scouting sections
  

The 9th wanted to know if we had girls in the pack (not this year) and if we played American style football. Our fiercely Canadian Cubs had other sports on their mind.

Scouts Canada seems to differ a bit from South Africa. There seems to be a more granular advancement Cheetah, Leopard, Lion and Leaping Wolf. There is also a badge called the Arrow of Light which Canada doesn't have but South Africa and the United States have. It indicates the Cub is prepared to advance to Scouts.

A reference on South African Cubbing badges can be found here.

Some references on Canadian Cubbing's 70+ stars, badges, and awards can be found here, here, and here.

Akela Joy at the 9th maintains a blog with lots of activities and pictures, here. There are some good activities on it and I encourage you to read it. They recently had a raptor show and South African Eagles are quite impressive looking!

This activity counts towards our centenial crest, here.