A fantastic District Fun Day was had on Saturday 25th September. The event, which belatedly remembered the 80th Anniversary of Dunkirk, was partly funded by a grant from the Norfolk Armed Forces Charity and took Beavers back in time to experience life in 1940.
The day included making mini rafts & catapults: the rafts were floated and dried peas were used as ammunition in the catapults to fire upon, and trying to sink, the rafts. We also had larger catapults with fir cones as ammunition to score on a target mat.
The day also included a hike, during which the Beaver Scouts discovered and collected flora and fauna which was used as medicines or food during the war, including a visit to St Edmund’s Church and the War Memorials.
We had an interactive board giving details of Dunkirk, evacuees, the role the Scouts played in WW2, coinage from 1940, details of rationing, together with various artefacts including service hats and the compulsory gas mask. The Beavers completed a multiple choice questionnaire, wrote a postcard home as an evacuee and made a poppy to form 100 in figures to mark the Royal British Legion Centenary. They also enjoyed tower building, which requires concentration and skill and Spitfire and Hurricane wide games which were great fun.
By far the most exciting and best part of the day for all Beavers was canoeing! The weather was perfect and Beavers spent over an hour paddling on the River Wensum, and receiving their first Time on the Water Badges.
We rounded the day off with sea songs, thanking and cheering all Leaders and the Water Team for making “it happen”.
Thanks also to Tesco for providing bananas and fruit (definitely not available in 1940) and, of course, Norfolk Armed Forces for their grant, which enabled us to provide this opportunity to the Beavers.
© Northern Norwich Scouts Scouts 2024. Registered charity number 1029956.
WordPress theme by Norwich Designer - Web Design Norwich