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Beaver Parent's Handbook

This document represents our group's interpretation of a Beaver Parent's Handbook. It is based on an example from 2nd Bells Corners Group, received at a Woodbadge II training course in the Voyageur Region. The handbook is updated yearly and given out to parents and guardians at registration.

WELCOME TO A NEW YEAR OF BEAVERS!!!!!

We hope that your child will enjoy this year. If new to Beavers, you will want to know a bit about the program and what we do in our Colony. This handbook should give you most of the information you and your child will need to enter the exciting Scouting world. Any questions or comments can be directed to any member of the Colony Leadership team. [ We also have our own web page, which is updated regularly showing what we have done, and what we are planning to do. ]

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Beaver program of Scouts Canada was introduced in November 1974. It the newest and most rapidly growing section in Scouts Canada, an organization with over 212,000 youth and adult members.

The Mission of Scouts Canada is:  "To contribute to the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential as individuals, as responsible citizens, and as members of their local, national, and international communities through the application of our Principles and Practices".

For Beavers this is expressed in the Beaver promise, law, and motto.

Beavers is a simple, flexible program to meet the needs of children 5, 6 and 7 years old. The theme of the program is based upon beavers and the beaver colony. It focuses on sharing, cooperation and playing in small groups, in harmony with nature. Individual competition and structured achievement are not part of the program.

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Beaver Philosophies

Team Work, Sharing, Awareness of the World, Positive Group Experience, and Creative Expression.

For Beavers it is more important:  to try than to achieve; to experience than to win; to share than to keep; to learn to work and play with each other rather than to pit themselves against each other.

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Beaver Program Objectives

In the Beaver program, emphasis is placed on activities that encourage Beavers to:

  • find examples of their own spiritual beliefs;
  • experience and express love and joy;
  • be healthy and have good feelings about themselves;
  • develop a sense of belonging and sharing;
  • develop a sense of cooperation through noncompetitive activities;
  • develop an appreciation for nature;
  • learn through fun; and
  • express themselves.

In Beavering the aim, objectives and emphasis are achieved through the use of a program of understanding, supportive fun, and activities built around seven elements:  Games, Crafts, Music, Storytelling, Playacting, Spiritual fellowship and The Outdoors.

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Beaver Law, Promise and Motto

Law:  A Beaver has fun, works hard, and helps his/her family and friends.

Promise:  I promise to love God and to help take care of the world.

Motto:  Sharing, Sharing, Sharing.

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Colony Procedures

  1. Beavers must be escorted into the gym by their Parents/Guardians. They must be in the gym, in uniform and ready for the night’s activities by our regular start time of 6:15pm.
     
  2. All regular meetings will normally conclude at 7:15 PM. No Beaver will be allowed to leave the gym until the appropriate Parent/Guardian has arrived, entered the building and escort them home.
     
  3. If a Beaver cannot attend our regular meetings or special events, please contact their Lodge Leader who can pass on information for the following meeting.
     
  4. $1.00 Dues will be collected at the beginning of each meeting. If the Beaver is absent for one meeting, then $2.00 must be collected at the next meeting.
     
  5. Safety and Discipline:
    • Appropriate indoor footwear i.e., running shoes must be worn in the gym. If weather conditions dictate that Beavers will arrive wearing rubber boots or winter boots, please ensure that your Beaver brings suitable indoor footwear to change into. Due to safety considerations, if Beavers do not have appropriate footwear they will have to sit out certain activities. If Parents/Guardians arrive early to collect their child they are encouraged to come in, watch or participate with the Beavers, however they too must remove all outside footwear (boots).
    • In order to maintain a fun yet safe and controlled environment, a Beaver Sign, will require all Beavers, Leaders and guests to stop all movement and remain quiet. It would be appreciated if all Parents/Guardians or guests remember to recognize this action while attending Beaver related events.
    • As a result of actions that are disruptive to the Colony’s activities, the Beaver will be placed in a "Beaver Trap — Time Out" for a few minutes. If the number of such occurrences (Beaver Traps) become excessive, a meeting will be set up between the Contact Leader/Lodge Leader and the Parent/Guardian to discuss how to best handle the situation.

  6. Beavers should know their Law, Promise, Motto and Beaver Salute by the night of the Investiture.
     
  7. Beaver Parent/Guardian involvement:  There are various activities that we do as a Colony that require extra support from the parents. For example:
    • Provide baked goods for meetings requiring refreshments (this is often done on a Lodge basis);
    • Be willing to show the Beavers about your job or hobby (this could be an outing);
    • help as a volunteer on outings: food preparation, driving, Beaver supervision;
    • Act as a photographer during an outing. The Colony may submit articles to the Leader Magazine (a national Scouting publication) and a picture is always appreciated.

  8. HAVE FUN!!!

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The Beaver Uniform

The Beaver uniform is brown and blue. These colours symbolize nature:  brown for the earth and the beaver’s fur coat, and blue for the clear sky and the fresh sparkling water.

The Official Uniform is:

  1. Coby Hat in blue and brown with the Beavers Canada Crest (available at the Scout Shop)
  2. Beaver Vest with blue pockets (available at the Scout Shop)
  3. Group Neckerchief (presented by Colony during Investiture Ceremony)
  4. Woggle (presented during Investiture Ceremony)
  5. Beaver Tail (presented by Colony during the Tail Ceremony)

The only badges worn on the uniform (see below for diagram) are:

  1. a group badge (8th Sackville), on right chest
  2. a district badge (Sespenaak Centre), below group badge
  3. a region badge (Halifax Region), below district badge
  4. a World Scout Badge (already on the vest)
  5. a Nova Scotia Province badge, below World Scout Badge
  6. a lodge badge, on right pocket
  7. Service Bars (to indicate years of service), on left pocket

Items #3, #4 and #5 above are presented at no cost, however there will be a fee for replacements. All of these additional badges will be issued during the year. There will be a fee for replacements.

Through the course of the year, our Colony will be involved with certain official outings (e.g., Apple Day, Museum Sleep Over, Winter Beaveree, Overnight Camp). The Beavers who attend these events will be given a crest commemorating the day. Apply these crests to their campfire blanket or vest only, do not attach them to their uniforms.

Campfire blankets may be purchased at the Scout Shop on Quinpool Rd or a hand made blanket can be used. This special Campfire blanket is to be used to proudly display the Beaver’s past lodge patches, Beaver Tails, or community event badges. However, it shall be only worn for Campfires during camp outings.

It is highly recommended that the Beaver’s name be printed on all items that are separate and may become lost (e.g., Hat, vest, neckerchief, woggle, campfire vest).

Beaver Uniform and Badges

A BEAVER SHOULD RESPECT HIS/HER UNIFORM AND WEAR IT PROUDLY.

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Regular Meeting Outline

6:10 - 6:20 Gathering activity
6:20 - 6:25 Opening Ceremony
6:25 - 6:45 Craft Time
6:45 - 6:50 Story Time
6:50 - 7:05 Games / Songs
7:05 - 7:15 Closing Ceremony

This is just one example of a "typical meeting". The Colony Leaders will make changes as dictated by the needs and moods of the Beavers.

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Permission Forms

Scouts Canada’s official policy is:  For every event held away from the regular meeting place for a Colony, a signed permission form is mandatory. This includes outdoor activities such as playing in the soccer field, going to another school to visit a cub pack, and visiting establishments such as fire halls, etc. If a signed form has not been provided, the Beaver is not allowed to participate in that particular event.

It is also a legal requirement for Scouts Canada that the parent’s/guardian’s original signature and the Beaver’s Health Card Number must be on the same document. This policy is designed to protect the Beaver while under the supervision of Scouts Canada and to protect the volunteers (i.e., the leaders) in the movement.

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Ceremonies

Opening Ceremony (Tail Slap)
To an outsider the Opening Ceremony may not mean much, but to Beavers it provides an opportunity to let off steam in a controlled manner. Beavers take it most seriously and enter into it with their whole heart and lungs. It gives them an opportunity to express their joy at being alive, and their thankfulness for being Beavers.
 
Closing Ceremony (Lodging)
This ceremony is to be conducted at the conclusion of every meeting. All Kits and Eager Beavers participate in the Closing Ceremony.
 
Investiture Ceremony
When a youth joins the Beavers he/she is a "Kit". This is a term used to describe a young Beaver. Kits may wear the Beaver hat and vest but NOT the neckerchief or other additional badges. To become invested a Kit must know the Beaver Promise, Law, Salute, and Beaver Motto.

Parents are invited to participate in the Investiture Ceremony, as this is a special time for the Beavers.
 
Tail Ceremonies
There are four tail levels in the Beaver program. They are the physical recognition of a child’s growth and development. A Beaver progresses through them according to their age and/or their school grade

Beavers change their tails once a year to signify their growth. Beavers wear only one tail at a time and may put their old tails on their campfire blanket or vest.
Age before Jan. 1st Tail Levels (September - May)
5 Years - Kindergarten Discovery & Growing (Brown)

BROWN represents the colour of the beaver’s fur, also the earth, on which we live and in which things grow. It can remind the Beavers of their responsibility to help take care of the world. It can also be seen as the time of discovery, when the Beaver is entering a new phase in life and exploring a broader world beyond the confines of family and close friends.

6 Years - Grade 1 Building and exploring (Blue)

BLUE represents the sky and water and symbolizes the immense opportunities to explore now opened to the Beaver, whose abilities are expanding and changing.

7 Years - Grade 2 Busy Beaver (White)

WHITE links Eager Beavers to Tender Pads (Cubs). It is the colour of the moon and stars, which give us light to help us find our way through the darkness of the night and symbolizes distant goals, seemingly far away, but attainable.

Swimming-Up Ceremony
This ceremony marks a special occasion in a young child’s life because this is the moment they join the Cub pack and take the first big step toward becoming a Wolf Cub. Parents are invited to attend this ceremony in the spring.

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Terminology

Beaver Position — Sitting cross-legged.

Beaver Salute — Like a peace sign made with bent fingers. It represents the two front teeth of a beaver.

Chopping Position — Squatting down with elbows on knees, both hands making a Beaver Salute.

Colony — The entire group of Beavers.

Dam Formation — Circle formation made by joining the ends of the riverbanks.

Eager Beaver — An invested Beaver.

Kit — A child who has not yet been invested as a Beaver.

Lodge — A small group of 4 to 6 Beavers.

Pond — The meeting place.

River Banks — A formation in which the Beavers stand in two wavy lines, facing each other, about three feet apart.

Tail Slap — Part of the Opening; clapping hands behind your back imitating a Beaver slapping its tail.

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Last updated: October 17, 2004
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