Beaver challenge badges
Beaver challenge badges
Please remember to stick within any applicable COVID laws and guidance whilst completing any of these tasks.
Some of the suggestions are specific locations - please treat them as inspiration, not an instruction to travel!!
The official Scout pages for the Beaver Bronze Award and challenge badges is here: https://www.scouts.org.uk/beavers/awards/ and has lots more suggestions on how to complete the various elements.
Adventure challenge
Bear nibbles currently sponsor the badge and have a page
with several useful links
1. Try two adventurous activities. You could try:
- zipwire or aerial runway - is there one in your local playpark?
- biking trails - dust off your bike and explore as a family; throw in a picnic to make it even more fun
- did you go sledging, snowboarding or skiing in all that snow we had? that counts too!
2. Take part in six other outside activities.You could try:
- following a trail - Scout tracking factsheet
- building a den - Evanton Community woods
is excellent for this, but it can be anywhere at all!
- having a go on an obstacle course - use the local playpark again and have races
- roasting marshmallows on a fire or BBQ
- building a sculpture using sand, snow or mud
- playing water games
- flying a kite you have made - try this one
from a sheet of A4 paper
3. Go on a ramble or nature walk with a purpose.
4. Learn the Green Cross Code
and show that you can cross a road safely.
Outdoors challenge
Gruffalo Explorers (currently the official badge sponsor) have a great page with lots of relevant resources here.
1. Go on a sleepover or a camp with other Beavers, and do at least two of these:
Look out for online events ('camp at home') - the key is that the Beavers should contribute to the work, not just the sleeping in a tent bit!
- help put up a tent
- collect wood and help to build a fire
- cook something on a fire
- sing songs around a fire
- wash up after dinner
- set up your bed and sleeping bag
- play a wide game
2. Learn how to tie three simple knots.
Use strawberry laces - once they can tie the knot, they can eat the lace.
Click here
for the Scout Association's factsheet on basic knots.
3. Show that you:
- know what to do if someone has an accident
- know why it is important to tell an adult when an accident happens
- can do simple first aid for someone who has a cut or bruise
4. Take part in an activity using natural things like leaves, bark, twigs, sand or rocks.
This could double-up with World Challenge clause 6 below.
Click here
for some great leaf activities.
5. Point out and name five different types of animal, insect, bird or fish that you might find near where you live. Find out about the food they eat and the places they might live.
Click here
for cards to print out. Give each lodge a set and get them to match up the creature with its food and habitat. Or play team races with them.
Printable nature-hunt sheet to download here
6. Make something to help animals in the wild. It could be a bird box or a bug hotel.
See also World Challenge clause 6.
Personal challenge
Complete two personal challenges:
- one chosen by the beaver
- one chosen by the leaders/parents
Click for a template the Beavers can fill in and get signed off: pdf format
or word format
Skills challenge
1. Show a new Beaver how to play a game you know and like.
2. Take part in three activities on how to keep your body fit and healthy:
- looking after your teeth -
click here
for some simple activities from Colgate
- foods that are good and bad to eat - set out a variety of small healthy snacks and sweets; ask the Beavers to sort them, discuss and eat - always a hit! Suggest grapes, pineapple, melon, marshmallows, chocolate buttons etc
- exercise -
can be as simple as an energetic games night
- You could also do something else which you agree with your leader.
3. Do two creative activities. You could
- act or mime -
click here
for a charades printable
- play a musical instrument -
click here
for a good selection of DIY 'instruments'
- make a model from salt dough -
recipe here; or go posh and buy air-drying clay
- make up a dance
- paint a picture
- make a card -
for Mothers' day, fathers' day, valentines, Christmas etc
4. Learn a new song and sing it.
Repeat after me type works well; or anything repetitive really!
If you're a Beaver and you know it, clap your paws/wag your tail/build a dam (to the tune of 'if you're happy and you know it)
5. Learn and use at least three of these skills:
- learn your own address and phone number
- tie your shoelaces -
lacing card template here
- decorate some cakes or biscuits -
always popular; rich tea/digestives and either mix your own icing or buy ready-made tubes; then some mini smarties/sprinkles etc; have a competition; make a self-portrait and guess which is which!
- set an alarm clock to get up at the right time in the morning
- fold or roll your scarf -
useful and simple; and a great time-filler
- make your bed -
simple;
maybe print out a slip for someone at home to sign?
- keep your bedroom tidy -
as above
- light a candle -
always popular; take one lodge at a time and have lots of patience
- Or you could do something similar which you agree with your leader.
6. Invent a machine and show other Beavers how it works.
This is effectively junk modelling! Ask the Beavers to take in boxes, egg cartons, old containers etc. You provide glue/string/sellotape and paint if you are feeling brave! Remember to leave a big of time for show and tell at the end. And make sure they take all their junk home at the end...
7. With a team, complete at least two problem- solving missions set by your leader.
Click here
for a decent list of ideas as a starter.
These may well also count towards Teamwork challenge clause 1 and/or 2.
8. Go somewhere new. Then find out five facts about something new.
This can be done in their own time too - ask them during their weekly news.
Teamwork challenge
1. Take part in at least four different team games.
Can these also count towards skills challenge clause 7?
Click here
for the Scout Association's factsheet on games for Beavers. (also covers clause 2 below)
2. Work with other Beaver Scouts to make something or complete a challenge or activity together.
This may also overlap with skills challenge clause 7.
3. Show your leader that you are a helpful team member.
This is a fairly unstructured clause; maybe worth making it one of their personal challenges if it is proving difficult.
4. Take part in at least two Log Chews.
Click here
for the Scout Association's factsheet on Log Chews!
Note that it doesn't have to be complicated - can be just a sharing of news
5. Be a leader in an activity or captain of a team.
6. Show that you are a good friend.
Ask the Beaver to be a buddy to a new joiner for a couple of weeks?
Sit in a circle - ask each of them to say why the person on their right (or left!) is a good friend (to themselves or someone else). Good for obliging them to say nice things about one another!
World challenge
1. Learn about what makes up your local community and meet someone who serves your community such as a police officer, lifeboat crew, a coastguard, fire fighter, youth worker or nurse.
Are any of your group parents able to help? Try to arrange a visit? Any mountain rescue volunteers?
2. Complete an activity to help people in your local community. This could be carol singing at a local care home, repairing paths at a nature reserve or helping to clear a garden for someone with a disability.
Investigate the Woodland Trust's tree-planting project
(they provide the trees for free!).
Weeding / leaf-raking / litter-picking any local areas is pretty simple and effective.
Some of the local bike clubs do path-building days if any of your young people are into that.
3. Take part in at least one activity that reflects England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, or your part of the UK. These could be: dance and music, craft, festivals, food, sports and activities.
Try haggis; run a highland games night; try simple ceilidh dances; can any of your older Scouts teach simple highland dance steps?
4. Find out about, and take part in, an act of worship, reflection or celebration.
Any church parade would count, as would Remembrance day parade. Or Scouts Own at a camp/sleepover.
5. Discuss your Beaver Promise to do your best and how your Promise can help remind you to do good things in your community.
6. Do at least one activity to help you learn about the natural world around you. These could be: pond dipping, mini-beast hunting, growing something from seed, leaf printing, or something similar agreed with your leader.
Some great ideas on wildlife watch website.
Nature hunt download to print here.
Leaf-rubbing needs only paper and crayons
Make a bird feeder out of old juice cartons or plastic bottles - counts as recycling too (and towards Outdoors challenge clause 6)!
(Can also double-up with Outdoor Challenge clause 4 above)
7. Take part in an activity from another country. You could learn your Promise in another language, make a dish from another country or create some artwork inspired by another country.
Make a pizza or nachos.
