BP – EARLY LIFE
OPENING CEREMONY
Explain that BP had a varied life – camping and sailing with his brothers, time spent at boarding school where he loved to track animals in the woods, a distinguished army career, started scouts. He was also an artist and author.
GAME: BP’S COMING
Leader calls: Action:
Army General Army Salute
Chief Scout Scout Salute
Fellow Scout Left Handshake
Army Scout Lookout Action
In The Woods Stalking Action
Signposted areas (to run to)
Mafeking Gilwell Park
South Africa Brownsea Island
When at boarding school, the boys had regular battles with the local boys from town.
GAME: SCHOOL BATTLES
Two teams; chairs in line across hall to designate the wall of the school. Teams line up on either side and throw paper balls over the wall. If balls land on wall, they are out of bounds and cannot be touched. If balls are caught by the opposing team, they are placed in a bucket and they score a point.
BP loved to sneak away from school and spend time in the nearby woods, tracking animals.
GAME: STALKING IN THE WOODS
Chairs scattered around hall; Leader stands at front with back to Joey Scouts. Joey scouts start at back of hall and try to work their way to the front from chair to chair, trying to hide from the Leader who turns at intervals. If the Joey Scouts are caught in the open, they must return to the start. See how many Joey Scouts can make it to the front of the hall. When they do they stand quietly and wait for the others to finish.
ACTIVITY: PUZZLES
In small groups put together puzzles of BP, and promise. Swap so each group has a turn at both.
CRAFT: BUTTERFLY PEG
Explain how BP used drawings of butterflies to hide his sketches of enemy placements.
Please note: The sample supplied can be used as either a butterfly or as a mask.
STORY: Joey Scouts sit on chairs in a circle while leader reads a story about BP. Joey Scouts are allocated a word; when they hear it they get up and walk around the outside of the circle and back to their chairs. On a set word, all get up and walk around to their chair.
SONG: I’VE GOT THAT BP FEELING
I've got that BP feeling up in my head,
Up in my head, up in my head
I've got that BP feeling up in my head.
Up in my head to stay.
I've got that BP feeling down in my toes, etc.
I've got that BP feeling deep in my heart, etc.
I've got that BP feeling up in my head,
Down in my toes, deep in my heart,
I've got that BP feeling all over me,
All over me to stay.
CLOSING CEREMONY
Equipment required:
Chairs, paper balls
Puzzles
Story
Photocopies of butterfly, pencils, scissors, glue, pegs
THE BP STORY
Give each Joey Scout one of the following four names: Robert Baden Powell / Boys / Boy Scouts / Girl Scouts. As the story is read and their part is called out, they jump up and race around the outside of the circle back to their own spot. When Founder's Day is called out they all run.
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ROBERT BADEN POWELL was a well known soldier. When he came back from fighting in wars in India and South Africa, earlier this century, he thought it would be a good idea to teach BOYS to be BOY SCOUTS. ROBERT BADEN POWELL was convinced his methods of training young BOYS would cut across all social barriers. So in 1907 he ran an experimental camp at Brownsea Island in the South of England.
He introduced BOYS to the pleasures of stalking, tracking, camping and cooking without utensils. ROBERT BADEN POWELL sent out a patrol each evening. These BOYS went out on picket duty and slept under the stars. They did their job well and the patrol system of the BOY SCOUTS was proven. Each night before settling down, the BOYS held a campfire. It was a mixture of songs and stories told by ROBERT BADEN POWELL. He had so many exciting stories to tell of army life and about his childhood he kept the youngsters spellbound.
His ideas were such that many BOYS who were not in clubs wished to become BOY SCOUTS, and started forming their own patrols. Eventually, in the summer of 1909, some 10,000 BOY SCOUTS gathered at Crystal Palace in a huge rally. ROBERT BADEN POWELL was pleased.
It was then a group of GIRL SCOUTS marched past in khaki skirts and shirts, wearing Scout hats. "Who are you?" ROBERT BADEN POWELL asked. "We are the GIRL SCOUTS and we want to join in." So ROBERT BADEN POWELL spoke to his sister Agnes, and in 1910 the GIRL SCOUTS began, calling themselves Guides.
By this time, the King has asked ROBERT BADEN POWELL to give up the army and just organise the BOY SCOUTS. Two years later he met and married Olave Soames, who took over the girl movement, working very had alongside ROBERT BADEN POWELL. Olave later became the World Chief Guide.
ROBERT BADEN POWELL was later made a Lord because of his great work with youngsters. Scouting decided to have a special day each year to remember all the BOY SCOUTS and GIRL SCOUTS around the world. So the 22nd of February was chosen because this was the joint birthday of both ROBERT BADEN POWELL and Olave Baden Powell. This is called FOUNDER'S DAY.
So now you know. BOY SCOUTS for BOYS began in 1907. GIRL SCOUTS began in 1910. ROBERT BADEN POWELL is the founder of the Scouting Movement, and on 22nd of February we celebrate FOUNDER'S DAY.