Scouts or Boys' Brigade?

Thinking of joining the Boys' Brigade? Need Help deciding between BB and Scouts?

Well this is the Scout page, so we're a little biased! But we respect the BB; we were almost part of the BB. Many people know that our founder, Baden-Powell ran his first camp on Brownsea Island in 1907. What fewer people know is... he hadn't invented Scouts yet. Some of the boys from from the Boys' Brigade.

We're lucky in Histon... there are many many choices if you want to usefully occupy your children. BB meets at the Baptist church, and you can get in touch with them via Chris Farmer, their full time youth worker. Their web presence is a bit scattered :-).

So... why would you join Scouts instead? Here's a list of differences to help you make up your mind. You could go either way... but at least now you'll be able to make a choice based on the facts. We really would love you to come our way though ;-)

Here's some stuff that we think are our strengths. These are specific to the Scout section... 10-13 years old:

• Scouts generally train for and undertake a day-hike at 10 years old (y6) in a group of 4, with no supervision on the day.
• Scouts generally train for and undertake a 2-day (32 hour) hike at 11-12 (y7-y8), in a group of 4 friends, of about 15-20 miles, carrying tents, sleeping bags, stoves and food, with just an evening check visit to their campsite.
• Scouts are trained to be self-sufficient in first aid, cooking, camping skills, teamwork and navigation.
• Scouts train Scouts. Around 12-13 years old, the older children will start to lead and pass on their skills to the younger ones.
• We have a main troop camp every year. Last year we were on Exmoor. This year, we're on the canals for the week. We will operate two watches per boat, and every child will spend up to 8 hours driving the boat.
• Patrols camp independently, with just evening supervision visits. We've had two patrol camps, run by different 13 year olds in the first half of 2010. Most recently, a patrol went to a site near London, looked after themselves, and booked themselves into the shooting range and assault course activities available onsite. (Organized activities come with supervision!)
• Scouts manage their own badgework and progress, with the help of their Patrol Leader (another child). They are issues a book that fits nicely into the shirt pocked to record progress, get signatures... and typically go through the wash every now and again!

FAQ

Will my ten year old be scared stiff by this?

No. While we play some physical games, we know which ones to avoid to keep everyone safe. The troop is a really nice little community and the older kids do actually look after the younger ones.

Is it safe sending them out by themselves?

The single biggest leap of faith is that first hike for the 10 year olds. We want your help. We'll work out a route together, and if we find main roads that need crossing, or farmers with dogs, or whatever we think might be a danger, it's perfectly okay to station parents along the way. The point is to let them do the actual travelling alone. There IS a trust element. If you really think your child will run off the moment he is out of sight, and never come back, then we can't help! But we can certainly manage all the reasonable risks of injury, and we think that it is a really good way for children to begin to take responsibility for themselves.

I don't believe in children ordering children around. Aren't you a bit old-fashioned an military?

We don't have a military atmosphere. Respect is earned only by commitment and effort, not by time spent or rank. Saluting is still on the books, but it's just an option and Baden Powell ditched saluting by rank in 1907. We have a uniform, but it's a shared identity, not a tool for discipline. Noone will be polishing boots. Boots are nice for walking through streams and up mountains, but never back home.

DIB DIB DIB?

We ditched the DYB DYB DYB in 1971. If you really think we still do that, then you're probably too old to have kids :-)

What's all this modernization then?

We see the core of the programme as kids developing physically, socially, mentally and spiritually. If that happens to involve camping, great. If it's youth hosteling, skateboarding, computing, survival, or crocheting, that's fine too. Every troop has a different feel to it depending on the skills of the leaders. We'd love to have you on board to help us as an adult. And don't worry if you can't tie a knot. Neither can most of us! It's not really that important in terms of turning out well-adjusted kids, is it?

Why are you leaving God out of your programme?

We're not. Many of our Scouts also attend church youth groups in the village - TRIBE, Motivators, other Sunday schools etc.. We think that scripture is covered in many ways in the village, and that the best thing that we can do for kids in terms of the Scout programme is to push them to discover their own limits in other ways. Practical experiences - pushing yourself to a limit on an expedition, the terror the first time you fall off a climbing wall, the feeling of freedom being out on your own, and the cameraderie of friends that you can trust - are the things that will help a child find out where God fits into his or her life.

Can't I do both?

Of course! There is a clash of the times on a Monday night for over 10 year olds... but Scouts runs through the summer and other holidays, so you can always try us then if no other time works out. While there is no waiting list (check!), you can alternate week by week too, if you want.

Click here to join the Scout section, or here for other age sections. See you soon!