Scouting is awesome!

Busy busy busy!

2011-07-05T11:50:00.000+02:00

Life on the site is rolling on in a most hectic tempo! I still haven't managed to get a run in, and this is only my second blog entry!

The second dining hall has been erected, and today 6 articulated lorries and 3 ordinary ones (European size) are bringing the kitchen equipment. Walking back from breakfast we saw some volunteers rolling off cupboards for hot-keeping on mass at great speed.

We are now approximately 130 people checked into the system, plus that we have 30 teens, employed by the town council who have been placed here for a summer job. Most are out in the field, building the tents, some is working with electric installation, and some in the kitchen. Appart from that there are a couple of British engineers that are working on the water heating system, and some plumbing specialists still, but people are arriving all the time.

Earlier I had a conversation with a very clever person, who was constructing a device for messuring the flow of eaters in the canteen, to be able to make accurate prognosis on the amount of food needed every day, and to work out the staffing needs of the canteen within a few days. The cost of the system will be paid for in less than a day, and hopefully it will save the kitchen thousands and thousands of krona.

More and more volunteers are arriving from ... everywhere. Yesterday, a young man arrived from Pakistan, and just half an hour ago two scouts from a near-by town, who wanted to do a good turn in the kitchen showed up at my door. My son Mike, who is staying with me this week, helped Lizzy from the English contingency to put up her tent next to ours, and swopped a super nice badge for a cub pin and toggle. He was super happy!

Yesterday we got our super smart staff outfit, exclusive for the Site Crew: Snickers pirate trousers and a polo with very handy pockets for may 2 (two) function phones and com-radio. Pictures will be included when I have time.

Gotta run! Lunch is being served in a few moments, and then Mike and I will have the afternoon off to explore Kristianstad.

Pre-jamboree notes

2011-06-21T19:37:00.000+02:00

Amazing, I've been on site for three days, and my aim was to blog and publish a few pictures every day, but it's been mad!
When I arrived on Saturday, we spent the day in the army barracks with loads of members from the planning team, trying to get heads and tails on things. When the Site Service HQ was up we moved up here. Not that it was ready, it still isn't, but there are so many other priorities, and still very few hands. Anyway, now the rain and the wind isn't blowing through the gaps between the modules anymore, but we still don't have any water which complicates matters a bit.

This week we are responsible for not cooking but serving three meals and three snacks a-day to our crew of mainly plumbers and land surveyors and their helpers. At the moment there are about 40 people on site. Today the kitchen is going up. Stupidly, I thought that the humungous tent that was being set up on Saturday was the kitchen and that the two dining halls would go up either side. But this morning I found out that that massive tent WAS one of the dining halls, and an even more humungous tent is coming up beside it and THAT's the kitchen!

We are also responsible for setting up routines for checking in all the functionaries and specialists. We've stacked the temporary tuck shop and tomorrow we are going to build and furnish the builder's recreation area. Signs to be printed for smoking areas, assembly points, emergency plans, caravan places and lots and lots more. Yesterday I was working for 16 hours. Tonight is the first time it's fairly quiet. As I'm alone on the Support Team, I have to put the evening snack out too, but then I'm going to bed early.

I'll try to Bambuse a little bit as well at some points. And one of the guys here have made a great film of how the big kitchen is being put up, that I'm hoping to be able to link to some time in the future, but the connection at the moment is less than brilliant. Hopefully, we'll get a better connection on Monday....

Now it's only three months to go!!!

2011-04-27T08:18:00.002+02:00

Jamboree TV

2011-04-24T18:50:00.000+02:00

Changing the world- the official Jamboree song

2011-04-10T20:10:00.000+02:00

The Swedish/Ethiopian singer Daniel Lemma has written the official jamboree song for the 2011 Jamboree in Sweden. Daniel was very much surprised when he was asked, as he has no relation to the scout movement, but he wrote the song, picking up on the idea of solidarity in the movement.

It's a great song, isn't it!?

Crisis management

2010-11-22T09:19:00.000+01:00

The meeting this week was about urban survival, or less dramatically put; crisis management. Almost 6 years ago, just after the Tsunami hit Thailand and a relatively large number of Swedes had to struggle for survival in Thailand, a violent storm hit the south of Sweden with unbelievable devastation as a result. Boats and piers were smashed to smithereens, roofs and sheds were lifted off the ground, and in some places electricity was gone for a week or more. Eight people perished in the storm, several farmers went bankrupt in the aftermath, some tragically committed suicide. The material damage has more or less been restored, and most of the forests replanted. Six years later the saw mills have finally managed to take care of most of the fallen logs.
Even the urban areas were hit hard, with black-outs and blocked roads. The scouts, now between 15 and 19, remembered the event very well; one of them told us how they huddled together in candle light in one room to keep warm, and how everything in the freezer had gone off, another how his cousins for two weeks after the storm had come to visit to use the shower and wash their clothes as their power hadn't been restored.
So we talked about how to prepare for a similar event, and the scouts are now going to evaluate how well prepared their households are for a new crisis, using the official guidelines.
Water is a big issue in a situation like this, and the scouts were asked to prioritize the usage of the minimum amount of water per day, estimated to 5 liters a day per person. A huge, and sometimes heated discussion led to that 2,5 liters were saved for cooking and drinking water as "it's better to be well and in your right mind so be able to make good decisions than to have clean underwear", 1 liter for personal hygiene, 1 liter for washing up and half a liter for washing clothes. Thinking about that too many people in the world have only this amount of water, or less, for survival, and not only clean water, also led us to talk about how to save water in our everyday life (An average Swedish household use between 400-500 liters of drinking water per day, 184 liters per person per day in 2008! where of 45 liters of hot water!)
It is usually easier to recruit Cubs than Challengers, but perhaps it is only because we don't do enough recruiting... this term we've had two new recruits! One of them is completely new to scouting, one has been a scout in her old homeland and, I hope, will bring new perspectives to our group. Now we have to rise to the challenge of making them feel included, welcome and keep the meetings interesting enough for them to want to stay on!

JOTI in progress

2010-10-16T19:13:00.001+02:00

About 30 scouts from two groups got together to chat with others over the net. After some slight initial shyness most chatted away.
Both my PC and MAC came to very good use, but I spend more time doing ITC support. Got a few words with our mate Nick from Porthill who managed to find my daughter online! what are the odds?

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AGM and democracy

2010-10-02T13:07:00.001+02:00

Autumn is ATM time. First for all groups, then districts. The observer who came last year, who is also on the national committee, criticised us for the lack of motions from the active.members. It hit home, and we felt a bit ashamed: Every year we ask the scouts to sit in on the AGM and also vote. They are usually not particularly amused. So this year we decided to do something new.
The first couple of weeks this term I visited the older Cubs, the scouts and the Challengers. I explained the structure of the movement and the scouts wrote motions: The younger ones on big pieces of paper, some with illustrations, the slightly older ones on ordinary writing paper, and the challengers sent their by e-mail. Some of the leaders took the opportunity to write some too. All in all 14 motions were handed in to the committee.
At the AGM we took care explain the lingua and the proceedings as they happened. The scouts were much more active and questioned, voted and discussed the motions and the budget. The AGM lasted for almost 2 hours, but at the end of it we had a new vice chairperson (27) and two other members under 18. We also decided to build a tree house at our campsite (motion from the older Cubs), to buy some new tents (motion from the Scouts), to start sorting the rubbish at the hut in fractions for recycling (motion from the Challengers) and to buy an electrical chain saw for the campsite (motion from the Rovers).
Now I'm on the train to my first WSJ meeting. Exiting!

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Survival of the hungriest?

2010-09-19T19:30:00.000+02:00

The theme of today´s meeting was Edible things. The Challengers were given 30 minutes, a flora and a book about fungi and were let loose in the park. They came back with some nice stuff to cook on the can kitchens they made last week.

In the end, we had a three course "meal" consisting of fungi, cooked in their own juices, pine needle tea and rosted rosehips. We weren´t that full up. Edvin, Anton and Johannes also had some ants. I couldn't bring myself to try any, but they said they were really nice and tangy, and that they only tickled the tounge for a moment.

Yes we did it!

2010-09-19T19:08:00.000+02:00

As you may remember, part of our centinnary celebration was to host the national Scout Forum. And we did. 478 people were checked in, they all had coffee in the cafeteria tent on average 4 times a day, they discussed, they ate, they learnt, they danced and they had fun.

We had fun too, but we were awfully tired afterwards. Thanks to all and everyone in our neighbouring groups that helped out, all the parents and scouts that came in to do a shift in the café, kitchen or as night watchpeople, perhaps specially our "mayor" (we haven't got mayors, but chairpeople of the council) Mari-Louise Wernersson, who took the time to not only do the early morning guard shift, but also stayed to mingle and oversee the opening ceremony.

Many thanks also to
Christer Borg Entertainment for all the help setting up the equipment and friendly advice
Jan Wolfhagen for immitating His Royal Highness so well
Magnus Bengtsson for the wonderful fire show
The County govenor Lars-Eric Lövdén for comming
Soda Pop for making us dance all night, and Gustav for making sure the sound was brilliant with short notice
Falkenberg Town Council, for making all this possible!

And many many more!!!

In times of need

2010-09-18T14:28:00.000+02:00

Today I feel rather helpless and hapless... Just got word that the group in Varberg lost their house in a fire last night - 50 years of history up in smoke.

Of course we will all pitch in to help as much as we can, but the greatest challenge is to help people not to lose heart in all this, and to see the possibilities. The group has been struggling for a while, with finding leaders and finding funds - hopefully this won't break their backs, but make them stronger!

We feel for you!

Time to having your say!

2010-09-09T22:52:00.001+02:00

The autumn is AGM time, for groups, district and on a national level. Also, there is a general election in a couple of weeks. It is important to make sure that the scouts are involved in the decision-making, and this year we put a little extra effort into it, as the new program stresses the empowerment of the scouts from a young age.

At the older Cubs first meeting for the year, we had a quick run through of the organisation of the movement - from WAGGGS and WOSM to group level, recognising the different symbols which reminded the Cubs about what the various badges on there uniform represent and that they are a part of something big! Then the brainstorming began - of new ideas for program, and various projects and ideas for how to do up the hut.

Then the Cubs wrote a "formal" motion to the group committee on a large sheet of paper, and some added illustrations to make their point. Some of the parents were very impressed. Now we've handed the motions to the chairman to be referred to the AGM. I do hope that the meeting decides on doing a sleighing hike for the whole group, because as one Cub put it: "Leaders and Challengers are sometimes very childish too."

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Ten Days To Go

2010-08-17T19:07:00.000+02:00

Just ten days to go until Scout Forum. Yesterday, we had a last meeting with the project group from the Scout Ascociation to iron out the last creases. There is such a lot to get ready, but it seems as if we've got most under control.
I will try to blog live from the event, that is to be held in the park in town, which means that we will have lots of exposure and hopefully we will get lots of curious people that take part in the festivities.

The benefits of knowing scouts

2010-08-17T18:55:00.000+02:00

Early this spring I was contacted by a aquintance who was going to recieve a visit from an Australian family. He is a confirmed bachelor, and was a bit worried how to entertain the ten-year-old in the family, but knew that the girl was a Cub and her mother a Cub leader. I put him in contact with one of our other leaders, who I knew had been Down Under, and I thought might be interested in trying to arrange something. We figured that Cubs would be slightly to young, as their English isn't that good yet, so the younger scouts were invited on a short hike and sleepover.

Unfortunately, I didn't have the time to go, but it was reported that all had a great time, even though it rained on the lightweight shelters, they had to fight off mosquitoes the size of aeroplanes, one or two wasps and quite a few flying ants, and now we have a great, new mascot: A cuddly Aussi Roo, with a cork hat and a lovely necker with Aboriginal artwork on it!

I'm sure we'll stay in touch somehow, and I look forward to getting the opportunity to fight of some Aussi mossies at some point!

Tomorrow term starts for most children in this little town, and most schools in the country start sometime around this time. For some it's a greater change than others, moving up from one stage to another, both in school and scouts. The daughter of a good friend, who is a very talented musician, has been accepted to a music sixth form in Gothenburg, almost an hour and a half away. My friend has been looking to find lodgings for her, but it's not easy as Gothenburg is a popular place to live, and you nessecarily don't want to house a 16-year-old in any crummy flat, or room, to fend for themself for the first time. She was at her wits' end when she went to pick her younger daughter up from summer camp, and found herself sharing a table at the farwell feast with a family from Gothenburg.
-I thought I might as well ask, she says. The greatest risk I took was getting a no for an answer.
Instead, she came home with an adress and new friends. Their oldest daughter had just flewn the nest, and their youngest is a year younger than my friends daughter.
-And it feels safe. They're lovely people, and as they are scouts I know what values and standards they have. I'm sure it will be great!

In scouting we have a great web of contacts. As any contacts they are not to be abused, but do not hesitate to make use of them! The only thing you are risking, asking for a favour, is getting a no. And most people are willing to lend a hand if they can, because we know we'll get a good turn back - at some point.

Old treasures

2010-07-19T12:42:00.002+02:00

In my work with the new material I spent a little time looking back at available program materials from various times of Scouting's past, mainly from it's Swedish hayday, the 50ies. Mostly, I was looking for good quotes, and skimmed the texts, but a few days ago I finally had the time, and the peace, to sit and read properly.

One of these books is Patrulledaren Pricken och Ekorr (sic!) patrullen (Patrol leader Spot and the Squirrel patrole), published by Svenska Flickors Scoutförbund (The Swedish Girl Scout Association) in 1955, written by Gunnel "Humpe" Weidel and illustrated by Karin "Kluddas" Hollström; a charming naivistic story about 13-year-old Inger, who gets appointed patrol leader, and the reader gets to follow her work with "her" girls, her woes about not being a good enough leader, her pride when the Squirrels win the district competition due to the good group spirit, and her thoughts about dividing her time between school, family and scouting, and also about God and at the end, about love.

It is a lovely, naivistic story, very much of it's time, in parts reminding me of Enid Blyton's. The reader gets her own space to fill in information about her own group and it's activities, make notes and reflektions, and tips about games and activities for the girl scout patrole. In some parts it is also a document of a time, not far away, when quite a few people in Sweden were reliant on the charity of volonteers. One of the girls gets help by the group master when she can't meet the subs.The girls have a "Christmas Child" whom they help, not only with Christmas presents, but also by collecting handmedown clothes and collecting money for shoes and helping the boy's gran to pick the apples (and make apple sauce to sell to get her a new winter coat). The Girl Scout tests included map reading, knots and darning socks, a task that the group leader takes very seriously. The discipline is an imparative, but it is upheld with support and gentle guidance, and the 13-year-old has an enormous responsability, but gets wise support from her mother and from Akka, the group master.

What strikes me is that times, and equipment, and people's circumstances may have changed, but the program stays amazingly similar, as does the woes and worries of young people. What also strikes me is how empowered these girls seem to be, and how competent. (That is also why I think that Famous Five books are great for reading at camp or for a quiet time at a Cub meeting.) Children can do anything, by themselves! But we rarely let them. Scouting is better than most clubs, and scout parents are better than most parents, but still we coddle our children too much, and sometimes scare them from taking initiative and from being industrious entrepreneurs. It's a fine line between supporting and protecting and smothering and protecting. Now, this is a work of fiction, but as always there is a smidgeon of truth in everything, judging from what I've heard from older scouts and relatives.

Oh, sorry, got thrown off track here... The point of this post was originally to share some of the great games the book describes, and which I tried a few on yesterday's meeting. The Challengers are a lot older than the original target group, but what is good about scouting is that you get the opportunaty to keep playing games, and "my" Challengers really enjoy that. So yesterday we played knotting games:

One handed knots
The scouts pair up and put one arm around eachother's waists. With the free hand they do the knots on a communal rope. Practises knots, communication, coordination and colaboration

Hot Knot
The scouts sit or stand in a ring. The leader decides on a knot and gives the group two ropes. When the music stops the people who holds the rope has to make the decided knot, swiftly and correctly. When both people have produced a correct knot, a new knot is called and the music starts again. The book suggests that the loser has to step out of the ring, but we played it with points instead. 5 people made a slightly too small ring.

Group Knot
With a long rope the whole patrole makes the knot together, everybody holding both hands on the knot at all times. This is fairly simple with the reef knot, but gets fun and more complex with a sheet bend and really difficult making a nice hitch around the flagpole.

The book also suggests practising knots with thick mittens and in the dark. We didn't try this, as our winter mittens are packed away in our closets and it is only really dark between 11 PM and 2 AM at the moment. There are a lot of other fun games and activities that I'm going to try at meetings and share with my collegues. It is imortant to look back at traditions, and remember our past. And old materials are good for new ideas.

Summer activities

2010-07-19T11:24:00.000+02:00

Schools in Sweden have been out for more than a month, and as July is a traditional holiday time, it is somewhat difficult to get everyone in one place at the same time. The Challenger scouts did however opt for not taking a break during the summer, but to have semi regular meetings on the usual day and time.

The Explorites are, as mentioned in the previous post, home, but Isak has been away for a walking holiday in the Swedish fells, today Alice is leaving for a three week hike with Scouts from all over Sweden, and next week Victor and I are off for a family holiday in the Alpes (with a possible short stop at Kandersteg, that unfortunately didn't have any vacancies for camping (good for them!) :-( ) And at this week's meeting everyone was in a bit of a hurry, due to other commitments in the evening - but we had a great time!

The cooking challange got shrunk from a three course meal to a pudding, and while the very sweet blackberry and apple cake was baking in the reflector oven we practised our knots in various colaborative games, which I will discribe in the next post. Then we sat in the sun, eating the sweet, sticky cake and just revelled in the summer warmth.

For your pleasure, I adapted the recipe that the Scouts of course improvised.

Blackberry and Apple Cake

2 eggs gets beaten to white fluff with

1/2 a cup of castor sugar

Mix in 1 cup of flour and the juice from
1 small lemon
Pour into suitable container, we used the frying pan from a large size Trangia, lined with butter and rolled oats.
Sprinkle appr. 1 cup of blackberries on top and decorate with the apple slices.
Bake in the oven of choice.

The adventures are back

2010-07-11T11:23:00.001+02:00

Have just picked up my son and his friend in Malmoe, after their completion of Explorer Belt. They've obviously have had a marvolous time, and made loads of new friends and lots of experience.
After a long hike, with difficulties getting places to stay and ended up sleeping in various hotels, scout huts and in a Catholic church, eating mainly pasta and pizza they have been to the opera in Verona to take in Madame Butterfly, bought masks in Venice, and know everything about olive oil production.
And they earned their belts, but don't want pasta for dinner tonight.

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2010-07-08T16:07:00.001+02:00

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The best park garderners there is

2010-07-07T00:53:00.001+02:00

Our town garderners are fantastic! Every year they work hard to decorate the town and the park areas around the whole council area. This is a big job. They work all through the year and also grow their own material. We told them about our centinary and they did this. We salute you!

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Now finally!

2010-07-06T16:13:00.000+02:00

Finally, the book has gone to the printer's, after lots and lots of debaccle about things not showing in PDFs, pictures that weren't right and little bits and bobs. My friend, whose sister is in the publishing business tells me that this is always so, but it has been nerve wrecking!

Of course, looking at the PDF that was sent to me, I find things that I would have liked to address, but now I just have to settle with the fact that WE'VE DONE IT! We have produced a great publication, almost entirely using volonteers and it is very, very nice! (I just hope that everyone else like it too...)

In a few weeks' time, the finished product will come in the post, together with the books for the other age groups. I will then have a good critical look at them, and present reviews here on the blogg, together with some pictures. "My" book will have to be reviewed by someone else, I'm afraid.

The royal wedding

2010-06-21T14:33:00.003+02:00

It was just like a fairy tale: The Princess met the one boy who made her happy, and he just happened to be a common gym owner. Now he is Prince Daniel and he was joking in his speech about how he, albeit perhaps hadn't been a frog, but far from a prince when they met, and that the first kiss didn't change that.

The father of the bride is the Swedish Chief Scout and scouts were of course a part of the festivities. Our own District Commissioner, Marcus, was invited to a dinner with the royals before the wedding, and on the day scouts from Stockholm lined the streets to pay their respects.

"
Kronprinsessans bröllop 2010-06-19 - Images by Scouts in Sweden

Thank you!

2010-06-21T14:13:00.001+02:00

And thank you, Bear, for being such a great role model!

Off to Explore

2010-06-21T13:27:00.004+02:00

My son and his good friend left for Italy yesterday, to hopefully earn their Explorer Belts. I so wish that the Internet had been around when I was a kid! Things like this were rumours and legends in our group back in the 80ies.

Posing for the camera

For those of you who aren't familliar with the EB, it originated in the UK in 1962 and there are a few countries that still do it, in spite of insurance and security paranoia. The Swedish EB pretty much follows the original expedition plan (more information about EB in the UK can be found here) and the Scouts hike in pairs, for about 100 miles over ten days, in unknown territory, solving a number of small tasks that involves making contact with the locals.

Ida's granddad has laminated an emergancy note, with the condition that they will have had to starve for three days before using it.

It is ever so exciting even to us, left at home, as we have no clue to where our kids are off too either! We've been promised that an itinary will arrive in the post this afternoon, with a program. That will be very interesting. Even if my son is 18, this is his first really independent trip, and I'm so glad that he does it with Scouts, rather than partying in Turkey or Spain with his classmates.

On to the train bound for Malmoe, where they will meet up with the rest of the expedition for a 24 hour bus ride to Italy.

Centenary Camp 12-15/5 2010

2010-05-29T14:06:00.009+02:00

Clever scouts by their camp kitchen.

The group's annual camp had a centenary theme, with classical scouting activities. Chief of the Camp was Eva, who sported a lovely, handmade Guide Leader uniform from the early 60ies. The scouts listened tentatively when she told them how scouting had developed in Falkenberg since 1910.

Eva, missing her hat, in the middle of the camp reception area.

We also had an inaugeration ceremony for our latest Gilwell leader, Marcus. Some of our oldest active scouts from the district participated and we were told old memories of among other things a football match in the summer of 1947, where among others the Swedish Crown Prince Gustav Adolf and the UN Secretary General Folke Bernadotte played on the Scout's team against one of the leading Swedish football teams of the time. A few months later, they were both dead in plane crashes.

Marcus, our latest Gilwell leader. Well done!

On Thursday evening, after having lowered the flag for the night, the scouts walked quietly in the sweet dusk back to the house for their hot chocolate and were met by the booming voice of B-P, and a pack of Cubs from a century ago, a recording found on The Scouting Pages. This made a big impression on most.

Tom, from 22nd Oxford, and Victor, getting ready for Kim's Game on the trail.

On the Friday we celebrated the centenary with a BBQ buffet, with appr. 80 out of our some 120 members present. The weather was with us, and the sun stayed until the end of the campfire, when the scouts again walked together in the dark, on a light trail, where qoutes and messeges on paper bags, lit from the inside by tealights, expressing the scouting spirit lit their way, together with sweet smelling insense soothing music, jingling chimes, mirrors, candelabers, chinese lanterns...

For once, there is pop at camp! You can't be healthy always, and when there is a party there should be pop, shouldn't there?

On Saturday morning it was time to pack up in the pouring rain. But just as we got together to lower the flag for the last time together and say goodbye, the sun broke through the clouds and we went home dry after all.

Pioneering in the rain.

Still not gone to the press

2010-05-09T14:11:00.003+02:00

The books are late. Which is ok, but annoying. Today, I've done yet another read-through-check-headings-missing textsandwhatnots. There are still things not right. I expressed my frustration to a collegue at work, who just laught and said: "Did you think the job would be done just because you'd finished writing!?" His sister is in the publishing business and he says that she has a mild nervous breakdown everytime a project comes to the publishing phase, due to the millions of little knacks and knicks that need addressing before the finished product goes to the press.

Never mind. I enjoy this type of work. Perhaps this is what I should do? It's a bit difficult working on two computers at the same time though; keep clicking the mouse on the one trying to get results on the other....

I applied for two Scouting jobs, and got called to interviews, but for different reasons nothing became of it. It's nice to know that it's not me, just my geographical location, that is wrong.

A bit stressed out at the minute, and there is a risk of entries not being very regular for the next month as national course tests, grading and other pressing engagements in my other life will have to be prioritised.

School sports day

2010-04-20T15:14:00.003+02:00

Today one of the primary schools had a sports day for the kids to try out various activities, and one was scouting. I was just meant to help out a little, as I was at work, but with volcanic ashes and a turning of the world economy, two out of the three guys that were responsible got new jobs (Congratulations, guys!! And good luck!) and one is stuck in London. So my daughter took half a day off school for "leadership training" and my students were well into their projects (and they're going on 19 so they are very responsible most of the time :o)

We played games, cracked codes, learnt a couple of knots and put together the Trangias to make billberry soup. The kids seemed to enjoy themselves and at the end we handed out "I've tried scouting" certificates and some old badges to take home. My daughter did a brilliant job of it, and suggested doing a larger scale Trail Day for schools. As a teacher I'm not usually for students skipping school for fun, but scouting is more than just fun! Scouting is learning, while having fun!

As one of the kids today put it: "I've even did maths, and I didn't even notice!"

In between

2010-04-15T19:05:00.002+02:00

At the moment I feel in between things, in a kind of limbo Not that there isn't stuff to do! No, there is plenty, and the phone keeps ringing, and the mailbox is pretty full of things that need to be addressed. But there's an empty space...

This last weekend I went to Stockholm to finish the book project. Almost all the authors involved and the project managers met at the Scout HQ to have a look at the almost finished products, share our trails and tribulations and note our thoughts about the process and the results. It was great seeing the book for the Tracker Scouts (younger Cubs), with the action packed tale about Tofs, the fox, who takes the scouts through adventures on land, on water and in space, addressing everything, from practical outdoor skills, to introspective questions about values and personal beliefs. The title will be, in translation: The Big Tracker Book.

The Discoverers' (older Cubs) book, to me, with the title (my translation) The Discovery, brought 50ies adventure stories like Famous Five and the like, and you get to follow a six through an adventurous treasure hunt in short stories that deals with different kinds of issues and problem solving.

The Adventure Scout's book, The Adventure Handbook, is more realistic, and therefor illustrated with photoes. Besides the further outdoor skills, it also deals with puberty and personal development through fact filled articles and short stories with recurring characters, while the Challengers' book, "my" book, is deprived of knots and filled with life skills like project methodoligy, group development theory and advice on how to organize charity events and to make the council representatives to see your way. The illustrations are dark and muddy.

All the books have their own colour scheme and style, and the tone, although adapted to the target group, doesn't speak down to the reader, and isn't simplified. It felt great! But then, after a closing ceremony, a lovely dinner in a restaurant, on the way back on the train, I thought: What now? There is a big whole in my life, that for the last 11 months has been filled with angst for not writing, writing, editing, writing, angst, editing, editing, reading, editing.... I've learn a lot, and gained a lot of new contacts, had lots of fun and is more convinced than ever that I should really take up writing more seriously. And translating. I've got hooks out, that might lead to something new....

The books will be published at the end of next month. So until then I can relax, until the readers have their say. I hope they will be as impressed that I am.

prismotube

2010-04-12T16:41:00.001+02:00

22nd WSJ

More Videos & Games at Bluesplayer Cartoons

Wrapping up and leaving

2010-03-26T10:32:00.002+01:00

There are times you have to pack up and leave. Either you go gladly, in other cases reluctantly. I've just handed over the responsability for the district's training scheme to Thomas, who I'm sure will do a marvelous job of it.
I do so reluctantly, but just because I'm a bit egotistical. I've enjoyed the position of Training Officer, and the perks that come with the job: You get to meet lovely, intelligent and interested people, you get the opportunaty to great training, and you get to be a part of people's development. But really, for the last year or so I haven't done a great job. Definately not as great as I wanted to, anyway. So I decided that it was time to go.
You sometimes see that in groups: People that are stuck in positions that they really don't have time, energy or even the passion for anymore, but for various reasons they just don't move on. The most common, I think, is that they think that if they go everything will fall apart. However much we want to believe this, it is very rarely true. If you are only a leader because noone else is available, you will be leader because noone else is available for a very long time. Because you are available. If you go, another sollution will have to be found. It might not be the same as it was before, but there will be a sollution.
Sometimes a staying on is very irresponsable, as it may keep the group from moving forward. If you haven't got the time or energy to do anything but maintaining status quo, you won't move anything forward, and eventually the momentum is gone and instead there is the definate risk of the carrige starting to slowly roll backwards, and most likely by then you will notice that the scouts will jump.
Then there is, like in my case, those who stay on to enjoy the perks. How ever innocent this may seem, you have to step back and evaluate: Do I deserve them? I found I didn't anymore.
The work on the book is coming up to not the final stretch, but the final feet of the finish line. And now I get nervous. I know that I am proud of my work, of my baby. But how will others see it? What will they think about the fact that there is a complete lack of advanced knots or first aid skills, but advanced group process theory and life skills? There will be lots of people crying: This is not scouting! But I feel comforted in the FACT (as I in this work has reread Scouting for Boys and a few of the earlier program materials aimed at the scout, not the leader) that we follow a straight tradition of a century in providing young people with the necessary skills of becoming healthy, happy and responsable adults.

Productive meeting

2010-03-11T15:34:00.002+01:00

The project group met last night to repport back about how far we've got for the Scout Forum in August. Our Scout Council Sectretary General and Federation Chairman were both present and it felt great to be able to ask all the questions we've been dying to have answers for.
All five of the Swedish scout organisations have accepted the invitation for the event, which means that the likely number of participants has risen from the first estamated 300 to perhaps more than 800!
The space for tent pitching is limmited which is a problem, but of course we'll solve that some how. The camp fire will be awesome and will be heard all the way into the centre of town, and hopefully we'll get some curious visitors.

Scouting is my life

2010-03-10T08:34:00.003+01:00

At least according to my husband, who is a very patient man.
Scouting can easily take over your life, if you'd let it. Of course, most of us are scouts around the clock in spirit, but most of us do have "day jobs" too, and spend a varying amount of our spare time with scouting activities. A few have the privilege to have scouting as a career.
The last couple of years I have had to limit my involvment somewhat, both for my own sake, and most of all, for my family. I would have wanted to go to all of the congresses, meetings and would have loved to take on a number of various things that have passed in the ether, but I have had to realise that with a 45 hour/week job, three children, a dog and a husband you just have to accept that the day only have 25 hours.
Things seem to land on all the inconvenient dates this year: A course I wanted to attend collides with my own birthday (which other people seem to find important), our centinary camp finishes on my youngest son's birthday, and now I've been invited to a summing-up celebration of the new scout material the weekend my oldest turns 18.
My husband always say, that there will be plenty of time for involvement when the kids have flown the nest, and I earn better money for less work, and I know he's right. Thing is, I believe scouting is an organisation for the young, that I'm already on the old side. Don't get me wrong now people, I know there are some readers that are even older than me: Older people definately have a place, and the experience and knowledge kept in the organisation is vital for it's existens, but, by right, all the "fun" should be the privilege of the young.
Perhaps I could bring my son to the book celebrations?

Good deeds are always worth it!

2010-02-20T17:58:00.005+01:00

A good turn a day was one of the original concepts of scouting over a hundred years ago. This has been one of the things that scouts have been made fun out of for: Everyone, I'm sure, has heard something like: "Ah, you're a scout! So you help little old ladies across the street then?" A good turn has turned into community service activities, fundraising and lots of other great charity activities. But I do think that we shouldn't miss out the "a good turn a day" from the program.

Especially the younger members need the clarity of that concept: A large community project is difficult to grasp, and collecting money is easy, and undemanding, and if it's not followed up by proper discussion, or, like in Akela Joy's case a concrete, tangiable result of the effort.

I try to do my good deeds. Not that I think about it very often, I just try and be as a generous and helpful person as possible. It's not that difficult: Holding the door open for a collegue, helping a lost student out in the liberary, sharing lesson materials... Sometimes I "pay it forward" and buy a bag for the next shopper in line, or ask the staff at my favourite café to treat the next customer to coffee on me.

A good turn should be done not expecting any thanks or rewards. The satisfaction of knowing you've made someonelses day a little bit easier should be enough. And, if you believe in it, it helps your Karma.

This winter it has been rather easy to get the good turns in, as there has been ridiculous amounts of snow to shovel, and the neighbours have been poorly, so my husband and I have tried to do their bits of pavement as well as our own. They've kept an eye on our house when we've been away and are always so nice, so it's not a huge effort.

The greatest reward is knowing that we've helped out. An unexpected bonus was the two envelopes we recieved today. One was a voucher to use in our favourite coffee shop, one had a substansial sum of cash. We tried to give it back, but they wouldn't have it, so we've decided to use it for a family meal in a restaurant. Good karma.

An interesting observation

2010-02-13T17:39:00.003+01:00

Still got a couple of texts left to write, and as usual I'm very greatful for every interuption. There is very little time for "proper" scouting at the moment, so I was glad of the oportunaty to give two of my Challengers a lift to the cottage in the woods.
They had originally planned a sleep-over in the Hut in town to get started constructing their bath tub raft for the legendary Bath Tub Race in Säve in April, but had forgotten to book, so they rearranged the weekend: Instead of driving up to collect the tubs, they took the rest of the gear up into the woods instead. We had a lovely chat in the car about leadership: comparing their group in scouts with the theatre group they are both part of, discussing the need for a leader in a group, inofficial group leaders, haow to deal with them and how to win and keep the trust of group members. I think we all learnt a great deal.
The woods were white and silent. The first part of the road had been cleared, but soon we were wading through knee high snow. The two accompaning dogs loved it, but I felt slightly silly, as I had shoes on rather than boots. When their friends arrived I left them there to go back home to write, but I rather wished I could have stayed there.
On my way down to the car (appr. 10k) I made an interesting observation: It took less energy, and went a lot quicker to jog through the deep snow that to walk! At least I now have had a little bit of exercise.

Book meeting

2010-02-05T23:22:00.002+01:00

I went to Borås to meet Fredrik, who is in charge of the project group around the new program and also in charge of overseeing the books for the scouts, and Sara, who is also writing the material. We had a productive meeting over a pizza, and decided a new time plan and divided the last texts up between us.

This weekend I'm to put my board game on paper to send to the graphic designer, and I need to write an article on mentorship in scouts. It's a fairly new thing at this level, which makes it a little bit difficult, but I'm fairly confident that I can present the idea in an understandable way.

Next week I have another article on leadership within the the Challenger group to finish and lots of texts to scrutinize, pictures to decide and whatnot.

6th of March all the texts need to be done. I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Let the festivities begin!

2010-01-30T23:30:00.000+01:00

The Centinary Celebrations have been commenced. On Thursday a group of industrious leaders built the exhibition in the Town Hall and on Saturday we had fires going outside, selling hotdogs and giving out Billberry soup to passing shoppers in the biting cold. It was nice to stand by the fires in the crisp winter sun, and in spite of the thermometer showing almost -10 we kept warm all morning. And we had the moving pictures to look forward to.
It was so cold when we arrived after having picked the gear up in the Hut, that the electronic locks on the Town Hall had frozen and we couldn’t get in to start the exhibition video projector up. As it had been down into the -20ies in some places, the security company had loads on their hands, going around to check alarms and water pipes in village halls and old people’s homes around the council, and it wasn’t until 11 we got into the hall. By then the fires were lit, the first sausages were nicely charring away on the grid and the first pot of bilberry soup was heating up.
A few children took the offer of grilling their own, while most hot dog buyers made do with the ready grilled ones. Surprisingly enough we didn’t have any mishaps with sausages falling into the fire, and the blackened, cauldron like pot of bilberry soup bubbled away nicely and it’s content spread warmth, not only to us, but to quite a few of the passing Saturday shoppers.
A steady trickle of interested people went through the exhibition; curious parents with small children, ex-members of various ages and a few people who just wanted to get in from the cold for a spell. All in all it was a great success.
Just after three I hurried into the old cinema, that is as old as the group and some, and now, rumour has it, holds one of the best photographic museums in Europe. The audience this afternoon consisted of scouts, active ones and former members, who were hoping, or dreading, to catch a glimpse of themselves in old films that had been dug out of cupboards and drawers for the occasion.
First we got treated to a rare cartoon with Woody Woodpecker to get us into the mood. It was a nice reminiscence! Then an old film from the 50ies, when the group had a small hut in the woods by a nearby lake. Ladies with big handbags and small hats were chatting, while serious looking men with trench coats and hats were exchanging pleasantries, while stylishly dressed scout leaders served coffee and cakes and Scouts, Cubs, Brownies and Guides were trying to behave in front of the camera. Then films from the 60ies: An international scout camp at Stegeborg, near Stockholm, where exotic looking scouts from all over the world had been caught on camera and smiling faces that we recognised. Comments about how exiting it had all been, in spite of the mud, the rain and the mosquitoes were heard around the room from slightly greyer haired ladies and gentlemen, still very much recognisable from the silver screen images.
Then videos from the early 90ies, where leaders who are still active, looking so much younger then, were singing the same songs to kids that are now grown up and some sitting in the room with their own children, who are now ready to join. The birch woods around our cottage were as intensly green back then, but less dense.

Two hours flew by, and we all felt that we could have watched a little bit more. We also heard from the audience that there are more films out there, and more people who would have come if the roads hadn't been so icy. So we're hoping for a new screening in the summer.

Unfortunately I hadn't time to stay around to chat, as I had a birthday celebration to attend (not mine). I spent a good part of the rest of the evening in a wooden hot tub in a neighbour's garden, in the moonlight and -12, with ice in my hair and stars in my eyes as well as in the sky. But that is a totally different story.

District council

2010-01-30T23:03:00.000+01:00

This year's District Council was held in Halmstad and I went in the capacity of District Training Officer, to be able to pick up on what wishes the groups have for the comming year's training. There is a huge interest in training at the moment, that is so important to tap into, but unfortunately it is so difficult to respond as we are a very small district. Fortunately we are surrounded by some very much larger districts, whose courses we can send our leaders to.

Also, a representative from the Jamboree team was there to talk about Camp in Camp and advice the groups on how to organise it. What a huge organisation! But it'll be great!

As usual we had great food, a good laugh, and came away with many thoughts and lots of new inspiration.

I helped make this!

2010-01-22T20:37:00.003+01:00

In the post today was a copy of the first edition of the new Scout leader reference book with the new program! 270 pages of facts and hints about how to be the best scout leader, and a super person, with lovely, contemporary pictures, lovely layout and a lovely new smell of ink and paper.

I helped make this!

My name is not on the cover, and I'm not even mentioned in the credits, but I helped make this by reading through most of the texts, "diversity checking", that is making sure that the texts are inclusive of minorities and the examples are equaliy distributed between men and women, that there are a variety of skin colour, cultural referenses and so on.

This summer I helped "market" it, by answering questions and taking in opinions of the "dud" at Scout Forum, meeting scouts and leaders from all over Sweden, from all different scout organisations in Sweden. I even talked about it with Americans and Japanese scout leaders.

Today it arrived in the post, and I'm so proud!

In a months time the Challengers' book need to be finished. This weekend will be spent ardously at the keyboard. Then my name will be in the credits. And I will be so proud.

Starbright

2010-01-10T20:45:00.004+01:00

I so wish I could show you what the sky was like tonight! But it was too dark for pictures when we got to the golf course with our tobogans. The clouds raced like pink candy floss over a velvety background, and it looked like one of those close-ups from a gangster film, you know when the gangsters are going to by guns or drugs and they nonchalantly roll out this black velvet cloth with lots of sparkling stones on it. It was awesome!

We ran up the slope and raced down it, time and time again, until we were out of breath, swetty and rosy cheeked. We were laughing, and screeming and having fun. We were alone on the slope, noone else but scouts would be crazy enough to go toboganning in the dark. One of the girls had suggested it, but noone really had any tobogans. "We've all grown out of tobogans in our house" said one of the boys, who will be 18 this spring. Lucky that the leaders had some!

When we were leaving to go back to the hut, and the hot chocolate, we had a text. The Rovers were snowracing in the next slope! So we got in our cars and drove for a kilometer and visited, had a test run of that one too, before we turned back to the hut.

What a wonderful outdoor experience!

You're comming, aren't you?

2009-12-14T13:46:00.000+01:00

Promotional video from Worldscoutjamboree 2011 on Vimeo.

New promo film for Swedish scouting

2009-12-14T08:17:00.003+01:00

About Scouting (long version) from Scouterna on Vimeo.

St Lucia celebrations

2009-12-13T20:40:00.010+01:00

Last year I had a surprise visit from the Rover scouts. This year I had offered to drive the Challengers, but as it turned out my services weren't needed. Exept for some motherly support, as my oldest son had been chosen to act as the focus festivities: St Lucia. This isn't at all strange accually, if you know anything about the origins of the festivities: Before religious groups introduced the Light Maiden into the earlier heathen traditions (that were rather wild and boisterous) the first Catholic convent schools used to dress one of the school boys up as an angel at the end of the autumn term choir concert. When I arrived at the scout hut there was a flurry of activity: The Christmas tree was finishing his costume in one corner, Rudolf was improvising on his guitar, the Pressie was decorating her costume. I got the full report today at the meeting (Challengers challenge silly things like end of term). After a couple of visits in the cold winter's night they had stopped for a pizza break. Unfortunately, the thermos flask with the non-alcoholic sweet mulled wine had leaked all over the Christmas tree, who got rather sticky, so a slight remediation was needed before the group got back into the two cars and continued their tour around the town and the houses of the group's leaders. At one house the inhabitants were very slow waking up, or perhaps the singing wasn't loud enough, but the neighbours apparently were woken up and curiously watched from their window. At 2 am they came past our house, still looking fresh. The dog found them very interesting, but returned inside after having had a quick sniff. We got to enjoy four more or less traditional carols before they turned to go home and to bed. We enjoyed it enourmously, and I can imagine that they are more tired than me.

Sorry about the poor quality of the clip. Wasn't sure in what format to save it... But I hope you get the picture ;-)

End of term

2009-12-09T21:43:00.003+01:00

Tonight the group celebrated end of term by a torch lit walk from the town centre to the scout hut, were Markus, our Scout master, held a lovely speach where he summed up the year. It has been a trying year in some respect, having to deal with the scout hut being vandalised almost every week periodically. But it has also been an inspiring year, working towards our centinary, landing the deal to arrange next year's major scouting event in Sweden, new leaders aboard, new scouts of all ages...

We're still the biggest and most prosperous group in the district, although in the second smallest town. Albeit that it's a small district, only seven groups, but still.

Markus concluded his speech by saying how proud he is to be apart of the group, and how proud he is to be a part of the world wide community of scouting. It was truly awesome, standing there in the dark winter's night, lit up by carosene lamps with the International Peace Light in them, and fires, listening to the scouts giving their Promise, some for the first time.

After the ceremony the leaders, the Challengers and the Rovers gathered for a coffee, chat and lottery drawing. The prizes were left over from the market the other week and consisted of mainly sweets. The takings went towards the painting and decorating of our cottage in the woods that the Rovers are undertaking. They've been sponsored with paint from Beranders Färg, a local paint shop, who has donated 20 litres of paint. So the rooms in the cottage has changed from being seventies algy green, murky brown and greyish-not-sure-if-it's-dirt-or-design to fire engine red, basil green and all sorts of cheerful colours!

Everyone at the meeting got to by raffle tickets, and everybody won, at least something. The Rover mascout, Efraim, was really lucky, winning on all seven of his tickets! I'm sure he'll share the takings with his friends, the Rovers. They deserve it! Efraim, the Rover mascout

All in all, it's been a lovely scouting year, and the next will be challenging but even better!

Industrious scouts

2009-12-08T19:42:00.003+01:00

Funding is always an issue as it seems you can never get enough money. Some scouts in Scania applied for funding from the EU Offices and got a grant for developing the sustainable thinking around their activities. They will also arrange a "green" camp this summer.
For those of you who have a translation tool on your computer you can read the article here.

Peace Light

2009-12-07T21:07:00.004+01:00

The Peace Light reached Sweden on November 25th, but noone from the group was able to meet it, but today we had a special delivery: Gjermund, the treasurer from Varberg, drove down with the flame and I met him in an unceremonial parking lot.

It is always breathtaking recieving the Peace Light. This little flickering flame, that is said to have been kept alive for thousands of years in the Birth Church in Bethlehem, that has travelled time and time around the world in the caring, careful hands of scouts and others.

I'm not a religious person, and the Peace Light is not formost a religious symbol, but a wish for peace among all men - like you can accidentally blow out a flame by treating it carelessly, friendship can die; like you accidentally can loose controle of the flame and it will destroy all in its way, your actions and opinions can have disasterous effects on the world and the people around you. Therefor, I enjoy sheltering the flame, caring for it and sharing it with all around me who are ready to care for it too.

Centinary emblem

2009-12-02T21:59:00.002+01:00

Marcus Agbrant, the new DC as it happens, has just finished the design for the Centinary emblem. It will be printed on our stationary and made into badges, and hopefully other collectable items too.

Our chairman finished his latest e-mail with "... Falkenberg Scout group, something I'm very proud of being a part of." So am I.

Ps. Nick, I'll send you one when they're done

In Santa's kitchen

2009-11-29T20:13:00.001+01:00

The Challengers have been promised their own stall on the first of Advent market in town. The group has been there for ... as long as can be remembered, selling tombola tickets, sweets and hot dogs for the group. The Challengers are going to sell x-mas cakes and biscuits and all the money will go the the Challengers's own account, to finance among other things the Great Bath Tub Race in April.

So, at 11 on the Saturday everyone got together with ingredience donated by helpful parents and grandparents, to practice their baking skills under the supervision of Christian and myself. Hard toffee, butter fudge, sweet Lucia buns, swiss rolls.... The scouts worked extremely hard.

Oops! Not everything went according to plan.

I left them at seven in the evening. After that they were going to wrap everything nicely and decide on the prizing. And then play the X-box and watch a couple of films, the standard Challenger sleepover activities :-)
Not the common uniform, but very stylish!

Summer adventure

2009-11-26T19:40:00.003+01:00

I just filled in my oldest son's application for this comming year's big adventure: Explorer Belt. For three weeks he and one of his scout friends are going to explore Italy. For about 10 days they will walk about a hundred miles in unknown terratory, with a limmited budget, having to rely on their wits and their good manners to get shelter for the night. Then they will travel around the country together with a larger group, mostly by bus or public transport. Neither of them know any Italian. Yet. But perhaps this will be an incentive and motivation to start learning a language again.

Both of them are studying at 6th form, both specializing in Drama. They're one year apart, Victor being the older of the two, but Ida the one who has the most experience. She went to Island to a scout experience on her own initiative when she was 15, not knowing any one in the group. Last summer she took part in a three week hike, in part on a raft on a big river. I'm happy that they've chosen to team up, knowing that Victor will be in good hands.

Now the most important part of the project will start: The financing! The experience cost quite a bit, and us parents agree that they will have to get some of the money together by working. But they are both inventive, industrious and I am sure that they will have great fun getting the funds together.

I'm so greatful that my children are a part of a movement, that enables people of all ages to grow and experience adventure in this way! I wish that everyone really knew what possibilities lie in scouting and were able to participate!

National conferrens of the Swedish Scout Association

2009-11-22T15:18:00.004+01:00

At the last minute I decided not to go after all and save my energy for the Christmas market weekend next weekend. My son and his friends from the Challengers went along and had great fun.
On Friday evening they hung around the Challenger's café and mingled with young scouts from all over Sweden.

On the Saturday they looked at the exhibition and took part in a compitition where among other things Geocaching and counting lampposts on the biggests shopping street in Gothenburg. They took part in a games swopping: writing down the intruction of their favourite games and playing new ones, they took part in a seminar discussing what is scouting. The team won second prize and were awarded lime green stainless steel thermos flasks.

In the evening there was a great banquet with an Italian buffet. All the delegates and exhibitors were there. The banquet finished with the scout band Simply (Scouting) playing and everyone dancing.

This morning they had a look at the democratic negotiations, took a while on the town and then caught the train back.

The group also promoted next year's meeting in Falkenberg, which have grown from a meeting for the Scout Association with 300-500 participants to a new Scout Forum with an expected 800 from all the Swedish associations!

Training weekend 2009

2009-11-16T08:23:00.004+01:00

Last year saw the district's first Training Weekend. Then three people tried the first BASE training course. We were the first District Training Team that ran the course. Although not many participated, we believed in the concept of running a whole weekend, with a smorgardsboard of training courses.

Annica explaining the importance of the Scout's code of conduct, yellow card, our social responsablility for children's wellfare and what to do in a crisis situation.

This second annual training weekend took place in Varberg's scout hut. It's an absolutely lovely place, at the end of a birch wood planted at the turn of the last century for the leisure of the people of this little coastal town. In the wood is also planted some rarer trees, which is marked out with plaques, little paths crisscross the airy forrest floor and larger, tarmaced paths make the beautiful wood accessible for everyone.

Your scribbler demonstrating the organisation of the scout movement locally, nationally and internationally.

The hut is more of a chalet. In it's hayday it must have been a wonder of luxury! The Cub's den in the attic has 9 little cubbyholes along the wall for the sixes to hide away in and at least 40 sq. meters of open floor, there are dens for at least 20 scout patroles on the bottom floor (which are now mostly used for storage, as the group is considerably smaller now than in the late 50's), and in the boy's toilet the remains of an urinal with an optic flushing system, which started when someone (taller than 110 cm) walked through the door. Of course it has been painted and decorated during the years, but all renovation has been very lovingly and carefully done, which has left so much of the old charm and atmosphere.

The Safe Outdoors group cooked lunch for all on the Sunday. A yummy noodle wok made on a giant murrikka, the Same frying pan.

We ran the weekend on a drop-in basis, as the new courses are built on modules that you can collect. On the Saturday we had 12 participants in the workshops, most from Varberg, which could be considered a growth from last year with about 400%! As last year we had a chef from Swedish Gilwell on loan, who held a workshop on outdoor baking and also cooked our evening meal, that was followed by the Camp fire workshop participants holding a great camp fire in the pouring rain. Next year we will be in Falkenberg, my home town, and our aim is to do BASE, SCOUT1 (next step for leaders) and PATROLE1 (training for scouts age 12-16) + lots of fun workshops!

Your humble narrator learning to do rope tricks, overseen by Stefan, who confesses himself to be more of a pine-cone-and-twig-kind-of-guy than a sailor.

All in all the weekend was a great success! Thanks to everyone who helped make it so, by just being their lovely selves! This time photos are taken by Thomas Forsman, which means that I am in some of the pictures.

Outdoor Cooking Challange

2009-11-08T21:12:00.008+01:00

How many 15 to 17-year-olds cook comfortably at home? How many 15 to17-year-olds cook confidently with out a cookery book? It was time for the Outdoor Food Challenge.

It gets very dark very quickly at this latitude at this time of year. At five PM it was already very dark when the Challengers gathered. After the opening ceremony the Challengers showed eachother the secret ingredience that they brought. There were apples, chocolate, a few variaties of pasta, sweet corn and salty biscuits. And on top of that, there was a whole table with other ingredience to choose from.

The task was to present a three course meal in 60 minutes; to work together to decide the menu, the way of cooking and divide the labour.

After about 10 minutes of negotiating, weighing the pros and cons of each way of cooking, and then finally deciding on using the Trangias. The other options were murrikka, the Laplandian, three-legged fryingpan, and a reflector oven.

The scouts worked focused and efficantly, but got slightly stressed as the pasta wasn't completely done when the time was up, and the starter was still to be put on the plates, but they did really well!

The starter was a cordon bleu style dish with a mushroom and a strand of asparagus, fried in garlic butter, served with warmed up fetta.

Chef is laying her last hands on the main course.

We had laid a table with a white (paper) cloth and candles.

The main course was Spaghetti Carbonara with Crème Fraische.

And for dessert: Chocolate dipped apple vedges.

Except for all the washing up, it was a brilliant evening, though Alice was slightly cold. The meeting ran over almost an hour, but nobody minded.

Scouting at Halloween

2009-11-02T18:44:00.006+01:00

As you might remember a while ago I wrote about the difficulty in letting scouts be independent. This weekend the Falcons of Falkenberg finally hosted the Halloween party they had planned for weeks. The setting was pretty horror film: A group of happy youngsters arriving at a small cottage in the middle of nowhere for a party, decorating the place with jack-o-lanterns, skulls and ghosts; dressing up as zombies, squirting fake blood every where; A car that seemed to have given up the ghost on parking; A little jet black cat showing up from nowhere, miauing desperately, trying to crash the party...

I left the scouts to their own devices, worrying about the state of the car: If I were to be the responsible adult with a car, ICE, I thought it might be an idea to have a functioning one. There seemed to be a hose leaking in the cooling system, and Marie was going to arrive at six anyway, to keep me company over night.

The little black cat showed up out of nowhere when I was sitting outside on the stoop, having lunch. I had bought some ready made Swedish dolmas in gravy that I had heated in the microwave oven. The cat almost threw herself into the gravy, crying with hunger! It's so sad, how some people get a kitten for the summer holiday, and then, when the season is over, they leave their summer house, and the cat, and go home.

The cat was skin and bones. It wasn't bothered about the dog, but the dog was very vary about the cat, not wanting to leave it when I left the house to set up camp. All afternoon the dog ran back and forth between the house and the camp site. I think he was worried about the cat. I made a few phonecalls, but noone was interested in taking it, and there isn't a rescue center anywhere near, so I'm afraid we finally had to make the decision to just leave it.

Anyway, the guests arrived at 6, and was met down by the road by a couple of zombies with lanterns who guided their way to the cottage. Marie and I withdrew to the hilltop, and had a very pleasant evening, grilling gourmet sausages and dunking Italian chocolate rusks in mascarpone. We had a good natter in front the fire, and crawled into our sleeping bags at about 10, gazing at the starry skies in the moonlight. The dog curled up by our feet, and our breath rose like smoke in the cold evening.

I'm not a very well equipped scout leader. Whilst Marie has all the gear to get up Mount Everest, I have been stingy, making do with budget stuff. But I've rarely suffered. You just have to be a little bit inventive. My first sleeping bag from the 1980's, and a budget bag, designed to manage freezing point, some wolly socks and a sleeping bag liner did me just fine in -4. I had also a good mat, and a warm dog. I woke up at 8, not realizing I was sleeping outdoors!

We had a lovely breakfast, cooked on the Trangia: Scrambled eggs, bacon, mushrooms and a tomato relish. We pottered about for a couple of hours, before we went down to the house to see if the scout had woken up and started clearing up yet. They had and they were. They had had a wonderful time, even though they didn't get the film projector to work. They had finished all the food (except the veg, and a bag of potato crisps). Marie and I made sure that they locked up everything and then we all went back to civilization: The mothers relaxed and invigourated, and the kids very happy and pleased that their project had come together as they had hoped.

Why couldn't I go too?

2009-10-25T16:10:00.003+01:00

Thomas delivered my son and his friend from sleepover this afternoon. Our dog Trouble, who is a real outdoor dog, was very upset that he hadn't been invited along to any of the scout activities this time, and took the chance to get into Thomas' car. He was not going to be left out of the fun this time!

It was two very tired and happy boys who came back, full of anecdotes and laughter. My son's friend had to go back early last time, as he had sprained his ancle and missed his investiture, so they had arranged a special ceremony for him this time.

Back to civilization

2009-10-25T16:00:00.004+01:00

The Challenger Scouts have kept me updated, using MMS. It's been slightly wet and cold, and they ran out of meth, but got some soup into them. I suppose the eggs and bacon for breakfast used up a large amount of fuel.

It was one of our Challengers' first hike, as he joined only a few months ago, and it will be great fun to see what he thought of it all!

Leader and experienced scout (one of my first Cubs!), 3 km from pick-up point, slightly wet and cold.

Fun without parents

2009-10-25T13:44:00.003+01:00

One of the aims of scouting is to make young people independent and selfsufficiant. We do a great job for the most part, but it is so difficult to let go and let them try their wings and fly unsupervised.

At the moment I'm reading the Famous Five books aloud to my 10-and-a-half-year-old son. Enid Blyton is so scouting: The children are resourceful, brave and have great social ethos (even if they're very middle-class and sometimes stinking perfect) My son loves the books where they are out camping on their own, or as in this last book, with a supervising adult who lets them do what ever because he trusts them to do the right thing. The Famous Five always stay 11-15, which isn't true for our scouts, who grow from 6-year-old Beavers to 15-year-olds with spots and hormones. As leaders we're their to lead them in the right direction, to guide them gently into adulthood, and to safely let them try their wings and fly under supervision. But when is it time to let them fly on their own?

My soon 13-year-old daughter is tall for her age, has the vocabulary of a 25-year-old and lots of integrity. She is a dream, and a nightmare. All parents want their children to be independent and selfsuficiant. She is that, and she wants to fly on her own. Together with her slightly older friends she has organized a Halloween sleepover, booked the cottage in the woods, sorted a digital projektor, made a budget, a menu, a program and invites. Already a good few people in the group has confirmed. It will be a great sleepover, I'm sure.

As a scoutleader and parent I have very few qualms about letting the kids do this completely on their own. I have offered to be around as back-up, as invisible as I possibly can, as the cottage is a good 45-minute drive from town, and IF something happens it might be a good idea to have someone around who has a driver's licens. Now, my daughter and her friends have decided that they'd like to go to the cottage already on the Thursday, to prepare (and have a bit of fun as well I'm sure). As I'm not prepared to spend three days invisable in the woods, I've said that I'll be joining them on Saturday. They are definatly competent enough to take the bus and hike the last 5 km to the cottage along the country lanes (The Swedish country side is very desolate and peaceful, on account us having a country twice the size of Britain with only 9 million people in it!)

B-P encouraged "his boys" to explore and hike on their own, to practise their skills and to make independent decisions. Some parents might argue that they were different times, more peaceful, and safe, and they are right in some respects, but perhaps our fear of something happening is more crippeling than the accual risk of something happening? Sooner or later we have to let our children go, and if they haven't practised flying on their own at all, they are bound to crash into whatever lampost at some point anyway. What we need to teach them is to risk assess, to listen to their instincts, help eachother out, and to keep to their good values - that goes a tremendously long way!

But nevertheless I'm going to offer a compromise: They'd go on Friday morning, and I'll join them on Saturday afternoon. First flight shouldn't be too long.

Challengers on the go

2009-10-24T15:14:00.004+02:00

The Challenger group - 2 are on a two day hike this weekend. Their other leader, Christian, took them on his own, as I'm practising the art of balancing my diary and saying no, but I couldn't resist driving them the 90 km (60 miles) to the drop-off point just on this side of the Scanian boarder.

The Halland Trail is part of the national walking trail system, and part of it is also The North Sea trail. The trail offers reasonably comfortable walking, mainly on paths in the woods, but sometimes along roads.

The Challengers aren't walking very far this time: Saturday they are recconing on doing about 17 km (10 miles), stopping off for sightseeing along the way. The weather wasn't brilliant, but I'm sure that they will enjoy themselves.

At two I had this MMS. The group had stopped for lunch: Ravioli on Trangias. I hope that Ida's dog Svipp will have some too. With his little legs he's walked much farther than anyone else!

District AGM

2009-10-12T20:44:00.005+02:00

It's not a huge affair, but it takes a bit of organising, and a few worries before hand.

I've restricted my distric activities to training. So I was there partly as a delegate for the group, partly as training officer, and also to inform our delegates about how the AGM works. Our group were hosting the meeting, and we were in place at 8.30, with 80 french rolls, and 70 marsipan cakes (We went out for lunch) Our delegates ranged in age from 13 to 42.

The chairman of our group, talking to the retiring chairman of the District

Generally, scouts in Sweden use a method we call, directly translated "influence market", but a better translation is probably "discussion square". The method was invented by The Swedish Scout Association, and has now been adopted by several organisations and political groups, among others Swedish Red Cross, Attac, and Student organisations in Sweden.

All propositions and motions, including budget and action plans are posted in a room outside of the plena. After the meeting has elected chairpeople and secretaries (two of each to make sure everything gets handled correctly) Representatives from the committee, and if possible the person who has written the motion are in place to answer any questions. The delegates move around to listen and discuss the documents. Observers are allowed to comment and listen too, but only delegates are allowed to leave written comments. You use a green note to second the motion, a yellow note to second with changes, and a red note to negate.

When the Discussion square is closed, all the notes are collected by the committee, sorted and documented, and often after lunch, the meeting continues. One by one the propositions and the motions are presented and so are any comments. If a person wants the meeting to discuss his or her comment and take it into the meeting, the issue has to be woken. Sometimes they aren't, because the delegate might have hade a change of heart or been persuaded not to wake the issue.

This is a lenghty buissness, but it assures that everyone has the chance to say their piece of mind and it is a great way to make the text come to life and get everybody involved. It is used both on a group level and in large, national gatherings. How do involve your scouts in the democratic process?

This time, there wasn't anything controversial and the meeting came to a friendly end about 4pm.

Back home, with a bag full of snippets...

2009-10-01T20:13:00.002+02:00

...snippets of ideas, of texts, of adresses...

Fredrik offered to help out with the "daytime stuff" - contacting people, comissioning, admin.. Which is so obvious that I need! So first of all, this weekend, I'm going to sit down and list everything I need help doing!

The meeting last night was really inspirational, and some of the ideas grew over night. Then more inspiration this morning, when I met with the people responsable for development and recruitment strategy, where we talked about how teenagers can recruit other young people and adults, by organizing camps, and events, doing projects, involving people outside the movement.

I got lent a new self-help book by a wellknown author, who has been a great inspiration to many adults over the last couple of years. This new book targets our age group. I read it quickly on the train back, and it is absolutely fab! I wish I had had a book like that when I was 16! And best of all: The author has let know that she might be willing to let us use bits of it.

I need to order comic strips, find scouty pictures with a rock'n'roll feeling, comission texts from charities, and find a few samples of inspirational literary writing to send to WSJ communication, to kind of show them that I might be a resource for them after this.

Oh, dear... I so wish I could spend more time on this... But tomorrow it's back to t'old mill.

The Stockholm syndrome

2009-09-30T22:42:00.004+02:00

Dazed, I sit in a guest bed at the Scout Council headquatres in Stockholm, after a full day of meetings. I feel slightly shattered, after having gotten up at the crack of dawn, literally, to travel for 5 hours. On the train I wrote a text on project method. At 11 I met with the ArtDirector. We agreed on most things, had a lovely Japanees lunch box together, and I came away with a few reasonably concrete, and slightly pressing tasks.

Then I met with the woman who is responsable for coordinating the Activities Teams, to get information about what activities and camps to use as examples in the book. We both went away feeling that we knew too little about what the Temperence Scouts and the YMCA really have on offer in that respect... Need contacts!

Fredrik, my "boss", and I sat down for a spell, catching up, and then he took me on a tour to introduce me to everyone in the office. The Scout Council share the premises with a couple of the Scout organisations' administrative staff, the Scout magazine editors and WJS admin in Sweden, so there were a few people to meet.

Then we had coffee. Much needed.

Then the chief editor of the Scout magazine and I sat down to go through the last couple of years' issues to find usable articles for the book, and then I had a lie down in one of the two guest rooms on the conference floor.

Didn't have time to fall a sleep, because I was due to meet one of the key writers of the main programme policy document in town, to discuss his coments on my synopsis over dinner. I did feel a bit overwhelmed by this point in time, but he turned out to be a lovely young man. He took me to a very British style pub, where we had a Seafood casserole, a couple of pints, and very fruitful discussions about my synopsis, the programme, modern leadership, key points of the scout method, the importance of learning by doing and reflecting, B-P's stance on sexual education, and a few other things, before I felt the day taking it's toll.

He walked me to the Underground station, and I almost fell asleep on the train back to the offices, where I finally managed to get through the coded doors, didn't get stuck in the elevator, found a bathroom to brush my teeth, and are now sitting on the bed, feeling slightly lonely.

Got to get some shut-eye. Tomorrow at nine, I have a meeting with the Recruitment Strategy manager, and someone else, before I have a working lunch with Fredrik, before I take the train back to the provinces.

Goodnight!

Finally!

2009-09-27T22:07:00.003+02:00

Finally I got my act together and wrote the synopsis for the Challenger Scout Book. It only took about an hour. Perhaps that is the problem - as I know that when I finally get cracking, the writing comes easily, and therefor I postpone everything endlessly...

On Wednesday I've taken leave of absence from work to go to Stockholm for a layout meeting. Until then I will have completed a few more texts, and also comissioned a few pictures. It will be a hectic couple of days - meetings with the layout team, and also with the people responsible for the new program. I hope also to get more information about the new badges.

On the homefront, there seems to be a bit of a problem... The Challenger Scouts are all very busy doing a lot of things, but unfortunately outside of scouting. As we haven't been able to get the whole group together one single time since term started at the end of August, we've now reached a critical point, where we have no set program, because people haven't been able to commit and contribute (lots of good ideas though!) and since we have no program, people don't prioritise comming to the meetings.... Vicious circle... But next Sunday, diaries in hand, and BIG calender sheets on the table, we will schedual a hike on the North Sea Trail, midnight cannoeing, gourmet cooking class on Trangias, Leader training etc etc.

Update due!

2009-09-25T13:58:00.002+02:00

I just realised how long it was since I updated! I'm sorry, life has gotten in the way.

Bag of presents were found and got sent in the post, presents are delivered and very much appriciated.

The vandalism of our scout hut continues. Very tiering indeed. Up to now, the new window panes have costed apr. 800 Euros, 720 pounds. It has escalated, and there has now been two break-ins in three weeks. Luckily they haven't broken much, and only stolen little things. I just fear that they one of these days will set the place on fire! Metal curtains are on the cards; let's hope they will be in place ASAP.

On Wednesday the 23rd scouts all over Sweden celebrated 100% Scout. We wore our uniforms or other profile clothing to school and work.

My youngest son was so sweet! He is usually very tired in the morning, but he'd been looking forward to this day for several weeks, and bounced down the stairs for breakfast, already in his uniform:

-Mum, I've been thinking... Today is 100% scout... But I was thinking, I'm accually 100% scout everyday!

I couldn't help but laughing, and gave him a big hug:

-You know what? I've been thinking too, and I don't think that there is anyone I know that are more 100% scout than you!

The local paper looked me up in my workplace and took photos, and wrote a short, but very good piece on the occasion and about scouting. (unfortunately it wasn't put on the web) I've had lots of positive reaktions. And one negative: I had an e-mail sent to me, saying that I should be ashamed of being proud of fronting an "anglosaxon equivalent of Hitlerjugend". I wrote a very polite answer back.

Back home

2009-08-31T15:59:00.002+02:00

Found my computer cord, but lost the bag of presents I had bought for the kids :-( My youngest patted my arm and said: "It could happen to anyone, mum, don't worry..." I'm still very angry with myself though. And the strongest stuff served was coffee...

All in all, it was a productive weekend. We mightn't have got as much work done on the material, but we "sold" the program well. I also learned more about the Training Leader accreditation scheme, and later Leader accreditation scheme, and about the thoughts concerning the new Leadership Academy. Also, it was inspiring to learn more about the WSJ Camp in Camp. Oh boy, aren't you in for a treat!

The WSJ committee STILL haven't put the PR film on Youtube! Scandalous, as it is really nice. I had words with one of the representatives, that promised to put my thoughts forward. Before the London WSJ there was loads of material on Youtube, and lots of the camp TV-films are still there to see. But NOTHING about Simply Scouting! Lots of children need a substantial length of time to be able to save up for the jamboree, it's no good waiting to tease their appetites until it's too late!

This week the scouting term starts. Mike has ironed his uniform, and looked all over his very messy room to find his knife handling badge for me to sew on. But he can't find it anywhere. Just as well, as his uniform seems pretty tight and the sleeves seem to have gotten shorter since camp a few weeks ago. Cassie starts tomorrow evening, but Victor and the Challengers have already met three times.

The Challengers have chosen to have every third meeting together with the Challengers from another group in the next town. Last night they were there, looking at their premises, and in three weeks they will come to us. My thoughts as their leader is to inspire them to take the Basic Leader training course together during the autumn, as almost all of ours are assisting at Tracker and Explorer scouts. But we'll see. There are sooo many things that I hope that they would like to take part in!

Scout forum

2009-08-29T21:01:00.004+02:00

Last weekend of August, and 700 scouts gathered in the site of the 2011 World Scout Jamboree for seminars and information about upcoming events in Swedish scouting. The WSJ planning team was present, and so was the B-P Fellows, His Majesty, King Carl Gustav of Sweden.

His Majesty is the grey-haired man between the man in black and the man in grey, just in front of the portal.

We are subjects of experiments, trying out the proposed camp toilets, showers and some of the other facilities. Representatives from the Federation committee and the various subcommittees are present to answer questions and inform of the program reform, the WSJ, other European camps, and functions within the international scout sphere.

The shop is doing brilliantly, as the foreign guests are shopping madly for the Swedish profile clothes, and I don’t blame them: The clothes are wonderfully designed, reasonably prized and probably very cheap, considering the Swedish currency being so weak at the moment. One Japanese lady walked out of the shop, carrying at least 5 Swedish scout uniforms! The piles of Simply Scouting WSJ profile merchandize melted away during the day.
Myself, I was in place to inform about my work with the Challenger scout material, and to get input from leaders and scouts, and to help inform about the program reform and the new Leader book that I have helped with (in a very small way). It will be published in November, and we have a trail print with us for feedback. Generally the reception has been positive so far.

Now, I'm in the café. I've lost the electricity cable for my computer and am about to loose power. But that's ok, Ik'll have another cup of coffee and listen to the band, and be a little bit sociable instead....

Getting things together

2009-08-24T21:50:00.002+02:00

Next time this year, our group will host 300-400 scouts, mainly adults, when the Swedish Scout Federation have their biannual information meeting. Tonight the organising committee and some of the people that we have asked to be apart of the executing committee had a first meeting, to present ideas and thoughts about the event.

The truth is, we don't have much information to share at the moment. At the weekend, a few of us are going down to the Scout Forum at Rinkaby, where the WSJ 2011 will be held. There we will meet the secretary general and second and hopefully get some more info about budget and demands on program. It's all very exciting, but sometimes I (and a few others) curse this silly head of mine that keeps having ideas...

Kick off!

2009-08-16T18:29:00.004+02:00

Every scouting year starts off with a gathering, where all of the group's leaders meet up and plan the term together. This autumn term saw a few changes. As I have advertised earlier, I have left the Cubs and will be the second leader of the Challenger scouts (15-18), and Marie will do the Adventure Scouts (12-15). I will, for now, remain the district training officer, and work on the new national program.

This year we were sent on a quiz walk, and then we had the pleasure of decorating cakes together, and eat them. Of course I had to taste all the available cakes (6).

The scouting term starts in two weeks. I will continue to report from our activities and about general scouting issues.

Back from camp

2009-08-09T10:21:00.007+02:00

Sorry, my intention was to keep you posted during camp and upload pictures too, but I got too busy, writing for the camp wall paper, being around for the kids and also participating in the adult and leader program. I wish I could have done more things: I missed out on the discussion groups and the seminars, but managed to pursuade one of our parent helpers to take the teaser seminar for parents, helpers and aspiring leaders. I did go to two Chi Gong classes, in the most beautiful spot you can think of, I got to go out on the sailing boat Mandalay (first time sailing), I had a number of cups of coffee, and roiboos tea in the friendly café, where I got to speak English to Hilary from Tasmania. (The coffee was free if you brought your own cup and bought a cake, so I had a number of yummy muffins, brownies, carrot cakes and mallow cakes too I'm afraid)

View from the Chi Gong class
Mandalay from a distans

We had a lovely camp. The kids were extremely well behaved and did us proud in lots of ways. Petra and Kerstin in our camp kitchen served breakfast, and lunch when the scout got back from their morning activities, and then they did their tasks: One six was responible for chopping firewood (which was an easy task, as many of the younger scouts love to practise with an axe and therefor had done most of the chopping already); another filled the water barrells and saw to it that the hot water tank got topped up, and water for handwashing and washing up was available and three sixes cooked for the others. Everyone got to try all the stations during the week, exept for the Explorers, who did very little cooking, but helped out all over where it was needed.

Lighting the kitchen fires

Recipies can be difficult to read

All in all we were 56 people on our plot. We had taken cubs and scouts from 10 and up. Most stayed for the duration of the week, but we had to let two go home due to sore throats, and two scouts bailed ship for going on holiday, respectively celebrating a loved relative's 80th. As we shared resources and leaders with Varberg's scout group, we were plenty of adults on site, and it felt almost like a holiday.

Relaxing was possible in all weather

The youngest member in the village was Lukas, who is five and came to his first camp with his granddad. The oldest was Torkel, who is Group leader for Varberg. He is 75, and still going strong, and also helped organising the the camp, so he was on site when we arrived, and won't be coming back until Wednesday this coming week.

The kids had a wonderful time, in spite of the first couple of rainy days. The morning activities were meaningful and thought provoking, although some of the leaders thought them to academic for scouting: A great teaser for the new program to be launched this autumn. Some sixes got a talk on journalism and writing for the paper, and then got sent out to do little pieces on a deadline, that were then published in the camp wall paper, or on the blog the next day. Others built sculptures out of refuse, made up a country and then learnt about how easily war breaks out, and the danger of retaliation with out thought, when their "counties" were destroyed by others. This exercise stirred many emotions, but was a great discussion starter.

Understanding what's behind the billboard headlines

The scouts also got to try forum theatre, "the theatre of the poor", acting out dilemmas that they had come up with on the theme "oppression". Some acted out school situations and bullying, whilst some of the older scouts thought of political tyranny. Every day scouts were bussed into the nearest town to collect money for charity, and in the end got almost 10 000 SEK together for the "Grand day out foundation", a charity that help fulfil seriously ill children's wishes.

The rock band Marilyn entertained the last evening. The singer admitted to being very impressed by scouting and having had to abandon a lot of prejudice after being booked for the gig.

In the afternoon the scouts had a wonderful smorgasbord to choose from: Making friendship bracelets, soap football, organised water fights, canooing, sailing, swiming for the younger ones and also viking jewlery, and black smith forging for the older. On top of that, there was a range of activity bags to be borrowed from the Information tent: Giant Chinese sticks, ludo, butterfly exploration packs, water experiment packs, rock climbing, absailing, obsticle course, etc, etc. The Adventure scouts went on a 12k hike one evening, and the Challenger scouts were on a midnight adventure game, where they were to save us all from environmental terrorists. (Don't ask me! I haven't the faintest, but it sounded exiting and went on until 5 in the morning.)

Two of our Challengers. Not the English woggle on Victor's necker

In the evenings we were all nicely tired out and the kids went to bed without to much ado, except for after the great camp fire when spirits were high coming back, and most nights they were accually asleep by midnight, except for the Challengers, who sneaked back from their disco/speed dating/kareoke/whatnot in the woods.

All in all, a wonderful experience, and I like to thank the organizers, the leaders and all of the kids for a wonderful week. And thanks also to all you parents who trust us with your children.

At camp again - Agema Kragenäs Sweden

2009-08-03T14:45:00.002+02:00

It's difficult to see, but the top sign accually says "No camping"

On 1st of August 1400 scouts from the western part of Sweden got together on the meadows of North Bohuslän, close to the Norwiegan border. Arrival day was good. The scouts from Falkenberg had travelled by bus for 3,5 hours. We found our camp site, a seemingly well drained peace of the field, just by the fresh water taps, but miles from the toilets. Work commenced imediately: The kitchen got going, cooking supper, the tents went up (three tipis, three gilwell, 1 troup tent, 3 tunnels) and the kids worked really hard. We tumbled into bed at about nine in the evening, completely shattered all of us.

On Sunday building was continued. We got the seats, and the roof for that, two kitchens for the kids to cook on, washing and washing up area and other, a bit more ornamental constructions. The weather was fair, although rain had been promised between 8 and 9pm, just when the opening was planned, so we all prepared by putting our rain gear on.

The stage had a beautiful setting, with the sea and the rocky little archepelago islands behind it. The organizers welcomed us to a camp for both body and soul, and urged us to us to think, and think of others during camp, and when we get home. The rain didn't start until 10pm. But then it kept raining...

Today, activities started. Our scouts had media training: One group went to work for the camp wall paper, and the other learnt about press, and what is news and how to see the story behind the news piece. The Challengers scouts were challenged by writing forum plays and act them out in large groups. The leaders felt a bit obsolete for a change, and had time to relax. With no younger Cubs on site, Marie and I had time to enjoy.

Unfortunately, the weather has had a turn for the worst and it's now continuously raining. The weather report says rain tomorrow as well, but on Wednesday it'll be 26 degrees centigrade and sunny! But the sailing boats are in the sea anyway, and there is plenty to do. We try our best to stay as dry as possible, cover in the tuch shop or in the café, or brave the rain, doing archery, playing games or just walking. It's too wet to build. The staff are doing their best to keep us entertained and happy in the mud. I've been promised to use the computer if I promise to blog for the camp blog too. I hope to be able to make the same arrangement tomorrow. And I hope it has then stopped raining.

We got it!

2009-06-21T21:12:00.002+02:00

Every other year members of the Swedish Guide and Scout Asociation gathers for "parliament", where the new committee gets elected and various issues are debated. All members are invited, and as a youth moment, comitted to make sure that our members learn and upholds democratic priciples, we encourage everyone to go and take part in the democratic process.
Every other year all members are then invited to meet with the committee and ask questions about where the Asociation stand on the questions that were decided in "parliament". This is a less formal affair and there are also other activities.
Falkenberg Scout Group wrote, as we celebrate our centinary 2010, and asked to host the meeting then. It was a shot in the dark, but a good opportunity to show off scouting to the rest of our town, just at the end of the tourist season when the weather is great, and the sea is still warm. AND WE GOT IT!
So now the hard work starts: 300-500 people are going to be fed, housed and entertained for a weekend at the end of August 2010. It'll be so much fun! (And so much work) No doubt that the discussions about Simply Scouting will be plenty and interesting, and that we will set a big footprint on the minds of people in Falkenberg, which population by then will be back to its normal 14000, after having doubled for the summer season. Any good advice anybody?

District Cub Camp 2009

2009-06-14T20:19:00.005+02:00

It seemed to have everything against it - 3 out of 7 groups pulled out and we only had a third of our Cubs down to go. The weather forcast was abominable. As Eva and I sat in the car down to the district camp site on Friday afternoon, we were wondering what we had gotten ourselves into...

Pitching the tipi

Chinese sticks in the rain

The first 20 hours were very, very wet. The rain was wet, the ground was wet the firewood was wet, the kids got wet through their rain gear, we got wet through our rain gear... We realised how spoilt we are, having our own hut in the woods, with facilities to dry gear and kids off, running water and water closets, when the kids almost refused to go to the privies.

Kubb, the viking game, works in any weather.
Brave Cubs

Our 10 kids became 7, when two boys got too wet and cold (one had forgotten to pack rain clothes though...) and one of the girls felt too far away from home for her liking, and they wanted to go home.

The Saturday held fun, slightly icky, and difficult tasks to solve. The aim was to win keys to help the Queen retreive her treasure.

Fishing for keys in all sorts of wierd stuff.

The consistant rain didn't prevent the Cubs in our neighbouring group to wake up at 4.30 and almost waking the whole camp up with their "cheerful" shouting, before their leaders took them for a long walk before breakfast in the rain 3 hours later.

Söndrum's new camp kitchen. (Worked beautifully with DRY firewood)

7 hours later, the ones that did stay got their reward when the sun came out. But then the wind picked up, but luckily not enough to prevent the Cubs to take the cannoes out for an hour or so. Some even ventured a swim in the freezing river! We supervised from a dry spot beneath a tree, well away.

They did go in the water, I promise!

The water level had risen almost 40 cm from the rain! The wind made the waves choppy and difficult, but everyone got to get out for a little while on the water.

Not even the parafin could get the camp fire going properly, but the Cubs enjoyed the singing and the entertainment, then had a cup of cocoa before tumbling into their now slightly drier tents. Only one, not ours, girl had to get picked up during the early hours of the morning as she got sick.

We slept quite well during the night, even if the wind didn't die down. The Cubs practised juggling and had a play, got packed up, and had hot dogs before the parents came to get them at 1pm. All that remained seemed to have enjoyed themselves.

Then we drove back and hung the tipis up to dry in the scout hut, went home to have a shower and a nap and started planning the next camp! It IS fun to be a Scout leader! (Almost always)

As the term is ending, the Cubs are now on summer holidays, and my role in scouting is changing this will be the last entry for this blog as you know it. It will be back though, most likely as general scouting blog, reporting from all age groups, possibly focusing on the new program, training and activities.

Group Camp 2009 - Nils Holgersson's wonderful travels

2009-06-05T09:39:00.002+02:00

The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (Orig. Nils Holgerssons underbara resa genom Sverige) is a famous work of fiction by the Swedish author Selma Lagerlöf, published in two parts in 1906 and 1907. The background for publication was a commission from the National Teachers Association in 1902 to write a geography reader for the public schools.
"She devoted three years to Nature study and to familiarizing herself with animal and bird life. She has sought out hitherto unpublished folklore and legends of the different provinces. These she has ingeniously woven into her story." (From translator Velma Swanston Howard's introduction.)
Selma Lagerlöf, like many leading Swedish intellectuals of her time, was a friend of Swedish spelling reform. When published in 1906, this book was one of the first to adopt the new spelling mandated by a government resolution on April 7, 1906.

The book is about a young lad, Nils Holgersson, whose "chief delight was to eat and sleep, and after that he liked best to make mischief". He takes great delight in hurting the animals in his family farm. Nils captures an elf in a net and the elf turns Nils into an elf too, which leaves him shrunken and able to talk with animals, who are thrilled to see the boy reduced to their size and are angry and hungry for revenge. In an attemped to stop one of the farm geese from joining his wild fellows on their migration north, Nils takes off on the back of the goose. The wild geese, who are not pleased at all to be joined by a boy and a domestic goose, eventually take him on an adventurous trip across all the historical provinces of Sweden observing in passing their natural characteristics and economic resources. At the same time the characters and situations he encounters make him grow: Nils needs to prove to the geese that he is a useful companion, despite their initial misgivings. When he proves that he has changed his ways, he gets turned back into a boy. (Text adapted from www.vikipedia.org)

More pictures with captions at Picasa

Wild Kids

2009-05-31T16:29:00.003+02:00

For a couple of years Swedish public service tv has been airing this children's show, were kids of the same age as our older Cubs are sent out into the forrest, divided into two teams and fight eachother in various competitions. It is very popular, and the host is also the editor of the leading children's magazine, the century old Kamratposten (Roughly: Friend's messageboard). But instead of people being voted out of the competition, as is the normal way of doing it in various reality TV shows, the teams gain new members for every won competition.

One of the "trofees" this year is a scout, and a brilliant spokesperson for the organisation. As it happened the guide that took the winning team on a safari adventuri in Africa is also a scout! Now scouts in Sweden are using Wild Kids as a mean to recruit new kids.

The Temperence scouts' symbol

The Temperence Scouts in Varberg, the next town north, contacted our vice Group Master a few days ago, and told him that they had arranged a Wild Kids Camp in our town, but as they haven't got a group in Falkenberg, could they refer the children to us, if they wanted to join scout on a more regular basis. And of course they can! So to properly introduce ourselves, and to check out what they were doing, Markus and I went along to find 30 Wild Kids trying to find the long forgotten treasure of the two rival families Lionhead and Bearclaw.

The Bears and the Lions, trying to find the hidden treasure

We were also pleased to see, that some of the children there were old friends: Some who gave up scouting because of lack of time or because their friends dropped out. Hopefully it means that they might come back to the group.

Parents, tied up and padlocked, waiting for their children to solve one last piece of the adventure.

The activities were great! I just hope that we can continue to inspire the kids through the term. The new national program will help, when it gets released in the autumn. And some more leader activities to inspire them!

Burundi tragedy

2009-05-28T16:52:00.003+02:00

Swedish newspapers reported yesterday about a governmental offical in the Kayogoro district of Burundu having been arrested for his involvement in the shooting of 3 young boys, one of which later died in hospital, who were at camp, preparing to give their scout oath.

The boys had been forced to lay down on the ground before the police opened fire on them. The police at first claimed that the scouts had opened fire on the police, and that they had shot the boys in self defense. This was later taken back, and five police men have been arresten and admitted having been involved in the incident. One is still in hiding.

http://www.burundirealite.org/news_view.cfm?ID=2895&LANG=F
BBC seem to mention the incident at http://www.bbc.co.uk/greatlakes/news/story/2009/05/090525_bdiscoutpoliceapology.shtml but I can't find any English source of confirmation. Can the international friends of scouting do anything to support the group?

Sorry for the inconvenience...

2009-05-27T10:25:00.003+02:00

... but the currant workload paired with a strange irregularity in meeting frequens due to holidays and the springing of spring has made it, but will try to update soon.

Comming up:
Group Camp
District Cub Camp

That's it, all done

2009-04-26T17:30:00.005+02:00

The last mobile phone leaflet, the last hot dog, and the last baloon has been handed out. The climbing wall has been transported off, the promotion coats have been handed back and the shops have closed after a few hectic opening days.

Our feet are tired, and our smiles are stuck somewhere by our eyebrows, but I think we enjoyed it, and we made some good money for the group.

A nice surprise was that one of the shops put on their newspaper sized leaflet that got sent out with the local paper to all subscribers and also was handed out (by us) in hundreds during the weekend, that "The scouts offer free hot dogs and climbing wall", which made us look very generous, whilst in reality they payed for all the dogs and buns.

We also had some nice meetings with scouts of old, that came up to chat and share memories and ask questions about scouting now. Our scout master got names and addresses for a couple of contacts that might be very useful for the centinary.

St George

2009-04-24T07:31:00.003+02:00

As we did last year, we celebrated St George in the town square, by meeting up, talking about the Scout Law and the St George message, and acting out the legend of St George and the dragon.

As we also are helping out at the opening of a new shopping complex in town this week, to raise funds for the group, most of the adults were there, but we had a good turn out of kids.

After a few good years, we unfortunately feel that the money is a bit short at the moment. It's the upkeep of our houses that costs most - activities are for the better part funded by the scouts themselves, and also we are lucky to get a generous grant per scout from the local council when we hand in lists of members and our program at the end of the year. Also, there is a gouvernment grant for each six (so the more sixes we have, the better!)

But this last year we had to install a new heating system, fix some of the piping in our cottage and also we've had vandalism in our town hut almost every week for the last few months. It's mainly been broken windows, but we have also had a couple of break-ins where little things have been taken. Unfortunately, insurance doesn't cover this, and all the glass amounts into lots of brass...

Planning the summer

2009-04-24T07:09:00.003+02:00

On Monday Tracker scout leaders from the district met to plan the District Tracker Scout Camp. It will be held at the district camp site Hjörnered, in Laholm and the theme will be an old TV-show, where the participants in small groups solved tasks, like digging for clues in grimy pots, climbing high walls and solving riddlesto win keys. The program sounds VERY exciting!

We met at Sönderum scout hut. I've never been there before. It is a lovely 70ies building, inspired by log cabins, with a large room with a high ceiling, and big windows out towards the surrounding residential area and far away I think that I could glimps the sea.

On both sides of the hall is smaller rooms and it was in one of these we met. Söndrum had put up a wonderful sandwich table, with lovely breads, cheese and salami, that helped made the discussion constructive.

From Falkenberg's point of view we came with the suggestion not to arrange the camp this year, as two out of the district's 6 active groups has declined coming, and as we have lots of activities on in May, we had only managed to get about 5 out of 35 interested in going. Then we got the news that a third group had pulled out! Perhaps we could do something else instead, like going to a nearby district's camp?

But as it turned out, Laholm and Söndrum had a good number of kids that had already commited to going, so we decided it was worth it for them. And this week, we've had a few more of our kids contacting us, wanting to go. So, it's on, and it's going to be brilliant!

It helps being a scout

2009-04-21T20:29:00.004+02:00

This Easter school break saw beautiful weather, and as a teacher I'm off work during school holidays. But my husband is in the middle of a career change, and is doing his last work placement period before graduating as a qualified nurse, so there wasn't time to go off on a family holiday...

School breaks can easily make me crazy. Or, rather, having the kids 'round the house all the time, having to nag them to get off the computer, get off the TV, get off the sofa, get off the Wii, etc. All their friends seemed to be off in Thailand, or the Alps or in all sorts of exotic places.

Not very far from Falkenberg is part of the North Sea Trail, a system of foot paths connecting all the countries around the North Sea. I managed to get the kids interested in hiking with me for two days.

We took the bus from Falkenberg at lunch time, 20 minutes eastwards to a small village called Vessigebro, were we got off the bus and had ice cream in the sun before setting off through the village, past the church and onto the path, leading along the ridge above the river Ätran. The view was magnificent!

We paused for a rest, a drink and a piece of fruit or a little sweet every so often, as we all felt slightly uncomfortable in our backpacks and our feet grew tired. 5 km was just the right distance to hike with a 10-year-old, a 12-year-old and a 40+ mum, early in the season. The dog carried his own food and drink, and got slightly tired too.

At 4 pm we reached our camp site, Skattagård, and had plenty of time to rest, pitch the tent, enjoy the surrounding forest and cook before dark. We saw lots of tracks from deer, elks, birds and wild boar. Just after dinner we had a visit from a couple of the nearby farmers/landowners, who told us that they were going to hunt for wild boar during the night, so if we heard anything we shouldn't be alarmed. And could we please keep in the tent and the dog too (as if we'd be out in the dark with lots of wild boar about!)

After having read a couple of chapters in a Famouse Five book, we turned in for the night just after dark (at about 9.30 pm). We were very tired. Mike, whose ten, fell a sleep almost instantly. The dog first wanted to stay in the for-tent, but the night grew very chilly very quickly, and there was an array of mysterious sounds from the forest outside the tent, and he very soon wanted to snuggle down in between us three in the already crowded tent.

Cassandra and I lay listening to the night sounds. It was exciting and a bit scary. We wished that we had learnt the various bird's song, and got slightly worried when we heard a consistant rustling noise, just outside the tent. Could it be a wild boar? I thought I heard a slight snuffling noise too.

Suddenly, a shot rang out in the night! The dog flew up, and tried to open the tent flap, but landed his paws in Mike's face, but he barely woke up at all. The forest got all quiet, and we hardly drew breath as we were listening to the sound of a hound a little way off. Then it got all quiet. The dog finally lay down again. And the forest started breathing, and sounding. Far away a deer barked. A fox yelped quite close, and owls and other birds called out. I have never heard such music!

It got very cold during the night. I later learnt that a few kilometers away, it got down to -4, and we woke up a couple of times and snuggled closer together. Mike woke up at 6 am and wanted breakfast, but got pursuaded to go back to sleep.

When the sun got up, the warmth returned quickly. We cooked a luxurious breakfast on the Trangia, before setting off for the 6 km walk to the bus stop in Abild. The path took us through a nature reserve, on little country lanes, past farms and fields, and on the last leg, on the road.

Before catching one of the few buses back to Falkenberg that run out there, we had a nice lunch outside the mideveal church. With a lovely couple of day's hiking, aching feet and shoulders and a nice, fresh tan, we returned home just in time for an afternoon ice cream. I couldn't help thinking how lucky I am to be a scout, which makes it so much easier to get out on little expeditions like this....

Work Day at Tranabo

2009-04-21T20:10:00.003+02:00

This Easter holiday saw fabulous weather all through the break. In the middle of the day the temperature was mildly summery, but it was chilly during the nights. We've entered into a very busy time with the scout group, with lots of goings on, but also school holidays and fewer meetings.

On Saturday a lot of the leaders and Rovers, and some parents got together at Tranabo, our cottage in the forest, for a good tidy and spring cleaning both indoors and outside.

We've had this cottage for more than 40 years, but it is still charmingly primitive. I can remember as a wee lass going to the stinky privies in the middle of the night, and getting water from the pump in the meadow. Now there is running, even hot water, and loos, even though not in the house, but in the "barn", where there are also showers, a sauna, storage facilities and washing room and room for drying wet gear.

All around in the forest are little camp sites for the sixes to use. These were cleared of dried leaves and sticks for the comming group camp. Wood was chopped, grass was burnt, windows were washed and sausages were grilled.

All in all, we got lots done, and had a wonderful day in the sunshine and fresh country air.

More pioneering

2009-04-01T19:58:00.005+02:00

I had scheduled a vistit to the older cubs today, our 'Explorer scouts', to hand out the UNICEF waterdrop pins for the cubs to sell. I got into a little bit of a hurry, as I fell asleep after work. So in the end I left the Thai chicken soup and jogged of to the scout hut with the stuff in my backpack.

I got there just in time and participated in the hoisting of the flag. When I had handed out the pins, I left my bag in the hut and jogged round the track in the forest behind the hut. The park is lovely at all times of the year, but I think I like spring best anyway: The smell from the earth and the pine trees, and the pigs that are kept in a massive pen, partly because it's a rare traditional breed, that still is close to extinktion, partly to work the earth over and keep the forest floor nice and open, but I think mostly to entertain all the little kids in town.

I jogged just once around the track and then got back to the hut were the explorers were busy practising pioneering. They were all very active and were discussing knots and plans for their camp sites in May. I somehow wished that I could stay outside in the lovely sunshine with them, but I had to go home to finish the soup and do some more washing.

Temping

2009-04-01T08:09:00.005+02:00

The District Commissioner rang yesterday afternoon, and told me that the Deputy Commissioner was ill, and could I come with him to the Regional Commissioners' meeting in Gothenburg? As I do miss being in the midst of policy making, or rather discussion, I got on my bike and got picked up by the motorway, as he drove past Falkenberg.

Gothenburg District consists of 47 groups, which is slightly different to our little, piddly district of 7 active groups. Lina, who has been the DC for Gothemburg for the last 5 or so years, is very young, very knowledgable, very passionate, very opinionated and very verbal, which makes meetings very interesting, but slightly long. Apart from us, there were also representatives from three other largish districts in the region and a member of the national scout association's committee. The purpose of this meeting was to recap and evaluate the national commissioners' meeting at Gilwell, Sweden, last weekend.

A few years ago an Itinery for the Future was designed and accepted by the Association. It focuses on raising the credibility and status of scouting, and of course boosting the number of members. A lot of the work the Association has done so far has been good, but at the moment the general feeling out on the field is that we need time to carry out the changes, try the new courses and evaluate the new program, before we go on to the next step in the process. All over the country the feeling is that getting kids to go into scouting is easy, but to get adults and responsable teenagers to become scoutleaders is difficult.

The feeling is also that the paid project managers, and administrative personel in Stockholm are pushing in a direction of professionalist scouting, which in the long run will scare good, idealistic leaders off. As someone said a while ago: "Soon enough you will have to have a degree in education and psycology to be a scout leader".

The Association is also pushing to VET everybody working on a national activity during next year; something that most are very sceptical towards. The meeting was of the opinion that it lulls people into false security and is more a cosmetic action than one that will have a real impact on the security for the kids. The police register only shows if you have been convicted of crimes, and it is questionable wether it is accually legal to use the police register like this. And where do you draw the line? Does one conviction for driving under the influence disqualify you from scout leadership? Petty theft? As Lina pointed out: if she leads Explorer Belt, it would be more likely that she comes across a leader collegue that runs of with the money (as they have a budget of around 5000 euro) than that they molest the participants who are 17 or older.

Another question is also: Who handles the information? As noone in the Scout Association is legally bound to silence, sensitive information might get into the wrong hands and get missused. Personally, I think that continuning the attitude and information strategy, and make sure that scoutleaders around the country are aware of, and continuously discuss risk assessment and code of conduct. It might be fine in countries where there is a massive amount of perfect people to chose from, but in Sweden, that is a country of 9 million people, spread out on an area twice the size of the UK.

The general opinion was that the district managements are not opposed to change, but we'd like to implement and to inspire our groups to take the changes aboard as well, and most of us do have a life outside scouting too (even if it sometimes is difficult to believe!) The members have firmly stated to the National Association that we'd like to remain a non-profit, idealistic movement, with leaders who do what they are good at because they love it, not because it is a job. The disadvantage is of course that changes takes longer, as we can't work 40 hours a week implementing them.

(Photos: Marcus Agbrant)

Wild kids

2009-03-29T13:23:00.009+02:00

The majority of the Cubs were handed back to the respective parents in various states of muddiness. Some had bruises, a few had sticky plasters, most had most of their belongings. An all in all successful night away.

C-J, one of our Rover scouts, who also is responsible for the upkeep of our cottage, was rather surprised to have four women decend on him, where he stood in the kitchen, frying himself a bachelor's supper on Friday evening. He'd come up to deal with the firewood, and had forgotten all about the Cubs and us coming. Now he had to withstand not only a homemade curry dinner, but also giggles. He seemed to take it in his stride, retiring to the sofa after dinner, while we played a funny card game that Jessica introduced, called American Naughts and Crosses (and something else that I can't recall)

In the morning, we prepared for the arrival of 20 odd Cub scouts. Two had unfortunatly cancelled, due to sniffles. Susanne and I prepared lunch in the kitchen, while Susanne2, Jessica and Eva prepared the activities outside. At ten to 11am we walked the kilometer down the dirt track to meet the kids. They were already there waiting for us! Bouncing around madly, with their backpacks on and slightly anxious looking parents hovering. A few were already off exploring the stream, resulting in the first Cub getting soaked even before we were officially started! Luckily, there are great facilities for drying gear and scouts. And he was equiped with extra clothes and shoes.

After a quick sightseeing tour and toilet stop, it was time for a little bit of unsupervised exploring before lunch. Returning customers swiftly took some of the first timers a little way into the forest to check on the status of little stream. It was of course ripe for some damm construction, and more Cubs got well and truly wet before lunch.

It was lovely and "warm" (almost 10 degrees in the shade and no wind) in the yard in front of the house and the Cubs were served pasta with a meat sauce outside.

Afterwards everyone washed their own gear up, and cleared away, getting ready for the activities.
The sixes got to try various different activities. Using the yard as the base, controls were placed a little way away in the forest, and the sixes cleverly manouvered around the 'star'. In the yard Susanne and a parent helper supported the kids by the fire, while they made Stompa Bread on the 'muurrika'. They could also have some nice, warm, sweet rosehip soup to go with it.

Finding something from the time of the dinosaurs was a tricky task, while finding something new was not so difficult. But in the end rocks are from dinosaur times and spring flowers are very new, as well as one of the boys' shoes.
POP, a parent helper, who used to be a scout while this lady was a wee scout too, helped with knots. Some of the Cubs were very interested and learnt lots of new ways of tying the rope.
Jessica reminded everyone how to make a tripod, and what knots to use for pioneering. Our group is very good at pioneering, and at every spring group camp the older Cubs and Scouts build their camp from scratch, just using wood and string, including fire places for cooking, seating areas and sometimes other clever designs. A very good way of building a semi-permanent camp without leaving any trace.
Eva made sure that everyone could safely handle the Trangias, so that they can cook in the sixes at group camp. Lighting the Trangias can be tricky, as you sometimes can't see any flames. It makes it all the more exciting! While the soapy water boiled she had also time for some nice, relaxed conversation, about life, universe and everything.

After this the Cubs got to take their packs inside and arrange their sleeping quaters upstairs. The floor was quickly covered with mats and appearing out of every pack was a bag of sweets. Most kids then went outside again, while a few remained indoors to make crafty things, like new woggles, a sleepover badge or to do some writing or drawing.

Supper was a chicken taco buffet; very much appreciated by all, but still lots of the sallad stuff was left over. Too many sweets perhaps? ;-)

It started raining slightly, while Eva and Marie started the camp fire outside. I stayed indoors and prepared for Earth Hour, placing lots of candles in the windows and on the tables. When the children returned inside, slightly wet, they quieted down, and continued doing their crafty things or started playing cards, or just quietly chatting and munching some corn crisps or sweets. It only took a little while until they all, without being told to, got into their pyjamas and went off to the toilets to get ready for bed. (I can't vouch for how many teeth accually got brushed)

This morning, as the clocks were put forward, we had an hour less, which was just about time enough to get all the packing done, and a little bit of free play time. Some of the girls helped Marie and Eva to get the firewood into the shed. I was lucky enough to come over to the damm engineers just in time to meet one of the forest's residents: A small weasle, who very anxiously watched us for about five minutes, while it was scurrying back and forth just down stream. I hope we didn't accidentally flood it's burrow! I have never seen a weasle 'live' before, and felt very lucky sharing the experience with seven of the Cubs.

Then it was time to go home. Very tired, but seemingly very happy kids bobbed down the hill to meet their parents. Again, everyone was early, and all but two Cubs were picked up by 11 am. I went with my son and his two friend when my husband came to pick them up, leaving the others to do the last bit of cleaning. Sorry guys, promise to make it up to you next time!

Break away

2009-03-27T10:59:00.002+01:00

Going away with 22 8 and 9-year-olds can be a slightly daunting project, but experience tells me that it's most often a lot less hassle than you think. Of course it is important to do risk assessment, and to have activities planned, but it's also very important, and a nucleus in the scouting spirit, to encourage and make room for own initiativ and freedom. For a 9-year-old that may be having an hour to go explore with a friend, play a game, chose a jigsaw or make something crafty of your own mind and design.

Last night the leader team got together in the hut to finish of the packing. This time most of us have the opportunaty to go the night before, and we are going to have ourselves a nice evening, relaxing and gossiping, leaving husbands and our own kids behind, just being us. Of course there is going to be a lot of talk about scouting and Cub activities; lots of ideas will be born.

On Saturday, the kids will arrive at 11.00 am. Then a short hike to the cottage, activities, making lunch, activities, free time and then in the evening we're going to celebrate Earth Hour around the camp fire. It might not have so big an impact, as we'll be several km from the next neighbour but we will turn off all of our electric lights anyway and talk about it.

In a few minutes I'm off the craft shop to by some plasticine modelling clay, then I'm going to prepare our meal for tonight. The girls are in for an Indian. I hope they will like it.

All packed up revving to go

2009-03-20T08:40:00.004+01:00

Next weekend we're off to Tranabo, our cottage in the woods, for a sleep over, in preparation for the group camp in May. We usually have a sleep over in the scout hut in the autumn, a sleep over indoors in the cottage early spring/late winter and then sleep outdoors, in old troop tents, at the camp in late spring. It's a nice progression for the kids, who, in some cases, never have been away from their mums and dads before.

We started of by warming up and releasing some steam with a tag game: First round the tagged people joined hands in pairs, then threes, but when a forth person got tagged, the quad split into pairs again. (Does that make sense?) It was a great game! The second round, instead of breaking the chains, it got built onto, and in the end two loooong chains of taggers herded the few brave left in to a corner of the field. This game really practise quick communication and teamwork.

This week we had two things going on: Talking about packing, and finding nice sticks to finish the sixes' flags. The weather was perfect for both: Lovely crisp spring sunshine, and dry ground. Victor talked about how to pack evenly in a backpack, while I demonstrated the less favourable option, by carrying my packing in a sports trunk and two carrier bags. "It's ok", said Victor, "but how are you going to carry your pack to the cottage?" The second-years seconded him, whispering to the first-years about the biiiig hill up through the woods to the cottage. We agreed that a backback, even a school back pack, was better than carrier bags anyway.

The Cubs also had very strong opinions about me bringing a china plate and ditto cup. "Just THINK about the poor wild animals!" said one of the boys, "You're so clumpsy, you'll fall and break your plate and then all the animals will cut their feet on the shards!" He didn't agree with my need for bringing ALL my beauty creams either. He was SO funny!

"Lotta, do you REALLY think there is a fashion show on in the woods?" He sneered at my silk pyjamas, and told me that I'd need three t-shirts to keep warm if I chose to bring those, and didn't approve of my cookery book either, even if it had all organic recipes. He told me firmly to write down a few EASY favourites on a note and keep it in a pocket instead.

For some strange reason a majority of the Cubs didn't think that bringing a toothbrush was essential... Hmmm....

After Victor and I had done our little 'play', the Cubs played Kim's game with the 'right' stuff splayed out on a tarpoline on the ground. They were very good, most remembering almost all the stuff, and noone forgot about the toothbrush (but one six left out the toothpaste). It was getting a little bit cold so after the sixes had found good sticks for their flags, we went inside.

As we brought the 'Brownies' and the 'Wolfcubs' together after Christmas, to be able to use the leader resources better, as my strenght is still not reliable and Marie has another shop opening and Jessica's job is restructuring (you probably know what it's like) we are now 33 cubs and at the most 8 leaders. Being 8 consistant leaders allows a leader to have a meeting off when we need to, and still feel that we can provide the Cubs with safe and fun activities. We also have parents comming in to help some times, and if we need to, some of the other leaders in the group help out. Last night, Therese from scouts came in to help. Thank's!

Bringing the two groups together also meant that we had to adjust the sixes a little bit, as we had two caterpillar sixes, two glow worm sixes etc. In some cases the sixes could be merged, in other's we had to split them and make new ones. So now we have six: The Caterpillars, the Glow Worms, the Flies, The Lady Birds, the Dragon Flies, the Ants. The making of the flags turned out to be a good exercise in democracy, as in some cases a choice had to be made about which flag to use, in other which way up the flag should be. The flags were then ceremoniously handed to the leaders for safe keeping, before we sang the scout song and finished.

And oh, as it was my birthday (28th, if you count hexadecimals) everyone sang to me in both Swedish and English and I got these absolutely LOVELY flowers! Thank you so much!!!!

Looking to the future

2009-03-15T14:36:00.007+01:00

The leaders in the group have had a rough winter, after a conflict with a family. Many have felt sad, inadequate, afraid and some have almost lost their enthusiasm for taking on the responsability of being Scout leaders. We are happy to have had the support of the District commissioner and the committee, and help from the regional office as well as the Swedish Scout Association on how to handle the situation.

The district committee and Swedish Scout Association felt that we needed closure, time for reflecting on what has been and time to look forward, and having a little bit of fun together, so they arranged for a 24-hour pampering expedition.

Kvisttofta scout group in North Scania let their lovely cottage for the weekend. It is about an hour and a half's drive south from Falkenberg, in a lovely rural area with birch woods, horse farms and cottages. The landscape is similar to home, but still different. We always feel like we're a little bit "abroad" when we get this far south: Almost in Denmark!

When we arrived in the morning, we had coffee and a sandwich, and met a lovely lady, whose name I unfortunately have forgotten, who led us through what had happened, by listening and asking all the right questions. With her experience as a psycologist and CBT therapist, she guided us through events, let everybody work through them and gave concrete advice on how to handle things in the future. We all felt invigourated and elated after having spent two hours with her, but also very tired and ravishingly hungry!

Our district commissioner, Sterner, who happens to be an exellent chef (and a bus driver, scout leader and line dance dancer) cooked for us. For lunch he served up a lovely ovenbaked salmon, with rice, served with a home made hollandaise sauce and sallad.

Sign says: Hunt on. Luckily it wasn't anymore..... Season for roe deer and hare has just past.

There was time after lunch for a lovely walk in the woods surrounding the cottage. The weather was grey, but mild. After that Max, from the Association, gave a little talk on seeing the positive sides of things and looking at problems as challenges, and helping us to see what positive outcome we have accually had from this whole ordeal.

Then we sat down to go through all the forthcomming events. We have lots of fundraising comitments up ahead, helping the Gospel choir with their outdoor festival, the council with the celebration of the National Day, helping a chain with the grand opening of their new shop (where we get the opportunaty to show a little bit of scouting as well, as our climbing wall will be up). Also we have got a group camp coming up, where we hope to enjoy company from 22nd Oxford and another, very small group from a village outside Falkenberg called Ätran. Then there is the district Cub camp in June and the regional Scout Camp in August. Also, the plans for our centinary are coming together. Lots and lots of planning...

After a lovely dinner consisting of Gorgonzola filled pork fillet, baked potatoes, turnips, carrots and parsnips, Sauce Bearnaise and sallad, we reassembled in the hall in front of the fire to play camp fire games, sing silly songs and laugh our tummies in shape again, before going on a lovely candle lit walk in the dark forest; a great time for reflecting over all the day had given us.

After a breakfast, almost of hotel standard, we packed up and drove back to our everyday lives, strengthened in our roles as leaders and rolemodels, ready to take on anything!

It is very important to remember to pamper your leaders once in a while, and to give them the opportunity to enjoy scouting without having to organise and be responsable for the kids at the same time. It doesn't have to be nights away, or anything fancy, but just having the opportunity to have a laugh and a natter.

Winter's last attempt

2009-03-13T12:57:00.004+01:00

We've been enjoying the advance of spring for a while. But yesterday winter made a last attack and snow just avalanched down from the grafite skies. But snow on the west coast is not that common and it very rarely stays for very long, so you have to enjoy it while it lasts, so instead of discussing how to pack your backpack efficiantly, we decided to improvise!

While the sixes built snow sculptures Akela Eva rushed of to her place of work (a nearby nursery school) and got all their toboggans! Soon 25 kids were running and sliding and laughing and screaming and becoming becomingly red-cheeked.

So, we're saving the packing for next week.

Unfortunately, I had forgotten my camera AGAIN, and had to borrow Jessica's phone....

Recycle

2009-03-07T15:51:00.005+01:00

Rubbish is a resource, and we are reasonably good at recycling in Sweden, but we could get much better at reducing and reusing. This week's meeting was about rubish and recycling.The cubs started outside, walking a short quiz walk about rubbish. While Victor corrected the coupons, I showed the children some items from Tanzania and Ethiopia, and talked about how spoilt we are in Sweden, taking for granted that we can go to school, have clean water, more than enough to eat, and more things than we really need. I read a story about an 11-year-old boy in Ethiopia, who dreams of becoming a doctor, but who finds it difficult to make it to school in time because has to get water for the family every morning. I introduced the pins that we are going to sell for UNICEF, that will hopefully provide Ethiopian kids with drinking water and loos at school, and the children were very interested.

Akela Eva
Eva asked the cubs to tell her which categories of rubbish the households are responsible for recycling. The kids were very knowledgable and she could write signs out for plastic, PET and drinks cans, compost, metal, cardboard, newspapers, tinted glass, clear glass and batteries. Then the sixes were given a bin bag each, with various kinds of refuse, and in no time at all they had sorted the refuse in all the right categories!

Victor presented the correct answer to the quiz. Almost everyone knew all the answers, but everyone was shocked to learn that a "misplaced" PET-bottle takes 450 years to decompose! Most had guessed 10...

Then a quick game of rag hockey before the scout song and then home. (I realised that I hadn't got any pictures from the game! How silly...)

Akela Marie

Water

2009-02-22T14:31:00.005+01:00

It's the last day of the mid-term holiday today. The sun is shining and melting all the snow that fell last night. About 20 Cubs and Scouts came to the pool for a play, and to give a little to the Scout funds. We read the Thinking Day message and before the kids and some of the leaders hit the water we talked a little about how lucky we are to not have to worry about malaria when we go on hikes, and that we have clean and cheap health care.

Kerstin, a scout leader

After playing about for 90 minutes, I read a letter from a little girl in Ethiopia, who told about the lack of drinking water and school toilets. The letter is part of the UNICEF campaigne for helping children i Ethiopia, and this week the Cubs and Scouts are going to start selling the UNICEF drop of water-pin, to collect for this charity.

All in all, we had a lovely time!

Afterwards some of us leaders met up to plan for this summer's big camp: Agema, that will be held the first week in August. We hope to take at least 30 scouts. It will be held at Kragenäs, 250 km up the coast, and the program promises lots of good fun!

Thinking today

2009-02-22T00:32:00.002+01:00

It's just past midnight. It's Thinking Day. I'm thinking. I've just been out with the dog. Tonight saw the third of the Swedish competition rounds of the Eurovision song contest (don't ask me to explain, it's too complicated!!!) weekends. My best friend and I have had a lovely night in front of the telly, after a lovely dinner, and a not so lovely clear up of the house. My husband is coming home tomorrow, and she phoned me yesterday, saying that she was coming over to help me clean the house. That's very thoughtful.

I think that I have been coping very well for 5 weeks, being a single parent, as the Hubbie has been in Tanzania doing his last work experience on his course to become a nurse, but some things have been left "'til tomorrow". I have been thinking a lot about all the single parents out there, who have to manage on their own all the time, coping with kids, school, economy, cleaning and all the everyday tasks that won't wait. It's very hard to make ends meet, even if you are on your own for just a short while. I'm greatful for being reminded of that.

Mother Nature is chucking down snow tonight. We rarely get a lot of snow, and it rarely last for very long, but Febuary is a very likely month for snow. House owners are obliged to tend to their paths. We live in a house, a bungalow, in a nice area, very close to the centre of the little town. There is a row of flats to our left, a family much like ours diagonally across the street, oposite and to the right couples in their 70ies. The man living on our right is the former police comissioner, and still a very strong man, and if we're away, he'd clear our driveway too, just so the house looks lived in, and if we get up first we'd clear the pavement outside their house too. We're not close: We don't borrow eggs or invite eachother over for coffee. But we care.

When my best friend left tonight, it was half past 11. I walked her a bit of the way. There was already about 8 cm (2.5 inches) of snow, so she couldn't cycle. All the sounds are muffled, it's so lovely. Only a few cars were out, mainly taxies. I had the dog off the lead. The neighbour had done my pavement too. I couldn't tell who did the oposite neighbours' pavement, but he looked much younger - parhaps their son-in-law, the baker, on his way to work?

When I walked back down the street, I realised that the widow 'round the corner would wake up tomorrow to a stretch of very heavy snow. When I got back to the house, I took out the shovel and did the paths up to my door and a little bit on the drive. As I felt I had the energy (and perhaps a few calories of nice dinner to work off) I walked round the corner to do her pavement too. The dog came with me. He's not a fan of snow shovels and brushes and usually attacs them, but he very seriously kept a watch for aproaching cars as I shoveled away. I hope she will be pleased in the morning! (And it's so much fun, knowing that she won't know who did it!)

This morning we'll meet at the pool, to have fun together, and to collect for the scout charity funds. We'll think about all the people, less fortunate than ourselves, but also about all our scouting friends out there.

Thinking Day used to be a holiday for Girl Guides around the world, but as the Swedish Scout Federation is a member of both WAGGS and WOSM our group have made an effort to celebrate Thinking Day as much as St George, but put different focus on the days. This year we will collect money for charity on Thinking Day, and repeat last year's success and do a Book Crossing Wild Release for St George, as it coincides with World Literature Day.

Scout surprise

2009-02-13T08:25:00.004+01:00

As the committee felt that they needed some help with ideas about how to sort the numbers in the red, and also, on a happier note, at the same time inform everybody about the regional camps in the summer, all parents were called to a meeting. To hopefully make all parents come, all Cubs and Scouts also had a meeting. The Scouts had organised the whole thing, and were manning the control points, and Cubs, cub leaders, helpers and visiting Rover scouts had no idea what was on the cards.

As the parents were "enjoying" themselves in the warmth inside the hut, we certainly enjoyed another lovely, crisp, starry winter's evening outside. Still no snow, but -1. We are over all very lucky with the weather!

A short quiz walk was laid out around the hut, testing our knowledge of scouting, spelling and woodcrafting among other things. The path was lit with parafin lanterns, and it was just about adventurous enough for everyone; far enough from the hut to be completely in the dark, except for the light of the lanterns, but close enough for the littlest ones to see the cosy lights from the hut where mum or dad is.
The younger and older Cubs, who usually meet on seperate days, were mixed in new sixes for the evening to get to know eachother. They will meet again at the group camp in May, and then the nine-year-olds get invited on a cannoeing hike at the beginning of summer with the older ones to make the crossover in the autumn smoother. It was fun to see how the more experienced members of the group very naturally took command, and even the rowdiest of the boys quieted down and listened to their just slightly older peers.

The quiz walk finnished with a short "blind" (i.e. very dark) obstical course, and then everyone ended up around the fire where we practised campfire songs until the parents were let out of the hall to join us. (Unfortunately, the dark evenings don't really improve the camera phone's picture quality, but I'm sure you have plenty of memories to draw on for illustration)

Btw, does anyone know any more verses of the PizzaHut song? We just found out about the Ford Escort verse, but love to hear more!

Gourmet Restaurant in the Dark

2009-02-08T14:24:00.003+01:00

Learning how to use a Trangia is brilliant fun and very useful. Cooking is also a great life skill, and a very good team building excersise. We try to do cooking at least once a term, not including the group camp in May, where all the scouts do their own cooking for at least two days, the Cubs on Trangias, and the Scouts over open fire.

Cooking in the dark poses some difficulties: If your carrots escape, it is very difficult to find them before someone steps on them. It can also be very difficult reading the recipe. But it is very cosy cooking by the light of parafin lanterns, especially when the result is so scrumpious!

The Cubs were proud and happy with the result of their efforts, and there were hardly any leftovers. Even the cooked vegetables got finished! And this time we let them off by not having to do any washing up, which was a smart move, as we then didn't have to rush anything, but had time for both a game and a song.

Many of the Cubs took the recipe home with them to cook for their family.The recipe for the culinary success you find here.

Back at Gilwell Lodge, Sweden

2009-02-02T15:39:00.007+01:00

Gilwell Lodge, Sweden

Our second Gilwell weekend started already on Thursday, when we started our 5 hour drive towards Flen and Sparreholm, slightly tired after a days work, but full of anticipation and singing along with sixties hits and ABBA-songs on the car stereo. We arrived in the dark, to find the lodge warm and welcoming, already full of life. We helped make the bread for the Friday breakfast, before we went to bed.

The rest of the participants arrived on the Friday morning, while some of us had our mentor talks. Just before lunch we gathered around the flag pole and broke flag and started the weekend with a lovely, hearty gulash soup out in the crisp winter air. When everybody had settled in, we learnt more about the FIRO-theory and discussed where we were in the group process, how to use the theory productively in our scout groups and coping strategies.

Non violent communication

Before dinner we were given half an hour's solitary reflection. I took a lantern and took a walk in the nearby woods. I lost the path in the dark, but as I never lost my barings I still enjoyed the walk, though it got slightly adventurous, climbing over rocks and sliding down the hillside to the bigger path along the lakeside. I saw fresh roedeer hooves' marks in the snow, and the lights from Rockelstad castle across the bay. It was beautiful!

After dinner we met our mentors for evaluation of the between time and the tasks we had been set. Then we spent the rest of the evening, socialising and using our hands, making leather covers for our books among other things. The cooks had made us carrot cake for evening tea, and there was a happy little log fire crackling in the big fire place in the hall.

After starting off outside with more group dynamics and practical discussions we had another quiet half hour to ourselves to reflect, this time in daylight. I walked along the waterfront and found the little beach, where the jetty usually is in the summer. The ice lay still underneath the thin snow cover, and I sat down on a rock a little bit out on the lake, looking across the bay at the castle, that now was clearly visable, with it's farmhouses, barns, boathouses and lawns sloping down towards the lake. It was crisp and still, and for some reason I started thinking about the Mumin trolls...

Lunch was organised as a competition: In our groups we were given some sausage, an onion, and a few other bits and pieces. On a table were then layed out a collection of vegetables, spices, pasta and other condiments. Our task was to cook a two course meal on our Trangias, for ten people, and to present a helping to the jury for evaluation. When I saw the beetroots and the fresh lemons I had an idea for the starter, that I communicated to my group. Marie, a chemist at one largest pharmaceutical companies in the world volonteered to make the starter, and as "sixer" I took the task of co-ordinate the cooking. Two minutes before time we delivered a THREE course lunch for evaluation: A starter consisting of grated beetroot, sauteed in balsamic vinager, served on a lettuce leaf with a dollop of greek yoghurt with lemon rind, a main course that we named sausage cassarole and pepper symphony, a colourful dish with reds, yellows and orange colours, creamy and mild, as one of us can't handle hot spices very well. As a desert, we served fried apple rings with cinamon and sugar, with marengue crumbs. And we WON! Then we had a thought provocing walk, discussing symbols and ceremonies, how to use them and how to make them meaningful and inclusive. We had some time to prepare the theme for the evening: Spirituality. We had a wonderful group discussion about our definition of spirituality, faith, or lack of the same. Together we found that to us LOVE and respect is the essence of spirituality.

We had another lovely three course meal, a filled chicken breast as main course, cooked by our excellent kitchen crew, before we went outside to try and visualize our views for the others. We found a lovely clearing close the lodge, and put lanterns out in a heart shape. Then we got some soft reindeer hides and sleeping mats and laid them out on the ground. We lay down to try our installation. Softly, we talked about the wonders of nature, listening to the ice on the lake singing, watching the stars in the deep, black sky above us. Nobody really wanted to go inside, even though it was almost -5.

The cooks had made us semla for evening snack, and we went to bed, filled with inner piece and sweet weat bun and cream.

There are very few situations where you can find 40 adults playing tag in the snow, laughing and having fun, tumbling around like children, having fun. The youngest on the course is 24 and the oldest member of the Gilwell team is in his 70ies, and we all gave our heart and soul in the game!
The Sunday program was to be about children with special needs and how to meet those needs in scouting. Although all of us agreed that scouting should be open for everyone, there was a collective sense of frustration as we don't have the resources to care for everyone, and many had experienced loosing members due to one or two very difficult children. We never found a good answer to how to deal with these situations, but the discussion took us forward nevertheless.

After a light lunch we travelled back, filled with energy and thoughts, already looking forward to the third and last weekend in May.

It has been confirmed! B-P was here!

2009-01-25T11:45:00.003+01:00

A few years ago, one of our then cubs' father, who was at that time working at the local museum, found some old photos in their collections. The photos were to be thrown away, but he had a last look through them. He picked up this photo, that had the words (is Swedish) "B-P salomon fishing in Ätran" written on it.

We talked about it a few times, but for various reasons I never came to see the photo. He spend a lot of time trying to verify that it was "the real thing", but could only conclude in the end, that it wasn't impossible that B-P had once visited Falkenberg, that has been renouned for it's salmon on both sides of the North Sea for more than a hundred years.

In the process of planning our centinary next year, some in the group had a real rummage through the old "archives" in the basement of the hut. And found a similar photo. Also claiming to be of B-P, in Falkenberg, fishing, dated 1927. Now there was more to go on!

Last night, after spending several hours in the archives of the Scout museum at Kjesäter, the Scout movement's folk high school/leader academy, Marcus Agbrant found the proof he had been seeking for the last few months: An article from 1927, Saltsjöbadstidningen, 1927:

After a few words concerning the visit to Norway, the general writes about his stay in Falkenberg: “I visited here for two days for salmon fishing, but the weather was unsuitable and the water level in the river was too high for sport. I was however lucky and had a beautiful, good sized salmon on the hook, but it was to heavy for my line, that he broke, after which he disappeared. Nevertheless I enjoyed having had met him!" My translation

Hopefully, we can now get the local news paper interested, and perhaps find eye witnesses still alive from those days. The boys in the forground of the picture should be in their ninties, but might still be alive! Wouldn't it be wonderful if they could come forward to tell their story?

First meeting for 2009

2009-01-22T20:12:00.007+01:00

Both Cub packs met today for the first time this year. We were very happy to have three new children joining us, and also one of our Cubs had brought a guest who might come join in too. So the Wolf cubs are now 22, where of 5 girls, and the Brownies are 17, all boys.

(You might be confused by the names: When we were able to form the second pack one year ago, we decided to use the old names Vargungar and Blåvingar, to somehow preserve the name tradition that was abandoned 1963 when scouting became "unisex" in Sweden. Also, our scout hut has a room called Brownie Hall.)

We also welcomed a new assistant leader, Victor, who is going to help us out during the spring.

After due introductions and catching up, we got down to business. Today, we were practising lighting our parafin lanterns and talking about the safety issues to think about when you light flames. For some, just lighting the match was very scary, while others are very comfortable around fire.

After a quick game to warm up (it was not only dark, but it was almost at freezing point too) the children walked with the lanterns to the field behind the hut and where a small campfire was lit. We sang some common camp fire songs, mostly in Swedish, but we also sang the "Pizza Hut-song" and BP Spirit in English.

Next week three of us leaders are off to the Swedish Gilwell House for our second long weekend, so unfortunately the Cubs will have to wait until the 5th of February, when we will go to the Great Outdoors Restaurant.

New Year - new program!

2009-01-20T16:59:00.002+01:00

Wow, time flies! On Thursday it's time for the first meeting of this year. This Sunday the leaders gathered, had numerous cups of tea and put together the frame for the program of this spring. 13 meetings, 1 sleep-over, 1 camp, 1 cannoeing outing, and 1 district trip to the zoo. We're doing cooking, pioneering, woodcrafting, lots of fun and games. Now we have only need the Cubs themselves to put the finishing touches to the program.
See you Thursday!

Uncomfortable decisions

2009-01-14T19:16:00.003+01:00

Sometimes you have to make uncomfortable decisions. Just so often there is a child that you just can't help fit into the group. Most often, these children leave of their own accord, because they don't enjoy scouting, and sometimes things work better after having spoken with the parents of the child. Sometimes they don't.

But what do you do, when "the problem" doesn't go away by itself, and communication with the parents only end in conflict, and both child and parents are adament that the child stay in the group?

Scouting should be inclusive. Scouting is for all. The general rule of thumb (at least in Sweden) is that you can be a child or an adolecent in the scouts, but not respect the Scout Law, but you can't be a leader. Exclusion is not an easy step to take, and should be considered only after every other option have been tried.

But when a young person has been through Cubs and Scouts, have been asked to take time out from scouts, for the safety and wellbeing of others, and because other children leave because of this person, and the leaders are at the end of their tether, is given a second chance to prove change after a year, only to come back non changed?

Do you have a choice?

It would be very interesting to hear your views on the subject, what rules you have, and what kind of behaviour you find unacceptable, how you cope and what procedures you take.
Kindly
Akela L

Fundraising ideas

2008-12-15T18:03:00.002+01:00

Hmmm, you can tell there is a recession... The Christmas market was very successful, and all the raffle tickets were sold and the climbing wall was very popular, but the takings just about took us up into the black. So now, the thinking caps are on until the 12th of January, when we get together to brainstorm ideas for fundraising.

Socks seem to be the in thing. Lots of companies advertise on the Net with "big winnings for your club or class". But it doesn't seem very Scouty, selling underwear?

In Britain a lot of groups have race nights, with beer and betting, but betting is state controlled in Sweden, and we don't allow alcohol at scout activities... I'm thinking, it's really more of a raffle than betting, as the races are pre-recorded, but have to look into the legalities of it before I go and order a DVD...

To me, it's important that fundraising for the group should be consistant with the ideals of Scouting, and should be easy and fun for the kids to parttake in. Anyone have any bright ideas of fundraisers that have been successful? Please, share!

(After the 12 of January, I will be back with all the (mad) ideas that we've come up with!)

Wierd tradition from Sweden...

2008-12-13T14:59:00.006+01:00

Last night we had an unexpected a visit. It was four of the Rover Scouts who followed an ancient nordic tradition, and showed up, just when we were going to bed. They rang the door and sang to us, and when we invited them in, they offered us Glögg and ginger snap biscuits. The hall was filled with the smell of freshly cut spruce. Two of the guys were dressed as Christmas trees, one as Santa and Rudolf was also there! I so wish I could have shown you better pictures, but I couldn't find my camera and had to use my mobile phone, which is pretty useless when the lighting is bad.

In the olden days, people used to believe in all sorts of superstitions. Up here in the north, where seasons are very different from eachother, the solstices used to be very important. Before the Gregorian calender the winter solstice used to fall on the 13th of December.

It was a magical night, where evil spirits, trolls, goblins and all sorts were on the prowl, and you should stay indoors and keep yourself safe. It was also the beginning of the old Viking yule tide, when the pigs for the feast were slaughtered. (And all sorts of offerings were given. In the old Viking "temple" outside Uppsala they think slaves were offered to the Viking gods too!)

In the Middle Ages, Christianity was introduced to the old Viking countries, and winter solstice lost it's religious importance, but remained special for most people. You were still supposed to slaughter your pig on the 13th, for the best meat for the Christmas feast, and in those days, when Sweden was a Catholic country, the Christmas fast began on the 13th.

When the Gregorian calender was introduced and the 13th no longer was winter solstice, it was still considered the longest night of the year, and the tradition was to stay up all night. Young people sometimes took to walking around the villages, singing and playing tricks on people, often expecting some money, some food before the fast started or a drink of alcohol.

In the late 16th century people started to connect the tradition to the Catholic Saint Lucia, and a girl, clad in white with candles in her hair began to feature in the celebrations. Soon she was followed by a whole choir! And in the late 1800s the celebration spread to other parts of the Nordic countries. Nowadays, the tradition is secular but in the shape of Catholic tradition, and every school and town have their own St Lucia, often crowned by prominent people in the town's market square. In most families, the children get up early in the morning to sing to their parents and serve them breakfast in bed.

End of year

2008-12-10T20:40:00.004+01:00

By tradition Scouting is associated with the Christian church and in Falkenberg we have had our end of year ceremony in the church, but this year we decided to make a new tradition, to make sure that everyone who for different reasons feel uncomfortable about church still could join in.
All the scouts and many parents and syblings gathered in the market square. Some had candles or lanterns with them, others were given flaming torches. Then they marched together through town, in the perfectly still, winter light. It was exciting to walk off the road, onto the path through the wood surrounding the Hut, were there are no street lights and the only light except for the candles and the torches, were the almost full moon and some stars looking down on the procession.
The last part of the mile long walk was lit by torches stuck into the ground and storm lantern. By the outdoor theatre there was a fire lit and Scout Master Marcus was waiting for the scouts. In his speach he told us that this place had been used in "the olden days" (before 1963, when Guides and Scouts merged in Sweden) to initiate Brownies and welcome them into the group. So what better place to welcome all new scouts? 19 new Tracker Scouts were called up, four Discoverer Scouts and one new Adventurer were introduced and gave their Scout promise in front of the group (see upper right corner for explanations of the new names).
Then Marcus talked about the importance of doing to them around you, what you want them to do to you, and how bad behaviour and bad words bounce back onto yourself. He also gave out rewards to leaders who had been active for 5 and 10 years, and introduced our two new Tracker Scout leaders to the group.
When we dispursed, wishing everyone a merry christmas and everyone walked back along the candle lit path to the parking lot, the frost had begun to settle on the ground and the moon and the stars felt close enough to touch over the bare branches. The fire was dying. We made sure that everything was as we found it, only a little bit better and went home. For the Tracker Scouts spring term starts on the 22nd of January. But I will be back before then with some news on the program and other things.

The Swedish Guide and Scout Association, of which Falkenberg Scout Group is a part, is one of five directions within The Swedish Scout Federation. The other four are all part of some mother organisation, like The Mission Covenant Church, YMCA/YWCA or the Temperance movement. Although all groups accepts everyone, it's only natural that the Temperance scouts should promise not to drink and that the Christian scout movement should mission. But the SSF, Swedish Guide and Scout Association, should always be indipendent of any political view or belief. This doesn't meen that we don't discuss faith or get involved in the society around us, although the focus is on ethical issues, democracy and human rights.

Sweet, sweet advent

2008-11-28T07:32:00.004+01:00

Personally, I think the weeks leading up to Christmas are better than the accual holiday. The anticipation and the excitement, the cooking smells and the decorations, the lights and the music. It's too much to apprieciate in a few days, so why not savour it for a bit longer?

The whole town is getting ready for the Christmas market on Sunday. One of the local football clubs have hung all the lights up across the streets and the town gardeners have just revealed this year's centre piece: As beautiful and well composed as ever. Even the vandals and the late night ramblers usually leave it be.

Corn Flake Cakes are quick, safe and easy to make. For luxurious, lush, crispy cakes, just melt some nice cooking chocolate (or even more luxurious ones: Use Fair Trade, Organic, dark 70% chocolate, and enjoy with a light heart) and mix with Corn Flakes or Rice Crispies.

A little hotter, and very much smoother are Swedish Ice Chocolates. Don't ask me why they are called ice chocolates! It might be because they contain coconut fat and need to be kept reasonably chilled.

This week the Cubs (or the Tracker Scouts as they now are called) were producing sweet things for the Sweet raffle, one of the important and most popular things on our market stall. It got very sticky, but the kids took it very seriously, and were rewarded, after having washed their hands thoroughly, with a hot dog and marschmallows cooked by the fires outside. A scout LOVES comming home, smelling of log fire smoke!

I'm off to lovely old Oxford, England, for a few days, and will miss the market. I'll try and put the recipes, and a report from the market out when I get back at the end of next week. Have a lovely one!

Breaking news!

2008-11-23T16:27:00.002+01:00

The national scout conference this weekend was concluded today. Delegats from the five scout associations have been debating and deciding. As Swedish scouting is in a dynamic phase of change, lots of little and big things are in motion. The new national program is taking shape, and on Saturday the new names for the different age groups were presented.
In Sweden we have until yesterday had "minior", "junior", "patrull", "senior" and "rover" scouts. Today we are Spårare (Tracker scouts, 8-9 yrs), Upptäckare (Discoverer scouts, 10-12 yrs) Äventyrare (Adventure Scouts 12-15 yrs), Utmanare (Challenger scout 15-18 yrs) and Rover scout 18-25 yrs)
So, welcome to the blog of Falkenberg's Tracker Scout group!

Leaders on course

2008-11-18T15:01:00.005+01:00

This last weekend some of the leaders in the district got together at Timmershult, the Woodcrafters' cottage outside Laholm. On the Friday evening there was a buffet with contributions from all the participants: Yummy pies, chicken wings, snacks and sallads were some of the dishes, and afterwards everyone got chatting and tried some new craft ideas.
Susanne got taught Viking jewellery by Sterner, our District Commissioner, who is very skilled with pairs of pliers and rings. Sterner in turn made good use of the old district badges and experimented, making stylish woggles.

Thomas, Training Officer for Falkenberg, made charity shop cuttlery into fashionable accessories for the next camp. We also successfully used polymer clay for woggle designs.On Saturday and Sunday a Basic Scout Leader Training course was held, going through the basic elements of the organisation and giving the participants tools to meet and inspire the scouts by going through basic educational theory, methods for evaluation and reflection, outdoor safety and skills and code of conduct for scout leaders.
Although the weather and the dark prevented us from being outside, we came away fulfilled and relaxed and at least a couple of kilos heavier than when we came from all the lovely food and smelling homely from the log fire.

Recipe for Thomas' Surprise

Peel and cut bananas into three or four pieces, wide as streaky bacon slices.

Roll the said banana bits into a slice of streaky bacon and place in an oven proof dish

Dust spicy curry powder over the rolls and pour a some single cream on top.

Bake until golden brown in a moderately heated oven. Eat warm.