Can you run Beavers and Cubs together??

[mattcollins171]

also, you have to think about meeting lengths...beavers can't be more than an hour (?)

Yes Beaver meetings can be more than 1 hour, as we run ours for 1 hour 15 mins.

[Raksha]

our Beavers meet for 1 1/4 hours as well.

[madhatter]

The restriction on Beaver meetings is they cant be more than 2 hours including travelling time too and from the meeting place. Once they reach 8 this doesnt apply so Cub meetings can be longer.

[Kastor]

The restriction on Beaver meetings is they cant be more than 2 hours including travelling time too and from the meeting place. Once they reach 8 this doesn't apply so Cub meetings can be longer.

The travelling time isn't included unless you are transporting them somewhere. The thing that determines the time limit is the Children's Act. That places the restriction on you that under-8s can't be away from their parents for more than 2 hours at a time. There are exceptions but not really relevant to normal meetings. As long as the parents drop the kids off and pick them up then you get 2 hours.

I don't know of any Packs that meet for more than 2 hours for their regular meetings, the maximum in our District is 1½ hrs.

[Heron]

I think it depends on your programme and space what you can do.

I am a Beaver leader (as Beavers are Best ) and regularily have cubs come to help at meetings (their the leaders children who don't want to miss out on the great things Beavers do), and it works well but they do need different challenges and responsibilties....

This week we had a joint Beaver and Cub meeting and it was mad... but then there was 20 ish Beavers, 20 ish Cubs, 9 Leaders, 3 outsiders - but with careful planning the evening catered for all.

We made birthday cakes with shaving foam and decorated them for 100 years of Scouting, had water relay races and water balloon fights, tasted biscuits for a local food manufacturer (the outsiders who then gave us sample for camp and a nice donation) and then before we closed we had a presentation of shaving foam cakes outside (pie fight)

All went home and excited, although some took a while to mix....

I think the trick is challening them at their level, and working together - so that they are one - Badge work can be done together - try the stage badges, and visits and visitors can be aimed at them all.