In the true spirit of scouting it's that time of year for all our Beavers, Cubs and Scouts to take on this challenge for the month of December, and am sharing it now so they have the chance to "Be Prepared".
In the season of goodwill each and every one of them has the chance to prove they understand that actually sometimes to give is truly better than to receive - and the world is much better for people doing so.
So with that in mind please click the link below to download an advent calendar to print off and for each of them to complete. The difference is instead of a picture or gift for them to enjoy it is an opportunity for them to do a good deed each day, but they can only do each deed once!
Please encourage them to think about the good deeds they could do, and write in the relevant box as they complete each one.
Perhaps pin it to the noticeboard or on the fridge to keep track!
Here is a list of 45, so there are plenty to choose from!
- Open the door for people all day
- Let someone else go in front of you in a queue
- Use your pocket money to buy a drink or snack for someone else
- Cook a meal for your family (and do the washing up!)
- Without being asked (!) tidy and clean your bedroom
- Pick up the litter whilst out on a walk, and dispose of it properly
- Compliment someone
- Carry someone's shopping or school bag for them
- Send a postcard to someone with a message on, just to brighten their day
- Plant a tree
- Make a thank you card or gift for a Leader (remember they are all unpaid volunteers so a little thanks goes a long way!)
- Make someone else's bed
- Donate a book or a toy to a good cause
- Help someone younger learn something new
- Do something nice for a parent or carer
- Set the table for a meal
- Recruit an adult volunteer into scouting!
- Smile at people you pass, just to brighten their day
- Discuss organ donation / join the donor register
- Send a thank you message / gift to a local hero - think about who makes a difference to the local community
- Think of something not on this list, and do that!
- Write a letter to your sibling / parent / carer telling them why you love them
- Leave a homemade bookmark in your library book with a note saying "If you find this bookmark please keep it and enjoy using it. Happy Reading!"
- Create a box or jar for all used batteries to be collected in for proper recycling, for use at home or perhaps at school
- Sit next to someone you normally don’t at the lunch table and be nice to them
- Make a bird feeder and leave out water for the birds
- Help round the house without being asked to
- Wash your parents / carers car
- De-ice your neighbours windshields in the morning
- Offer to help an elderly friend or neighbour with their christmas decorations
- Ring an elderly relative and have a nice chat to them
- Donate this weeks pocket money to charity
- Take cookies or cakes to the local Police, Fire or Ambulance Station and tell them what a great job they do
- Make cards for nursing home residents and deliver them.
- Tape a treat and a card to the door next to your letterbox for the person who delivers the post (or even better hand it to them with a smile)
- Help at Copley on 2nd December (see e-mail previously sent)
- Instead of playing on your gaming gadgets put them away for an evening and organise a family games night instead
- In your uniform get a parent / carer to film you explaining why you like scouting, the best thing you have done and why more adults should help. Then send it to Louise
- Tell someone how much they mean to you and give them a hug
- Make a poster to help recruit more adult volunteers in scouting and send it to Louise
- Make your bed
- Unpack the grocery shopping and put it all away - in the right place!
- Record yourself singing a song, telling jokes or a story and send it to someone to cheer them up
- Write an article about what you have enjoyed most about scouting this term and send it to Louise for the website
- Use your pocket money to buy some food and take it to a food bank
Once you have completed your challenges please scan in and e-mail to me, or contact me for details of where to drop it off. Submit photos too if you would like. Submissions need to be in by 6th January at the latest please.
Lynne Radbone (Assistant Group Scout Leader) and I will then look through them all, and perhaps award some prizes to selected winners........
So, are they ready for the challenge?
Whilst our youngsters take on this challenge please would all parents and carers take on one too?
Sign up and use our fundraising webpage every time you go on-line shopping (at the moment the 35 registered users have already raised over £616.91. There are at least 140 users if we just look at parents of children in our Group, so just think what we could raise if only half of the remainder sign up). There are literally hundreds of retailers and suppliers and it's really easy, and pennies soon add up! Please ask your friends, family and colleagues to help us too.
YIS
Louise