Tail Slap is a Colony Scouter resource.
The focus of these pages is Beavers, the junior section of Scouts Canada. |
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| The Joy of (Recycled) Crafts |
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Some of the best enjoyed crafts have been made of recycled items. With Beavers, it is this joy of making and the satisfaction of giving that you want to achieve. The fact that it's made of recycled materials (otherwise known as garbage), doesn't make any difference. But, it sure helps on your budget.
Here's a brief list of "good junk" for making those recycled crafts:
- toilet rolls
- plastic bags
- cardboard boxes
- meat trays
- plastic jugs and containers
- pine cones
- jars
- egg cartons
- milk cartons
Crafts should be ...
| SIMPLE |
If you have to help too much making the craft, it's too hard. |
| EASY TO COMPLETE |
Beavers like to be able to show their work off right away. |
| INTERESTING |
A wide variety of mediums should spark some true budding art work. |
| EXPRESSIVE AND IMAGINATIVE |
Allow freedom of expression both in yourself and the Beavers. Crafts don't have to be exact copies of the original, or by the Beavers, exact copies of your model. |
| LEADERS KNOWLEDGEABLE |
Make sure the craft is explained to the other leaders and helpers ahead of time. In this way they understand the craft, and where necessary, can help the Beavers make it. |
| WASTE NOT, WANT NOT |
Reuse, Recycle, Reduce. Remember some of the neatest crafts come from the minds of children with a heap of treasures. |
When deciding on a craft remember:
- think like a child
- age differences in the Beavers and amounts of preparation needed
- craft provide great opportunity for personal development, creativity, expression and satisfaction.
- glean parent and guardian resource for treasures. Many work for places where there might be interesting cast-offs; they just likely never thought of them in that light.
- many craft stores and suppliers offer discounts with proper scouting identification.
Ways of doing crafts ...
There are:
- Group Crafts — for special events; sharing to create one item
- Circuit Crafts — where Beavers are given a base item to work with and rotate around to stations discovering new things to create with every time.
- Individual Crafts — where the leader will have the sample done and swim the Beaver through, stroke by stroke to completion.
- Last Minute Crafts — Be Prepared if possible, in case a filler is needed well stocked Beaver boxes can be heaven sent.
Allowing freedom to create always brings big Beaver smiles. Crafts develop fine motor skills, and stimulate imaginative thought. When programming crafts, allow time for them to dry, etc., and plan extra quiet activities for Beavers who finish ahead of the others.
Based on a handout from
the Mississauga Region Colony Woodbadge Part I, 1996
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Send us your comments, ideas and suggestions.
Last updated: March 4, 2000
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