Run an ideas inspiration station

A Log Chew is a chance for Beavers to talk about all sorts of things. They’re often used to talk about important topics such as which activities people have enjoyed most, or what they’d like to do in the future. They could also be about friends, school, or anything else. The important thing is that everyone is able to have a say.

This activity is one example of how to run a Log Chew. Beaver Scouts should take part in two Log Chews as part of their Teamwork Challenge Award. They give everyone a chance to express their opinion on activities and get involved with planning the programme. Everyone can take part in a Log Chew, including anyone with any additional needs.

Planning and setting up this activity

• You may be able to gather more old greeting cards and magazines if you ask parents and carers to help collect them and bring them in.
• You may find it helpful to have a helper at each station to help with things like reading. This is a great opportunity to invite parents and carers to help and find out more about what you get up to.
• Create a sign for each of the four inspiration stations by writing ‘Sports and games’; ‘Arts and crafts’; ‘Discovering the world’; and ‘Special occasions’ on four big pieces of paper.
• Create four inspiration stations by putting the signs up in four places in the space. Put a selection of magazines, badge books, Post-it notes, pens, and sticky dots at each station.
• You may want to put some craft materials at the ‘Arts and crafts’ station and some sports equipment at the ‘Sports and games’ section.

Get ready to Log Chew

1. Everyone should sit in a circle. The person leading the activity should explain that Log Chews are all about listening to each other, sharing ideas, and making sure everyone has a say about what they’d like to do.
2. The person leading the activity should help everyone to remember some of the activities, crafts, and games they’ve enjoyed together. They could ask what people have enjoyed the most, and what they’d like to do again.
3. Everyone should get into four groups. It’s up to you whether you put people into specific groups for this activity, use pre-existing groups, or let people choose their own groups.

Running the Log Chew

1. Each group should start at a different inspiration station. They should spend five minutes talking about activities in that category they’d like to try, using the magazines, books, and materials to inspire them. For example, the group at the ‘Sports and games’ station could think of games they’d like to play again, or new sports they’d like to try.
2. The group should choose their top few ideas, and write or draw them on the Post-it notes. They should stick the Post-it notes to the sign. The helper at each station may want to label the drawings, so other groups are clear about people’s ideas.
3. After five minutes, the groups should move around to the next station. They should repeat step one and talk about their ideas.
4. If their top ideas have already been written down, they should show they agree by adding a sticky dot to the Post-it note. They don’t need to add another Post-it note saying the same thing. They should add Post-it notes with any new ideas they have.
5. Groups should repeat steps three and four until each group has visited all four stations.
6. Everyone should gather back together. The person leading the activity should gather the completed signs so everyone can look at them.
7. You can help some people to explain to everyone else why they chose their idea and what inspired them. They should talk about the most popular ideas, any ideas that are similar and could be combined, and any that are exciting but difficult to achieve—maybe someone will have ideas about how to make it happen.
8. The people who plan the activities and programme should use everyone’s suggestions and thoughts when they plan what everyone will do together.