- Lancashire Mining Museum hosted a CUBE event for Ellesmere District’s Squirrel, Beaver, and Cub scouts
- The event featured four zones of activities
- Feedback was overwhelmingly positive from both adults and children
Squirrel, Beaver, and Cub scouts from across Ellesmere converged at Lancashire Mining Museum last week for an event designed to ‘bring the district together again’.
CUBE, which stands for Cubs and Beavers, also welcomed Squirrel scouts for the first time since the section for 4-5 year olds was launched in Scouting in September 2021.
Andrew Scialpi-Sullivan, Deputy District Commissioner (programmes), organised the event to unite Ellesmere district. He said: “The idea was to kickstart the programme and get the district to come together, so we put it out to Beavers and Cubs, and Squirrels for the first time!
“When we do more district events, it’ll get bigger and bigger. It’s like a little acorn at the moment, and from there we’ll grow big trees.”
CUBE was hosted by Lancashire Mining Museum which has the only surviving headgear structure in Lancashire, despite it coming close to demolition in 1970.
The event featured four zones for which centred around themed activities for the young people to learn, develop skills, and have fun.
In the Woodland Zone, children were supervised as they cooked bread twists over a campfire, which they could then dip into jam and chocolate spread.
Den building was also on the agenda, and Beavers and Cubs worked together to turn twigs and branches into shelters.
The Carnival Zone included a bouncy castle and inflatable obstacle course, as well as a coconut shy and selfie station.
Face painting was also a big hit, and throughout the day, many a Spiderman and glittery butterfly could be seen wandering around the museum.
The star attraction in the Active Zone was the cave bus. After donning bright orange safety helmets, the young people (and some adults) attempted to navigate the tight twists and turns of a converted bus.
The Industrial Zone allowed the Beavers and Cubs to discover the rich history Lancashire Mining Museum has to offer.
Museum volunteers operated the 450-tonne colliery winding engine, which is the largest surviving engine of its type in Europe, for each group to see.
Dianne Herring, a volunteer at the museum, said: “They’ll never see nothing like that anywhere else so giving kids opportunities to see that, it normally gets their interest going in history and engineering. It’s good to see young kids getting interested in something like this.”
Groups also had the opportunity to embark on a Hunslet train ride, which travelled for half a mile before switching directions to return to the boarding platform.
Also in attendance were St. John’s Ambulance cadets, who acted as first aid provision for the event as well as offering free demonstrations to adults and children in CPR and severe bleeding.
“It’s actually a project in conjunction with Radio Manchester that we are trying to get 21,000 trained in first aid on the five year anniversary of the Manchester bomb,” explained Michelle, Unit Manager for Horwich cadets and District Youth Officer.
Feedback from the event was overwhelmingly positive from both young people and adults.
Molly, a Beaver from 3rd/1st Eccles, said: “There was lots of stuff on like face painting, bouncy castles, and owls. The train was so fun!”
Lily, from the same group, added: “It was loads of fun, we played lots of games, and also because all of us had a go and we really loved it!”
After a ride on the train, Curtis, a Cub from 2nd Irlam, said: “I really enjoyed it and I liked everything about it.
“I’m excited for the cave bus, but kind of scared in case I get stuck!”
As part of the Scout’s wider strategy for ‘youth shaped’ scouting, District Youth Commissioner Reece was gathering feedback throughout the event.
He explained: “It’s positive scouting, so what they like to do and what they want to do.”
A You Shape table was also set up where children and leaders could leave more feedback. Hayley, Comms Manager for Greater Manchester West County, wrote: ‘It’s great to see all the young people smiling and enjoying the day!’
Young people were encouraged to complete slips rating the event. One Cub gave the event a 10 out of 10, and called it the ‘best day ever’.
At the end of the event, each young person took home their winding engine ticket, a St John’s Ambulance badge, and a commemorative token to remember the day.
Monton Matters 