1st Forres Scouts carrying out challenges at home during coronavirus lockdown
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YOUNGSTERS from local Scouting groups have been improvising to keep up their activities during the coronavirus lockdown.
The Scout Association has stopped its programmes until further notice but is encouraging its leaders across the UK to maintain interest by setting challenges for Scouts to complete at home.
1st Forres Scouts secretary Louise Berry confirmed the local Beavers (6-8-years-old), Cubs (8-10-years-old) and Scouts (10-14-years-old) have been kept busy.
She said: "There are a variety of activity badges from astronomy to world faiths, as well as personal challenges. One scout is learning to play the guitar and another is learning to touch type.
"Others are concentrating on leadership skills and creativity, and one has produced an illustrated comic strip of a chapter from a favourite novel."
She added: "The Scouts have also been making marble runs in their gardens, doing environmental work, showing appreciation for the NHS and for those with horses, doing equestrian activites.
"Lots of home cooking for families has also been taking place."
Fifteen 1st Forres Scouts recently enjoyed their first virtual troop night via an hour on Skype, having been sent a list of ingredients to gather together for the meeting, the focus of which was 'silly cooking'.
"They made home-made pot noodles and armpit fudge," said Louise. "It was a bit of silliness with plenty of squeals of horror when the bags went under their armpits! It was utter chaos but great fun."
