PLYMOUTH SCOUTS PEREGRINE CHALLENGE COMMEMORATING THE SETTLERS WHO TRAVELLED ON THE

MAYFLOWER IN 1620

COPYRIGHT – PLYMOUTH DISTRICT SCOUTS

Plymouth Scouts Peregrine Challenge We are pleased to announce a Special Challenge for all sections to work towards during the special year to commemorate Mayflower 400 and the journey of the famous ship from Plymouth to America, the people on it and the challenges they faced. Why the Peregrine Challenge Award? Peregrine White was born on board the Mayflower in the harbour in Massachusetts and is credited with being the first person from the Settlers born in America. A peregrination is also a journey or travelling exploration so highly appropriate for our badge.

Who is the Award for? The challenges are open to all sections, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Explorers Network and Leaders and can be completed as colonies, packs, troops, units, groups or any

combination of these. You may for example do some challenges within the group and other challenges with another group. Some challenges could be completed as individuals or even as families though the idea is for most of them to be carried out as part of your Scouting programme. We want the Peregrine Award to be active, inclusive and challenging for everyone. We want the Leaders to be optimistic on what you can achieve and not always take the easiest option. We would love everyone to complete every challenge to earn the award but there has to be flexibility to allow for new members and transfers between sections. The challenges are designed that in most cases missing ones could be caught up outside of your meetings with families. It is a leader’s call whether you think that someone deserves the Award. Like any badges they are there to encourage participation, trying new things, yet providing some stretch to those who already have the basics.

How are the Challenges Organised? To help you with planning and ideas, we have made suggestions for simple, moderate and hard ways to tackle the challenges but we also want you to be creative. You and your young people’s interpretations and ideas will make the Peregrine Challenge Award different. It is not to say Beavers need to be limited to only simple ones or Scouts and Explorers have to attempt the hard. You will get the same badges whichever you do and we acknowledge that some challenges may inspire you and your Young People more than others. So choose what works for you. You can do most of the challenges in any order and some of them you may complete at the same time, but we would like you to do Three Challenges in each of the four seasons including one for each season that we definitely want you to do.

The other challenges of which there are 15 means you need to choose 8 of them. Of course you can do all of them and it may be good to plan all of them knowing that not everyone will do all of them. The Award will take a year to complete. If you are late starting, we don’t mind you catching up. The Ships Log We want every Section/Group to keep a record of the challenges. This could be a scrapbook or a diary and could include pictures, reports, stories, and other evidence that you can present at the end. You could do individual, lodge, six and patrol ones if that works for you. We also have a closed group Facebook page and website where progress can also be recorded, ideas shared and contacts made. It is called Peregrine Challenge –Plymouth Scout District. Who is the Peregrine Challenge for? Whilst the Challenge has been put together by Plymouth Scouts it is open to any Scout Groups in the UK or even worldwide as long as groups follow POR or the rules of their relevant Scout Organisation.

The Badges

There are planned to be a number of badges that go with the Challenges. There will be a core badge for registering. This is based on the crest on the stern of the Mayflower. This badge can be worn by UK scouts on the left breast above the World Badge as an occasional badge until February 2021. There are then a series of additional ones that can be added for each Season completed or for late starters after every 3 challenges.

The initial badge cost per person for Plymouth Scouts has been covered by a donation/sponsor and will be issued to GSLs and Unit Leaders but please note we trust you to only ask for the number in your group that you need. Extras will be available for purchase later. The badges will have a cost for those outside Plymouth District, but we will confirm this on the Facebook group.

Summary of the Peregrine Challenges Compulsory Challenges – Complete 1 per season Challenge A Winter Create a set of Laws Challenge B Spring Make a flag Challenge C Summer Float a Boat Challenge D Autumn Have a Thanksgiving Meal Summary of the optional Challenges – Complete 2 per season for each badge and 8 in total: 1. Pack a bag 6. Trading Challenge 11. Fundraising 2. Exploration by boat 7. 400 collection challenge 12. Problem Solving 3. Visit another group 8. Grow a crop 13. Culture Challenge 4. Establish a camp 9. Mayflower History 14. Sleep somewhere new 5. Cook a Meal 10. 400 activity challenge 15. Community Action All the evidence for the above should be in a log book which could be paper based or digital and may be a report, some pictures, evidence of what was done to complete the challenge. Where possible link your activities to the events of 1620.

THE COMPULSORY CHALLENGES

Easy Moderate Hard Badge Challenge A – WINTER Create a set of Laws In establishing a new society and on board the Mayflower, rules and laws were needed. The original Plymouth Colony created The Mayflower Compact and included a bill of rights and trial by jury. It levied taxes, decreed the distribution of land and set out punishments. Several crimes carried the death penalty including treason, murder, witchcraft, arson, cursing or smiting one's parents!

Write a simple code of conduct to use at all your meetings. This may include learning your section law.

Investigate some rules and laws in the UK and USA. What are the sanctions and punishments for different things? It could include looking at the meaning of the Beaver, Cub and Scout Laws and Promises.

This could involve a discussion on the different laws that are needed to run a country and look at the values that underpin them. Then write a set of rules for a society.

Challenge B – SPRING Make a flag. This should be fabric based and involve as many people as you can. You choose the size! The original Plymouth Colony adopted a seal with the cross of St George on it and 4 figures each carrying a burning heart.

Make a flag to represents your section, lodge, six, patrol or group. Involve as many people as possible. Take the flag to your

Have a look at where the design for the UK and US flags come from to see if that helps you with your ideas. Maybe make some seals or stamps as well carved

Look at the whole purpose of Branding. Create and suggest changes to your Group/Units brand image.

other challenges. in a potato or soap.

Challenge C – SUMMER Build a Boat (out of paper and cardboard) and bring to the SAIL A BOAT event or run your own event if outside Plymouth The Mayflower was about 30m long and had 3 masts. There was no toilet on board or cabins for passengers. It is estimated she could carry a cargo of 180 tons. The Speedwell was to accompany the Mayflower but due to leaks abandoned the voyage.

This could be a simple origami boat that is tested with coins to see whose is the strongest. Bring them all and make an Armada. Don't forget your Flag

Build cardboard boats in lodges, sixes or patrols and bring them for testing at the Civic Centre Pool. How will it move? Are you dressing up?

This is the same as the moderate challenge but can your cardboard boat carry a real person “across the Pond”. Is there a team theme?

Challenge D – AUTUMN Thanksgiving Meal – this should be the final challenge and a celebration. Celebrated on the 4th Thursday in November. The Settlers had a Thanksgiving Celebration in 1621 to celebrate a good harvest. Today a Thanksgiving meal usually involves Turkey, mashed potato, gravy, sweet corn, Brussels sprouts, squash and pumpkin pie.

Have a meal to celebrate your achievements over the Year with some appropriate food. Give out prizes and awards. Who do you want to thank and how?

Invite parents and supporters to your evening and serve them a meal, Can you find some Scouting members or leaders from the past to come along,

Cook and serve a full traditional Thanksgiving Meal, maybe with your own grown crops. You could use this to raise funds.

Challenge 1 Getting ready to move As well as a limited amount of personal items, the Settlers would have taken some tools, axes and saws as well as some farm animals and seeds to plant.

Pack one bag each with everything you need for a one night camp or residential scout experience.

Pack one bag with everything you would take for a week/long camp or expedition. Explain how to pack these items, what quantities are needed, how to keep things fresh and dry etc.

Pack one bag with everything you would take if moving to a new country. You could look at the issues of natural disasters, asylum seekers and wars that displace populations. This could also be planning a camp and identifying all the non-personal items needed.

Challenge 2 Go an exploration that involves boat travel The original Mayflower journey took 66 days from September 6 –November 9 1620. The settlers spent another month and a half exploring and identifying where to establish their plantation.

This may be a short ferry or water taxi ride. This should involve landing at a different place to where you boarded the boat.

This could be a day trip by kayak or sailing expedition, a trip on a narrow boat, fishing trip etc.

This could be an international trip by ferry or an overnight experience with moderate challenge vessels.

Challenge 3 Visit another scout group at their regular meeting place The original settlers met with the various tribes of the Wampanoag people who had lived there for 10000 years before the Europeans arrived. One tribe the Pokanokets were helpful but other Native American groups were less welcoming.

This could be the local group down the road and nearest to you. Ideally join in their ceremonies, games and activities but beware you may have to return the favour!

This could be a visit outside the District. It could be combined with another challenge. Discuss the things that you find are similar or different, what you like and don’t like.

This could be outside the County or Country. This could even be to another Youth Organisation such as guides, Boys Brigade, Cadets.

Challenge 4 Establish a camp This took the original settlers several months as they lived on the Mayflower and travelled ashore to erect buildings, including a watch -tower and a fort as well as houses. They built the houses close together for safety and security.

Help put up your own tents, or shelters.

Help set up a camp and work out what group tents are needed such as first aid, kitchen, meeting place etc.

In setting up your camp, as in the moderate challenge think about all the infrastructure that is needed for say a jamboree or for a large group. Draw maps and plans to show where the different services should be located.

Challenge 5 Cooking Challenge In the first winter, many of the Settlers died through illness and poor nutrition. They learned to fish and hunt beaver! ( now there’s an idea!)

Cook some food on an open fire that you haven’t cooked before! You must taste what you cook.

Plan and cook a meal for a patrol on an open fire that you have not cooked before. Maybe a backwoods meal.

Plan and cook a menu for a large group of people or that links to the type of food cooked by the Mayflower Settlers. Maybe build a pit oven or hay box.

Challenge 6 Trading Challenge The early settlers would have traded all sorts of goods for food, materials and clothing including fur as well as learning skills. They provided tools and weapons in return to the Native Americans.

Make something to sell/trade. This could be cakes, sweets or bracelets. You could start with £5 and see how much you can make in a month.

Take part in a trading game where each patrol group makes something and sells or trades with another team. No money is used. Is it 1 for 1?

Set yourself a target to raise money for a Camp Activity or event that benefits your members. Work to achieve this.

Challenge 7 The 400 Challenge Collection This is an opportunity to start collections

Collect 400 objects – this could be badges, stones, stamps, stickers

This could be chosen to help start new collections for badges

This could be 400 Tors, streets, road signs or something obscure

Challenge 8 Grow a Crop Being self -sufficient was really important. Planning what and when to plant crops would have been very important. Early crops included Indian corn, beans, pumpkin, barley, carrots, turnips, wheat and oats.

This could be something like cress seeds or sunflowers, tomatoes or potatoes in a grow-bag.

This could be a single crop of say or carrots or a green vegetable. Maybe everyone could grow something different.

This could involve growing all the vegetables needed for the Thanksgiving Challenge at the end. This involves plenty of planning and storage.

Challenge 9 Mayflower History Challenge 37 of the original settlers were from Leiden in Holland. Others recruited by the London Merchant Adventurers.

Find out about the Mayflower, who was on it and where they came from. What happened to them and their descendants?

Find out and visit somewhere with historical connections to the Mayflower, its passengers and crew. For example a walk around Plymouth sea front.

Find out as much as you can about an aspect of the Mayflower of your choice and present your findings. Maybe run an evening for another section based on the knowledge you found out.

Challenge 10 The 400 Challenge Activity – As Group/Colony/Pack/Troop/Unit complete 400 things Sticking at something and perseverance are hard yet a key survival skill that the Settlers needed to show

This could be 400 hours of community service as a total

This could be 400 miles or 400 hikes

This could be 400 nights away or 400 hours on the water

Challenge 11 Fundraising As well as surviving themselves societies soon realise they need to do things for those less fortunate

Do a charity collection or event to raise money for a cause. Invite the charity to come to your meeting

Set a target for an amount to raise and do a series of activities for this charity and invite them to your meeting

As well as raising money try and get some publicity for what you are doing and encourage action to help your cause.

Challenge 12 Problem Solving The early settlers experienced many problems and set backs including crop failure, winter and medical issues

Take part in some problem solving activities

Take part in some problem solving activities away from your meeting place such as in an event or competition

Look at some significant problems and dilemmas faced in Society. Generate solutions and take action

Challenge 13 Culture Challenge Many of the early Settlers had strong beliefs and faith. Many were part of a Puritan sect called Separatists who wanted a more divine way of life than that offered by the Church of England. The US National Anthem was written in 1814 but not adopted until 1931.

You could learn the UK and US National Anthems. What do they mean? Write a prayer

You could do an activity to look at different faiths and find similarities between them. You could find out about different American and UK cultures.

Invite people from different faiths, countries, cultures political parties to your meeting place for a discussion

Challenge 14 Sleep somewhere unusual or new Challenge It is always strange sleeping in a new place, never mind a new country. The uncertainty of the new sounds and safety

This could be a first night at Camp or a New campsite that your group have not been at.

This could be an organised cardboard box sleep out. Plymouth District hope to do this and get sponsorship for local homeless charities.

This could take the form of an Exploration or Expedition that will need planning and preparation.

Challenge 15 Community Action We would like to see some contribution to the local area and community Being part of a community means giving something of yours to help others.

This could take the form of a beach or local area clean up, doing a collection of useful items for a food bank.

Maybe you could create a new facility, community garden, set up a shopping service

There is no limit to how creative you can be when it comes to volunteering in the Community

If you would like more information or register your interest, please fill in this form. If you can give us a rough ideas of numbers for your group, that would be helpful. Please return to Julie Jury - peregrine@plymouthscouts.org.uk Group___________________________________Contact Name________________________________________ Contact Email ________________________________________

Beavers ____ Cubs ____ Scouts ____ Explorers ____ Leaders ____