BIG ACTIVITIES
We do loads of activities but this page is just for Big Canoeing, Big Climbing and Big Caving and Big Hiking and BIG Targets
We do loads of activities but this page is just for Big Canoeing, Big Climbing and Big Caving and Big Hiking and BIG Targets
BIG Canoeing
During the warmer months, we lead kayaking and canoeing at the River Don. It's a fabulous activity and the kids love it!
150th has almost 200 cubs and scouts. We can't take all of them and still run safe sessions. So, Big Canoeing is by invite only. Each cub and scout section team identifies 8 youngsters who show they live the scout motto and do their best. The letter can be found here. For kids who are a bit worried about coming on the water, or just want more info, there's a kid-friendly intro for them here. Girls Allowed Canoeing We sometimes run Girls Allowed sessions. These are for female scouts only. The Girls Allowed sessions are extra to the normal schedule. Our Girls Allowed sessions started after meetings between 150th and the British Canoeing who are keen to get more girls involved. Because the sessions are extra to the usual schedule, boys still have loads of opportunity to come paddling during the other sessions! For example, n 2018, there were 41 Big Canoeing sessions - 4 of these were Girls Allowed sessions. We don't see a problem with a sport trying to increase diversity, especially when no one else loses out. The Kayaks & Canoes The activity is called Big Canoeing, we use two types of canoes: kayaks and Canadian canoes. The kayaks we use are often quicker and more easy to turn than Canadian canoes. We control kayaks using a paddle with a blade on both ends. The Canadian canoes we use are slower and heavier, but they can carry several people. We use a paddle with a blade on one end. The Canadian canoes have an open top and higher sides. 
Dynamo Dagger kayak used with Cubs
Dagger RPM kayak used with Scouts
Inazone kayak used with older Scouts & adults
G3 kayak used with very tall people
Canadian canoe
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BIG CLIMBING
Big climbing takes kids from the roads of Sheffield to the Rocks of Derbyshire.
Like Big Canoeing, our first priority is to keep children safe. This means taking groups of up to 8 youngsters for half a day each. We don't get the chance to climb as much as paddle so places at Big Climbing are even more prized. We currently average 4 half days per year. Youngsters are invited because they do their best. Big Climbing has been going on since 2012 and we were helped massively by a grant for £800 from Sheffield City Council to buy safety equipment to keep kids from harm on the rocks. We normally use Surprise View, which is a beautiful venue above Hathersage. Parents are welcome to stay for sessions or enjoy the Peak District. The rocks are high. The climbers are young. we're not bothered if kids get to the top. As long as they've done their best, then we'll be delighted. Depending on the confidence of the group, we sometimes also run abseiling. This means starting high and ending low. If we've run the session well, we find many youngsters are confident enough by the end to have a try at this, sometimes even twice! Either way, youngsters only do it if they choose to. Directions to Surprise View Car Park and a kit list can be found here. The file also has a helpful sheet for nervous cubs or scouts to read through to put their minds at ease! 
Abseiling at Lawrencefield Quarry, near Surprise View
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Other Canoeing Options
Once your Big Canoeing sessions end, how about even more fun in boats? There's info about options for the cubs and scouts here. Canoe Slalom Have you ever heard about canoe slalom? Did you know that, twice a year, Oughtibridge hosts a national canoe slalom competition? If not, we've a great intro here with everything you need to know. We've a small number of scouts who have earned so much time canoeing that they're ready for this next exciting challenge.. Kayak or Canoe Volunteers
If so, we'd love to hear from you... 150th has over 200 cubs & scouts who'd love to get on the river. Each year about 100 youngsters will get the chance to paddle. This could be so many more! With more grown up helpers, there could be more youngsters enjoying the adventures on the river. If you could help, or just want to ask questions, get in touch with the activities team [email protected] Thanks We're really grateful to fabulous volunteers of Sheffield Canoe Club who've been really supportive since Big Canoeing began in 2012. BIG HIKING
What better way for older scouts to perfect navigation skills than six evenings on local hills coached by navigation experts? This activity is by invite only. We've enough fair weather to run two groups of six weeks. We take up to six scouts at a time. As it's for older scouts, it's the perfect chance to build on existing map knowledge so that the scouts can become experts too! BIG TARGETS
BIG targets is our air rifle shooting activity. Youngsters get fully qualified instruction to help them develop the patience, self discipline and motor-control needed to take aim at the circle targets. It's nearby (we're able to adapt our own scout HQ to into an air rifle range), inexpensive (£2 per session) and happens on Saturdays. As with other of our BIG Activities, we use this to encourage and reward kids to do their best throughout the year. We invite up to 10 youngsters. |
BIG CAVING
That’s right… We’re talking caving! The Peak District has some great caves that families and kids can go down like Speedwell Cavern or Peak Cavern. Some scouts may be lucky enough to have gone down these before. Big Caving is a weekend event, taking 36 of our scouts to descend dark caves of Bradwell, Derbyshire and also travelling to Stoney Middleton, Derbyshire to explore even more perfect underground miracles. It's a pretty complicated running an event that has activities happening over a wide area. Because of this, we want to make the signing up process as simple as possible. That means that the event is open to all 150th scouts - this is not an 'invite only' event like Big Canoeing and Big Climbing. For more info on being underground, click here for our helpful guide for kids. BIG River Tubing
BIG River Tubing is our rubber ring water activity. It’s usually run as part of BIG Canoeing. Youngsters paddle in rubber rings and then take on the rapids at Oughtibridge. We know that it’s an unusual activity, and that you might have questions about how it works, so here’s our risk assessment to show how we’re managing risk whilst having fun. 
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Questions about any of our BIG Activities? If so, email [email protected]
