{"activityType":[{"id":38400,"name":"Spiritual activities"}],"activityCategory":"Ceremony","completionTime":"up to 10","cost":"Free","energy":"Ice-breaker","equipmentList":[{"id":38265,"name":"Coloured pens or pencils","description":"","type":"general"},{"id":38358,"name":"Scrap paper","description":"","type":"general"},{"id":0,"name":null,"description":"Sign in system (optional)","type":"specific"},{"id":0,"name":null,"description":"Quiet games and puzzles (optional)","type":"specific"}],"adjustments":"","firstProvidedBy":"","flexibilityStatement":"\u003Cp\u003EPlan an opening that everyone will enjoy and be able to be involved in. For some people, having actions with the song might help them join in.\u0026nbsp; Some people may not like noise, so think about noise levels in the activity.\u003C/p\u003E","groupSize":"Whole section","guide":null,"meetsRequirements":null,"countsTowardsBadges":null,"outcome":[{"id":38436,"name":"Be a team player","outcomeLabel":"Be a team player","outcomeDescription":"Learn to work better with others, achieve shared goals, and put the team first."},{"id":38456,"name":"Build friendships","outcomeLabel":"Build friendships","outcomeDescription":"Create stronger, more meaningful friendships, and feel connected to others in your community."}],"preparation":null,"preparationTime":"\u003C5","reflection":"\u003Cp\u003EDuring the ceremony everyone was part of a team and built friendships by welcoming each other to the group.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EHow did it feel to be welcomed into the group?\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EHow did everyone work together to welcome everybody else?\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","relatedActivities":null,"setting":[{"id":38381,"name":"Indoors"},{"id":38378,"name":"Outdoors"}],"supportedBy":null,"takingItFurther":"","whoIsItFor":"","youthShapedGuidance":"\u003Cp\u003EThe group could create their own actions to go with the song, or even make up their own song.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","activityTags":[{"id":38509,"name":"Celebrating"},{"id":38506,"name":"Sharing"},{"id":38508,"name":"Reflecting"}],"roles":[{"id":39231,"name":"Helpers"},{"id":38724,"name":"Section Teams"},{"id":39232,"name":"Parents"},{"id":38725,"name":"Young Leaders"}],"sections":[{"name":"Squirrels","id":39272,"logo":"","colour":null,"ageRange":""}],"themes":null,"searchEngineDescription":"Welcome everyone to the Squirrel meeting and get things off to a smooth start. Why not try this song and reflection?","plannerTimeSlot":5.000000,"safetyAlerts":[],"safetyAlert":"","safetyTags":[],"deliveryMethods":"","permitRequired":false,"scoutLedQualifications":[],"guidance":null,"aalaRequired":false,"externalQualifications":[],"exceptions":[],"listingVideoUrl":"","disableBasicSafetyChecklist":false,"likes":0,"activitiesAdditionalInfo":{"inclusivityStatement":"\u003Cp\u003EAll Scout activities should be \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.scouts.org.uk/volunteers/inclusion-and-diversity/supporting-those-with-additional-needs-and-neurodiversity/reasonable-adjustments/badges-and-awards/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Guidance on flexibility\u0022\u003Einclusive and accessible.\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","standardSafetyAlert":"\u003Cp\u003EAll activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/risk-assessments/\u0022 title=\u0022Risk assessments\u0022\u003Erisk assessment\u003C/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safe-scouting-cards/staying-safe-safety-checklist/staying-safe-leaders/\u0022 title=\u0022Staying Safe - Leaders\u0022\u003Esafety checklist\u003C/a\u003E to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/programme-guidance/information-for-volunteers/general-activity-guidance-a-z/approving-activities-guidance-for-lead-volunteers/\u0022 title=\u0022Approving Activities - Guidance for Lead Volunteers\u0022\u003Eapproval for the activity\u003C/a\u003E, and have suitable\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safety/planning-and-assessing-risk/guidance-for-supervision-of-activities/\u0022 title=\u0022Guidance for supervision of activities\u0022\u003Esupervision\u003C/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;and an \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/intouch/\u0022 title=\u0022InTouch\u0022\u003EInTouch\u003C/a\u003E process.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYou must run your activities in line with the \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safe-scouting-cards/safeguarding-code-of-conduct-for-adults-yellow-card/\u0022 title=\u0022Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults - Yellow Card\u0022\u003ESafeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card)\u003C/a\u003E and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.\u003C/p\u003E","basicChecklist":"\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EComplete a \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/risk-assessments/\u0022 title=\u0022Risk assessments\u0022\u003Erisk assessment\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EHave the right \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/adult-to-young-people-ratios/\u0022 title=\u0022Adult to Young People ratios\u0022\u003Eratios\u003C/a\u003E of number of adults to provide suitable\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safety/planning-and-assessing-risk/guidance-for-supervision-of-activities/\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Guidance for supervision of activities\u0022\u003Esupervision\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003ESet up an \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/intouch/\u0022 title=\u0022InTouch\u0022\u003EInTouch\u003C/a\u003E process\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/staying-safe-and-safeguarding/safe-scouting-cards/safe-scouting-and-emergency-procedures/\u0022 title=\u0022Safe Scouting and Emergency Procedures\u0022\u003EKnow what to do in an emergency\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EShare information with parents and carers with an\u003C/span\u003E \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/programme-guidance/general-activity-guidance/activity-information-form/\u0022 title=\u0022Activity information form\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan\u003Eactivity information\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cspan\u003E form\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EGet \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/programme-guidance/information-for-volunteers/general-activity-guidance-a-z/approving-activities-guidance-for-lead-volunteers/\u0022 title=\u0022Approving Activities - Guidance for Lead Volunteers\u0022\u003Eapproval from your Lead Volunteer.\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","scoutLedAvailable":"\u003Cp\u003EThis activity can be led by you or someone else in Scouts:\u003C/p\u003E","permitRequired":"\u003Cp\u003EThe activity leader must have an \u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/programme-guidance/activity-permit-scheme/adventurous-activity-permit-scheme/\u0022 title=\u0022Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme\u0022\u003Eadventurous activities permit\u003C/a\u003E with the right level and permissions for your group.\u003C/p\u003E","externallyLedAvailable":"\u003Cp\u003EYou can go to a centre or use an activity leader who\u0027s not part of Scouts:\u003C/p\u003E","aalaRequired":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://www.hse.gov.uk/aala/index.htm\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022AALA licence\u0022\u003EAn AALA licence is required\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E","aalaExempt":"\u003Cp\u003EIf the provider is exempt from the AALA licence.\u003C/p\u003E","publicLiabilityInsurance":"\u003Cp\u003EThe provider must have public liability insurance.\u003C/p\u003E","actvityLink":"/activities/"},"duration":5,"instructions":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EStarting a Squirrel meeting\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ELots of people find it helpful to have structure and routines in their meetings, including having a set way to start and finish a meeting.\u00A0 This can help everything run smoothly and help everyone to join in.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"fullWidth","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"accordion","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","showExpand":false,"items":[{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EHaving a sign-in system can help everyone feel ready for the meeting and feel connected.\u00A0 There are lots of different ways you could do this. You could:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EUse a welcome board - Everyone finds their picture and places it onto a board. These pictures could be a photo of the person, a drawing they\u2019ve done of themselves, or their name. \u00A0The pictures will get a lot of use, so if you\u2019re able to laminate them, this will help them stay in one piece.\u00A0 Using Velcro will make it really easy for them to attach their picture, but sticky tack would work too.\u00A0\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EUse objects \u2013 Everyone finds the object with their name on, and places or hangs it in a certain place. You can get as creative as you like.\u00A0 These could be pebbles placed in a basket, sticks to lay on a picture of a nest,\u00A0 luggage/gift tags to hang on a model tree or toy building bricks to stick together.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","label":"Sign-in"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EIt can be useful to have something for people to do while they\u2019re waiting for the whole group to arrive.\u0026nbsp; A quiet game or activity will be best. This could simply be colouring in or drawing, simple puzzles, or quiet games.\u0026nbsp; These could even be linked to what you\u2019re going to be doing in the meeting. Have these placed on the floor or at tables, so everyone can just get stuck in,\u003C/p\u003E","label":"While you\u2019re waiting"},{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cul\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EWhen everyone has arrived, a quick activity that everyone does together, is a great way to start every meeting. This can help capture everyone\u2019s attention and get them ready to listen and join in. It could be a song that everyone sings together.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EYou may hear these sorts of activities called \u2018opening ceremonies\u2019, as they\u2019re used to open (start) the meeting. There\u2019s no one right way to do this, as long as it gives everyone a chance to come together and say hello.\u00A0\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThis is just one example of something you could do. It\u2019s up to you what you do to welcome everyone to your meeting.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ul\u003E","label":"Opening the meeting"}]}]}],"config":null},{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EAn example opening\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003EThe welcome song\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Col\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EOnce the whole group has arrived or it is time to start, everyone should sit in a circle including any adults staying for the meeting.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EThe group can sing the welcome song below.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EEveryone should be encouraged to join in the song together and to wave to each of the people as their name is sung.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ol\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAdults and helpers may need to support everyone to be involved in the song. Everyone could sing it together, or the person leading the activity could sing the words first, for the rest of the group to repeat. This will depend on how well everyone knows the song and everyone\u0027s names.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003EShare and reflect\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Col\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EAfter the welcome song, the person leading the ceremony should ask the group if they can remember what they did during last week\u0027s meeting.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003Cli\u003EEveryone should be encouraged to share what they enjoyed about last week\u0027s meeting and what they did if they took part in the at home activities.\u003C/li\u003E\n\u003C/ol\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESome people might need prompts to remember what they did last week and if they took part in the activity at home. Encourage everyone to try to think about something that they did at home that was related to the meeting activity even if it isn\u0027t the activity at home.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"accordion","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","showExpand":false,"items":[{"gridType":"accordionItem","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThis suggested song is to the tune of the first half of \u003Ca rel=\u0022noopener\u0022 href=\u0022https://vimeo.com/368053588\u0022 target=\u0022_blank\u0022 title=\u0022Goodbye campfire song video on Vimeo\u0022\u003E\u0027Goodbye campfire song\u0027\u003C/a\u003E\u00A0with the words changed to be:\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EHello (name of young person), hello (name of next young person),\u003C/strong\u003E \u003Cstrong\u003Ehello (name of next young person), we\u0027re glad you\u0027re here today.\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E","label":"The welcome song"}]}]}],"config":null}]},"ownerAuthor":null,"porRules":null,"id":45935,"nodeName":"Opening a Squirrel meeting","title":"Opening a Squirrel meeting","type":"activity","image":null,"assets":[],"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Opening a Squirrel meeting","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"searchDescription":"Welcome everyone to the Squirrel meeting and get things off to a smooth start. Why not try this song and reflection?","subHeader":"Welcome everyone to the Squirrel meeting and get things off to a smooth start. Why not try this song and reflection?","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80NTkzNSJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/activities/opening-a-squirrel-meeting/"}