A troop of kids decked out in uniform with the iconic orange neckerchief, lined up in the middle of a forest following a guide. That is the image that comes to mind when we say Boy Scouts. American families will be familiar with the Boy Scouts of America, and also their younger counterpart the Cub Scouts. We are happy to discover that the Boy/Cub Scouts exist here in Beijing, China as well!

Any overseas passport holders in Beijing are able to access Scouting through both the Boy Scouts of America and the USA Girl Scouts Overseas.

The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes through a combination of monthly outdoor activities – hiking, camping, as well as weekly evening indoor meetings where we emphasize citizenship, fair play, leadership, ethics, fitness, and other skills.  The USA Girl Scouts Overseas has a similar curriculum that focuses on building girls of courage, confidence & character who make the world a better place.

Don’t worry if you’re not outdoors-savvy, everyone pitches in where they can. Parent involvement can range from cooking at campouts, leading indoor games and crafts, to coaching sports.

Please contact below for more information:

Cub Scouts (grades K-5) – pack3944@gmail.com
Boy Scouts (grades 6-12) – beijingtroop943@gmail.com
Girl Scouts (grades K-12) – beijinggirlscouts@usagso.org

Scouting is a highly involved family event and parents should be ready to actively participate in and lead sessions for the group. If you are interested to sign up, make sure you are truly ready and able to commit to weekly and monthly events and activities where you will be called to action! Share your skills with the future generation and help to shape young minds.

This Wednesday, the Cub Scouts Pack 3944 are organizing a get-to-know-you session as well as a Olympics-style event where kids will take part in various sporting events and compete together. This event is open to boys from ages 5 to 11. Attending parents will be invited to volunteer and help out, so be prepared! Please register in advance by scanning the QR code in the poster below as no walk-ins will be entertained.

KEEP READING: Getting Into That Back-to-School Mindset

Images: Pexels, Cub Scouts

The sun is up, the weather is clear, the hiking gear is all ready – and you’re injured or feeling unwell? Accidents definitely spoil the fun, so it’s always better that we are prepared for the worst and looking forward to the best.

Just what exactly are the things that you need to prepare? We trim them down to the essential six of hiking and camping, as well as the items for your first aid kit, all courtesy of our guest experts from different organizations in Beijing.

This article first appeared in the beijingkids April 2019 Exploring Beijing issue.
Photos: Uni You; courtesy of Joy Dieterle, Steve Hubbard, Liu Shihong, and Li Donghe
Infographics: Michelle Zhang and Andy Penafuerte

When I was a kid, summer meant playing lots of basketball with neighborhood friends, visiting family in other parts of the country, or getting involved in numerous activities like camps and community service projects. But, it also meant fighting boredom in all of its devious shapes and sizes. Despite all of the technological advancements that have been made since we were kids, boredom still remains a challenge. Those two words, “I’m bored,” should strike fear into any parent.

We know we don’t need to inform you but summer is just around the corner, and if you are planning on staying in the Jing this summer, there are plenty of options fun things your child should do, but it’s a very good idea to stay informed and not act too late.

This issue is also full of helpful tips including how unaccompanied minors can travel internationally from Beijing, as well as the importance of pushing your kids to find internships during the summer. We also have three pages of exciting summer camp listings going on in June, July, and August.

For our cover feature, we find out how some parents are sending their kids to camps or having them participate in clubs so that they will reconnect with the culture and language of their native country. We also talk with the masters of being prepared, our local Boy and Girl Scout troops in Beijing. These youth-oriented groups are still going strong and offer a bunch of great wholesome activities for kids in this city to learn leadership, problem-solving, and other life skills that are core components to these scouting curricula.

This issue is our way of letting you know that summer and all of its delicious unstructured time free of strenuous academic pursuits is just around the corner. Whether you want to build your child’s skillsets and prevent the summer slide or give them a much-needed break from the obvious pressures that come from being enrolled in one of the many challenging international curricula here in Beijing, here you can find a bit of everything to make this process a bit more manageable.

Photos: Dave’s Studio
This article appeared on p5 of beijingkids April 2018 issue.

It’s back to school season again and aside from books and homework, classroom lessons, and outdoor stuff, scouting is one of the activities that brings out the best in young people. Last week, we mentioned the registration for the Girl Scouts of Beijing – next week, it’s the boys’ turn.

On September 5, Beijing Cub Scouts Pack 3944 will open their doors for foreign boys in Grades 1 to 5. There will be two locations for the registration events:
– 3e International School: 6.30pm
– International School of Beijing (ISB): 7pm.

Cub Scouts members are put into “dens,” or groups of about six to eight boys. The dens usually have boys of the same age or experience levels (Bobcats, Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and “Webelos,” or “We‘ll be loyal scouts”). A group of dens are called a “pack.” Steve Hubbar of Pack 3944 said the Cub Scouts promotes character building, community, and outdoor skills in young boys. The pack has been supporting hundreds of families in the Beijing community for over eight years, he added.

Meanwhile, boys from Grade 6 and up are eligible to join Boy Scouts, in which they can be assigned to a patrol. The patrols are placed under a troop, which has at least 70 boys.

Both Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts participate in numerous community and charity events throughout the year, as well as hiking/camping and other outdoor activities that promote bonding and brotherhood. In recent years, Beijing Boy Scouts have done at least 1,000 hours of community service like cleanup drives, clothing exchange and collection for the homeless, and construction of a library for an orphanage.

READ MORE: Throwback Thursday: Leader of the Pack

Beijing Cub Scouts Pack 3944 Registration Event, Sep 5
Boys in Grade 1-5 and adults. Registration at 3e International School starts at 6.30pm; ISB at 7pm. For more information, contact Steve Hubbard via WeChat (sthubbar) or email Pack3944@gmail.com

Photos: sasint (1, 2) and jclovis3 via Pixabay

More stories by this author here.
Email: andypenafuerte@beijing-kids.com
Instagram: @coolkidandy

Looking for new ways to promote your brand? Find out more about True Run Media’s Content Marketing packages. Call 5820 7881 or email sales@truerun.com for more info. 

Shunyi is once again clearing out and quieting down as we head into the biggest holiday on the Chinese calendar. Spring Festival (January 31 to February 6) is hugely important to locals, who invariably spend it with their families. For migrant workers and other non-Beijingers, that means an annual exodus with packages both big and small in tow. Along Jingmi Lu, you might have noticed vendors selling popular children’s gifts such as remote-controlled cars and dolls.

If you’re staying in the city and this is your first Chinese New Year, brace yourself for the racket of fireworks on New Year’s Eve (January 30) and the first day of the Spring Festival (January 31). It is customary to eat jiaozi (dumplings) on New Year’s Eve and check out a temple fair (click here for ideas on where to go).

Pet Boarding
Leaving Beijing and need a place to board your cat or dog? I recommend World Care Pet on Shunbai Lu, close to The Orchard. Kiki Chen helped us bring our Bernese mountain dog into China from overseas. Since we moved here, Chen and her team have been our default choice for pet boarding.

While our dog stays at World Care Pet, he is taken for a walk twice a day, fed regularly, and gets to play with other dogs. We like that he gets to socialize because the dogs are not kept in individual cages. The staff sends regular email updates and photos of the dogs playing together.

We also use World Care Pet’s grooming services, which is not an easy task given his breed. Our dog has a lot of thick fur, but the staff does a good job of drying him out and he has never come home with that wet dog smell. There’s also a water massage service for dogs where they are submerged in a pool and their limbs massaged to ease out any stiffness.

Boarding big dog breeds costs up to RMB 100 per day (including food), basic bathing or grooming services cost RMB 150, and pickup or delivery of pets from your home costs RMB 50-100 one way depending on distance.

Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby
The Cub Scouts of the Boy Scouts of America Beijing Chapter, Pack 3944 just held their annual Pinewood Derby competition at the International School of Beijing (ISB) last Saturday. Each member of the pack was given a car-making kit to work on with their parents. The kits usually contain a block of pine, plastic wheels and metal axels. The boys were encouraged to make their own designs and the final cars measured roughly six inches long.

The cars had to be made according to weight specifications (5oz maximum), with a weigh-in and check-in taking place the night before the race. The following day, each car competed in four heats of a four-track race. Qualifying cars then moved on to a semi-final and a final to determine the top four.

The track was assembled by parent volunteers who were also in charge of monitoring the race. Older Boy Scouts lined up the cars at the starting line, released the latch, and submitted the cars in finishing order to the scorekeepers.

The actual race lasted only four seconds per heat, but it was a fitting finish to several weeks of hard work by the scouts and their parents. Special prizes were awarded for most creative designs, best workmanship, and best sportsmanship.

Beijing United Shunyi Clinics Spring Festival Hours
Note that the Beijing United Shunyi clinics will be closed on some days during the Spring Festival:

Shunyi Clinic closed January 30 and 31, open February 1 and 2 from 9.30am-4.30pm. For appointments at the Shunyi clinic, call 8046 5432.
Dental Clinic closed January 30 and 31, February 1, 2 and 3; open February 4, 5 and 6 from 9.30am-4.30pm. For appointments at the Dental Clinic, call 8046 1102.
24-hour Service Center can be reached at 400 891 9191 and 24-hour the Emergency Room at 5927 7120.

We’d like to hear from you! What are your Shunyi favorites? Any recommendations or bits of news you’d like to see on Shunyi Happenings, feel free to email Dana at danamercado@beijing-kids.com.

Dana is the beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent. Originally from the Philippines, she moved to Beijing in 2011 (via Europe) with her husband, two sons and Rusty the dog. She enjoys writing, photography, theater, visual arts, and trying new food. In her free time, she can be found exploring the city and driving along the mountain roads of Huairou, Miyun and Pinggu.

Photo by Dana Cosio-Mercado

Looking for new ways to promote your brand? Find out more about True Run Media’s Content Marketing packages. Call 5820 7881 or email sales@truerun.com for more info. 

This week we have a little bit of this and a little bit of that. There is quite a lot happening just before we head off into the Chinese New Year holiday.

This Week:

Clicia’s Designs at Dragon Bay is having a “Ring In The New Year” gemstone clearance sale. Enjoy 50 percent off a wide variety of gemstones to fit all sizes of budgets. 10am-5pm until Friday, January 24. You can also book an appointment to see Clicia about bespoke design for you after the sale week. Clicia’s Designs and Shayne’s Treasures is at Lake View Place, Dragon Bay. Call the store on 8042 2203 or email clicia@cliciadesigns.com.

Tai Tai Tennis, the ladies doubles’ league in Shunyi, is holding registration sessions for its spring 2014 season. Sign-up will be held on Thursday, January 23, from 10am-12noon at Jamaica Blue in Yosemite Clubhouse. Tai Tai Tennis, now in its 15th season, is player-led, and women of all levels are welcome to join. The season runs from mid-February to early May and the registration cost of RMB 200 per person includes the end-of-season lunch and prize-giving. For more information, call 136 5134 6314 or email beijingpennant@yahoo.com

Not-for-profit breastfeeding organization, La Leche League is holding meetings in English twice a month in Shunyi, on every second and last Tuesday. Each meeting will be dedicated to a specific topic, with time put aside to discuss breastfeeding questions and issues. Some of the upcoming topics include: increasing your milk supply, weaning naturally while feeding complementary foods, and the first milk – what every pregnant woman should know.

The second monthly meeting, called Breastfeeding Café, is a way to come together with other nursing mothers (and babies) and talk about your experiences. All meetings are held at 2067 Gahood Villas from 9.30-11.30am. The next Breastfeeding Café meets on January 28. For more info, email becinthelibrary@yahoo.com.

Roundabout will be closed for the Spring Festival from Sunday, January 26. If you are doing any spring cleaning over the holiday, the charity store invites you to bring in your donations from Friday, February 7 when its doors reopen at 9.30am. Donations will be be gladly accepted to be sold in the store or donated to Roundabout’s designated charities. With our support, the Roundabout Ren can continue to do the great work that Leslie Simpson started. For more info, check out www.roundaboutchina.com.

As you may know, Roundabout is also open to volunteer work. Last Saturday, some local boy scouts did a few hours of community service work with the charity as part of their community service badge. The boys helped out in the sorting area of Roundabout’s donation center and each given a cup of hot chocolate as a reward for their hard work.

Ongoing:

BabyGro is having a pre-Chinese New Year sale for one more week, closing out some brands and selling out old stock. Pop into the store at Cathay View Plaza for a wide range of discounted merchandise, such as maternity wear (50-90 percent off), baby clothing (50-70 percent off), shoes and boots, UV-safe swimwear, baby car seats, double and single strollers, and much more. Cathay View Plaza is on Xiangjiang Beilu (same road as Beijing Riviera Villas). BabyGro is at the back, next to Switch Café. Call 8470 1690 for information.

Green T. House is offering every dining guest a good luck sky lantern. Perfect for the Spring festival, you can enjoy a five-course festive menu of the benue’s popular "T. cuisine" for RMB 388 per person. Food can be served individually or for sharing, just state your preference when you make your reservation. Free flow drinks are also available for RMB 200 per person, which includes wine, beer, and soft drinks for a two-and-a-half hour period. Prices quoted do not include their 15 percent service charge. Dining at Green T. House is by reservation only. Call 136 0113 7132 or 6434 2519 for bookings and directions. The festive menu is available daily until the end of February.

Dragon Bay is offering another venue for ice skating in Shunyi. While the lake is frozen over, you and your kids can come over to enjoy some time on the ice. Entrance to the lake costs RMB 30 per person. Bring your own skates or pick up one of the pairs available for rent for RMB30 per pair (no time limit). Other ways to get around on the ice include the ice trolley (RMB 30, no time limit), ice bike (RMB 50, no time limit), and ice motorbike (RMB 30 for 10 mins). Two winters ago, we brought our own wooden sled, hooked up the dog, and watched as he had fun pulling the kids along the ice. The Dragon Bay ice rink is open daily from 9am to 6pm.

We’d like to hear from you! What are your Shunyi favorites? Any recommendations or bits of news you’d like to see here on Shunyi Happenings, please feel free to send it on to us via email to: danamercado@beijing-kids.com

Dana is the beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent. Originally from the Philippines, she moved to Beijing in 2011 (via Europe) with her husband, two sons and Rusty the dog. She enjoys writing, photography, theater, visual arts, and trying new food. In her free time, she can be found exploring the city and driving along the mountain roads of Huairou, Miyun and Pinggu.

Photo by Dana Cosio-Mercado

The British School of Beijing has been working with both UK-based and American Cub Scouting groups (for boys aged 8-10 1/2) and is looking to re-start the "First Beijing Scouting Group."

According to the BSB site:

Two qualified and experienced Scout Leaders (Adrian Richardson and Teresa Waldin) have just arrived and are keen to restart “1st Beijing Scout Group” at BSB. They already have the support of the British Scout Association and we now need to gauge interest among students and find some keen parent volunteers to help them.

The plan for the proposed pack is to start up after the October 1st Holiday week and the Cub Scouts will meet once a week on a weeknight (TBD), tentatively from around 7-8.30pm.

The organizers are looking for volunteers to serve as Scout Leaders, helpers, administrators, treasurers and web administrators, as well as people with a specialty who would be willing to teach their skills to the Scouts. 

To find out more about how to get involved, e-mail firstbeijingscouts -at- hotmail.com.

For more information on British Scouting, visit www.scouts.uk.org and. BSB also has PDFs with information on UK Cub Scouts and American Cub Scouts.

And look out for our article on Cub Scouting in Beijing in the forthcoming October issue of BeijingKids.