ICV logbook examples

26/05/2023- Activities and games from Malaysia

28/01/2022- Chinese new year 

12/02/2021- Chinese New Year  

23/10/2020- Origami and Japanese culture night

27/03/2020- International Badge  

23/03/2020- BSO online world challenge 

I helped run two Beaver meetings that focused on international Scouting and Fairtrade, and this experience taught me a lot about responsibility, leadership, and planning for younger children. 

I first offered to organise these sessions during the previous school term, because I wanted the Beavers to have the chance to earn their International badge and learn more about the world in a fun way. The meetings took place on 1st July and 8th July 2016. Before the sessions, I had to risk assess the activities and make sure everything was safe and age appropriate. While planning the food tasting part, I also had to think carefully about allergies. One of the Beavers had coeliac disease, so I made sure all the food options were either gluten free or had safe alternatives. This made me realise how important inclusivity is, and how even small details can affect whether someone feels able to join in. 

I did the shopping for all the items we needed and helped plan out the structure of both evenings. The theme was Fairtrade and Scouting around the world, and I wanted the Beavers to learn something new while still enjoying themselves.  

I asked a few parents to help run different “country tables”, where the Beavers could try small samples of food, learn about Fairtrade products. We looked at what Scouting uniforms and badges look like in another country. It was really interesting watching them notice similarities and differences between their uniforms and badges and ones from other parts of the world. 

During the meetings, we also played a game where the Beavers had to recognise flags from different countries, and we all practised saying simple words like “hello” and “goodbye” in other languages. I also taught them some games played by children their age in those countries. Seeing how excited they were made all the planning worth it. 

Looking back, I think I developed a lot of skills through this experience. I learned how to organise activities for younger children, how to think ahead about safety and dietary needs, and how to communicate clearly with adults when asking for help. I also became more confident leading groups and explaining things. Most importantly, I realised how rewarding it is to help younger Scouts learn something new and see the world in a bigger way. This experience helped me grow as a young leader and made me even more motivated to keep supporting the Scouting community. 

Before the sessions, I made prompt cards with facts and flags to help the Scouts explore different countries. I also prepared a voting sheet, chose simple recipes based on their choices, gathered ingredients and completed a risk assessment for cooking. Week 1 – I led a discussion where Scouts shared facts about countries that they knew. Using prompt cards, I introduced new countries and encouraged them to think about food traditions. The group voted to make Mexican fajitas and French crepes for the next session. I recorded their choices and checked dietary needs.  

Week 2 – I set up two cooking stations and gave the scouts, recipe sheets. Working in small teams, they chopped, mixed, cooked and tasted the dishes. We talked about the cultural backgrounds of each food. To finish, I taught them a Mexican game called the bean race, where they carried beans using a straw. The Scouts were engaged, competitive, and had great fun. 

Participating in the Explorers and Network trip to Ypres, Belgium was a powerful and deeply meaningful experience. Over three days, our group walked the 100km Van Ieper trail, tracing routes that passed through former battlefields, memorials, and quiet countryside shaped by the legacy of the First World War. Although I was officially a participant, I also took on responsibilities within the leadership team, helping with day‑to‑day organisation, supervising younger members, and supporting navigation and pacing.  

We visited several monuments and cemeteries, spent time in the In Flanders Fields Museum, and took part in a wreath‑laying ceremony at the Menin Gate, which was a particularly moving moment for all of us. After returning home, I delivered a presentation to my Cub Pack to share the cultural and historical significance of the trip. I explained why remembrance is important in Belgium, how the war shaped the region, and what it felt like to walk in the footsteps of history. The Cubs were especially interested in the Menin Gate ceremony and the idea that people from all over the world come together there every evening to remember. The presentation helped them understand the international dimension of Scouting and how travel can deepen our appreciation of global history and peace. 

Completed Explorer belt in August 2018 in Switzerland with Ignis Veneficus Network Unit. It was a 10-day expedition from Zurich to Kandersteg, mainly walking but also utilising local trains. Our aim was to compare British and Swiss footpaths and we determined that footpaths in Switzerland were much better maintained and signposted, but maps in the UK are far superior. The Swiss did not seem to have a rival to an OS map.  

Our challenges included getting to know a new person every day, learning about the (rare) Swiss language Romanche, and getting our faces painted as part of a Swiss festival.  

We went as two groups, and our plan was to alternate members as we went along so everyone got to spend time together, but we discovered halfway through that this became problematic because of preference for certain transport methods, and physical walking ability, so we separated into two distinct groups.  

Walking in the Alps with some of my closest friends was definitely a highlight, along with experiencing local culture (such as National Switzerland Day) and swimming in the lakes we passed along the way. It was incredible to visit the fabled Reichenbach falls.  

The heat was definitely a challenge. It got up to at least 35 degrees centigrade every day. Also, it was tricky to navigate the stress put on friendships by such a challenge which pushed you to the limits. This became more difficult as the expedition progressed, but it was still an incredible experience.  

My main takeaways were about how to plan an expedition: the timescales required, planning the route, where to stay, where to get food, etc. I put this into practice three years later when I went on a road trip with a couple of the friends who were with me on Explorer Belt round the NC500 in Scotland. 

I completed my explorer belt as part of Surrey’s 2024 Explorer Belt programme over 10 Days between 13/08/2024 – 23/08/2024, as a part of this we had to complete 1 major project and 10 minor projects that I have listed below:  

I played a key role in helping my group establish a new Squirrels section, beginning with the 4‑week challenge—a structured trial period designed to help new volunteers experience Scouting and decide whether they want to continue.  

During this time, I supported the planning and delivery of weekly sessions, helped welcome new families, and mentored the parent volunteers who were stepping into leadership roles for the first time. My involvement continued beyond the initial four weeks, providing stability and guidance as the section found its rhythm. 

The section launched with 12 Squirrels, and although some have since moved up to Beavers, we now have a consistent group of six enthusiastic young people. The parent volunteers have grown in confidence and are now running the section independently, having successfully delivered several terms of engaging programmes. Being part of the creation and development of a new section has been incredibly rewarding, and it has strengthened Scouting provision in our local community. 

I worked with the beavers to help them achieve a stage of their Community Impact badge. The first session we spoke about the trees, and what the plastic was around them (tree guards). Following this, we then spoke about how we could make the community cleaner, and make it more sustainable for the animals. I got them to draw out what they think we could do as a community to make it cleaner and more sustainable for the living animals. 

In the next session we completed a beaver sleepover and went for a walk around the local area to find small pieces of rubbish, including plastic, and then we discussed what we could make with this. We agreed that bug hotels would be best fit to make sure that the insects are kept safe and dry during the winter and cold periods. Following these activities, this meant that the Beavers could then continue working on their individual activities to then go on to complete Stage 1 of their Community Impact badge. 

I organised my Scout troop’s participation in the Jamboree on the Internet (JOTI) as part of providing an international programme experience. After reviewing the event requirements, I registered the group for JOTI each year. To ensure everything was conducted safely, I completed a full risk assessment covering online communication, supervision, safeguarding, and device use. I briefed the Scouts in advance on online safety and discussed what information could be shared. Parents were informed about the event, the adjusted meeting time, and the permissions required.  

The first session in 2023 I arranged for additional laptops and encouraged Scouts to bring their own devices, to use their Minecraft account. I also provided an additional device for those that did not have their own account sharing this on the big screen. I also brought my X Box for others to play Minecraft offline in another room. Another leader and I supported a group of Scouts who joined the international Minecraft server while other scouts enjoyed using an offline minecraft session before swapping Scouts between groups to ensure everyone had the online experience with other scouts across the world.  

Throughout, I monitored online behaviour to ensure the activity remained safe, inclusive, and enjoyable. For another session I created group accounts for the official Scouting Discord server and supervised Scouts as they chatted with others from across the world. At a further session in 2024 I also arranged for a scheduled international video call. This resulted in our troop being matched with a Scout group from South Africa. I worked with the Scouts to decide what questions they wanted to ask during the call, helping them  

think about what they were interested in learning. On the evening of the event, I set up the room so that all Scouts could see the video call while ensuring that only those with permission appeared on camera. During the call, I supported Scouts as they took turns asking and answering questions, helping them feel confident speaking with young people from South Africa.  

The discussions covered Scouting in both countries, allowing the Scouts to identify similarities and differences. After each event, I ran a troop forum where the Scouts reflected on what they had learned about international Scouting / about South Africa. They talked about the cultural differences they noticed, what surprised them, and what questions they might want to explore in the future. This reflection helped them deepen their understanding of global citizenship and the worldwide Scouting movement. 

The sessions were successful because the Scouts engaged enthusiastically, communicated confidently with others, and enjoyed having different ways to take part, such as video, chat and gaming. I learned how to manage multiple digital platforms safely, how to balance safeguarding with giving Scouts independence, and how to guide young people through meaningful international conversations. 

I volunteered with my local environmental conservation group at the nearby nature reserve, taking part in a range of activities designed to improve biodiversity and enhance the space for the community. This included planting native trees and shrubs, removing invasive species, clearing overgrowth, and litter‑picking along the footpaths and waterline. Working alongside experienced conservation volunteers gave me a deeper understanding of how small, consistent actions can significantly improve local ecosystems. 

To share this learning, I delivered a short presentation to my Cub Pack explaining why conservation work matters and how our efforts help wildlife and people alike. I showed them photos of the areas we improved and talked about how native plants support insects, birds, and mammals. The Cubs were enthusiastic about the idea that they could make a difference too, and several expressed interest in joining future community clean‑ups. It was rewarding to see how the project inspired them to think about their own impact on the environment.