Make the most out of September with these 30 things to try out for each day of the month.
1. On September 1st 1830, the poem ‘Mary had a Little Lamb’ was first published. Get your young people to write a poem about their favourite animal.
2. Hold a tug of war between your section inspired by the Scottish tradition of tug of war at Braemar Gathering, which happens every year in September.
3. There’s no need to get gloomy just yet, the weather is still warm(ish) and it’s ideal to go for an outdoor swim.
4. Blackberry season is still very much at its peak. Time to go foraging for some treats!
5. On Freddy Mercury’s birthday it’s only fair that you step up to the challenge and learn all the lyrics to ‘Bohemian Rhapsody. Karaoke will never be the same again.
6. Take advantage of tonight’s full moon and get your young people to learn about the moon’s phases with this fun rap song.
7. If you want birds visiting your meeting place during the autumn months, make sure you give the birds some high-energy food. Build a pine cone bird feeder with your young people.
8. A new year at Scouts is about to begin which means lots of new people. Use the day to plan some ice breaking games to make the introductions smoother.
9. September is the ninth month and it has nine letters in its name, how about learning nine new words in a different language?
10. Sunday is a day of rest and to replenish energy. Have a bath, light candles and listen to relaxing music and give yourself permission to not do anything else at all.
11. Have your young people make a list of the books they want to read before the year is over.
12. September is sourdough bread month and there’s really no better time to start baking.
13. ‘A little magic can take you a long way’ – James and the Giant Peach. The anniversary of Roald Dahl’s birthday is the perfect time to revisit his wonderful books.
14. With a new school year starting, it’s always great to start something new. Help your young people decide what sport they want to try out this term.
15. Get your best acting on and play a game of charades with your young people today.
16. Today is Mexico’s Independence Day and it’s time to cook tacos!
17. Over 850,000 people in the UK are affected by dementia. Get your section involved with A Million Hands so they can start working towards more dementia-friendly communities.
18. Get your young people to set their alarms 10 minutes earlier every day this week and use those extra minutes to write down three things they want to accomplish during the day.
19. Morning Glory is the flower of September and they’re usually very colourful. Have your section make flowers out of coloured tissue paper.
20. Celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, by eating apples dipped in honey with your young people and explained that for Jewish people eating this dish on Rosh Hashanah symbolizes ‘a sweet new year’.
21. On International Peace Day write a letter to someone you have wronged in the past and make peace.
22. Today is the autumn equinox in the northern hemisphere, which means the days are about to get shorter. But darker evenings just mean Scouting can be even more magical. Celebrate the equinox by playing one of these night activities
with your young people.
23. Get off your phone and your computer today and have a tech free Saturday.
24. Harvest Festival is a celebration of the annual harvest and the food produced by the land. Together with your young people take part in a neighbourhood food collection programme and help those who are in need.
25. September’s gemstone is the sapphire whose name comes from the Sanskrit ‘shani’ and ‘priya’ which means ‘Dear to Saturn’. Help your young people learn some cool facts about the second largest planet in our solar system.
26. Why not brush up on your First Aid and First Response training?
27. What do you want to be when you’re 27 years old? Have your young people write down two dreams/goals they want to achieve by their late 20s.
28. Everything is about to become yellow, orange, red and beautiful and there’s no better way to spend autumn than outdoors. Plan a hike for an upcoming weekend.
29. Make leaf crowns with your young people to welcome autumn.
30. Get a head start and begin planning your Halloween activities and costumes.
