The Sweet Shop Challenge

Quite often the best activities I do with Rainbows spring out of an impulsive idea.

Although we have a kitchen in our meeting place, we are limited in what we can actually cook due to time restraints. So the impulsive idea was why don't we have an activity day devoted to cooking. The team I work with are brilliant and were quite excited at the idea so rather than waiting for the summer holidays to do it we decided to run it in the May half term - giving us 3 weeks to organise...no problem.

I've learnt with Rainbows that its not always what they do but what you call the activity. I found a challenge badge called the Sweet Shop Challenge and thought that's our hook - which child could resist a day all about sweets.

I sometimes felt like the day was all about how many ways to use melted chocolate and sprinkles but we still managed to send the girl home with many edible goodies. During the day they made Marshmallow Pops, Butterflies, Lollipop Flowers, Ballerinas, Truffles, Rainbow cakes and Giant Buttons I'm not totally stupid, I wasn't going to let the Rainbows eat sweets all day with us. We ate Skittles in the morning and used marshmallows for a game of Sweet Shop Bingo which they then ate when we finished the game.

One minute it was 10:00 and we were starting then it was nearly 2:00 and we still hadn't done the Rainbow cakes which was the think that had set me off on this sweetie extravaganza (I know they are not sweets but I really wanted to make them!) So Steph made up the mixture ready so the Rainbows could add the food colouring. Rainbows only go at one speed and could see no urgency when stirring and adding the colouring. Adults on the other hand were clock watching and could see the minutes ticking away. Anyway soon it was 3 o'clock and parents arrived to collect the Rainbows as the cakes came out of the oven and they all commented on how lovely the smell of baking cakes was, if only they knew.

And that's my second Teamwork event completed for the Voyage Award. Although it was another Rainbow event it was a totally new experience to organise a day of cooking and baking so I'm happy that it was a challenge for me.