Scouts (10.5-14)

Who are Scouts?

Jump in and get muddy. Give back and get set. Scouts ignore the butterflies and go for it, and soon so will you. Easily recognised by their distinctive green shirts,

What do Scouts get up to?

Week in and week out, they gather in groups called Scout Troops to conquer the small task of changing the world.

When do we meet?

Our troop meets on Thursday nights in term time 7.30pm-9pm

Discovering the world

Being a Scout is all about discovering the world on your own terms and making the most of what you have, wherever and whoever you are.

Alongside your new friends, you’ll master the skills that will help you weather the storms of life, and try things you’d never get the chance to do at home or at school – working with trained volunteers to achieve whatever you set your mind to.

Starting small, thinking big

Scouts start small but think big. They stand up for what they believe in and make a difference on their doorstops, confident in the knowledge that their daily actions add up. In a society that can often feel increasingly isolated and inward facing, Scouts build bridges and break barriers. Throughout history, they’ve played all sorts of useful roles in society, and this legacy continues today.

Listening in, lending a hand

Scouts seek out the answers to the big questions, and to the smaller questions that don’t seem to matter but really should. Most importantly, they say yes more often than they say no – whether they’re taking part in their first ever camp away from home, or writing their first line of code, or accepting the last of the toasted marshmallows.

Sound like fun? That’s because it is. All that’s missing is you.

What does a Scout Troop look like?

Our troop is led by Scout Leader Rich (Shere Khan). Other adult volunteers who are on hand to share their skills and keep everyone safe.

Within their Troop, Scouts are part of a Patrol – smaller groups of Scouts who look out for one another, and help each other grow.

Promises and ceremonies

Every Scout is unique, but they find common ground in their shared Scout values, and make a promise to stick by them.

Making a promise when you join the Troop is a way of celebrating these values. Every time a new Scout decides to join, they chat through their promise with their leader before saying it out loud in front of their fellow Scouts.

The process usually takes place once you’ve had a few weeks to settle in, and is known as being ‘invested’ into Scouts. Usually, the promise ceremony happens in a place you’ve chosen, or in a memorable place that means a lot to the group. It could be held in your usual meeting place, or it could happen around the campfire, or it could happen on a boat sailing the seven seas.

All about Badges

Animal lover – check. Book worm – check. Photographer – check. Footballer – check. Daredevil – check. You name it, we’ve got a badge for it – over 200 of them actually. Scouts work together on badges at their weekly meetings, away at camps and events or at home. Badges are easy to earn and you don’t need anyone special to sign them off.

There’s never any pressure to do badges. Scouts can do as many or as few as they like. But for those up for a challenge, there are loads of exciting badges to aim for, with the highest award being Chief Scout Gold Award.

Where do they go?

Here’s where to sew on all of your hard earned badges.

How to join

Lots of young people are itching to join Scouts, so you might need to wait for a space to become available.

If your local Troop has a waiting list, parents and other adults might be able to solve the problem. We don’t just need swashbuckling adventurers to lead expeditions. We also need listeners, tidy-uppers and tea-makers, for as little or as much time as they can spare. If your parents or carers are curious about giving it a go but don’t want to overcommit, why not ask them to complete our four-week volunteering challenge? Every hour counts, and everyone is welcome.