Who are Scouts?

Scouts are a go-getting group of young people aged 101⁄2 to 14 who:

• Master new skills and try new things.
• Make new friends.
• Have fun and go on adventures, at home and abroad.
• Explore the world around them.
• Help others and make a difference, in their own communities and beyond.

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

Scouts are the fourth section of the Scouting movement. From the first experimental camp for 20 boys in 1907, the movement now has an estimated 28 million members worldwide, and in the UK alone there are over 499,000 boys and girls involved in Scouting. An increase in adult volunteers means that more and more young people are now able to take part in their own big adventure.

The balanced programme of activities encourages Scouts to find out about the world in which they live, know their own abilities and the importance of keeping fit and develop their creative talents. There are also opportunities to explore their beliefs and attitudes.

Being outdoors is really important and Scouts love to learn new skills, such as camping, survival and cooking as well as the wide range of adventurous activities, anything from abseiling to yachting.

Scouting is about being with friends, as part of a team, participating fully in the adventure and opportunities of life.

After completing their Challenge badges, along with the activity/staged badges, the Scouts will receive their Chief Scout Gold Award.

There are a range of badges and awards available for young people to achieve while in the Scout Section…