Squirrels is a new section that was launched in the U.K. in September 2021 and in Guernsey in April 2022. It is designed to help the youngest members of our community to gain skills for life at a time when it matters the most and they are rapidly learning about the world around them. 

Squirrel Scouts is open to all young people aged between four and six years who want to achieve anything they set their minds to – and they have lots of fun along the way. 

Activities

Squirrel sessions last about an hour and will be packed with fun and laughter including activities such as stories, games, crafts and outdoor activities. Squirrels will earn badges and learn the skills they need for life at the same time as making new friends and having fun.  The sessions are a brilliant opportunity for young people to take their first steps into being part of Scouts, and they’ll help everyone get ready for the adventure of school too.  

The Programme 

The Squirrel Programme has been designed in an age-appropriate way and is respected by Early Years practitioners.  

Each badge is packed with wow and wonder, perfect for anyone who’s ever asked ‘Why?’ (or ‘Why not?’). You’ll tell stories and play games. Get active and explore the outdoors. Become a brilliant builder and a super chef. There’s something for everyone – and that means that there’s something for you. 

Squirrels wear a red sweatshirt, group neckerchief (scarf) and a woggle (which keeps their scarf together). 

 By making the Promise, an important act in Scouting and common to every section, a young person becomes a Member of the worldwide Movement.  

Beavers are our youngest members, and generally meet for an hour per week. They enjoy all that Scouting has to offer; being introduced to outdoor activities, having the opportunity to be creative, explore their local community and experience the excitement of a Beaver Scout sleepover with their friends.

Beaver Scouts is open to all young people aged between six and eight years old who want to make friends and have fun.

Activities

During their time in the Colony, Beaver Scouts will get a chance to try a wide range of different activities as well as going on trips, days out, and on sleepovers. Participation, rather than meeting set standards, is the key approach, and there are a range of badges and challenge awards that Beaver Scouts can gain to recognise their achievements. 

Further information about badges and awards for the Beaver section can be found here. 

Skills for life!

Following Squirrels, Beavers is the next step in Scouting for the future development of young people. It will seem that they have only just started before it will be time to ‘swim up’ to Cubs!

Beaver Scouts meet together as a colony in “Lodges” (small groups) which is run by a team of adult volunteers and helped by parent helpers.

They wear a turquoise sweatshirt, group neckerchief (scarf) and a woggle (which keeps their scarf together).

By making the Promise, an important act in Scouting and common to every section, a young person becomes a Member of the worldwide Movement.

For Cubs, excitement and adventure are key. Their programme offers a huge variety of activities surrounding areas of fitness, global and beliefs; whilst allowing them to be creative and get involved in their local communities. Cubs are introduced to exciting outdoor skills and take part in adventurous activities, as well as camps and residential experiences.

Following their time in Beavers, our young people move up to Cubs. Cub Scouts are young people aged between 8 and 10 ½.

Activities

During their time in the Pack, Cub Scouts will get a chance to try a wide range of different activities as well as going on trips, days out, and on camps. Participation and personal development, rather than meeting set standards, is the key approach, and there are a range of badges and challenge awards that Cub Scouts can gain to recognise their achievements.

Cubs may wear a dark green sweatshirt with a Group scarf (often called a necker) and a woggle in the colour of their Six.

Scouts aim to build and develop young people’s confidence, sense of adventure and outdoor skills, as well as encouraging them to explore their beliefs and attitudes and be creative.  It offers them the independence to put these skills into practice at camps and even on international trips.

Scouts are encouraged to work together and take the lead on all sorts of projects, from community-based work to planning games and activities for their meetings.

The Scout Section is for young people aged between 10½ and 14 years and follows Cubs.

A Scout Troop is divided into small groups called Patrols, each headed up by an older Scout called a Patrol Leader, and often with an Assistant Patrol Leader.

Activities

Scouts are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities as part of their programme including traditional Scouting skills, such as camping, survival and cooking, as well as a wider spectrum of adventurous activities, from abseiling to zorbing. Participation rather than meeting set standards is the key approach, and there are a number of badges and awards that Scouts can gain to recognise their achievements.

With the support, direction and guidance of Unit leaders, Explorer Scouts are encouraged to lead themselves, design their own programme and work towards the top awards that Scouting offers. With exciting prospects like being a part of camps and expeditions both home and abroad; adventurous activities such as mountaineering, parascending and offshore sailing; Explorers offers fun and adventure for all. Explorers also have the opportunity to be a part of The Explorer Scout Young Leaders’ Scheme which develops their leadership skills and sense of responsibility, by helping to run meetings for younger sections.

Explorer Units are the last Section for our young people aged between 14 and 18 years.  There is flexibility in the age range:  young people can join from age 13½ but cannot move to Scout Network until 18.  Young people must have left the Explorer Scout section before the date of their 18th birthday. 

Activities

Explorer Scouts are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities as part of their programme including traditional Scouting skills, such as camping, survival and cooking, as well as a wider spectrum of adventurous activities, from abseiling to zorbing.

The Explorer programme should be supplemented and complemented by events and activities delivered across the District, allowing them the opportunity to socialise and work with other local Explorer Units.

In addition, there are a number of activity badges and ambitious top awards that Explorer Scouts can gain to recognise their achievements.

Scout Network is the final section of the Scouting movement. From the time of Baden-Powell, there have been arrangements for young people who wanted to continue after their time in the Scout Section, and in 1967, Venture Scouts were formed from the existing Senior Scout and Rover Scout Sections.

During the late 1990s, we decided that to meet the changing needs of young people, there should be two sections for the over-14s: Explorer Scouts for 14 to 18-year-olds, and the Scout Network for 18 to 25s.

Scout Network gives opportunities to 18-25 year-olds who have an interest in Scouting, their own personal development and having fun.

Programme

Scout Network members take part in a variety of activities, which they undertake and organise themselves under the leadership of a District Scout Network Commissioner and sometimes with the support of a Programme Coordinator.
The Programme is divided into three Programme Areas: Community, International and Adventure. 

All young adults, that are members of the association and are aged between 18 and 25 in Scouting are members of the Scout Network.