Youth Sections

If you think Scouting’s just about knots, woggles and big shorts, then be prepared to be surprised. It’s how Richard Branson, Barack Obama and David Beckham got their start in life and you can benefit too.

There are 450,000 young people in Scouting, spread across five sections: Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorer Scouts and the Scout Network. Each section has its own balanced programme of activities, badges and awards.

All of our Youth Sections meet on a Thursday evening. 
Please click the join button at the top of this page to find out more.
6 - 8 Years Old

‘The best thing we did was swim in the rain. I wasn’t even sure we were allowed to, but it was brilliant! I mean we were wet anyway, so I guess it didn’t matter too much about the weather.’

Beaver Scouts are the youngest section of the Scouting family. Their activities are based around making things, outdoor activities, singing, playing games, going out on visits, investigating nature, listening to stories, learning how to be safe and most importantly, making new friends.

Children join a Beaver Scout Colony for many reasons. It might be they have heard great things from their friends about all the things your Colony gets up to every week. Perhaps parents or carers are keen for them to join. Whatever their reasons, whether or not they stay will be down to you and your team, and the weekly programme you provide.

What’s the best thing about Beaver Scouts? Activities, trips and making friends are all part of what makes it so much fun for girls and boys. As well as earning activity badges, many Beavers Scouts get to go on camps and sleepovers, often for the first time. Beaver Scouts like:
  • Being creative – making things and singing
  • Playing games
  • Going on visits and investigating nature
  • Learning about themselves
  • Getting to know other people
  • Discovering the worlds of science, nature and technology
  • Exploring the natural and man made world
  • Caring – responding to the needs of others, the local and international community
8 - 10.5 Years Old

‘The best part of Scouting is definitely the camps. I love every activity we do apart from swimming. They told us the pool was 24 degrees centigrade. Minus 24 more like!’

Scouting is one of the great success stories of the last 100 years. From an experimental camp for 20 boys on Brownsea island in 1907, it has spread to 216 countries and territories, with an estimated 28 million members.

Cubs is the second section of the Scouting movement, originally started in 1916 for younger brothers who wanted a ‘look-in’. In nearly a century, the section has constantly evolved and adapted its programme and methods to meet the changing needs of each generation of young people, and these days admits girls as well as boys.

Cub Scouts enjoy new adventures while making new friends along the way. Their commitment is recognised by over thirty activity badges. As well as regular weekly meeting, Cub Scouts also enjoy activity days, weekend camps and pack holidays. Boys and girls:
  • Go camping
  • Play games
  • Explore the outdoors
  • Try adventurous activities – such as climbing, sailing and archery
  • Meet people from their local community
  • Experience the culture of other countries
  • Keep themselves and others safe
10.5 - 14 Years Old

‘Scouting has given me a fantastic opportunity to do lots of activities and things that people who are not in Scouts don’t get to do. It’s about having fun with good friends. I’ve just been selected to go the World Scout Jamboree in Sweden and that’s going to be awesome.’

Scouts are the third 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.

What don’t Scouts do? At this age, we encourage girls and boys to take responsibility for themselves and each other, with older members leading a small team. They like being with friends and participating fully in the adventure of life. In the Troop Scouts:
  • Develop leadership skills
  • Learn emergency aid
  • Spend nights away – the summer camp is often the highlight of the year
  • Help others in the community
  • Cook, both at home and at camp
  • Adventurous and sporting activities – anything from abseiling to zorbing
  • Learn survival skills