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. Starting small, you’ll learn to think big! Seek out answers to the big questions and say yes more than you say no! Alongside your new friends, master the skills that’ll help you weather any storms of life.

Sound like fun? That’s because it is!
Here you can find all the information you’ll need from joining Scouts to moving on to Explorers.

What are Scouts?

Scouts are a go-getting group of young people aged 10½-14.

Week in and week out they gather in Scout Troops to master new skills, make friends, go on adventures and help make a difference to others around them. Take part in loads of activities and adventures to confidently stride towards their way towards their top award – the Chief Scout’s Gold Award.

Along the way they’ll earn loads of badges that go on their uniform to show what they’ve done and what they still need to do. Sometimes they will even get special occasional badges if they were a Scout when a big event in Scouting happens!

What’s different from Cubs?

Don’t worry if you weren’t in Cubs, Scouts is all about adventures, making friends, learning new skills and helping others so they can join right in. 

As your Cub moves on to Scouts, there will be a chance to earn the Moving On award. This means that you can stay in your normal routine for Beavers but also try out Cubs at the same time. This normally takes about 3 weeks but can be longer or shorter.
It gives your Cub a chance to meet the Scout leaders and Scout Troop before moving up.

Scouts expands on what you learnt in Cubs, giving you a chance to hone your skills and gain even more freedom to explore the world around them and make an impact. Scouts also get to experience Scout Camps, Expeditions, Jamborees and Camps abroad!

Moving On can be very exciting but also sad as you leave your Pack. That’s why moving on is very flexible, if you feel your Cub might not be quite ready, discuss with your Cub leader about staying a little longer or having a longer transition period.

What is the Uniform?

The Uniform is a must have for any Scout so they have something to put their badges on and show off that they are a part of the Scouting movement.
Scouts just need a Scout Shirt but check with your Scout leaders about any local uniform requirements You can often buy uniforms at local School Uniform shops or you can get it from the Official Scout Store. There are often resources like Logbooks and badges books and backpacks that you can use to show you are proud to be a Beaver – but these are optional.

Sometimes we find it hard to find money for extra costs or activities. As Scouts, we understand and think that money shouldn’t be a barrier of entry to Scouting. We have our own District Hardship policy but check with your Scout Group to find out about theirs. Scouts are a community and we think nobody should miss out the experiences and skills they gain from Scouting.

Investitures and Ceremonies

An Investiture is a ceremony where someone makes their Scout Promise – some people call them Promise ceremonies. Each Group may do their investitures slightly differently but it is always a way to welcome someone into the Scouts colony – ask your leader for details on how they run their ceremony.

You need a uniform and to know your Scout Promise. There are lots of different ways you can make your promise and it doesn’t matter what religion you are – everyone is welcome. Some Scout Troops invite parents to watch the ceremonies, ask your leader how they run their investitures.

Troops and Leadership Skills

Traditionally, Scout leaders were nicknamed ‘Skip’ – an abbreviation of ‘Skipper’, which is a name given to a ship’s captain. In some Troops this name is still used, but these days it’s more common for Scout leaders to just use their real names.

Within their Troop, Scouts are part of a Patrol – smaller groups of Scouts who look out for one another. Scouts normally gather in these patrols at the start and end of the meetings – also sticking together on expeditions and trips away.

Scouts expands the leadership opportunities even more than the younger sections by having a Patrol Leader and an Assistant Patrol Leader that are often the older Scouts that take on leadership responsibilities. They also often have Senior Patrol Leaders that take on even more leadership roles across the whole troop.
They earn Leadership Stripes to make sure everyone knows who they are.