Explorer Scouts are young people, aged between 14 and 18 years old. They make up the fourth Section of the Scouting family; the newest and fastest growing section in Scouting. With a programme based around 8 ‘zones’, it offers Explorer Scouts the opportunity to go that litter bit further & push that little bit harder; experiencing new challenges & adventures, learning new skills and having fun!

Explorer Scouts are different from all the younger sections as they are District based not Group based, which means being an Explorer Scout you can join in any of the activities from any of the Units in the District.

e.g. If you normally go to the Wildcat unit but you see from the Program, Over unit are doing a climbing activity, you would be quite welcome to attend the meeting (the only proviso is you contact the Leader and to say you would like to join in).

Not all Units meet each week and those that do may not meet on a regular night, because they will often be out and about or busy doing another activity, camp or expedition over a weekend or in the holidays.

For those of you wanting to help out in other sections of Scouts and Guides, you will also be enrolled into the Young Leader unit. They will meet 1 or 2 times a term to run trough the Young Leader Training Modules; these will help you with all you need to know about how to get the most out of assisting and running activities at section meetings.

There will be times when you will be busy doing other things such as exams, and being an Explorer Scout will have to fit around these - this is fine, just remember to let the Leaders know when you can’t make it.

As an Explorer Scout, you will get the chance to join in with other Explorer Scouts in your District, not just your Unit. By doing this, you will get the chance to do many larger, more exciting and challenging activities, not just the ones your Unit organises.

Explorer Scouts are offered a balanced programme made available through 8 Programme zones; these are designed to keep the activities as fun, challenging, interesting and varied as possible.

Between now and your 18^th birthday you will have the opportunity to gain not only the Platinum, Diamond and Queen Scout Awards, but also the Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, which can be run in parallel, so you get 2 awards for 1. These Award badges run alongside the numerous activity/skills badges from aviation skills to water activities.

Many of the activities that Explorers do work towards the awards, but many more are there just for you to gain new experiences, try new skills, broaden your horizons; some are even there just for you to enjoy yourselves and have fun!

The 8 ‘zones’ should be nothing new to you; in fact you’re probably doing some of the activities already, Explorers just brings it all together in one place for you and your friends to enjoy together.

 

Flexibility for You to join in where you want…

Flexibility for You to join in when you want…

Flexibility for You to join in with what you want.

Outdoors Do Something Outdoors From a ‘widegame’ in local woods to hill walking in the Snowdon mountain range	Skills Try a new Skill e.g. Photography, Climbing, Computers, Water sports, Chess, anything really…
Physical Recreation Enjoy a Physical Activity Scuba Diving, Football, Coasteering, etc.	Community Service Help within the Community Could be helping at Cub Scouts or working on a conservation project
Environment Looking at Environmental issues From doing an 'Energy Audit' of your meeting place to taking part in a Plant a tree campaign	Values Looking at the ways you live your Life Could be writing your own epitaph or finding out how far you can go in self defence
International An understanding of other nationalities. You could try cooking a Mexican meal for the Unit or making a structure out of hand made 'African' Bricks	Relationships Learning to live and work with others Like finding out the hazards in your meeting place for a visually impaired person or finding out your other unit members personal heroes