Plymouth District Scouts

Squirrels

Squirrel Scouts are young boys and girls aged between four and six years old. They can move to the Beaver Scouts, the next section, any time within six months of their sixth birthday; this gives them the flexibility to move with their friends or move on based on their skills and abilities, ensuring that they get the best possible experience from their time in Scouting.

Squirrels are the first and youngest section in the Scouting family. They are recognised by their red sweatshirts. Dreys normally meet weekly at the group, known as the Squirrel Drey.  Meeting places vary between groups and may be schools, church halls, or community buildings. Some Scout Groups have their own headquarters that they meet in.

During weekly meetings, activities are based, most importantly, around having fun and making friends.  Squirrels is uniquely based on story-telling, and all activities start with a story to excite and ignite imaginations. While all groups do different things each week, generally activities will include making things, outdoor activities, singing, playing games, going out on visits, investigating nature, listening to stories, and learning how to be safe.

Beavers

Beaver Scouts are young people (boys and girls), usually aged between six and eight years old. Young people can join Beaver Scouts at any time in the three months leading up to their sixth birthday.

They can move to the cubs scouts, the next section, at any time within six months of their eighth birthday.  This gives the flexibility to allow them to move with their friends or move on based on their skills and ability, ensuring that they get the best possible experience from their time in Scouting.

Beavers are the second section in the Scouting family. They are recognised by their turquoise sweatshirts. Groups normally meet weekly at the group, known as the Beaver Scout Colony.  Meeting places vary between groups and may be schools, church halls, or community buildings. Some Scout Groups have their own headquarters that they meet in.

During weekly meetings, activities are based, most importantly, around having fun and making friends.  While all groups do different things each week, generally activities will include making things, outdoor activities, singing, playing games, going out on visits, investigating nature, listening to stories, and learning how to be safe.

Some Beaver Scout colonies also organise sleepovers. This can often be the first time a young person spends a night away from home. They take place in suitable buildings, often Scout centres or campsites, but sometimes these may be at museums or other popular visitor attractions.

Cubs

The Cub Scout section is for young people (boys and girls), usually between the ages of 8 and 10. These ages are flexible (to within six months on either side), which allows young people to move with their friends or when they are best suited to move on to the next section.  This makes sure the young people enjoy their time in Scouting as much as possible.

Cubs are the third section of the Scouting family and wear a green sweatshirt.  Groups normally meet weekly at the group, known as the Cub Scout Pack.  Meeting places vary between groups and may be schools, church halls, or community buildings. Some Scout Groups have their own headquarters that they meet in.

The Cub Scout programme is packed with fun and adventure and is designed to present every young person with new challenges and prepare them for when they become a Scout. Each Cub Scout will gain some of the 7 'challenge' and 33 'activity' badges that are available during their time in the pack and also have the opportunity to go camping. Many groups also take part in district-led activities as well as organising day trips to places such as a theme park, zoo, or local attractions.

Scouts

The Scout section is for young people (boys and girls) usually between the ages of 10½ and 14, although these ages can be flexible (to within six months on either side), which allows for young people to move with their friends or when they are best suited to move on to the next section.  This makes sure that the young people enjoy their scouting as much as possible.

The Scout Section is the fourth section of the Scouting Movement. Scouts usually wear a green shirt or blouse with navy blue activity trousers or a skirt. Meeting places vary between groups and may be schools, church halls, or community buildings. Some Scout Groups have their own headquarters that they meet in.

Scouts are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities as part of their programme, with participation being the key approach. Scouts take part in a balanced programme that helps them find out about the world in which they live, encourages them to know their own abilities, understands the importance of keeping fit, and helps their creative talents. It also provides opportunities to explore their own values and personal attitudes.

Being outdoors is exciting and important too. Half the programme is given over to taking part in traditional Scouting skills such as camping, survival, and cooking, as well as a wider spectrum of adventurous activities, from abseiling to zorbing.

For Scouts who want to be recognised for their achievements, there are a number of challenge awards, activity badges, and staged activity badges, with the highest possible challenge being the Chief Scout's Gold Award.

Explorer Scouts

Explorer Scouts are young people, usually aged between 14 and 18 years old. They make up the fifth section of the Scouting family. Explorer Scouts wear a brown shirt or blouse with a unit necker and navy blue activity trousers or skirt with a Scout belt. They can wear an Explorer Belt or Young Leader Belt and buckle if this has been awarded.

Right from the time of Baden-Powell, there have been arrangements for young people who wanted to continue after their time in the Scout Section. 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 25-year-olds.

A group of Explorer Scouts is called a unit. Not all units meet every week, partly due to activities, holidays, exams, and other commitments that crop up in a teenager's life, and also because Explorers tend to get out and about at weekends more often than other sections.

Explorer Scouts often get the chance to work with other Explorer Scouts in their district, not just their own unit, so they can take part in an even wider spectrum of activities.

There is also a range of ambitious badges and awards through which Explorers can demonstrate their proficiencies and expand their interests.

Explorers are encouraged to lead themselves in deciding the programme and direction of the unit, with support and guidance from leaders. The section also includes the Young Leaders' Scheme, where young people are able to take on a leadership role in one of the younger sections.

Network

Scout Network is aimed at young people, aged between 18 and 25 years old. They make up the sixth and final section of the Scouting family. Network members wear the adult uniform when it is appropriate, consisting of a stone-coloured shirt or blouse with blue trousers or skirt.

Scout Network groups don't usually meet every week but may get together informally during a month to plan activities, organise events for themselves, or for other sections within a Scout Group, District, or County.

Find a Plymouth Scout Group

To find out more, including how to join, please email join@plymouthscouts.org.uk

Is the information correct?

Let us know if the information on this page is wrong and needs to be updated.

Want to create a page on the Plymouth Online Directory?  Register for free and add a page - it only takes a few minutes.