Scouting in Wycombe – From Squirrels to Explorers

The Scouts provide adventure, experiences, fun, friendship and skills for children and young people (boys and girls) aged 4 to 17.

The experiences may range from toasting a marshmallow on a tea light for Squirrels (children aged 4 to 5) to planning, preparing and cooking a three-course meal for some local dignitaries for Explorers (aged 14 to 17). The adventures might extend from a Beaver Scout (children aged 6 to 8) sleepover at Gulliver’s Land to attending a World Scout Jamboree with Scouts from nearly every country in the world.

Over the summer months, there have been numerous international trips. Countries visited by Scouts Explorer Scouts and adult volunteers from Buckinghamshire include Austria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Holland, Norway, Slovenia and South Korea. There have also been numerous camps in the United Kingdom.

As a Squirrel, a child can gain badges such as Be Active, Brilliant Builder, Exciting Experiments and Super Chef. As a Beaver Scout, a child can earn badges such as Animal Friend, Cook, Explore, Hobbies, Space and Sports. As a Cub Scout (Boys and girls aged 8 to 10) they can earn their badges such as Astronomer, Chef, Collector, Home Help and Scientist. As a Scout (Boys and girls aged 10 to 14), the badges they can earn range from Air Activities, Camper, Community Impact, DIY, Geocaching, Global Issues, Model Maker and Street Sports. Badges Explorer Scouts can earn include Caving, Hill Walker, Leadership, Media Relations and Marketing, Science and Technology.

Across all of the sections, children and young people can gain staged badges for activities such as Hikes Away, Musician, Navigator, Nights Away, Paddle Sports, Swimmer and Time on the Water.

Children learn skills around team work and team leadership. Explorer Scouts can help with some of the younger sections. They will learn skills around communication and planning. The Explorer Scouts will also get the opportunity to work towards the Kings Scout Award and also Duke of Edinburgh Awards. They will also learn skills that will help them with an application for university, applying for an apprenticeship and putting together a CV.

There is also the opportunity for adults to take on volunteer roles. These range from working with Squirrels, working with teenagers, managing adults, looking after the finances of a Group or looking after the external bookings of a Group Headquarters.

At a recent camp, Finlay, aged 8, said: ‘This is the first time I’ve been camping and it is great. We played a game where you had to find string in the dark. I’ve done some cooking on an open fire and I had cheese and ham in the pitta bread I made.‘ When asked to describe Cubs in three words he said: ‘Games, variety and exciting.‘

Further information about Scouts can be found on their website at www.scouts.org.uk. Details of your nearest Scout Group or Explorer Unit can be found at www.Scouts.org.uk/join.

*Source of article : Press release from Buckinghamshire Scouts.