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 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 third 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 to find out about the world in which they live; encourages them to know their own abilities, understand 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.

Badges

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.

Activity badges

Many of the badges available are activity badges, which allow Scouts to show their progress in existing pursuits, but also to try all kinds of new things and form new interests.

Challenge awards

Gaining a challenge badge involves accomplishing a number of more ambitious tasks within the Troop or community. There are several challenge badges across a number of themes, from the physical and outdoorsy to challenges dealing with the local community or issues connected with the Scouting world.

Core badges

In addition, there are a number of core badges, obtained upon joining or moving on from the Troop, or for time spent in the Scouting movement.

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