The Scout Section has existed since Scouting began in 1907. Though the Section has gone through many changes its values and fundamental principles have remained unchanged. Today there are over 100,000 Scouts in 6,600 Troops across the UK.
Who is the Scout Section for?
Scouts is open to young people aged between ten and half and fourteen years old who want to join and can make the Scout Promise.
The Scout Promise
Scouting differs from many organisations in that it requires its Members to make a Promise. The Scout Promise is the same for Scouts, Explorer Scouts, Members of the Scout Network and adult Members of the Association. It is:
On my honour,
I promise that I will do my best
to do my duty to God and to The Queen,
to help other people
and to keep the Scout Law.
Different wordings of the promise are available for those of different faiths who may prefer not to use the word “God” and for those with special needs and circumstances.
By making the Promise a young person becomes a Member of the worldwide Movement; they become a Scout.
The Scout Law
The Scout Law is a set of ‘rules’ that Scouts should do their best to live their life by. They are based on the Laws that Baden Powell came up with, but have evolved to reflect changing times. The Laws are:
A Scout is to be trusted.
A Scout is loyal.
A Scout is friendly and considerate.
A Scout belongs to the worldwide family of Scouts.
A Scout has courage in all difficulties.
A Scout makes careful use of time and is careful of possessions and property.
A Scout has self-respect and respect for others.
The Motto
The Motto for all Members of the Movement is: Be Prepared
The Scout Uniform
Scouts wear a teal coloured shirt. They will also wear a scarf (sometimes called a “necker”), the colour of which varies from Scout Group to Scout Group. They will also have a leather woggle, to keep their scarf up. Activity trousers and a Scout belt are also parts of the Scout uniform and there are several optional items available as well.
How are Scouts organised?
Scouts meet together as a Troop and work within a variety of small groups called Patrols. A Scout called a Patrol Leader leads the Patrol. The Patrol Leaders work with the Leadership Team in setting the programme and in decisions affecting the Troop. The Patrol system is one of the important ways that young people can take responsibility for themselves and others. A volunteer leadership team made up of uniformed Leaders and other informal Assistants and helpers will guide the Troop. Explorer Scouts who are Young Leaders might also assist the leadership team in the Troop.
Investiture
Making the Promise is the most important act in Scouting and is common to every section. Scouting has a special ceremony for making the Promise called Investiture or being invested. When a young person makes their Promise they receive their Group Scarf, The Membership Award (for those coming into Scouting for the first time) or their Moving-On Award (if they have been in Cubs) and are welcomed as a new Member into the Scout Family.
What do Scouts do?
Scouts normally meet once a week for an hour or two. It is an opportunity for them to catch up with friends, learn new skills and explore issues relevant to their age group. They will also have their chance to say what they want to do!
Scout Programme
Scouts are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities as part of their programme. On top of the adventure of outdoor activities that forms a large part of the Scout Section, a Balanced Programme will help them find out about the world in which they live, encourage them to know their own abilities and the importance of keeping fit and help to develop their creative talents. It also provides opportunities to explore their own values and personal attitudes and develop in all the Personal Development Areas.
Programme Zones
The following are the six Programme Zones for Scouts; as part of the Balanced Programme they will task part in activities from all the Zones over a period of time. They are:
Outdoor and Adventure
Global
Community
Fit for Life
Creative Expression
Beliefs and Attitudes
Methods
These Programme Zones are delivered using ten methods, which give the programme variety and range. The methods are:
Activities Outdoors
Games
Design and Creativity
Visits and Visitors
Service
Team-Building Activities
Activities with Others
Themes
Prayer, Worship and Reflection
Technology and New Skills
Badges and Awards
While the emphasis is on a Balanced Programme of activities, there are still badges and awards for Scouts to aim for. Badges and awards are given in recognition of the effort made by each young person at their own level.
The Membership Award
This award helps the young person understand the commitment they are making when they make the Promise and become a Member of the Movement, if they have not been a Cub Scout. It covers the history, traditions and practices of Scouting.
Participation Awards
The Participation Awards recognise a commitment to Scouting. They celebrate Scouts participating in a Balanced Programme over a period of time. They are awarded on the anniversary of the young person joining Scouting.
Challenges
The Challenges complement the Balanced Programme. These have been developed to extend Scouts' skills and experience in a particular area. There are nine Challenges in the Scout Section:
Outdoor Challenge
Outdoor Plus Challenge
Expedition Challenge
Adventure Challenge
Community Challenge
Creative Challenge
Global Challenge
Fitness Challenge
Promise Challenge
Activity Badges
Activity Badges are optional, but they provide an opportunity to reward a young person who has taken part in an activity over a period of time. They should raise interest and extend a young person's skills throughout their time in Scouting. There are 69 Scout Activity Badges, ranging from Astronomer to Circus Skills and Canoeist.
Staged Activity Badges
In addition to the Scout Activity Badges, there are six Staged Activity Badges staged across the all Sections. These give a young person the opportunity to develop an area of interest throughout their time in Scouting from 6 –18. These are:
Emergency Aid
Hikes Away
Information Technology
Musician
Nights Away
Swimmer
Partnership Awards
Partnership Awards are designed to encourage the Sections to work together, and for Scouts to work with other young people in their community. There are three Partnership Awards:
The International Friendship Award
The Environment Award
The Faith Award
Chief Scout’s Gold Award
This badge is the highest award available in the Scout Section.
It is gained by completing:
The Promise Challenge
The Community Challenge
The Fitness Challenge
The Creative Challenge
The Global Challenge
The Outdoor Challenge
and two of the following:
The Outdoor Plus Challenge
The Adventure Challenge
The Expedition Challenge
The Chief Scout’s Gold Award can be worn on the Explorer Scout Uniform once the Scout moves onto Explorer Scouts.
The Moving-On Award
This Award helps ease the transfer of a Scout to the Explorer Scout Unit. It also allows the Scout to be invested into the Unit immediately, recognising that they are already Members of the Scout Movement.
Scouting Outdoors
Scouting has a reputation as an outdoor organisation based on strong traditions of camping and other outdoor pursuits. This is reflected in the Balanced Programme, with about half the programme taken up by the Outdoor and Adventure Programme Zone. Scouting offers a range of activities for Scouts away from their home throughout the year, lots of camps and when possible a longer camp in the summer. These are an important part of Troop life and everybody is encouraged to go.
Scouts… Taking the Lead!
Scouts have the opportunity to make more and more decisions for themselves about they want to do and want to get out of Scouting. The opportunities will be there for them to take part in a wide range of activities and to gain a variety of skills and knowledge. They will get to learn more about themselves by not only taking responsibility for themselves, but for others as well.