Scouts: More Than it Seems?

By Katie Pain

When you think of ‘scouts’, you probably think of the outdoors: camping, orienteering, fires and hikes, and this does make up a huge part of it, but are you aware that this isn’t all scouting is about? It may be all these activities that draws most young people in, but they also get so many skills out of it and memories that last a lifetime.

The scouting movement was started by Robert Baden Powell in 1907. It is a worldwide organisation, with the aim of helping young people to achieve their full potential in every aspect of life. While it helps to develop new skills typically associated with scouts, it also allows young people to boost their confidence, and grow their skill set for life. Scouts is open to everyone aged as young as five - In Squirrels - all the way up to 18 - Explorers - and even on into adulthood as a leader. Millions of people around the world take part in scouting and have been for the last century, so there must be something that draws them all in!

Baden Powell Statue - Poole Quay

Scouts allows young people to step away from home life and school, and have new experiences with a whole different set of people. Scouts can help you to get involved in activities outdoors, and be outside in nature in a way that you may not be able to at home. It also allows the amazing opportunity to completely unplug from technology - you may not see the appeal in this now, but time away from your screens can actually be a refreshing break!

Week to week, most groups offer a very wide programme, with most meetings outside in summer, doing a wide array of activities, which are always fun and all allow for skill development along the way! By getting involved in all of the activities, and working towards badges and awards that you can earn, you get to regularly work and tackle tasks as a team, and develop great people skills, teamwork, responsibility and leadership.

View from the path to Durdle Door

Scouts also do a number of camps per year, sleeping under canvas tents and cooking on an open fire. This really helps to boost young people’s confidence, independence and self-reliance and they are encouraged to step out of their comfort zone and try new and exciting things. There is always so much going on and so much fun to be had that you forget to be homesick! Camp allows you to gain cooking skills as meals are cooked in groups called ‘patrols’. Being with like-minded people in this way also helps to make / strengthen friendships as you are spending a weekend or sometimes even a whole week with these people. Personally, some of my strongest friendships are the ones I have made through scouts.

While I don't want to bore with my own experiences, the things I have been able to experience as a scout have been truly amazing as well as setting me up with good skills for life, and I believe it is a good representation of some of the things you can do as a scout. I have been on amazing weeklong camps with amazing activities in Wales, Exmoor, and the Peak District, to name a few. I have also been on multiple sailing trips on a 70ft racing yacht, and now had the opportunity to join a scouts sailing project because of this. I have also been able to join as a young leader within a younger section and complete the Young Leader Scheme which is a nationally recognised leadership qualification. While the above mentioned is only a snippet of the opportunities I have had, I wholeheartedly believe that scouting has developed me as a person and given we the most amazing opportunities which will last forever as memories, as well as skills which will set me up for job interviews and my career in the future. Even if you don't think scouts are your thing, there is something that can be gained by everyone.

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