A2Z 4 Adults

Introduction

We've started an A2Z to help those parents new to Scouting, or just wanting to learn a little more, and we'll add to it based on questions we get. For some, it'll be a quick one liner. For others a bit more.

Alpha

Activity Badge: Part of our #SkillsforLife programme, all Scouts can earn Activity Badges. Activity Badges are round and yellow for Beavers, red for Cubs, dark blue with a red border for Scouts, and dark blue with a light blue border for Explorers.

Akela: Traditional name used in some Cub Packs for the Cub Scout leader. Akela is the Leader of the wolf pack in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book. See also Leader's Names.

Bravo

Baden-Powell AKA BP: Lord Robert Baden-Powell (1857–1941) was the founder of the Scout movement.

Be Prepared: The motto of The Scout Association originally introduced by Baden-Powell.

Charlie

Camp blanket: A blanket (often with a hole/T-slit in the middle) that is worn to the campfire that has Scout badges sewn on to it. Occasional badges can be added to a camp blanket. As can badges earned in previous sections.

Chief Scout: The Chief Scout leads Scouting in the UK. The present Chief Scout is Bear Grylls.

Church parade: A church service designated for Scouts to attend as a group, sometimes also with the church's regular congregation. Scouts normally parade up the aisle with the colours.

Colours: Section, group and national flags, carried by the Colour Party.

Colour Party: The Beavers, Cubs, Scouts asked to carry the colours.

Colony: The collective name given to the section of Beaver Scouts.

Coton: Rugby District's Scout Camp. Location and directions including how to enter and exit here: https://www.rugbyscouts.org.uk/coton.

Golf

Gang Show: Form of Scout entertainment similar to a variety show.

Gift Aid

Group  

Group Scout Leader (GSL): The person appointed by the Scout District responsible for the leadership and management of a Scout group.

Indigo

Investiture: The ceremony at which a member takes the promise when they join (are invested into) the movement or move sections.

Lima

Leader's Names 

Left handshake: A special handshake used by most Scouts across the world as an act of friendship. This goes back to when Baden-Powell was a soldier in Africa. He saw a large number of tribal chiefs who carried spears and shields and noticed that it was a sign of great trust to offer your left hand when shaking hands. This was because you had to put down your shield and yet leave the other person holding a spear.

November

Necker: A coloured neckerchief worn by Scouts. Neckers clearly identify members within a particular Scout group, District or County/Area.

Nights Away 

Oscar

OSM 

Papa

Pack: The collective name given to the section of Cub Scouts.

Promise: A public statement each member makes at their investiture and on other occasions. It states that they will do their best to follow the principles and values of Scouting. Variations of the Promise are available for different beliefs.

Sierra

Safeguarding: Safeguarding is one of our key policies that anyone involved in Scouts must work to. Find out more here: Safety.

Scout Group: A number of sections that are united by the same group name. Traditionally Scout groups consist of a Beaver Colony, Cub Pack and Scout Troop but combinations of these or multiple sections are possible. Some Scout groups may have Squirrel Dreys or host Explorer Units.

Scout Law: The code which all members of the movement follow. (There is no formal Beaver Scout law; the concepts expressed in the Scout law are presented to Beavers through games, storytelling and other activities.)

Section: This is a unit of a Scout group or District: Squirrels, Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorer Scouts and the Scout Network.

Six: A group of Cub Scouts within the Cub Pack.

[The] Scout Association (TSA): 6th Rugby is a member of The Scout Association, which is the largest Scout organisation in the United Kingdom.

Tango

Troop: The collective name given to the section of Scouts.

Whisky

Wide Game: A general term given to a game played over a large area of terrain, of which there are many versions, often, but not always, played at night. Usually involves getting from one place to another to capture something without being caught.

Woggle: Device used to hold the necker together at the neck.

Wood Badge: Wooden beads on a leather cord presented to a Leader who has completed their Scout training.

World Membership Badge: The round purple badge worn by Scouts worldwide which tells people they belong to a worldwide movement. This is normally given to a member at their investiture.

Yankee

Young Leader: An Explorer Scout or DofE participant who works as part of the leadership team in one of the first three sections. Young Leader Explorer Scouts belong to an Explorer Scout Unit and have a recognised training structure to help them in their leadership role.