What is Scouting?

Scouting is a worldwide voluntary movement for young people. The Scout Movement was founded in 1907 by Lord Robert Baden-Powell. In the United Kingdom, the youth membership aged between six and twenty years is over half a million, plus 120,000 adults. The Movement now has over 26 million members world-wide, doing their Scouting in over 200 countries and with its sister movement, the Guides, Scouting represents the largest youth organisation in the world.

Young people within the age-range of 6–18 years participate in a Scout programme appropriate to their age through one of four Sections:

Beaver Scouts 6 – 8 years

Cub Scouts 8 – 10½ years

Scouts 10½ – 14 years

Explorer Scouts 14 – 18 years.

These are just a few of the typical activities undertaken at Scout Group and District level:
camping; hiking; canoeing; swimming; community work; hill walking; rock climbing; ten-pin bowling; cooking; creative activities; international activities; and so on – the list is almost endless! All activities are managed and supervised within strict guidelines provided by The Scout Association and national agencies for various adventurous activities.