What are Explorer Scouts?

Explorer Scouts are young people, usually aged between 14 and 18 years old. They make up the fourth Section of the Scouting family. There are many types of Explorer Scout Units, some may be linked to your local Scout Group, others may be based around different activities. Not all Units meet each week, because you will often be out and about at weekends or in the holidays doing activities. There will be times when you will be busy doing other things such as exams, and being an Explorer Scout will have to fit around these. As an Explorer Scout, you will get the chance to work with other Explorer Scouts in your District, not just your Unit. By doing this, you will get the chance to do many more actvities, not just the ones your Unit organises.

Where are Units in Cotswold Edge?

There are currently seven units in Cotswold Edge, each unit tending to cater for young people from a particular area.

Click to find your nearest unit

How do I join Explorer Scouts?

What are Young Leaders?

"Young Leaders" (aged 14 to 18) are also Explorer Scouts and follow a special Young Leader Training Programme, as well as having the opportunity to take part in Explorer Scout activities in the District, and following the Explorer Scout training programme. In our District there is a newly-formed Young Leaders' Unit, led by Alison Moore.

What do they wear?

Explorer Scouts wear a uniform. Scouting is a uniformed organisation and the uniform tells everyone that you are a Scout. For instance, people can tell which Unit you belong to by looking at the colour of your neckerchief. The uniform consists of:
Beige Shirt, Neckerchief (scarf) or Blue Tie and Blue Long trousers / Skirt

What badges do they have?

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 fourteen Activity Badges for Explorer Scouts.
In Addition to the Sections Activity Badges, there are four Activity Badges staged across the Sections- These are: Information Technology; Musician; Nights Away and Swimming. The Staged Activity Badges have been designed to provide a seamless approach throughout the Sections. Four each badge there are five levels available. This means that a young person can gain whichever badge is appropriate to the level they have reached. It is possible, for example, for a Beaver Scout who is an excellent Swimmer to gain a higher level badge than a Scout who has just taken up the activity.

Chief Scouts Award and Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Platinum, Diamond & The Queens Scout Award - These are the Highest award available in the Explorer Scout Section.

The Explorer Training programme runs parallel to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme of Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. Each level of the award roughly matches with equivalent Scouting Award. Many units now engage with both awards at the same time, giving their Explorer Scouts both for the price of one!