Explorers (14 – 18 yrs)

Who are Explorers ?

Explorers are a go-getting group of young people who are aged between 14 to 18 . Together they make up the 4th section of the Scout movement in the United Kingdom.

Week in and week out, they gather in groups called Units to try new things, make new friends and gain new skills. The main difference between explorers from the other low sections it that the units do not belong to a group but are infact a part of the district. Beavers, Cubs and Scouts make up groups. They explorers are a district section along with the network. Therefore there are events where all the units meet in the district and do activities and challenges as a district explorer group.

What do Explorers get up to ?

Discovering the world

Being an Explorer is all about discovering the world on your own terms and making the most of what you have, wherever you are and whoever you are.

Alongside making new friends, you’ll master the skills that will make you feel stronger and happier in the long run, and try things that you’d never get the chance to in school or at home.

Whether you are hiking to faraway lands or building a robot in your local town hall, you’ll have the freedom to choose what you’d like to do, and work together with adults to make it happen. Explorers get to make their own programs and bring new ideas to the unit to develop the world of scouting and make it fully #youshaped.

Start Small, Thinking Big

Explorers start small but think big.

They stand up for what they believe in and make a difference on their own doorstep within their community, confident in the knowledge that their daily actions add up.

Seekout the answers to bigger questions

Explorers seek out the answers  to the big questions, and to the smaller questions that don’t seem to matter but really should.

Most importantly, they say yes more often than they say no, whether they are signing p for their first major hike across europe, or writing their first

line of code or accepting the last of the toasted marshmallows.

Who leads Explorers ?

Each Explorer Unit is made of young people aged 14 to 18, led by adult volunteers who are on hand to share their skills and keep everyone safe.

Within their Unit Explorers are part of a Patrol – smaller group of Explorers who look out for one another, and help to grow each other. Explorers usually gather in their patrols at the beginning and end of meetings. They might also stick together on expeditions and trips away, or during certain activities.

Can young people become leaders ?

Absolutely!!! If taking the lead sounds like something you would like to try yourself, sign up for the Explorer Scout Young Leader’s Scheme to get some hands on experience volunteering with the younger Scout sections. Here in Mid Herts, we have a dedicated Young Leader Unit, who focus on the training of young leaders and bring all of them together in the district, sharing ideas and activities that they have run and doing activities as a unit.

Top Awards

Explorers have a lot of top awards that they are able to work towards. They have their Chief Scout’s Platinum, Chief Scout Diamond Award and Queen Scout Award. The Queen Scout can also be worked on in the Scout Network section also. Explorers can also work towards the Duke Of Edinburgh Award, Young Leader Award and Explorer Belt Award.  More information about these awards can be found here.