Scouts

Who are Scouts?

Scouts are a go-getting group of young people aged 10 ½ to 14 who: 

• Master new skills and try new things
• Make new friends
• Have fun and go on adventures, at home and abroad
• Explore the world around them
• Help others and make a difference, in their own communities and beyond

Week in and week out, they gather in groups called Scout Troops to conquer the small task of changing the world.

What do Scouts do?

Being a Scout is all about adventure. Here are some of the things you’ll get up to with your new friends.

Discovering the world

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

Alongside your new friends, you’ll master the skills that’ll help you weather the storms of life, and try things you’d never get the chance to do at home or at school – working with trained volunteers to achieve whatever you set your mind to.

Starting small, thinking big

Scouts start small but think big. They stand up for what they believe in and make a difference on their doorstops, confident in the knowledge that their daily actions add up.

In a society that can often feel increasingly isolated and inward facing, Scouts build bridges and break barriers.

Throughout history, they’ve played all sorts of useful roles in society, and this legacy continues today.

Listening in, lending a hand

Scouts 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’re taking part in their first ever camp away from home, writing their first line of code, or accepting the last of the toasted marshmallows.

Sound like fun? That’s because it is. All that’s missing is you.

The Scout Troop

Each Scout Troop is made up of young people aged 10½  to 14, led by trained adult volunteers who are on hand to share their skills and keep everyone safe. Traditionally, Scout leaders were nicknamed ‘Skip’ – an abbreviation of ‘Skipper’, which is a name given to a ship’s captain. In some Troops this name is still used, but these days it’s more common for Scout leaders to just use their real names.

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

When they’re older, they can also join Explorers (for young people aged 14 to 18) and Scout Network (for young people aged 18-25). Although both of these are closely associated with the younger sections, they are not part of the local Scout Group. Depending on local arrangements, their troop might be partnered directly with an Explorer Unit. If this is the case for your troop, you might run your meetings alongside Explorers, and work together to organise things like trips, nights away and expeditions.

The Scout Promise

Every Scout is unique, but they find common ground in their shared Scout values, and make a promise to stick by them.

Making a promise when you join the Troop is a way of celebrating these values. Every time a new Scout decides to join, they chat through their promise with their leader before saying it out loud in front of their fellow Scouts.  

Everyone is unique but there are some things all Scouts agree on – such as treating everyone with kindness and promising to do their best. Depending on their own beliefs, they might also promise to live by their faith. Scouts can choose the promise that best suits them. 

Badges, Awards & Uniform

Badges and Awards

Our badges and awards are part of what makes us Scouts. And Scouts love earning them!

Animal lover – check. Book worm – check. Photographer – check. Footballer – check. Daredevil – check.

You name it, we’ve got a badge for it – over 200 of them actually. Scouts work together on badges at their weekly meetings, away at camps and events, or at home. There’s never any pressure to do badges. Scouts can do as many or as few as they like.

But for those up for a challenge, there are loads of exciting badges to aim for, such as the Chief Scout’s Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards. These are the highest awards that Beavers, Cubs and Scouts can earn. And for those going even further, the Queen’s Scout Award is the top achievement for young people in Scouts.

Visit https://www.scouts.org.uk/scouts/activity-badges/ and https://www.scouts.org.uk/scouts/awards/ to find out more about each of the badges and what you have to do to earn them. You can also buy a handy badge book from the local scout store or online. Sometimes we also share resources on our Facebook Group or on our website.

Scout Uniform

Once you’ve had time to settle in, you’ll get your own uniform to wear during meetings and on trips away.

Scouts usually wear a green shirt or blouse with their badges sewn on, which they pair with their Troop or Group scarf. They might wear blue uniform trousers or a skirt, or they might save their uniform bottoms for special occasions like awards ceremonies and public events – choosing to wear something more casual with their shirt during the week. Visit our Scouts badges and awards page to find out more.

Uniforms can either be bought from Leicestershire Scout Shop, National Scout Store, online at another supplier, or you may find a second-hand uniform on sites like eBay, Facebook.

How to Join!

Scouts is open to all, and adjustments can always be made locally to make sure everyone can join in the fun. You don’t need to have been a Beaver, Cub or involved in Scouting before. If you have any questions about accessibility, it’s best to chat with your local leader as soon as possible. By being upfront about additional needs from the start, parents/carers can work in partnership with local leaders to make sure their young person has the best experience possible. More information on specific adjustments can be found at https://www.scouts.org.uk/accessibility-at-the-scouts/

Contact Us

If you are interested in joining us, click below. You will need to let us know some basic information to help us get back to you.

Response

We will be in touch to arrange next steps. If there is space at 1st Markfield Scouts and you are of the right age, we will confirm your space and make arrangements for your child.

If we do not currently have any space available, we will ask whether you would like to join our waiting list. We may also provide you with other local groups contact information.

Moving up from 1st Markfield Cubs?

If you are moving up from 1st Markfield Cubs, you don’t need to contact us. You will likely be completing the ‘Moving On Award’. This means you will attend both Cubs and Scouts for at least 3 weeks. This helps to familiarise yourself with Scouts, whilst providing the opportunity to finish off any outstanding badge work at Cubs. This may not be required or suitable for everyone, so please speak to your Cub Leader in the first instance.

Your first night

During your first night, we will introduce you to our Scout Troop and introduce you to some of our usual games and activities. You should start to learn your Scout promise ahead of your investiture. You don’t need to wear anything special on your first night.

Investiture

After 5-6 weeks from starting at Scouts, you will be invested. This is were you will make your Scout promise, receive your necker and joining badges, and will officially have joined 1st Markfield Scout Group and worldwide scouting. Family and friends will also be invited to the investiture.