Explorer Scouts
Explorer Scouting in Bradford South
In Bradford South, we currently have two Explorer Scout Units (ESU’s). One based at Low Moor Scout Hut, and one at Bedale Centre. These Units are a District Provision, that means the Bradford South Scouts District are responsible for the running of the Units. They are not attached to any Scout Groups within the District.
Explorer Information
Explorers are a go-getting group of young people aged 14 to 18. Together, they make up the fifth section of the Scouts.
Week in and week out, they gather in groups called Units to try new things, make new friends and conquer the small task of changing the world.
What do Explorers get up to?
1. Discover the world.
Being an Explorer 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 will make you feel stronger and happier in the long run, and try things you’d never get the chance to do at home or at school.
Whether you’re 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.
2. Action and adventure
Start small but think big.
Explorers start small but think big.
They stand up for what they believe and make a difference on their own doorstops, confident in the knowledge that their daily actions add up.
3. Gain skills for life
Seek out the answers to big 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’re signing up for their first major hike across Europe, or 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.
How is an Explorer Unit structured?
Each Explorer Unit is made up 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 groups of Explorers who look out for one another, and help each other grow. Explorers 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.
Can young people become leaders?
Absolutely. If taking the lead sounds like something you’d like to try for yourself, sign up for the Explorer Scout Young Leader’s Scheme to get some hands-on experience volunteering with the younger Scout sections.
Duke of Edinburgh Award
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is an awards programme which gives young people the chance to make friends, have fun and build confidence in an empowering, exciting and non-competitive learning environment.
By taking part, young people build on a huge range of practical and character skills – like resilience, problem-solving, team-working and drive – and come out the other side with a stronger sense of self (something really brilliant to put on their CV), or talk about in their uni and job applications).
There are three award levels to achieve:
- Bronze – for those aged 14+ years*
- Silver – for those aged 15+ years*
- Gold – for those aged 16+ years
Young people build their own custom DofE programme: choosing from a range of skills-based challenges, physical activities, volunteering opportunities and expeditions to suit their interests and goals.
As part of their Gold Award, they also take part in a residential activity.
Scouts can complete their DofE while they’re in Explorers or Network, linking their achievements to the Chief Scout’s Platinum, Diamond and Queen’s Scout Awards. As well as the Young Leaders’ Scheme.
* If a young person isn’t 14 or 15 yet, but is in the school year in which their peer group turns 14/15, they can start their respective award. All activities must be completed by a young person’s 25th birthday.
For further info, please see an Explorer Scout Leader or visit the following website https://www.dofe.org
The bigger Scout family
Explorers are part of the global Scout family. Closer to home, they’re part of their wider local Scout District, alongside Network members (aged 18 to 25). Some Explorer Units may have a close link with a Scout Group in a local area.
What activities are available within Explorer Scouting?
The following activities are just a few available within Explorer Scouting:
- Camping
- Walking
- Sailing/Kayaking
- Caving
- Climbing
- Air Rifle Shooting/Archery/Axe Throwing
- Pioneering
- Young Leaders Scheme
- Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme
- There are many, many more!!
Promises and ceremonies
Every Explorer 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 Unit is a way of celebrating these values.
Every time a new Explorer decides to join, they chat through their promise with their leader before saying it out loud in front of their fellow Explorers. Family and friends might come along to see this, too. The process usually takes place once you’ve had a few weeks to settle in, and is known as being ‘invested’ into Explorers.
How to join
Not sure if you have time to fit Explorers into your week? Being a person is busy work, and being a teenage person is even busier. We get it. That’s why Explorer Units are generally more flexible than the other Scout sections, especially when important landmarks like exams roll around. Although most groups meet weekly, this isn’t always the case – some meet less frequently, or run their activities on the weekend so that you can keep your weeknights free for other things.
