Being an Explorer
14 to 18 years
Try more. See more. Do more. At Explorers, you’ll stand on your own two feet, and make memories to last a lifetime.
When do Explorers meet?
Explorer are run at a District level and they run three units
- Armstrong meets Monday 7-9pm at 2nd Waterlooville Scout HQ
- Dora meets Wednesday 7.30pm-9.30pm at 1st Cowplain Scout HQ
- Attenborough meets Friday 7pm – 9pm at 1st Clanfield Scout HQ
Who are Explorers?
Explorers are a go-getting group of young people aged 14 to 18. Together, they make up the fourth 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?
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.
Discover the world
Start small but think big
Seek out the answers to big questions
- Help others
What does an Explorer Unit look like?
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.
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 Explorers
Interested in joining? The first step to becoming an Explorer is to enter the young person’s details on our waiting list.
We will then contact you and let know the situation.
For anything else please use our Contact Us page.
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.
Explorers uniform and badge placement
What Explorers wear
Explorer uniform consists of a beige shirt or blouse with their badges sewn on, which they pair with their Unit scarf. Explorers might wear the blue uniform trousers or skirt, or they might save their uniform bottoms choosing to wear something more casual with their shirt during the week.
Why uniform is important
Wearing a uniform is comfy and practical. It means you can run around and get messy without ruining your other clothes. It makes you feel part of a team. It means no one feels uncomfortable or left out. And it gives you a place to show off all the brilliant badges you earn.
Where you can buy the uniform
Uniform can either be bought from our District Scout Shop. If you’re stuck, ask adult volunteers to tell you more about what to buy and where to buy it.
Moving up to Network. What will happen?
Scout Network is our fifth and final section for 18-25 year olds. When you turn 18, you can become part of Scout Network in the same District you were an Explorer in.
Network members still earn badges digitally, and still go on camps. They still throw themselves into expeditions and aim for their top awards. They still chase adventures overseas and build communities closer to home and get their hands dirty and battle it out for the last of the toasted marshmallows. The main difference is that they have more flexibility and independence and autonomy than any of the other sections. District Scout Networks are self-led, and their programme is designed to fit around the bundle of commitments humans juggle in their late teens and early twenties.
