10th Croydon main menu

home about age uniform needs behaviour costs navigation members

Introduction to Explorers

With the support, direction and guidance of Unit leaders, Explorer Scouts are encouraged to lead themselves, design their own programme and work towards the top awards that Scouting offers. With exciting prospects like being a part of camps and expeditions both home and abroad; adventurous activities such as mountaineering, parascending and off shore sailing; Explorers offers fun and adventure for all. Explorers also have the opportunity to be a part of The Explorer Scout Young Leaders’ Scheme which develops their leadership skills and sense of responsibility, by helping to run meetings for younger sections.

Explorer Units are the fourth Section of the Scouting family after Beavers, Cubs and Scouts. Explorer Scouts are young people aged between 14 and 18 years old. There is flexibility in the age range: young people can join from age 13½ but cannot move to Scout Network until 18. Young people must have left the Explorer Scout section before the date of their 18th birthday. For further information, see our guidance on age range flexibility.

Structure and meetings

A group of Explorer Scouts is called a Unit and is part of the District’s provision of Scouting. An Explorer Scout Unit and a Scout Group may work together under a Partnership Agreement, which should set out clearly the links between the Unit and the Group, arrangements for communication, use of equipment, facilities and resources.

The key to running a successful Explorer Unit is flexibility. Due to the other commitments that crop up in a teenager’s life, such as exams, it is important that the programme reflects this. For example, Units may not every week, or carry out the majority of activities at weekends.

Activities

Explorer Scouts are encouraged to take part in a wide range of activities as part of their programme including traditional Scouting skills, such as camping, survival and cooking, as well as a wider spectrum of adventurous activities, from abseiling to zorbing. The Explorer programme is supplemented and complemented by events and activities delivered across the District, allowing them the opportunity to socialise and work with other local Explorer Units.

Uniform and Badges

Wearing a uniform is comfy and practical. It means no one feels uncomfortable or left out and helps everyone feel part of Scouting. Explorer uniform consists of a Light Brown shirt, a scarf and trousers. There are various other optional accessories you can wear such as hats or hoodies.

The uniform can either be bought from Hewitts of Croydon who have a very longstanding connection with Scouting or from Scouting's online shop - or Scout Stores, as well as Ebay, Facebook, Market Place as well as Shpock if you’re not sure where to start talk to your leaders.

The 10th Croydon also operates its own uniform recycling scheme, which is especially popular considering how quickly young people grow. There can also be grants available for parents who need help to buy a uniform, ask your leader for more details.

There are a number of activity badges and ambitious top awards that Explorer Scouts can gain to recognise their achievements. Further information about Explorer Scout badges and awards can be found here.

Additional Needs

Scouting is open to all young people, regardless of their mental or physical ability. We can usually arrange things to make sure everyone can join in the fun. If you have any questions about accessibility, have a chat with your leader. By being upfront from the start, parents and carers can work in partnership with the leaders to make sure their young person has the best experience Scouting can offer.

Many young people will require some special consideration to enable them to fully participate in all Scouting activities. By identifying an individual’s additional need and providing them with appropriate support, we can include more young people in Scouting.

Some additional needs are not immediately obvious (behavioural problems such as ADHD and learning difficulties), these are referred to as hidden disabilities. Scouting provides a range of resources available to help us include young people with particular needs in our Group.

Behaviour

No one knows better than a Scout Group that has been operation for more than 100 years about the natural exuberance of young people especially when undertaking exciting activities. That said we need to maintain order, and there are lines that we cannot allow to be crossed. So first and foremost, we make certain that our members are fully aware of the expected standards of behaviour, Young people will always "push a bit", and that is a natural part of understanding their limits.

Explorer Scouts at the 10th Croydon will be there as Young Leaders, and form a valuable part of our team. That said we would expect them to adhere to the same standards of conduct an behaviour that we expect from anyone else at the group. Perhaps we have been fortunate, or perhaps it is because we treat them with the extra respect their age deserves, but so far we have not had any issues with behaviour. However if we did, we would use the same system we use with the other sections, the only real difference being we would warn them in private, and not in front of the younger members.

Maintaining Discipline

So IF they go too far, first they will be issued a very clear verbal warning which is usually enough. If that does not deal with the matter and the bad behaviour persists, they will be shown a "yellow card" (like in football) so now they clearly know they are out of line, in the unlikely event that’s not enough they will be shown a "red card", which like football means they will be sent home straight away and have to miss the next meeting. Unlike in football, verbal warnings and Yellow Cards carry over to then next meeting attended, and are then wiped clean, assuming there are no further problems.

We use the same system at Camps, but when cards are shown, the young person is offered the "opportunity" to do extra chores to "work off the card", rather than being sent home in disgrace. In our 100 year history I can't find any record of a young person ever being sent home from camp due to behaviour problems, so I guess the system works.

Costs

Explorer Scouts would pay subs to their Explorer Unit, which are calculated in the same way all subs are, and cover the same things

Camps, outings and expeditions and some activities will be charged for separately.

logo

Enter Members Area

Incorrect name, e-mail or password
simply returns page home.

(Password is case sensitive)

.

.

10th Croydon Scout Group

113 -115 St James Road, West Croydon.