Ages 11-14
Action-packed activities form the core of being a Scout, encouraging young people to make their own decisions and to explore the world around them
Scouts are the third section of the Scouting movement, after Keas and Cubs, for boys and girls aged between 11 and 14 (approx Year 7 to Year 10 at school). At Scouts, we do anything and everything – all the fun things you have always wanted to do. Whether it is outdoor based activities such as tramping, camping, biking, rafting or indoor based such as scout craft, photography or pioneering – what you do is your choice.
You will become a member of a Scout Patrol within a larger Scout Troop. Together, you will make decisions, set goals and work together as a team to succeed in whatever you choose to do. There is a huge network of Scouts throughout New Zealand and an estimated 40 million members worldwide. In New Zealand over 4000 young people are active members of the Scout section and there is always something new and exciting to try. Scouts make the following promise, which forms a basic guideline for everything that Scouts do:
The Scout Promise
On my honour, I promise to do my best,
To develop my spiritual beliefs,
To contribute to my community, country and world,
To help other people,
And to live by the Scout Law.
We have a Bronze/Silver/Gold Award Scheme that is based on a combination of participation and leadership experience in activities that align with the three areas of Personal, Community and Adventure. In addition, every Scout has the opportunity to earn various levels of Adventure Skill badges, such as Camping, Tramping, Vertical, Water Safety, Emergency Preparedness, Cycling, etc. While learning leadership and practical skills, Scouts also gain a sense of responsibility and develop self-confidence.
Scouts is about fun and personal development: this means promoting the physical, intellectual, social and spiritual well-being of the individual, helping them achieve their full potential. In Scouts, we believe that young people develop best when they are ‘learning by doing’: when they are given responsibility, work in teams, take acceptable risks and think for themselves. Join Scouts and have lots of fun. Explore new things, make new friends, experiment, accept challenges, and experience the adventurous Scout life.