Explorer Scouts

Explorer Scouts are young people, usually aged between 14 and 18 years old. There is flexibility in the ages so that you can join Explorers from 13½ or not until your 15th birthday - depending on what is right for you…

There are many different ways of being an Explorer Scout. It might be that you are part of a unit that meets weekly and is partnered with several Scout Groups; or you might be part of a specialist activity Unit that meets less frequently but only takes part in certain activities (this could be water based activities, bands, gang shows, campsites - the list is almost endless).

Not all Units meet each week, because you will often be out and about at weekends or in the holidays doing activities. There will be times when you will be busy doing other things such as exams, and being an Explorer Scout will have to fit around these.

As an Explorer Scout you may decide that you want to help with a younger section, by becoming a young leader . This may be your main Scouting commitment, or you may do this as well as being a member of another Explorer Scout Unit. All Young Leaders are members of the district Young Leader Unit.

Explorer Scouting is organised at District level, lead by the District Explorer Scout Commissioner or DESC and assisted by the District Explorer Scout Administrator or DESA. The DESC and DESA are supported by the District Executive Committee who are operationally responsible for the section, in the same way that a Group Executive Committee is responsible for the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts in the Group.

Being organised at District level means that as an Explorer Scout, you should be able to go to any activity being run by an ESU within your district! As an Explorer Scout, you will get the chance to work with other Explorer Scouts in your District, not just your Unit. By doing this, you will get the chance to do many more activities, not just the ones your Unit organises.