Beavers are boys and girls aged 6-8 years old. The ‘colony’ meets on Wednesday evenings from 5.45 to 7.00pm. During the spring and summer weeks, we try to organise as many outdoor activities as possible, often meeting at places such as Bradgate Park and Thornton Reservoir. Weekly activities include team games, crafts, sports, cooking, drama, cycling, charity events to name but a few.

 

 

Beavers are encouraged to learn about important cultural events on our calendar and to be aware of their community and how they might be able to help others and look after their village and countryside. Beavers often spend their first ever night away from their parents at one of our sleepovers or camps. We have four leaders, named after woodland creatures in the tradition of the Beaver Scouts; Hare, Hedgehog, Otter and Owl.

If you are interested on behalf of your child, we encourage parents to add their child to the waiting list early, before their child turns six, as the colony is very popular and there are usually fewer places available than children wishing to join For more information or to place a child on the waiting list, please contact the Group Scout Leader, Sue Sharpe at DesfordGSL@gmail.com

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Cubs are boys and girls aged 8-10 years old. The ‘pack’ meets on Thursday evenings from 6.30-8pm. During the spring and summer weeks, the cubs tend to be out and about as often as possible, taking part in wide games, woodland activities, walks and challenges. Weekly activities include team games, crafts, sports, cooking, fundraising as well as visits from organisations such as the police, fire service, local sports experts, to name but a few. Cubs are encouraged to celebrate our key cultural events and to become thoughtful participants in community activities.

Respect for others, our villages, nature and the countryside are important themes for cubs. There are several organised camps and sleepovers per year at which cubs can participate in exciting activities such as karting, climbing, archery, rifle-shooting, mountain-biking and canoeing. These are also the times when cubs learn traditional scouting skills such as camp-fire cooking and shelter-building, map reading and orienteering. Cubs from across the country also meet on national trips to places such as RAF Hendon and the science museum, London. We have five leaders, named after characters from The Jungle Book, in the tradition of the cub scouts; Akela, Baloo, Rocky, Hathi and Bagheera.

If you are interested on behalf of your child, we encourage parents to add their child to the waiting list early, before they turn eight, as the pack is very popular and there are usually fewer places available than children wishing to join. Priority is given to children who have already been beaver scouts but we do make every effort to offer places to as many children as safety ratios allow. For more information or to place a child on the waiting list, please contact the Group Scout Leader,  Sue Sharpe at DesfordGSL@gmail.com

“Scouts are boys and girls aged 10.5-14.5 years old. The ‘troop’ meets on Tuesday evenings from 7-9pm. As the oldest scouters meeting in the village, our young people are encouraged to help plan their own programme, working towards reward badges of their own choosing which reflect their individual interests. However, there are also many organised activities designed to build life skills as well as a healthy love of adventure. These include learning about camping, safe use of a knife or axe, fire-building, outdoor cooking, pioneering, hiking, orienteering and first aid.

 

 

There is a big emphasis on physical activity and personal challenge with regular opportunities to pursue things like kayaking, climbing/abseiling, tobogganing, swimming, shooting/archery, pot-holing, mountain biking, amongst many others. Scouts are also encouraged to become considerate and helpful members of the community and can regularly be seen helping at village events, fundraising for charity and caring for their surroundings with events such as litter-picks. Respect for their village, its inhabitants, nature and countryside are at the heart of scouting.

Scouts spend many nights away on camps, night hikes and expeditions where they are able to practise their skills with increasing independence. Being a scout gives young people the perfect platform from which to launch themselves into adult life with confidence in their own worth and capabilities. We have three leaders, James, Emily-Jane and Claire. If you are interested on behalf of your child, we encourage parents to add their child to the waiting list early, before they turn ten, as the troop is very popular and there are usually fewer places available than young people wishing to join. Priority is given to children who have been cubs but we do make every effort to accommodate as many scouts as safety ratios allow. For more information or to place your child on the waiting list, please contact the Group Scout Leader,Sue Sharpe at DesfordGSL@gmail.com