Explorer Scouts (The Scout Association)

For the similarly named program associated with United States Scouting, see Exploring (Learning for Life).

Explorer Scouts
OwnerThe Scout Association
Age range14–18
CountryUnited Kingdom
FoundedFebruary 2002[1]
Membership44,273 (January 2023)[2]
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Scout Network
Website
https://www.scouts.org.uk/explorers
Explorer Scout uniform
 Scouting portal

Explorer Scouts, frequently shortened to Explorers, is the fifth section of The Scout Association in the United Kingdom for 14- to 18-year-olds.[3] The section was introduced in 2001 and formally launched in February 2002, alongside Scout Network, to replace the former Venture Scout section for fifteen-and-a-half to twenty-year-olds.[4]

Following on from the Scout section, Explorer Scouts are run in Units at a District level as opposed to the more local Group level that run the younger sections.[5] In addition to earning activity badges in common with younger sections, Explorers are able to attain the highest awards in the movement such as the King's Scout Award.

Part of the programme for the section is the Young Leader's scheme, which trains Explorer Scouts in leadership methods and allows them to volunteer with the younger sections of the movement.[6]

  1. ^ "The Passing Years – Milestones in the progress of Scouting" (PDF). The Scout Association. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference AR 22-23 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ "Scouts – General and Local Information". Islington Directory. London Borough of Islington. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference TSA milestones was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Policy Organisation and Rules: 4. Local Scouting organisation – sections, Groups, Districts, Counties – 4.1 Our local structure". Scouts.org.uk. The Scout Association. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  6. ^ "Young Leaders' Scheme". scouts.org.uk. The Scout Association. Retrieved 19 February 2023.