Most of us are broadly familiar with the structure of the Scouting Association programs and corresponding groups even if some titles and uniforms have changed over the decades and at present we have Beavers 6 to 8, Cubs 8 1/2 to 10 1/2 and Scouts 10 1/2 to 14 and so on.
We now have starting a new group and program which in its own way is a big as starting Beavers was and they are the Squirrels. That's investiture with the uniform.
The Squirrels really fills the gap being for 4 and 5 year olds (in scouting some leeway is allowed for developmental reasons so ages aren't an absolute) in a typically one hour a week session covering from fun things outdoors to do to learning about cooking, exploring, building, safety and creativity with a similar awards system to Beavers
It looks rather like this:
12 Activity Badges
This includes the Explore Outdoors Activity Badge, Feel Good Activity Badge and All Together Challenge Award that looks at teamwork and co-operation
Four Challenge Awards
a Top Award
a Membership Award
a Joining In Award
a Moving On Award
It was also decided that Squirrels would be able to earn Staged Activity Badges.
The Uniform main colour is red having a clear link to squirrels, very visible a good idea with young children and popular with all, girls as well as boys of all ethnicities and so the Jersey is red to which as we should know the badges are sown onto.
Part the aim is to get people who for whatever reason never previously connected with scouting involved from an early age so inclusion by gender, disability, faith (or none) and ethnicity are at the core from day one.
It is early days as this is being set up but it's a major and I feel welcome additional offering to our youngest.
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