Why Scouts is the best thing a young person can do

Credit: The Scouting Association

There are thousands of after school clubs that run today from science club to football. All of them are great in there own way and teach young people skills about a particular topic and allow them to learn new things.

When you hear of scouting most people think of boys camping and building fires. Although this is something that still happens, it certainly isn't the only things we do, nor is it just boys. Scouting is for everyone and aims to involve as many people from as many backgrounds as possible.

Scouting‘s main goal is to teach young people ‘skills for life’. This means teaching skills that will help them no matter what they continue to do in the future.

Thousands of young people join the Scouting movement every year and there are groups all over the world that meet weekly and enjoy participating in meetings together.

Having a worldwide family of Scouting allows members to meet people from other countries and learn about culture and lifestyles from around the world. At events such as the international jamboree, friendships are made that can last a lifetime.

Many young people do not join Scouting in the UK due to parents not understanding what we do week to week and still think of the "dib dib dub dub" era.

Although our history in the Scouting movement is something scouts are proud of, they have evolved with the times and week to week meetings can include anything from rock climbing to white water rafting to cooking.

Every activity that is undertaken during a meeting underpins the skills for life motto. Whether that be learning team-building skills whilst putting up a tent with your patrol or learning how to read a map whilst mountaineering or emergency first aid.

Everything that is done teaches a young person a skill or multiple skills that they will be able to carry on into there future lives and will help them grow as a person.

When I was younger I joined my local beaver colony and enjoyed it from day one. I continued up through cubs, scouts, explorers and network and now am an assistant leader for the group.

I have learnt skills I would never have learnt otherwise and made friends that will last a lifetime. I decided to become a leader so I can try and give young people the same opportunities that Scouting gave to me.

I have been camping all over the country and have taken part in activities I never thought I could. As a young beaver who didn’t talk much and was scared to try new things, my leaders brought me out of my shell by giving me the opportunities and by believing in me.

Scouting is more than a weekly club, it is a way of setting up every young person with the skills to continue into the world and follow any career they choose. Whether that career is a chef or a bank manager. The skills and values they learn in Scouting will underpin the way they continue through life and will help them to build friendships and complete tasks that many people don’t know-how.

If you have read this and still aren’t sure of the benefits of Scouting then all I can recommend is to try it. It may not be for everyone and some young people don’t enjoy themselves but if tried, they may just have the best time of their lives.

To find out more about Scouting and find a group local to you have a look at scouts.org.uk