Beavers

Beaver Scouts are the youngest section of the Scouting family. Their activities are based around making things, outdoor activities, singing, playing games, going out on visits, investigating nature, listening to stories, learning how to be safe and most importantly, making new friends.

Children join a Beaver Scout Colony for many reasons. It might be they have heard great things from their friends about all the things your Colony gets up to every week. Perhaps parents or carers are keen for them to join. Whatever their reasons, whether or not they stay will be down to you and your team, and the weekly programme you provide.

Basics

Beavers are usually aged between six and eight years old, though they can be as young as five and three quarters.

Joining

Earlier entry is at the Beaver Scout Leader’s discretion (for example, to allow someone a little bit younger to join at the same time as their friends).

Structure

A group of Beaver Scouts is called a Colony, and each Colony can be split up into smaller groups called Lodges.

Beavers have a Promise and Motto, but there is not a Beaver Scout Law. The concepts of the Scout Law should be presented to Beavers through games, storytelling and other informal devices.

The Beaver Scout Promise

I promise to do my best
To be kind and helpful
And to love God.

The Beaver Scout Motto

Be prepared

Beaver Scout badges and awards

There is a range of badges and awards available to young people in the Beaver Scout Section.

Activity badges

Many of the badges available are activity badges, which allow Beaver Scouts to show their progress in existing pursuits, but also to try all kinds of new things and form new interests.

Challenge badges

Gaining a challenge badge involves accomplishing a number of more ambitious tasks within the Colony or community. There are several challenge badges across a number of themes, from the physical and outdoorsy to challenges dealing with the local community or issues connected with the Scouting world.

Core badges

In addition, there are a number of core badges, obtained upon joining or moving on from the Colony, or for time spent in the Scouting movement.

Activity packs

Some activity badges are sponsored by outside companies, and these companies often provide extra exciting resource packs to help Beaver Scouts towards gaining their badges.