Squirrels are young people aged 4 – 6 who Play, Learn, and Get Outdoors!
What do Squirrels get up to?
Every week, they gather in groups called Squirrel Dreys to hop, skip, and jump their way through lots of different games and activities – achieving anything they set their minds to and having lots of fun along the way.
Being a Squirrel is all about growing and learning in small but mighty ways.
Squirrels. A new adventure in a well-known tail.
Squirrels are a completely new provision for 4 and 5-year-olds. There are plenty of reasons to get stuck in, as Squirrels gives young people the chance to:
- Make friends
- Have fun outdoors
- Learn new things
- Earn badges through fun activities
Every week, Squirrels will gather to grow and learn their way through lots of different games and activities
Squirrels can achieve anything they set their minds to – and they have lots of fun along the way.
The one-hour sessions will be a brilliant opportunity for young people to take their first step into being part of Scouts, and they’ll help everyone get ready for the adventure of school too.
Sessions will be packed with outdoors activities, fun, games, badges, laughter, and so much more to help our youngest members learn the skills they need for life. Of course, none of it would be possible without the support of the amazing leaders who plan and deliver such an inspiring programme.
Scouts is an inclusive, values based movement
Inclusion is at the heart of our Squirrels story. Here at Scouts, we’re open to people of all genders, backgrounds, and faiths (including people of no faith). We’re committed to reaching out to new and different families and communities and include people who have never tried Scouts before.
That’s why we’re starting Squirrels in the places it’s needed most – our most underserved areas – so we can offer young people skills for life when and where they need them. We showed our impact in pilot groups in these places, and we’re proud to be prioritising support for Squirrels in underrepresented communities. This includes those from areas of deprivation and Black, Asian, and minority ethnic backgrounds.
The programme
Each badge is packed with wow and wonder, perfect for anyone who’s ever asked ‘Why?’ (or ‘Why not?’). You’ll tell stories and play games. Get active and explore the outdoors. Become a brilliant builder and a super chef. There’s something for everyone – and that means that there’s something for you.
When designing the badges and activities for Squirrel Scouts, our goal was to create:
- an age-appropriate programme,
- that meets the Theory of Change,
- and is respected by Early Years practitioners,
- without compromising our Scout values,
- which encourages community and home learning,
- and works in areas of deprivation and for diverse ethnic communities.
To do this, we wrote, tested, and updated a programme proposal with nearly 400 people to create badges full of adventure, fun, and, of course, skills.
Moving up to Beavers
Eventually, it’ll be time to say farewell to Squirrels and embrace your next big adventure.
