Squirrels
Who are Squirrels
Squirrels are young people, aged 4 to 6.
Squirrels meet in groups called Dreys. They are the newest addition to the Scouting family. They enjoy games, crafts, stories, and lots of fun under the guidance of an adult Leadership team. Squirrels were officially welcomed into Scouting in late 2021 following pilot groups in the UK and the success of the Northern Ireland Squirrel Association which had been operating here since the early 1980s.
At 16th Lancaster, we have one Squirrel Drey which meets on Mondays from 16:45 to 17:45.
What do Squirrels get up to?
A typical Squirrel meeting will start with a game or chat which introduces the theme of the evening, followed by a main activity that will go towards badge work. We will then finish with a story and closing ceremony before home time.
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 outdoor 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.
Activities
Squirrels get active, explore nature and have fun learning with friends, all while earning badges – just like other Scouts. From scavenger hunts to T-Rex sandwiches, stargazing and yoga,, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into.
Badges
As part of their activities, there are 12 activity badges and 4 challenge awards for Squirrels to earn. In addition, Squirrel Scouts can work towards staged badges and achieve the Chief Scouts Acorn Award, the highest badge in the section.
How to join
Lots of young people want to join Squirrels and you might have to wait for a space to become available before you can start your journey. If you have any questions about accessibility, it’s best to contact us in addition to your application. By being upfront about additional needs from the start, parents/carers can work in partnership with local leaders to make sure their young person has the best experience possible.
On your first night at Squirrels, you’ll be taking part in lots of activities, and should just wear something you feel comfortable in.
Eventually, you’ll get your own Squirrels uniform to wear to meetings and on trips and nights away. Wearing a uniform is comfy and practical. It means no one feels uncomfortable or left out and helps everyone to feel a part of the Squirrels Drey. It also gives you a place to show off all the Squirrels badges you earn.
For Squirrels, the uniform consists of a red sweatshirt with your badges sewn on and a coloured scarf or ‘necker’ to represent your local group. For the bottom part, we suggest that young people wear what they would as part of their school uniform or active play, this is usually dark grey/blackgrey / black trousers, joggers, skirts or skorts. UniformsUniform can either be bought from the online shop – Scout Store – or from a local supplier from the local Scout Shop in Lancaster. If you’re not sure where to start, adult volunteers can give you more information about what to buy and where to buy it.