Introducing Squirrels – a new section launched by The Scouts for 4 to 6 year olds

We’ve started a new provision in Doncaster for four and five year olds called Squirrels, to help young people gain skills for life at a time when it matters most and where it’s most needed.

Squirrels meet in Dreys and enjoy games, crafts, stories, and lots of fun under the guidance of an adult Leadership team.

The Programme for Squirrel Scouts was designed to support informal learning and help 4–6 year-olds catch up while providing young people with a positive, safe environment to develop these essential skills for life; working together, communication, and language, as well as creativity and community awareness.

Structure

A Squirrel group is called a Drey and young people can join at the age of 4 years old, Squirrels can move onto the next Scout Section Beavers from the age of 5 3/4 up to 6 1/2. This allows for flexibility depending on the needs and abilities of each individual child, giving them the support they need to develop and grow in scouting.

Activities

Squirrels get active, explore nature and have fun learning with friends, all while earning badges – just like other Scouts. From treasure hunts and jelly worms to baking and reading stories, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into.

Badges and Awards

The Squirrel Scouts programme consists of 12 activity badges, 4 challenge badges and the Chief Scout’s Acorn Award.

Joining Squirrels

We’re excited to be the first scout group in Doncaster to open a Squirrel drey which you can read about here New junior scouting scheme launches with Doncaster’s first Squirrels club | Doncaster Free Press.

We run Squirrel Scouts on Thursdays through term time between 4pm and 5pm, and it’s a very busy, fun and lively group.

We’ve a small number of adults who have kindly stepped in to help us run the new section, the more volunteers we have the better. If you would like to be involved (in whatever capacity) then please get in touch using the contact form.

As you can imagine, we’ve been inundated with enquiries to join, so we now have a waiting list, positions typically become available 3 – 4 times per year.

Priority is given to local residents and people who can stay to help and join in the fun.

To add your child to our Squirrels waiting list, please click here.