Explorers
14 to 18 year olds, taking more agency over the activities they do. Starting Duke of Edinburgh; longer hikes, camps and expeditions; and pretty much anything else they wish to learn
14 to 18 year olds, taking more agency over the activities they do. Starting Duke of Edinburgh; longer hikes, camps and expeditions; and pretty much anything else they wish to learn
Young Leaders are 14-18 year olds who prefer to assist with the delivery of Scouting at younger sections (Beavers, Cubs or Scouts). Of course a 14-18 year old can be a full member of an Explorer Scout Unit (ESU) and be a Young Leader too, though educational demands at this critical stage might prevent this.
A key difference between Scouts and Explorers is that there is no patrol system in Explorers and a more relaxed format prevails.
The Explorer programme is adventurous, fun and rewarding. It is tailored to suit the members of the specific unit, often by the Explorers themselves who propose activities and take to the next level the activities that they enjoyed most when they were in a Scout Troop.
The opportunities are limitless.
Our Group is partnered with one of the local Explorer Units (Endurance) which has been freshly reformed in late 2020, and despite the lockdown restrictions it has grown rapidly thanks to some of the leaders from 100th offering even more of their time to Scouting!
As of early 2021 they have already had expeditions going, gotten things ready for a (partial) South Downs hike, and are looking to set up a regular D&D (and possibly Magic: The Gathering) games evenings.
2022 they made up the majority of a sub-contingent heading to Kandersteg International Scout Centre in Switzerland for a two week trip, enjoying alpine treks, canyoning, and cheesery hikes!
2023’s highlights have been sending 5 of their Explorers to the World Scout Jamboree in South Korea; 11 to a Hampshire Scouts organised three-week road trip visiting Austria, Czechia, and Germany (around 200 Explorers went in total) and 5 to The Gambia as part of a Hampshire Scouts organised aid expedition!
All of this on top of making headway through the Duke of Edinburgh Bronze & Silver Awards and the Chief Scout’s Platinum & Diamond Awards!
In summer 2025 they are planning their own 10 day trip to Iceland – and have invited the older Scouts from 100th to join them!
We look forward to seeing where else this Explorer Unit can go – our bets are abroad for their Explorer Belt Award.
We are also incredibly lucky to have six other Explorer Units in the local Odiham District area, running on either Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday evenings depending on the Unit.
Scouts from 100th EH are free to choose any Explorer Scout Unit to join, and are in no way beholden to our partnered Unit.
All of the local Units often work together for larger scale activities and award events such as Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.
Please see the District page for more information.
| Explorer Unit Name | Day of Week | Location (Fleet/Odiham area) |
| Endurance | Wednesdays | Elvetham Heath |
| FleeT-Rex | Wednesdays | Basingbourne |
| Astra | Thursdays | Ancell’s Farm |
| Castle | Thursdays | Odiham Town |
| Chieftains | Thursdays | Pondtail |
| Arrowheads | Fridays | Calthorpe Park |
| Pegasus | Fridays | Crondall |
You can become an Explorer from the age of 13½; however, you may stay in Scouts until the end of the term you are 14 with the agreement of the local 14-24 Lead Volunteer. We understand that it is often good to move with friends, so please contact your Scout Troop leader or one of the Explorer contacts to discuss your options.
The Explorers’ Chief Scout awards (Platinum, Diamond, and Queen’s Scout) are aligned with the Duke of Edinburgh scheme (Bronze, Silver, and Gold), allowing you to get two awards for almost the same effort.
[There’s a few extra things to do on top of the DofE Awards to get the equivalent Chief Scout’s Award]
The Chief Scout’s Diamond and Queen’s Scout awards carry on into Network Scouts (18 to 25), so if you are having a hard time completing there is still support after Explorers.
The Chief Scout’s Platinum Award is the culmination of everything you do as a young person in Scouts. It’s a chance to celebrate your progress, and take stock of how far you’ve come.
The Chief Scout’s Diamond Award is the highest of the Chief Scout’s Awards.
The King’s Scout Award is the top achievement for Explorer Scouts and Scout Network members. Earning it is a huge achievement!
The Bronze DofE award is the result of at least six months of hard work including volunteering, physical improvement, skills improvement, and a two day expedition.
The Silver DofE award is the result of at least twelve months of hard work (six if you’ve completed Bronze) including volunteering, physical improvement, skills improvement, and a three day expedition.
The Gold DofE award is the result of at least eighteen months of hard work (twelve if you’ve completed Silver) including volunteering, physical improvement, skills improvement, a four day expedition, and a five day residential challenge.
In addition there is the Young Leaders’ Scheme involving helping at other sections
And the Explorer Belt – a challenge of a lifetime involving a ten day expedition abroad that brings you a real understanding of a different country, its culture and way of life!
There are also staged proficiency and various activity badges that can be undertaken, similar to Scouts.
Please click these links for further information about badges and awards for the Explorer section.
This Scout HQ page gives the placement template for all of the uniform badges for Scouts.
There are endless opportunities to get away and be adventurous as an Explorer. Over the past few years Explorers from the UK have been to the Brecon Beacons, Dartmoor, Skye, Sweden and Canada, along with a variety of winter and summer camps throughout the UK.
Endurance Explorers have repeatedly attended Revolution: Isle of Wight, joined 700 Welsh Explorers at a revived Awesome: Explore the Experience camp (last one held in 2006!), and will be taking part in the nationally organised Network and Explorer only Theme Park Camp.
This is on top of expeditions to the New Forest, Wye Valley, Surrey Hills, and more.
And as mentioned before – Endurance Explorers were also the driving force behind getting Nordic 25‘s 10-day camp to Iceland going!
Young Leaders are Explorers who choose to provide leadership support at a Beaver Colony, Cub Pack or Scout Troop (though not at their former Scout Troop before a break of six months has elapsed).
If you are coming up from Scouts to Explorers then your Scout Leader will help you find a suitable Explorer Unit.
If you are new to Scouting, please contact our Group Scout Leader for more information on the local Explorer Units, or visit the District Website.
There is no difference in the Scout Law and Promise from the Scout section upwards.
Explorer Scout Promise: On my honour, I promise that I will do my best to do my duty to God and to the King, to help other people, and to keep the Scout Law.
Click here for alternative Promises
Explorer Scout Law:
An explorer, adventurer and TV presenter, Dwayne's been seen in BAFTA nominated Channel 5 series Race to the Pole, on BBC Springwatch, Countryfile, National Geographic and Disney+.
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