I am extremely lucky and proud to have been a beaver, cub, scout, senior scout and now cub scout leader. I was sent to beavers with my friends as a child and my bug for the outdoors has grown ever since.

I have completed my Bronze, Silver and Gold Duke of Edinburgh through the scouts association and this has given me the skills I need today for my hobbies and for my current job.

There are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition and, for Gold only, working with a team on a residential activity. Any young person can do their DofE – regardless of ability, gender, background or location and I would highly recommend doing all 3 to anyone with a passion for the outdoors.

Throughout my time within the scouts I have travelled to many places and met some amazing people. Camps abroad with my local scout group meant visiting all sorts of countries like Canada, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Sweden as well as lots of camps on UK soil.

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Using the skills I have learnt through scouting I am now able to teach to the next generation of scouts. These skills have been invaluable through getting into university and gaining a successful career path, the skills are transferable and can be used pretty much anywhere from cooking and survival skills to knot tying and camping as well as developing social skills.

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I was invested in 2019 as a cub scout leader for my local troop and I can’t wait to get back to giving the younger generation of scouts the same opportunities I had as a child and teenager.

April saw the passing of St George’s day, outside of lockdown this usually means a parade for local groups and a renewing of our promise on this day each year. The lockdown restrictions currently in place meant that it wasn’t so easy this year, so scouts across the UK took to the streets and their gardens to clap our NHS workers and to renew our promises from home.

This week we celebrate VE day which in normal circumstances we would have had a VE day group picnic but instead we will be celebrating with a home street party, decorating our homes and gardens with red, white and blue!

OS GetOutside Champion #GetOutside #GetOutsideChampion beavers coronavirus covid19 cubs key workers NHS scouting scouts scouts association