Beavers – 6 to 8 years
Our waiting list for Beavers is currently closed. Help us to give more young people the opportunity to join Scouting by volunteering.
Try new things. Make new friends. Joining Beavers is just the beginning of your big adventure!
What do Beavers get up to?
Beavers are young people aged 6 to 8 who:
- Master new skills and try new things
- Have fun and go on adventures
- Make friends
- Are curious about the world around them
- Help others and make a difference, on their own doorsteps and beyond
Every week, they gather in groups called Colonies 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 Beaver is all about growing and learning in small but mighty ways. Here are some of the things you’ll get up to with your new friends.
Exploring the great outdoors
You’ll spend lots of time outside with your Colony. Together, you might build a den, or go on a trip to the seaside, or host a Beaver sleepover beneath the stars. And even though you might not be ready to climb Mount Everest just yet, you’re guaranteed to have plenty of adventures on your own doorstep, because being a Beaver is all about making the most of what you have, wherever and whoever you are.
Trying new activities and learning new things
Going to Beavers is very different from going to school. Instead of learning from books, you’ll figure the world out by exploring, playing, and doing. The most important skills you’ll learn at Beavers are the ones that will make you feel super strong standing on your own two feet.
Helping others
Beavers work as a team to help other people, in their local communities and beyond. Whether they’re changing the whole world or helping a friend take the leap to try something new on a rainy Friday night, they always lend a hand.
Who leads Beavers?
Beavers is led by volunteers. They organise and plan fun activities and games, share their skills and keep everyone safe.
Promises and ceremonies
As well as enjoying plenty of adventures, being a Beaver is about exploring who you are and what you stand for. These are big ideas, and when you join the Colony, you’ll start thinking about them by making a promise. A promise is a set of words that mean something to you, which you try to follow everyday.
Making the promise is a big celebration within the Colony. Every time a new Beaver decides to join, they chat through their promise with their leader before saying it out loud in front of their fellow Beavers. Family and friends might come along to see this, too. Doing this is called being ‘invested’ into Beavers, and it usually takes place once you’ve had a few weeks to settle in.
Everyone is unique but there are some things all Beavers agree on – such as treating everyone with kindness and promising to do their best. Depending on their own beliefs, they might also promise to live by their faith.
Beavers choose the promise that best suits them. Options can be found here.
How to join
Lots of young people want to join Beavers 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 Beavers, you’ll be taking part in lots of activities, and should just wear something you feel comfortable in.
Eventually, you’ll get your own Beaver 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 Colony. It also gives you a place to show off all the Beaver badges you earn.
For Beavers, the uniform consists of a blue sweatshirt with your badges sewn on and a coloured scarf to represent your group. Uniform can either be bought from the online shop – Scout Store – or from a local supplier. Scarf’s, woggles, and badges will be awarded to Beavers when they are invested into the group and when they complete activities. If you’re not sure where to start, adult volunteers can give you more information about what to buy and where to buy it.