Upholland Scouts for 10½ to 14-year-old boys and girls.

Our Scout Troop meets on Fridays from 7-9.

This might be where you continue the Scouting journey you started in Squirrels, Beavers, or Cubs but young people can join Scouting here without having been members of our other sections.

Scouts is where you take the adventure one step further and where you learn to be more self sufficient and work as a team in more committing adventures.

We’re one of the top groups for outdoor activities with a range of leaders with specialist qualifications in Kayaking, Canoeing, Hill Walking, Climbing, Sailing, Shooting and residential trips from wild camping, backwoods and bivouac, campsite camping and hostel and bothy stays.

Not adventurous yet? We have many other activities and visits and more local outdoor adventures on Friday nights. We might enjoy games, challenges, crafts, cooking and visits from people with special skills. We have camps and residential weekends either nearby, at Scout Activity centres in Lancashire and Cheshire or in the Yorkshire Dales or Lake District.

We can also join in with other Scout Troops at Ormskirk District or West Lancashire County Scout events and we regularly send Scouts to international Scouting events round the world.

Camping trips have been part of Scouts since the very beginning. We’ve records of Upholland Scouts camping in the 1920’s and have photos of our Scouts camping at Dawlish in 1946!

Our Scouts canoeing on Coniston Water

What is Scouts about?

Being a Scout is about discovering the world on your own terms and making the most of what you have and how far you can go wherever and whoever you are.

With friends old and new you’ll get a chance to do things you’d not get the chance to do at home or school – working with trained volunteers to achieve whatever you set your mind to. All our activities are made to be as accessible as possible and run at low cost.

You’ll may be in Scouts with some of your old friends from Squirrels, Beavers or Cubs or you may be new to Scouts and joined now because you’ve heard how good it is. You might be in the Scout Troop your older brother or sister was in.
Because our Scout group is sponsored by all three churches in Upholland our members will be encouraged to support them at their services and events.

So your agenda might include camping, cooking, backpacking, survival skills, making models, learning and playing new games, joining community events, journeys, expeditions, orienteering, pioneering, swimming and learning about life and how to be part of a thriving, progressive community.

Helping others

Helping others is part of Scouts. We might learn about important things like pollution, nature, global heating and what’s being done to make things better. We might help plant some trees, or help our Beaver Scouts or Cub Scouts finish a project they have started.

Who leads a Scout Troop?

Every troop has young people aged 10½-14 years old. There will always be 2 adults when we are indoors and extra adults when we go outdoors away from our usual home.

Leaders will wear a uniform, will have been trained for their role and have been cleared to work as a volunteer with children. Sometimes other adults will come along to help. They may be from other groups maybe someone with special skills or interests they want to pass on. There may be Explorer Scouts helping as part of their Duke of Edinburgh Award.

At meeting nights

All sections in Scouts (Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts) have some sort of opening and closing activity at the start and end of their sessions.

We’ll all wear a simple uniform which sets us out as members of a worldwide movement. Scout uniform is a green shirt which is comfortable, durable and easy to wash! And we’ll wear a scarf or neckerchief which is unique to us so everyone will know we’re from Upholland Scouts, one of the longest established (and best!) Scout Groups in Lancashire.

Soon after you start in any section in Scouts, you’ll be asked to make a simple promise.

This might be: On my honour, I promise that I will do my best to uphold our Scout values, to do my duty to The King, to help other people and to keep the Scout Law.

You’ll get your scarf and first badges when you make this promise. If parents have a faith background and are encouraging their child in their faith there are slightly different promises you may want to use.

Scouts is not a religious organisation and young people of any, or no, faith can join and fully participate. However one of our aims is to promote the development of young people and this can include their own faith life.

We have well established behaviour standards-you’ll find these elsewhere on this website but they include – manners, politeness and listening, which we believe are important.

How to join

Lots of people want to join Upholland Scouts. We’re a popular group and now the only uniformed organisation in Upholland. You might have to wait for a space before you can start. If you can’t make Fridays then you can find other groups in neighbouring villages on www.scout.org.

If your child has additional needs then please be upfront about these from the start. We need to know about them to keep your child safe and to try and ensure they have the best possible experience.

On your first night you’ll be joining in lots of activities- either wear your Cub Scout uniform if you’ve moved up (and it still fits!) or wear something you feel comfortable in like sportswear and trainers. Don’t forget we might be outside!

Parents and carers

Upholland Scouts is a semi-autonomous voluntary organisation registered with and complying with the rules and standards of The Scout Association. Parents and carers have a role and position in the group. Every parent and carer is a de-facto member of the groups’ governing body-the Scout Group Council. Day to day activities are run by our Trustees and our Officers. All are volunteers with many other responsibilities who give their time and skills freely to Scouting.

And when you’re 14 one of our partner nearby Explorer Scout Units will be waiting to welcome you. Or you can join the Ormskirk District Young Leaders Unit and stay with us in Upholland and continue your journey with us.