Being part of the Scouts or in a Girlguiding group is about so much more than camping trips and badge collecting. It’s a chance for young people to grow in confidence, learn valuable life skills, and strengthen friendships, all while having a brilliant time. From lighting their first fire to leading their peers through a tricky challenge, every new experience contributes to personal growth.
Both Scouts and Girlguiding offer supportive environments where young people are encouraged to be curious, courageous and kind. The environment is designed to help them develop as individuals while learning how to work with others. Whether your child is shy, adventurous, practical or creative, there’s space for everyone to thrive.
In this blog, we’ll explore what Scouts and Girlguiding members are all about, and why they’re such a valuable part of growing up for so many young people across the UK and beyond.
What Are Scouts and Girlguiding?
Scouts and Girlguiding are two of the UK’s leading youth organisations, both focused on helping young people grow through adventure, teamwork, and community spirit.
Founded over 100 years ago, these movements continue to evolve with the times, offering modern, inclusive programmes that reflect the challenges and opportunities of today’s world. At their heart, both Scouts and Girlguiding aim to empower young people with the skills, confidence, and resilience they need for life.
The Scouts
Scouting is open to both boys and girls and follows a structured programme across different age groups. These include Squirrels (ages 4–6), Beavers (ages 6–8), Cubs (8 to 10½), Scouts (10½ – 14), Explorers (ages 14–18) and Network (up to 25). The focus is on outdoor adventure, practical skills, problem-solving, and leadership.
Whether it’s learning how to navigate with a map, building a raft, or volunteering in the community, every activity helps Scouts grow into more confident and capable individuals.
Girlguiding
Girlguiding welcomes young people from Rainbows (ages 4–7) through to Brownies, Guides, and up to Rangers (ages 14–18). Although historically focused on girls, the organisation has become increasingly inclusive, reflecting the diverse society we live in.
Girlguiding emphasise confidence-building, independence, and self-expression, while still offering adventurous activities and opportunities to make a difference. From coding and crafts to camping and leadership challenges, the experience is shaped by the interests and ambitions of the members.
Both Scouts and Girlguiding offer safe, structured environments led by trained adult volunteers. They create space for young people to try new things, challenge themselves, and most importantly, have fun while doing it.
Benefits of joining the Scouts or Girlguiding
Taking part in Scouts or Girlguiding offers so much more than just weekly meetings and the occasional weekend away. It’s a place where young people can be themselves, discover new interests, and grow in confidence—often without even realising it.
Whether they’re learning how to cook a meal from scratch, solving problems with their peers, or lending a hand in the local community, every activity has a purpose. Scouts and Girlguiding are about developing the whole person—helping young people build life skills, form strong friendships, and become active, engaged members of society.
Here are just a few of the many benefits that being part of these groups can bring:
Grow in self-confidence
From the first time they pitch a tent to leading a group activity, Scouts and Girlguiding members are constantly encouraged to step outside their comfort zones. As they move through sections like Cubs, Brownies and beyond, they build belief in themselves – often without even realising it. Whether it’s trying something new, speaking in front of others, or solving a tricky challenge, each success helps boost self-esteem. Over time, that “I’m not sure I can” turns into “I’ve got this” – and that’s a powerful mindset to carry into everyday life.
Develop a range of new skills
Scouts and Girlguiding members are all about learning by doing. Young people pick up a wide range of practical and personal skills – from outdoor survival techniques and map reading to leadership and teamwork. Activities are designed to be hands-on and engaging, so they’re learning without it feeling like ‘schoolwork’.
They’ll also build essential life skills at an early age, including:
- First aid
- Cooking and meal planning
- Time management
- Organisation and self-reliance
These experiences not only prepare them for the challenges of adolescence but also give them a head start on the road to independence.
Meet new friends
One of the best things about joining Scouts or Girlguiding is the friendships that form. It’s a welcoming environment where young people from different backgrounds come together through shared adventure and fun. Regular meetings, group tasks, camps and day trips all give plenty of opportunities to make new friends and build strong social skills in a supportive setting.
For many, these friendships last well beyond their time in the movement.
It’s fun!
Whether it’s sleeping under the stars, cooking over an open fire, mastering an obstacle course or earning a new badge, Scouts and Girlguiding members are all about having fun while learning. There’s always something exciting to do, and that variety keeps young people engaged and eager to take part.
The memories made, from muddy hikes to roaring campfires, often become the kind of stories they’ll look back on fondly for years to come.
Character development
Through teamwork, adventure, and responsibility, Scouts and Girlguiding members naturally nurture valuable character traits. Young people build resilience, learn to lead and follow, and begin to understand the importance of kindness, fairness and perseverance. These experiences help shape them into thoughtful, grounded individuals with a strong sense of who they are and what they stand for.
Each challenge faced helps build grit and determination – key qualities that benefit them in all areas of life.
Community involvement
Scouts and Girlguiding members are encouraged to give back to their communities through acts of service, fundraising, and volunteering. Whether it’s helping at a local event, supporting a good cause, or improving their local area, they learn the value of helping others and being part of something bigger than themselves.
This helps young people feel connected to their community and empowered to make a difference.
A Typical Day as a Scout or Girlguiding Member
While every group is different, a typical meeting is packed with fun, learning, and teamwork. Whether it’s indoors on a rainy evening or out exploring the great outdoors, no two sessions are ever quite the same, but there’s always something exciting to look forward to.
Here’s what a usual day might look like:
- Welcome and catch-up – The group comes together to chat about their day, share updates, and hear what’s planned for the session. There might be a quick game to get everyone warmed up and engaged.
- Badge work or skill-building activity – Each meeting often includes a hands-on activity related to a badge or theme. This could be anything from learning how to tie knots, practising first aid, or creating a campfire meal.
- Team games or challenges – Scouts and Girlguiding members thrive on teamwork. Games, obstacle courses, or group tasks help them build friendships, solve problems and support one another.
- Planning for future events – If a hike, camp or volunteering project is coming up, the group might spend time preparing, packing kit lists, planning routes or brainstorming fundraising ideas.
- Reflection and wind-down – Many groups end with a chance to reflect on what’s been learned, celebrate achievements, or set goals for next time. This helps young people recognise their progress and feel proud of their efforts.
On camp or during weekend trips, the day stretches into even more adventure, think morning hikes, outdoor cooking, star-spotting, or evening campfire songs. These shared experiences are the kind that stick with Scouts and Girlguiding members for life.
How Scouts and Girlguiding Members Learn Skills to Apply to Everyday Life
One of the most valuable things about being a Scout or Guide is how the experiences and activities translate into real-world life skills. While young people might feel like they’re just having fun, they’re actually developing a toolkit of abilities they’ll use at school, at home, and throughout their lives.
Scouting and Guiding programmes are carefully designed to encourage personal growth through hands-on learning. Whether it’s solving a challenge as a team, planning a group project, or cooking a meal on a campfire, everything they do builds confidence and capability.
Here are just a few of the skills they develop:
- Teamwork and leadership – Working in small groups teaches young people how to collaborate, take on different roles, and support each other. These skills are hugely helpful in school settings and later in the workplace.
- Communication – From presenting ideas during badge work to resolving group disagreements, Scouts and Girlguiding members learn how to listen actively and speak clearly.
- Problem-solving – Activities often involve puzzles, challenges or unexpected changes (like bad weather or a broken tent pole), helping young people think on their feet and come up with solutions.
- Resilience and independence – Away from home comforts, young people learn how to look after themselves, manage setbacks, and keep going when things don’t go to plan.
- Practical skills – From first aid and map-reading to cooking and budgeting, they gain real, hands-on experience that’s useful in day-to-day life.
- Emotional intelligence – Group experiences help build empathy, patience, and awareness of others’ needs – all key parts of growing into a well-rounded person.
These skills don’t just make Scouts and Girlguiding members more confident and capable now – they set them up for success in secondary school, further education, jobs, and relationships in the future. It’s personal development that sticks with them long after the campfire has gone out.
Book your uniform group’s adventure with PGL!
There are so many benefits of being part of the Scouts or a Girlguiding member, and there are also benefits when you bring your group to PGL!
If you’re looking for an adventure and not already heading on a group residential trip with PGL, then take a look at what we have to offer. Don’t forget, your units can also work towards and earn badges during their PGL trip! We have a range of trips to choose from, including Girlguiding residentials, Scout residentials, Youth Club & Trust residential, Other Uniform residentials and many more!
If you have any questions, get in touch with our friendly and experienced team today. They’ll be more than happy to help!
