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Welcome & Introduction to Squirrel Scouts
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Squirrel Scouts is the youngest youth section in Scouting for four and six year olds, aimed to help young people gain skills for life at a time when it matters most and where it's most needed. Squirrel Scouts was launched Nationally in September 2021 and our Squirrel Scout Drey opened in June 2022 and was the first in Peterborough. We meet on Tuesday Evenings - 17:15 to 18:15 at Hampton Lakes Primary School Squirrels Scouts are run slightly different to the other sections there is no expectation for parents to stay; but Parents are welcome to stay if they wish to. However we would also encourage parents to think about allowing their child to gain independence and confidence by allowing them to attend by themselves. This is entirely the parent's choice and we will respect their individual decisions. We will run a parent rota, asking one or two parents to stay to help each week. We will cover a wide variety of activities and experiences, ranging from craft, building and constructing, team games, outdoor activities, exploring nature and science, cooking, and finding out about each other and the world around us. Every week, Squirrel Scouts will gather to grow and learn their way through lots of different games and activities Squirrel Scouts can achieve anything they set their minds to – and they have lots of fun along the way. The one hour sessions will be a brilliant opportunity for young people to take their first step into being part of Scouts, and they’ll help everyone get ready for the adventure of school too. Sessions will be packed with outdoors activities, fun, games, badges, laughter, and so much more to help our youngest members learn the skills they need for life. Of course, none of it would be possible without the support of the amazing leaders who plan and deliver such an inspiring programme. |
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Our Drey Sessions
When you arrive Acorn and our Squirrel Scout Volunteers will welcome you in to our meeting place. We will opening the gate at 17:15 and we'll sign you in as you come in. Once you are in the Hall you will need to find your name card and if you have brought a water bottle with you, you can place this on your name card.
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Nests
Once you have found your name card you need to join the circle and sit on a spot of your coloured nest. Our Squirrel Scouts are all in a 'nest' which is a small group you will work in. Your nest colour is identified by your colour Squirrel name card and also your coloured woggle once you have taken your promise. Our nest colours are;
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At the beginning and at the end of the Squirrel Scout meeting, the Squirrel Scouts take part in a Hello and Goodbye ceremony. As part of our Hello and Goodbye we sing our song, which is to the tune of 'the wheels of the bus'.
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Running Late? Don't worry...
If you are running late it is not to worry, you don't need to miss out on a Squirrel Scout session, each night we hang a Door Bell on the gate so you can just ring it and one of our Volunteers will come and let you in.
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'Purdy' Squirrel Scout Drey
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Our Squirrel Scout Drey is named 'Purdy' after our 8th Chief Scout George Purdy (1996 - 2004). All of the Youth Sections in the 17th Nene (The Hamptons) are named after previous UK Chief Scouts. Our Squirrel Scout Drey is part of a big Scouting Family;
Purdy Squirrel Scout Drey Our Squirrel Scout Drey is part of the 17th Nene (The Hamptons) Scout Group; we also have...
17th Nene (The Hamptons) Scout Group The 17th Nene (The Hamptons) Scout Group is part of Peterborough District Scouts, which every Scout Group in Peterborough is part of.
Peterborough District Scouts Peterborough District Scouts is part of Cambridgeshire County Scouts, which every Scout Group and District in Peterborough and Cambridgeshire is part of.
Cambridgeshire County Scouts Cambridgeshire County Scouts, is part of East of England Scouts, which is part of UK Scouting. Making us one big Scouting Family.
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'George' & 'Purdy'
At the Purdy Squirrel Scout Drey we have two Squirrel Mascots to make sure you are happy and enjoying Squirrel Scouts.
Let us proudly introduce George and Purdy make sure you say hello when you see them. |
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Our Drey Leadership Team
The Squirrel Scout leadership team is named after different types of nuts! It is led by Acorn and supported by other experienced Adult Volunteers and Young Leaders aged 14 to 18 years old
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Our Red Squirrel Scout Uniform
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* Alternative to Scout Trousers - 17th Nene (The Hamptons) allow Black or Grey School Trouser or Skirts (Shorts can be worn following the same rules as trousers)
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Badges & Awards a Squirrel Scout can earn!
Badges are one of the most important part of Scouting and below is all the badges you can get in Squirrel Scouts and where they go on our uniform.
We will present badges to our young people normally at the end of every half term that have been earned during the half term and progress of your young persons badge work can be viewed via our online administration system - Online Scout Manager.
We will present badges to our young people normally at the end of every half term that have been earned during the half term and progress of your young persons badge work can be viewed via our online administration system - Online Scout Manager.
Challenge Awards & Acorn Award
Click the picture for more information on our Challenge Awards and Acorn Award
Activity & Staged Badges
Click the picture for more information on our Activity & Stage Badges
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Investiture BadgesWhen you are invested you will get some badges to sew onto your uniform:
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Squirrel Scout
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Chief Scouts - Acorn Award
Tips
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The Chief Scout's Acorn Award is the highest award a Squirrel Scout can earn.
It shows that you’ve had adventures, helped your friends, and learned new things – it’s a big achievement, and you should be proud!
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- If you haven’t quite finished your Chief Scout’s Acorn Award by the time you move onto Beavers, you can complete anything left during your first term in your new Beaver Colony.
- When you move onto Beavers, you can wear your Chief Scout’s Acorn Award on your Beaver uniform until you earn your Chief Scout’s Bronze Award.
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Investiture & making your Promise
The Scout Movement is special because everybody (including the leadership) makes a special promise. When you are invested as a Squirrel Scout you will have to make your promise to Acorn in front of the Drey.
What happens at your investitureYour investiture will normally take place about 4 weeks after joining the Squirrel Scout Drey and you will also require your uniform for the investiture to take place.
The investiture will take place at the end of a meeting and your parents will be invited to come and watch.
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The Scout Handshake
Squirrel Scouts (and everyone else in the Scout family) shake hands with their left hand. Why do they do this? The tradition was started by Lord Robert Baden-Powell. When he was a soldier in Africa, he saw lots of tribal chiefs who carried spears and shields. He noticed that it was a sign of great trust to offer your left hand when shaking hands. This was because you had to put down your shield, and leave the other person holding their spear. 
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The Scout Salute
The Scout Salute is made with the right hand. It is used during the opening ceremony on Drey night and also at other special times – such as when you are presented with a badge |
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Online Scout Manager - Parent Portal
Our Squirrel Scout Drey uses an administration package called Online Scout Manager help with the Drey's administrations of the young people’s personal information records, registers, consents, events administration and most importantly the young people’s badge records.
You will receive an email shortly if you haven’t already from ‘OSM’ on behalf of our Scout Group / Section inviting you to OSM. This is where you can input / update the young people’s personal / medical information and also will be able to see their badge records which will show how far they are through a badge and which badges they have completed.
As well as seeing our Termly Programme so you can see what we will be doing each week and also see what badges we will be working towards. Most weeks we operate a Parent Rota to support our Adult Volunteers and you can also sign up to the Parent Rota through the portal.
You will receive an email shortly if you haven’t already from ‘OSM’ on behalf of our Scout Group / Section inviting you to OSM. This is where you can input / update the young people’s personal / medical information and also will be able to see their badge records which will show how far they are through a badge and which badges they have completed.
As well as seeing our Termly Programme so you can see what we will be doing each week and also see what badges we will be working towards. Most weeks we operate a Parent Rota to support our Adult Volunteers and you can also sign up to the Parent Rota through the portal.