What a lot for teenagers to do!
Since opening in the middle of 2024, the 2nd Wednesfield Explorer Scout Unit have gone from strength to strength. The Explorer Unit (for boys and girls aged 14 to 17) opened last year due the retention of Scouts in the Group and those young people wanting to have another section where they could continue their Scouting; it now has fourteen members. With activities including shelter building, war hammer, camping, games, skiing, trampolining in a cave, climbing Jacob’s ladder, making fires and cooking, there is something for everyone.
Ola, who had not been involved in Beavers (boys and girls aged 6 to 8), Cubs (boys and girls aged 8 to 10) or Scouts (boys and girls aged 10 to 14), joined after having conversations with friends at school. They told her about some of the activities they did and so she went along and decided to stay involved. Ola said: “The skills I have developed are communication, encouragement teamworking and awareness of situations.” She added: “I got taken out of my comfort zone when we were going to climb Jacob’s Ladder. As I stood at the bottom, I thought “I can’t do this”. When I stood at the top there was a feeling of pride that I had overcome my worries and made it to the top.”
Phoebe said that she had made new friends, had been camping and helped at camp. She added, “I decided to become a young leader and help at one of the other sections in the Group. I thought it would help me improve my communication skills when explaining an activity to the children. It helped me get a part-time job at a local company as I was able to include lots of examples on my CV.”
Volunteer Martin said: “I volunteer as it’s important that young people have somewhere to go and activities to do. I get an enormous amount of satisfaction seeing the Explorers doing something different, helping each other or overcoming any concerns or fears they have. It’s great to see young people grow and develop during their time in Explorers. Some of them are helping with the younger sections and some of them want to become volunteers when they become 18.”
In the last two years the number of children (aged 6 to 14) has increased by nearly 12%. The Group are now looking at the possibility of opening a Squirrels Drey (for boys and girls aged 4 to 6).
If you are interested in your son/daughter joining any of the sections or you would like to volunteer, please contact Martin.jefferis@wolverhamptonnorthscouts.org.uk
