A brand-new award is being launched in Hampshire to celebrate one of the rarest and most impressive accomplishments a young person can achieve in Scouting.
The title of 'Super Scout' will be awarded to those who complete all four of Scouting’s top awards: The King’s Scout Award, the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, the Scout of the World Award (SOWA), and the Explorer Belt.
This initiative not only recognises outstanding personal achievement, but also aims to inspire more young people to challenge themselves and complete the full awards journey.
To date, only eight young people in Hampshire have ever completed all four of these prestigious awards, a number we hope to grow significantly in the years ahead.
Each of these eight Super Scouts has demonstrated remarkable perseverance, leadership, and a real sense of adventure. From navigating on international expeditions, to delivering community impact projects and leading in challenging environments, these young people have pushed themselves far beyond the ordinary.
Their journeys are a powerful reminder of what young people in Scouting can achieve when they commit to personal growth and service.
Our youngest ever achiever is Arthur Hide, who earned the Super Scout title this year at just 18 years old:
"It was such good fun earning these awards, it was a mighty challenge that while enjoyable was rewarding all the same. I've made friends, learned new skills and its been one of the best experiences of my life. I would actively inspire and encourage anyone interested in their top awards to go for it, it really shapes you and provides you with a wealth of opportunities."
Arthur Hide, Super Scout
“It has been an absolute honour to watch Arthur on his journey to completing all his top awards. From creating an outdoor garden area for young people to enjoy at his Scout hut for his Scout of the World Award, to seeing him grow as a leader on his Explorer Belt expedition to Denmark. Arthur is a truly inspirational Scout. I can’t wait to see what he does next.”
Chloe Foster, Network Lead for Hampshire
The name Super Scout has a unique origin. It was first given during a BBC Radio Solent interview, when Chloe as the first young person in Hampshire, completed all four top awards and was invited onto the show. The presenters, Alun and Lou, were so impressed that they dubbed her a “Super Scout” live on air.
Since then, the name has stuck and now, it’s being adopted as the official recognition for this extraordinary achievement within Hampshire.
Those who earn the title will receive a specially designed badge, combining the symbols of all four awards into one striking design. It’s a badge that tells a story of resilience, adventure, and outstanding Scouting spirit.
The award is open to any young person aged 16 to 25. Most of the awards take at least 12 to 18 months to complete, so the path to becoming a Super Scout requires long-term commitment, personal growth, and a passion for challenge. But for those willing to take it on, the reward is much more than a badge, it’s a life-changing experience.
The Super Scout award is more than just recognition. It honours those who go above and beyond, and it shines a light on the power of Scouting to build confident, skilled, and compassionate leaders. For those already working toward their top awards, this new title offers something even greater to aim for. And for those who have already crossed the finish line, it’s time to be celebrated for what they truly are, a Super Scout!
“Achieving my top awards is one of the greatest accomplishments of my life. I’ve gained skills, confidence, and experiences that will stay with me forever. I truly believe every young person should go for it, it’s challenging, but it will change your life.”
Chloe Foster, Super Scout
If you want to find out more about each of the Top Awards and how to achieve them, visit the pages at scouts.org.uk or on the Hampshire Scouts website. If you’d like to find out more, contact the founder of the award, Chloe Foster, at [email protected].
Now in its third year, it is specifically designed for participants with additional needs, so they can benefit from a camp with total inclusion at its core.
We believe that the joys of adventurous activities shouldn’t be limited. The aim of the Chameleon Camp is to give all young people an opportunity to succeed and share their experiences in an outdoor environment alongside members of their peer group, friends and siblings, just as they will when they become adults.
This fantastic event all kicks off on Sunday 20th July 2025. Details and how to book can be found on the Ferny Crofts website.
And now this year for the first time the 60 attendees will now be able to do so completely free of charge!
This wouldn't be possible without the kind and generous sponsorship of the event by Pennyfarthing Homes, who have over 50 years experience of building new homes in our area, primarily in Hampshire and the New Forest.
With one more barrier to participation removed, we're hoping that thank to Pennyfarthing Homes' sponsorship, this will be the best Chameleon Camp yet! We're spreading the word so we can find as many people from across the County and beyond who can take part and make the most of this fantastic opportunity.
This event is open to all Scout aged young people aged 4 to 18 years. All participants may also bring a friend or sibling to share the experience with them who also do not need to be within the Scout movement.
Parents and carers are able to attend the event for free, all participants get a badge (naturally!) and a range of activities will be on offer to cater for all ages and abilities including Backwoods Cooking, Climbing, Archery and Zip Wire. Plus, the day will finish with a campfire and singing.
To find out more, and to get stuck in, head to the Ferny Crofts website.
Text: Steven Osborn
Dwayne Fields, the newly appointed UK Chief Scout, made a memorable first visit to Hampshire to attend the renowned Basingstoke Gang Show. In a moment of celebration and recognition, he took to the stage at The Haymarket Theatre to present the prestigious Cornwell Scout Badge to an outstanding young Scout, Max Edney.
The Cornwell Scout Badge is one of the highest honours in Scouting, awarded to young people who demonstrate exceptional courage and commitment in the face of adversity. Max Edney, a 12-year-old Scout from 1st Chineham (Basingstoke East) Scout Group, has exemplified these qualities through his inspiring fundraising efforts and resilience despite living with Osteogenesis Imperfecta, also known as Brittle Bone Disease.
Max’s journey is nothing short of remarkable. Born with a condition that causes his bones to fracture easily, Max has faced immense physical challenges. However, his determination to make a difference has led him to raise an incredible £142,115.61 for the Brittle Bone Society, a charity close to his heart. Through his fundraising efforts, including completing a marathon-length cycle ride, Max has not only raised awareness about his condition but has also inspired many others to take action.
As the curtains closed on another outstanding Basingstoke Gang Show, Dwayne Fields took centre stage to recognise Max’s achievements in front of a packed audience. The applause was deafening as he presented Max with the Cornwell Scout Badge, honouring his extraordinary contributions to both Scouting and his wider community.
Paul Bell, County Lead Volunteer for Hampshire Scouts said:
It is absolutely amazing for a young person from Hampshire to be recognised with this Award, only three of which were issued in the United Kingdom last year. When I first heard about Max’s story I recognised that Max deserved immense recognition for his efforts. It was fantastic to meet Max’s family last night who were all incredibly proud of Max’s achievements. Hampshire is very grateful that Dwayne attended the Gang Show last night in order to present the Award personally.
The Basingstoke Gang Show, now in its 45th year, continues to be a beacon of creativity and community spirit. This year’s production was no exception, with an electrifying mix of song, dance, and comedy that showcased the immense talent of local Scouts and Guides. The cast of 70 put on a show that will be remembered for years to come, leaving audiences thoroughly entertained and inspired.
Max’s story is a testament to the power of resilience, determination, and the impact one person can make. His receipt of the Cornwell Scout Badge serves as an inspiration to Scouts everywhere, proving that with courage and dedication, anything is possible.
For those who wish to witness the magic of the Basingstoke Gang Show, performances continue at The Haymarket Theatre throughout the school half-term holidays until Saturday (22nd February 2025). Tickets can be booked at anvilarts.org.uk/events/basingstoke-gang-show.
Pushing yourself to the limit, meeting new people, and developing life skills. All at Hampshire Scouts Speak Up.
An eager group of young people from Scouts troops and Explorer Units from across Hampshire joined together at the county’s activity centre, Ferny Crofts, to build life skills like confidence by getting out of their comfort zones and shouting about Scouting.
Taking place over a weekend in February, Hampshire Scouts Speak Up teaches young people how to tell their stories of Scouting experiences, adventures and trips to the media and our community.
Jess, a 16 year old Explorer Scout from Portsmouth, told us about the weekend:
“My favourite bit was completing the Jacob’s Ladder; it felt really rewarding to finish it by reaching the top, high above the ground, with my team-mate climbing up each hanging beam.”
Niamh, a 15 year old Explorer Scout from Basingstoke, said:
“It was interesting to learn about how to answer the more difficult questions and getting to know new people. I arrived here not having met anyone, but now I’ve made new friends.”
Cam, a 14 year Explorer Scout from Portsmouth, told us about some of the activities during the weekend:
“We looked to our local media like newspapers and radio and learned about who their audience is. It was really interesting, especially as we found out in an interactive way by playing different wide games around Ferny Crofts to find all the tools we need.”
Not everyone faced their fears with Jacob’s Ladder, others got to know their team and their own personal strength at Tomahawk throwing including Ashleigh, a 15 year old Explorer Scout from Fleet:
“It was nerve-wracking at first, especially in front of a group of people I barely know, but by the end I’d got better at it and made friends as we went along too. It was great fun.”
After a day and a half of building their skills, the young people put it into practice and earned their activity badges by experimenting with great videos and photography, recording their own sound bites, and writing this very article!
Altogether, thanks to the help of the expert volunteer team, this group of Scouts have walked away with important and long-lasting skills for life.
You too can be part of the fun by volunteering or joining the scouts at scouts.org.uk.
Text: Jess Stevens, Cameron Stevens, Ashleigh Ayling and Niamh O’Shea.
The Kestrel Beaver Scout colony at 3rd Alton were thrilled to hear their suggestion for the kit, Bobby, has been chosen named after their own colony mascot.
The two baby beavers, called kits, were born this summer in an enclosure at 925-acre Ewhurst Park, Tadley, and their names were chosen as part of a competition. Alongside Bobby, suggested by the 3rd Alton, the second kit was named Barry by ear 5 pupils from St Gabriel’s school, Newbury.
We at Hampshire Scouts are always happy to see new Beavers, but this was more literal than we're used to! The excitement from the Beavers and volunteer to the competition and the new Beaver kits has been high! It's a great example of young people engaging with nature and the outdoor world.
Speaking at a tour of the Beaver enclosure, former Member of the European Parliament (MEP), author and environmentalist, Stanley Johnson, said:
“I want to congratulate all those who took part in the beaver naming competition, including of course, the winners, and the beavers themselves.”
Stanley Johnson, former MEP, author and environmentalist.
“Education and outreach are essential to our ethos at Ewhurst Park. We are delighted to be engaging the next generation with the wonderful world of beavers and the importance of connecting with nature.”
Mandy Lieu, Ewhurst Park Director.
Ewhurst Park continue to publish the latest updates from Bobby, Barry and their parents on their social media channels, including footage from wildlife cameras that has so far shown them moving around their enclosure, eating plant material and starting to learn how to gnaw and fell trees.
The story has captured heart too, with both the BBC and ITV spreading the good news story to our local community too. All thanks to some Beavers getting involved with their community and learning about the great outdoors too.
The event took place on Monday 7th October at Four Marks and Ropley Scout hall, drawing families and friends from the local area eager to support a worthy cause while enjoying delicious homemade treats.
The Beaver Scouts, aged six to eight years, took part in the planning and preparation, showcasing their baking skills with an array of goodies, including cupcakes and cookies. Parents and volunteers helped supervise the event, ensuring everything ran smoothly. Children enjoyed picking out their favourite treats while learning about the importance of giving back to the community.
"We wanted to do something special for our community," said Beaver Scout leader Lynn Vine. "St. Michael's Hospice provides incredible support to families in need, and we're proud to contribute in our own way."
All proceeds from the bake sale will be donated directly to St. Michael's Hospice, which provides compassionate care to patients with life-limiting illnesses and their families. The hospice is known locally for its dedicated staff and volunteers who offer support in both clinical and emotional capacities.
The event raised over £250, a testament to the hard work and enthusiasm of the Beaver Scouts and their families. St. Michael's Hospice expressed their gratitude for the community's support, emphasising how such contributions make a significant difference in their ability to provide care.
We would like to say a special thank you to Jane Mills, Lucy Kington, Naomi Vine, Chris Willcocks, Teresa Hammond, Lynn Vine and Faith Vine for helping organise and run such an amazing event.
Formed in 1949, 3rd Farnborough is a busy Scout Group with very active Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, and Scouts sections and a partnership with Spitfire Explorer Unit, offering Scouting from 4 years old upwards to adulthood!
It welcomed around 160 people on Saturday including young people, siblings, parents, grandparents, leaders, former leaders, and community supporters who were able to take part in a number of activities, enjoy a BBQ, take part in the Group’s AGM, and sing songs around the campfire.
They were treated to activities including soft archery, soft tomahawk throwing, soft rifle shooting, rock painting, paracord bracelets, Duplo Lego challenges, bouldering wall, fire lighting, first aid, and a tin can alley.
Dylan McSweeney, a 4 year old Squirrel at the Group was really excited to be taking part in all the activities. His favourite activities were the tin can alley and the campfire, and he said:
“I loved knocking the cans over and got some sweets. The campfire was very loud and fun, and the birthday cake was yummy!”
Rachel Cronin, a former Scout and now Explorer with the Spitfire ESU and a young leader at 3rd Farnborough said:
“I really enjoyed helping by selling raffle tickets, watching the premiere of our Summer Camp video and showing the actions for the songs around the campfire!”
The original 3rd Farnborough actually dates back to 1911 and its base was on Alexandra Road in Farnborough. That Group merged with 2nd Farnborough in 1927 and closed. The 3rd Farnborough that we know and love today opened at on 30th May 1949 with a Cub pack led by a Miss Ethel Sanderson and a Mr Ronald Jackman. 75 years on and the Group feels it goes from strength to strength offering fun, friendship, and adventure to over 100 young people every week.
Iain Roy, Group Lead Volunteer said:
“It was fabulous to be able to welcome so many of our young people and their families and to see them enjoying all the activities. We wanted to celebrate our anniversary with as many people as possible and we were so pleased with how many of our young people and their family members came along.”
Dawn Mahoon, Blackwater Valley District Lead Volunteer was at the Fun Day celebrating with the Group, and said:
“It is so nice to see 3rd Farnborough thriving, all the leaders and young people having so much fun, and the community spirit this afternoon is awesome!”
You can find out more about the group at their website: 3rdfarnboroughscoutgroup.org.uk. Get involved with the Scouts in your local area at scouts.org.uk.
Text: Libby Roy.
The Squirrels Scouts opened as a new section for bright-eyed and bushy-tailed young people in September 2021 to help them gain skills for life at a time when it matters most and where it is most needed.
The 29th Southampton Scout Group, based in Portswood, were the first to officially open the 100th Squirrels ‘Drey’ (as referred to by members within the movement) within the county – the first county within the UK to reach this milestone.
And this moment was marked at Ferny Crofts Scout Activity Centre, in Brockenhurst, surrounded by hundreds of others engaged in a day of outdoor activities such as climbing, archery, bushcraft, bouncy castles and more.
Russell Andrews, Lead Volunteer at the 29th Southampton, said their group are the talk of the community as people are recognising the good work taking place.
“We are excited to open the 100th Squirrels Drey in Hampshire, and that cannot be repeated, which is quite a special moment. There are quite a few people keen to pop in and see what Squirrels is all about, which is lovely to see.
“We deliver many outdoor and adventurous activities, as well as indoor team building and new skills sessions for our young people to enjoy, so there’s quite a bit of a buzz going around, which is good to see.”
Russell Andrews, Lead Volunteer, 29th Southampton
Across the UK, The Scouts has been on a positive growth trajectory within its youngest section for youth members.
There were 3,348 Squirrels Scouts in January 2022, followed by 10,586 in January 2023, and most this year an impressive 16,691 in January 2024.
Eva Moreno, who witnessed her daughter being invested in the Scout movement, praised the work of volunteers, saying:
“I think the work of Scouts is really exciting. The Scouts is much bigger than I thought, and I really think this is a great opportunity for my daughter to build her confidence.
“It is lovely to see the young people enjoying activities in nature and gaining skills, so I am very happy that my daughter is involved. I love the community feel here and hope in the future; my son, who is very little, can be a part of that.”
Eva Moreno, parent
Amanda Wallace, who leads on Squirrels Scouts for Hampshire, said:
“It’s amazing to see the 29th Southampton Scout Group opening the 100th Drey within Hampshire. It has been an absolute huge success, and I’m really proud that we have come to this.
“The work our volunteers do across the county is really important, especially because of lockdown. So many children have so much time indoors, so it’s great to regularly be out in the open and engage with all the fun and friendship that’s on offer."
Amanda Wallace, Lead volunteer for Squirrels, Hampshire Scouts
Volunteer today and help Squirrels grow across Hampshire at scouts.org.uk/volunteer.
Text: Sam Poole.
Hosted at the home of Hampshire Scouts, Ferny Crofts Scout Activity Centre in the New Forest National Park, this annual tradition saw everyone having fun and making new memories by trying out something new.
When the first Fun Day was held just two years ago, Squirrels itself was only one year old. This year, Hampshire was celebrating having over 100 Squirrel Dreys in the county, the first County in the country to do so.
Alongside the Ferny Crofts favourites which many of our older Scouts would be very familiar, such as Archery, Climbing and Tomahawk Throwing, new activities especially for this annual event arrived such as carnival games, an area to express their own creativity and the ever popular bouncy castles.
Together, Squirrels reached new heights on Crate Stacking, or navigated their way through the dark in the Cave Bus or simply enjoyed some old Scout favourites like cooking dough twists over an open fire. For many this was their first taste of the thrill of adventure, and of the skills of life this brings for them.
Ian Browning is part of the Scouts team who helped launch Squirrels, and the years of Early Years pilots that preceded it, was at the event to see how Squirrels had grown. "As a Hampshire boy born and bred, I'm thrilled to see so many of you here and for here in Hampshire to be doing so well with Squirrels."
Amanda is Hampshire Scouts' lead volunteer for Squirrels, which spans the 4-6 years age groups:
This is our third Squirrels Fun Day, where all our Squirrel Scouts from across the County come together and do some amazing activities.
Giving young people the opportunity to get outside and do amazing activities today, like tomahawks, crate stacking and wall climbing among many others, to give them that great start in life is what we do. As Scouts we may talk about Skills for Life and this really does give them that, it's truly wonderful.
The young people have such an amazing time, they get so much out of it, but I think it's important to remember that volunteers also get a lot out of it too. I personally find it really rewarding watching the young people have an amazing time, knowing that we've been a part of that.
Amanda Wallace, Lead Volunteer for Squirrel Scouts, Hampshire Scouts
The fun day has become a firm favourite in the calendar of Squirrel Dreys and places for this years event sold out in record time. The Ferny Crofts team, who run and deliver the event, are key to the day's success.
It was great to host everyone here for Squirrel Fun Day, the third year in a row. We had 300 plus Squirrels and it was fantastic to see them having a great time. We're so happy that we can host this and run these events as it welcomes them to Ferny Crofts and gets them into the activities and Scouting, learning what activities they can enjoy here in the future.
A massive thank you to all of the volunteers that come to help us, we really couldn't run these events without them. This year, we've had 30-40 extra volunteers today helping run the activities and the day itself - without them we couldn't do it.
Nicole Smith, Senior Instructor, Ferny Crofts Scout Activity Centre
The number of Squirrels in Hampshire has already jumped over the past couple of years at a very impressive rate as more communities embrace the newest branch of the Scouts family tree. Across the county, we want to double the number of Squirrels groups in two years. Planning for future fun days with higher capacity, and more activities at Ferny Crofts in general is already being planned:
After we did the first fun day, we saw loads more enquiries from Squirrels carrying on their adventures, but it also made sure we stepped up and had enough activities on site, so that when they do visit there is always something for them.
Nicole Smith, Senior Instructor, Ferny Crofts Scout Activity Centre
The best way to help Squirrels grow, and to allow other 4-6 year olds enjoy the fun of Scouting is to volunteer. It's fun, builds your skills, and shapes a young person's future. Find out and volunteer at scouts.org.uk/volunteer.
Text: Steven Osborn
Hedge End was the host to an evening of celebration as the final award criteria, the presenting of their experiences to an audience filled with family and friends, marked the end of their journey to earn the Explorer Belt.
Leading the presentations was Chloe, lead volunteer for Scout Network, and part of the core team for the event who supported the team in-country.
Joining to witness the presentations were other members of Team Hampshire, including the County Chair, and the Lead volunteers for International Events and Programme. Many of the events were news to them, as all the anecdotes came out of the woodwork!
One-by-one, the teams re-lived with fondness their memories in hilarious fashion from the trip including the highlights of Legoland, seeing a 'colour museum (Art Gallery!)', wild-camping legally and meeting the 'King of Denmark' (citation needed).
They acknowledged the challenges overcome along the way including melting a cooking pot, long days of walking, waking up in puddles of water inside the tent, and 'getting on the right train but not not getting off'.
While on their life-changing adventures, the Explorers took on a project to ask the important questions in life.
Big questions tackled during the different expeditions including asking:
In total, each teams travelled around 1,500km within Denmark, in addition to the thousands of miles getting to and from the country.
The six teams this year saw the fabulous country of Denmark as the host for their expeditions and adventures. Over ten days, they were absolutely buzzing with excitement, having started at Copenhagen and explored every corner of the country by foot, bus, ferry and train.
"I'm absolutely loving Explorer Belt! It's given us so much independence and freedom, and it's fantastic to have formed such a great team of close friends"
Team Calypso
From Scout shops to Legoland in Billund - the home of Lego - they took to the streets making new friends from lots of international Scouts during their trip, from Europe and beyond. The groups also hosted a campfire for local members of Det Danske Spejderkorps (Danish Scouts) and exchanged various songs - even learning a few in Danish!
Along the way, personal challenges were broken including racing a Great Dane dog, drinking the Danish drink in a very Danish place and ranking the cities of Denmark. They met local Scouts, got evenings of free accommodation, saw 'Hamlet, from Hamlet', and enjoyed evening sunsets on a beach. No type of challenge was too big or too small - even trying Danish pastries, switching their phone language to Danish for a day, and making their own dances featured.
Over a packed evening, stories and tales of replacement socks, earning their Legoland Driving License, 'truly majestic kebabs', football matches, puppets that look like County volunteers, 'a very romantic 7-11 store', and buses that only run on Tuesdays emerged.
Teams noticed the smallest of details including accessibility features for the blind, such as braille dots on many signs (although 'not the ones above the motorway'), how different bike lanes were compared to the UK and the differences in society structure.
As well as so many memories from the trip, many of the teams brought back mascots of their trip, including teddy bears dressed in Danish Scout uniform and a pink elephant which was transported home in multiple sets of hand luggage.
It was a night our Explorers and their nearest and dearest will not soon forget.
Taking place in a country entirely new to the team, the Explorer Belt sees young people aged over 16 travel to different places, camp out or spend time with the company of new friends as part of a ten-day expedition.
As they go, the six teams must complete ten small challenges and one large project as well as showing off their skills in the practical skills such as budgeting, navigating, first aid, teamwork, the local language and communication.
Find out more about the award, and register your intention on the Scouts website.
None of these adventures could have happened without the many volunteers who supported the teams in their expeditions. Help our young people explore new places and discover new cultures by volunteering your time. Volunteer at scouts.org.uk/volunteer.
Text: Steven Osborn.
