An opening from our DESC
I am Neil Hatton Cheltenham’s District Explorer Scout Commissioner.
Explorer units differ from Scout groups in that they are run by the district. These units also include Wyell the Young leader unit and the specialist units, Octopus for SCUBA and PiPs lamas for Shooting. I try not to interfere in a unit but to be there for the leaders and the Explorers to
ask questions and find solutions to problems. Sometimes to be the friend that asks difficult questions.
Being a Scout in the mid Sixties gave me a love of maps and camping.
Until I retired apart from family camps I would go on solo backpacking trips refining and lightening my kit as money allowed.
It was suggested that I should take the DESC job as it had become vacant. Eventually I agreed to do it for six months, that was a year ago. What’s my big project at the moment? Trying to help more scouts move up to Explorers and stay to go into Network.
From weekly sections meetings to camps to adventurous and international activities there is something for everyone aged 14-17 in Cheltenham Explorers. We have 5 regular Explorer Sections and a further 4 specialised groups designed to give our Explorers more opportunities to do more with their time as members of the Scout Movement.
Adder’s Tongue
Black Sheep
.Enigma
Devil’s Chimney
No Name
Top Awards
Octopus
(Scuba Diving)
Pip’s Llamas
(Shooting)
Wyell
(Young Leaders)
Explorers also have the opportunity to complete their top awards whilst part of the section including the Queen’s Scout Award, Young Leader Belt and the Explorer Belt. Duke of Edinburgh awards can also be completed as an Explorer.
