Squirrels

The Squirrel Scouts section is for 4 and 5-year-olds and is inclusive to all, no matter their background, gender or faith.

Squirrels meet in Dreys all around Northern Ireland and enjoy games, crafts, stories, and lots of fun under the guidance of an adult Leadership team. Squirrels were officially welcomed into Scouting in late 2021 following pilot groups in the UK and the success of the Northern Ireland Squirrel Association which had been operating here since the early 1980s.

The Programme for Squirrel Scouts was designed to support informal learning and help 4–5-year-olds catch up while providing young people with a positive, safe environment to develop these essential skills for life; working together, communication, and language, as well as creativity and community awareness.

Structure

A Squirrel group is called a Drey and young people can join at the age of 4 years old, Squirrels can move onto the next Scout Section Beavers from the age of 5 3/4 up to 6 1/2. This allows for flexibility depending on the needs and abilities of each individual child, giving them the support they need to develop and grow in scouting.

Activities

Squirrels get active, explore nature and have fun learning with friends, all while earning badges – just like other Scouts. From treasure hunts and jelly worms to baking and reading stories, there’s something for everyone to get stuck into.

National Trust Membership

The Squirrel Section, Scouts NI, has joined the National Trust on your behalf. Click the link below for further information.

Squirrels-National-Trust-Membership-1

Badges and Awards

The Squirrel Scouts programme consists of 12 activity badges, 4 challenge badges and the Chief Scout’s Acorn Award. For more information about these badges please click here

More information about the Squirrel Programme and badge work can be found here in our pack for leaders!

Further Information

Squirrels@scoutsni.org