Derryloran Scout Group
Report April 1st 2025 to 31st March 2026
Squirrels
Our last term that ran from April to mid-June we worked towards our outdoor badges, go wild and let it grow badges by using natural materials such as leaves, twigs and leaves to use for our crafts and to use as painting tools and by doing these activities outside in order to gain our go outdoors badge which includes carrying out activities outside and also includes toasting marshmallows which we also did and linked it with fire safety and learned about how firemen can help us in a fire emergency which is also linked to our superhero badge.
31st May we took 11 of our squirrels on a Northern Ireland wide squirrels trip to Jungle NI where they got to participate in archery, paintball, Wall climbing, llama walking, squad bikes and so much more! Our last night of term we had a lovely night at Drum Manor and we celebrated 7 of our squirrels who had gained their Chief Scouts Acorn Award.
Starting back in September our numbers increased with our group being at its highest number of 22 squirrels. During our first month we work hard towards learning our squirrels promise and the importance of our squirrels uniform and scarf.
During our first term from September to December we carried out activities such as cooking buns and preparing fruit kebabs, building with lego and play dough, doing fun sensory activities and learning about different feelings and have a science night making volcanoes and skittle rainbows. These activities went towards our superchef, feel good, be creative, exciting experiments and brilliant builder badges.
During term 2 from January 2026 to end of March 2026 we carried on with our programme by having a superhero night, games night, making pancakes and learning about the weather and also having a story night where each squirrel was asked to bring in their favourite story from home, these activities helped our kids achieve their superhero, be active, storytime badges as well as their all together and all about me challenge badges.
March 14th, we took 17 of our squirrels to Armagh Planetarium for another Squirrel NI, event.. We got to watch space videos in the dome, create and blast our own rockets, dress up as astronauts and play games and activities in the Planetarium's sensory room. This trip helped our squirrels achieve their space explorer badge as well as their all together, all around us and all about adventure challenge badges. We finished off our term with 2 of our squirrels being presented with their chief acorn award before moving up to beavers.
Beavers
Derryloran Beaver Scout Group continues to provide young people aged 6-8 with opportunities to learn new skills, build friendships, and take part in exciting challenges in a safe and supportive environment. The Beavers meet every Monday evening from September to June, enjoying a varied and engaging programme that encourages teamwork, creativity, and community spirit. Highlights of the Year
Beaver Rally Day at Crawfordsburn Twelve Beavers attended this Northern Ireland event, taking part in a range of adventurous and creative activities. Highlights included bouldering, grass sledging, an obstacle course, biscuit decorating, keyring making, and campfire cooking. The day was a great success, with all participants demonstrating enthusiasm and teamwork.
e Achievement Award 5 Beavers achieved the Chief Scout Bronze Award, the highest honour in the Beaver section, recognizing their dedication and participation across all areas of the scouting programme. ¢ New Members Throughout the year, the group was delighted to welcome 15 new Beavers, expanding our membership and strengthening the team’s energy and community whilst 8 moved up to Cubs, continuing their Scouting adventure. Programme Highlights Over the course of the year, the Beavers enjoyed a full and varied programme of activities, including:
e RSPB Bird Challenge, encouraging awareness of local wildlife and nature conservation. e Space Badge project, including an evening of sky viewing at Drum Manor Forest Park.
® A Christmas lights visit to support the Air Ambulance Charity, combining festive spirit with charitable giving.
e A heart-warming initiative sending birthday cards to a little girl in England receiving palliative care, supporting her wish to receive 8,000 cards for her 8th birthday.
e A visit to the local police station, learning about police work and community safety.
e Pancake night, introducing cooking and teamwork in a fun setting.
e A winter sleepover in the hall, where 12 intrepid Beavers camped overnight in tents — an exciting and memorable experience that built confidence and independence. Additional badges earned included Teamwork challenge, Personal Challenge and World challenge badges. Activity badges included Book Reader badge, Swimmers, Hobby, Collector, Sports, Creative and Peer Leadership badges. Summary It has been an action-packed and rewarding year for Derryloran Beaver Scout Group. The young people have grown in confidence, developed valuable life skills, made new friends, and contributed positively to their local and wider community.
Cubs
Derryloran cubs have attended Church Good Friday and Harvest services in Derryloran Parish Church.
The cubs took part in a Group Fun Day to celebrate the groups 75 Birthday, where the top award ~ Chief Scout Silver Award was presented to a Cub.
The cubs have been competitive in taking part in County and Northern Ireland Table Quiz, Unihoc and Football Competitions, coming home with a shield.
In August the cubs joined with the Scouts and Explorers and went to Gosford Forest Park for a camp and took a day trip to Emerald Park in ireland which made it an International event.
When we came back after the summer break our numbers had increased to 21.
Badge work still remains an important part of our weekly meetings.
In 2026 cubs Northern Ireland will be 110 years old so we will be taking part in events and camp to celebrate this.
Crafts are something our cubs love and we have made Easter, Christmas and Halloween
decorations, as well as hand warmers, bird feeders and lots more.
We had a visit from Northern Ireland Road Safety and we completed this badge with a walk down town using all the pedestrian crossings.
Our cubs still help in organising our programme as part of Youth Lead in Scouting.
We had a sleepover in the hall, and we all made our own pizzas for supper. And Cooking and Baking is still a favourite with all the cubs.
Our annual Bird Watching for RSPB showed an increase of some birds but others have dropped in numbers.
Scouts
The Scouts started their year by learning new outdoor skills, helping them build confidence and work better as a team. Over the summer, they took part in our annual group camp, held in Gosford Forest Park, which included a trip away and gave them the chance to put these skills into practice.
They also took part in a number of wider events throughout the year, including the Monopoly Run in Belfast. Over the Christmas period, the Scouts completed a hike in Davagh Forest, continuing to develop their navigation and outdoor skills in a different environment. In the new year, it was great to see one of our previous Scouts, now an Explorer, attend an awards celebration in Belfast City Hall, showing the ongoing progression of our young people through Scouting.
Across our Monday night programme, the Scouts have completed a range of badges and awards, including:
e Teamwork Challenge Award
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e Navigator Staged Activity Badge (Stage 4)
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e Forester Activity Badge
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e Communicator Activity Badge
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e And a range of other activity and challenge badges throughout the year
These badges support the development of key skills such as teamwork, navigation, communication, and practical outdoor knowledge.
Throughout the year, Scouts have also been working towards their Chief Scout's Gold Award, the top award in the Scout section. This brings together their badge work, nights away, and personal development, and encourages them to challenge themselves and take on new experiences.
Overall, it has been a busy year with a good mix of weekly programme, outdoor activities, and wider events, helping Scouts continue to develop and progress.
Explorers
Derryloran Explorer Unit Report Derryloran Explorer Scout Group has had a highly active and rewarding year from 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026. The section has continued to meet regularly on Monday nights, providing a consistent and supportive environment where young people have worked together to develop their skills and confidence. Over the course of the year, members have successfully achieved both their Pioneer and Leadership badges, showing practical ability, initiative, and strong teamwork. A highlight of the year was a challenging survival weekend camp, delivered in partnership with the Army. Despite facing several unexpected challenges, the young people showed resilience and determination, earning their Survival Badge through perseverance and cooperation. In addition, the group attended an international camp, where they embraced new experiences, including some thrilling rollercoasters, while also completing the demanding requirements for the Union Flag Badge, an achievement that reflects both commitment and national understanding. The dedication of the Explorers to personal development has been clear throughout the year. Their growth is a testament not only to their own motivation but also to the commitment of the leadership team, who have worked collaboratively to create opportunities for learning, development, and success. Giving back to the community has remained an important focus. Members of the section have taken the initiative to select charities and organise fundraising efforts, showing an intense sense of social responsibility and compassion for others. Several young people have also taken part in the Young Leaders’ Programme, an honourable achievement that recognises their contribution to supporting younger sections. Their efforts were further recognised with the presentation of their Young Leader belt buckles, marking their progress and commitment. The group celebrated a significant awards evening during the year, where a few Explorers were proudly presented with their Platinum Award. This is a major milestone in Scouting, highlighting the development of skills for life, leadership, and personal growth. While some members applied for the International Jamboree, they showed great enthusiasm and ambition in putting themselves forward, which is highly commendable. Through this process, they were given the opportunity to attend a dedicated weekend event, where they engaged in a range of activities and represented their group with pride. This experience also allowed them to connect and network with members from other groups, building new friendships and sharing valuable experiences. Overall, it has been a year of achievement, resilience, and growth for Derryloran Explorer Scout Group, with members continuing to show the absolute best of Scouting values