HRH The Princess of Wales, hosted an outdoor Squirrel Scout meeting in the gardens of Frogmore House, Windsor. Dwayne Field, Chief Scout joined other volunteers and Squirrel Scouts (children aged 4-6 years) from Lewisham at the special event to highlight the importance of outdoor adventure and how spending time in nature helps boost wellbeing and learning.
The event was part of this week’s State Visit, and the First Lady of the United States was also invited to meet the young people. It was a showcase for the life skills gained through Squirrel Scouts – now 25,000 strong across the UK.
‘Today’s been a showcase of our Squirrel Scouts learning new skills and enjoying being outdoors with friends,’ said Dwayne Fields, Chief Scout. ‘We’re proud to have been invited to show the impact Scouts has for young people by our Joint President, HRH The Princess of Wales.
I’m grateful to our amazing volunteers who make this possible every week for half a million young people around the UK, including those who supported us today. It’s been special to be hosted in the gardens of Frogmore House and to share our work with the First Lady.’
The young people took part in parachute games, built bug hotels and made leaf art to get close to nature, developing their creative, communication and team skills. They also enjoyed an outdoor picnic and spoke with the Princess and First Lady about their experiences in Scouts.
At the end of the meeting, the Squirrels were each awarded their Go Wild badge, after learning about animal and their habitats, and how they use plants for food and shelter.
‘It’s a joy to help shape the future of young people through Scouts, from as early as age four,’ said Fricker, Group Lead Volunteer. ‘I’ve always been proud to volunteer with Scouts, having been involved since childhood but today was truly special.
Our Squirrel Scouts experienced a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and with more volunteers across the country, even more young people could access transformative moments and develop skills for life.’
HRH The Princess of Wales has a deep commitment to supporting young people in getting the best possible start in life – an interest shared by the First Lady of the United States, who has championed young people for many years, supporting their wellbeing.
This was a moment to show the impact of Scouts on young people, as part of the cultural life of the UK, and to share how Squirrels has grown and evolved over the past five years.
It’s allowed Scouts to demonstrate the importance of informal outdoor education in children’s early years, and the values that underpin our movement.
‘I had the best day at our special Squirrel Scouts’ meeting,’ Calvin Dil age 5, Squirrel Scout. ‘We made bug hotels and I got my Go Wild badge. I’m excited to tell all my friends at school about our fun day.’
