Show your appreciation for Squirrels
Each year, Squirrel Appreciation Day is fantastic opportunity to go nuts and celebrate Squirrels – both the animals and our youngest Scouts. After celebrating last Saturday, we have some brilliant ideas for your next sessions.
At the weekend, we celebrated our furry friends who inspired the name of our youngest section, Squirrels. This special day was founded by wildlife rehabilitator Christy Hargrove, who says people should help squirrels by putting out extra food and learning about them (especially during the winter).
In a nutshell, squirrels are great for the environment
Squirrels are super beneficial to the environment (especially in urban areas) and they help make our parks and green spaces even more beautiful. Squirrels plant seeds, originally meaning to store nuts away to return to when they’re feeling peckish, and these seeds eventually grow into trees. This means Squirrels act as gardeners and bring more trees to our local areas.
Fun fact
Red Squirrels can be found on Brownsea Island in Dorset, where the first Scouts camp happened. That's why we named our youngest section Squirrels.
As well as helping the squirrels in your local area, why not enjoy some Squirrel-themed fun in your next session? We have plenty of enjoyable activities and catchy sing-songs for you to choose from.
It’s not just about our youngest Scouts, either. We have lots of ideas for older sections to get involved with their local Squirrel Dreys and show their appreciation.
Squirrel activities
You’re bound to feel bright eyed and bushy tailed after these Squirrel-themed activities.
- In Delicious dreys, you’ll make a tasty chocolate squirrels nest treat.
- Use natural materials to make a squirrel out of leaves with Lovely squirrel leafy craft.
- We’re going on a Squirrel Search is inspired by the book ‘We’re Going On A Bear Hunt.’ Explore the outdoors, while trying to spot squirrels.
- Warm up and shake off the excess energy at the start of a session with Shake your tails. Have fun being a squirrel and learning a bit about what they get up to.
- Celebrate our furry friends by getting creative and making your own Pine cone squirrels from nature.
- Try Stylish squirrels, where you’ll get creative and craft your own Squirrel ears and tail for a woodland fashion runway.
- Scouts is a big movement. Give Welcome to Squirrel Scouts a go to find out all about it, learn what makes Squirrel Scouts special, and understand your place in the world.
- Safely use fire to toast fluffy marshmallows and enjoy them with your friends.
- Mark your time so far in Squirrels with My adventure scrapbook.
- Everyone loves different types of stories. It’s time to share your favourite story with your friends.
- In Welcome welcome, explore the world of Scouts and find out what it means to be a part of the Scouts family.
Squirrel songs
We have lots of cheery Squirrel tunes for you to sing with your Drey. You can find them on Vimeo or download them from our brand centre using the links below. Here are some of our favourites:
Super Squirrels resources
On our brand centre, you’ll find lots of resources for celebrating Squirrels and volunteers. From certificates to stickers, we’ve lots of fun ideas for showing appreciation to everyone in your Drey.
Join up with your local Drey
If you’re part of an older section, there are plenty of ways you can join up with your local Drey and make a difference.
- Ask Explorers to become Young Leaders at a local Drey
- Run a joint session with Beavers to excite and inspire Squirrels for moving up
- Ask a section to plan and run an activity for Squirrels, such as a Sports Day, baking or learning to tie shoelaces
- Start a penpal connection with another Squirrel Drey, based elsewhere in the UK
- Make and share a book of campfire songs, games, or recipes to share with your Squirrel Drey
- Write cards to your local Squirrel Drey to show how you appreciate them
- Throw a party for Squirrels
- Invite Beavers, Cubs or Scouts to read or act out a Squirrel story
Get involved with Squirrels
Fancy getting involved in Squirrels? Find out how to start a Squirrel Drey by reading the guidance on our website.