Planning ahead and organising the programme
Planning ahead and organising the programme
Express your interest to open a Squirrels Drey
If you've decided that you'd like to start a new Squirrels Drey and have completed the readiness checklist, please complete this form to express your interest. This should be done by the Group Lead Volunteer(s) and the District Lead Volunteer will then carry out a final review.
Ensure you have read the readiness checklist before you complete this short formTo watch in full screen, double click the video
We recommend planning at least a half term’s worth of meetings in advance. By planning in advance, you can:
1. Make sure meetings fit together well
You might want to build a particular skill in your group, focus on a particular outcome or find meetings that fit with your young people’s interests at the time. This is a great opportunity to focus on Youth Shaped Scouting.
2. Make sure you have the necessary resources
Some meetings use the same resources so you might want to put them together if you’re low on pace. Think about what resources you’ll need for the term (there’s a list with each activity and game) and make sure you have them ready for your meetings in advance.
3. Select meetings that are supported by the weather
We can’t predict the weather, but there are general themes – warm(ish!) in the summer and cold in the winter. You may want to think about when you’d like to run meetings outdoors and what equipment the young people might need to bring, depending on the season.
Organise your programme
- Plan your programme using the programme planning tool
- Check Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR)
- Check programme guidance
- Check whether further insurance’s required
- Check whether Scouts Headquarters needs notifying
- Make sure an InTouch process is in place
- Make sure all activities are approved in accordance with POR
For a quick and easy way to plan your Squirrels programme, use the programme planning tool.
We've put together a Squirrels starter programme which is a ready-made 13-week programme to get Squirrel Dreys up and running to enable both the leaders and young people to experience Scouting for 4 and 5 year olds.
This programme can last a full term and enables Squirrels to start their skills for life journey early and earn several badges by the end of the first term
Looking for some inspiration to plan your Squirrels programme? Find Squirrels activity ideas for occasions and events throughout the year.