Welcome to 1st Ely Scouts

Who are our Scouts?

Scouts at 1st Ely are a go-getting group of young people aged 10½ to 14 who:

• Master new skills and try new things.
• Make great new friends.
• Have fun and go on adventures, both close to home in Cambridgeshire and much further afield.
• Explore the world around them.
• Help others and make a positive difference, right here in the Ely community and beyond.

Week in and week out, they gather in our 1st Ely Scout Troop to conquer the small task of changing the world!

What do 1st Ely Scouts get up to?

Discovering the world Being a Scout is all about discovering the world on your own terms and making the most of what you have, wherever and whoever you are.

Alongside your new friends at 1st Ely, you’ll master the skills that’ll help you weather the storms of life. You’ll try things you’d never get the chance to do at home or at school—working with our fantastic trained volunteers to achieve whatever you set your mind to, whether that’s navigating the Fens or exploring new landscapes abroad.

Starting small, thinking big Scouts start small but think big. They stand up for what they believe in and make a difference on their own doorsteps, confident in the knowledge that their daily actions add up.

In a society that can often feel increasingly isolated and inward-facing, our Ely Scouts build bridges and break barriers. Throughout history, Scouts have played all sorts of useful roles in society, and this proud legacy continues today right here in our city.

Listening in, lending a hand Scouts seek out the answers to the big questions, and to the smaller questions that don’t seem to matter but really should. Most importantly, they say yes more often than they say no—whether they’re taking part in their first-ever weekend camp away from home, writing their first line of code, or accepting the last of the toasted marshmallows around a campfire.

Sound like fun? That’s because it is. All that’s missing is you.

Who leads our Scouts?

Our 1st Ely Scout Troop is made up of young people aged 10½ to 14, led by a dedicated team of trained adult volunteers who are always on hand to share their skills, encourage independence, and keep everyone safe. Traditionally, Scout leaders were nicknamed ‘Skip’—an abbreviation of ‘Skipper’, which is a name given to a ship’s captain. In some Troops this name is still used, but these days it’s more common for Scout leaders to simply use their real names.

Within our Troop, Scouts are part of a “Patrol”—smaller groups of Scouts who look out for one another and help each other grow. Scouts usually gather in their Patrols at the beginning and end of our weekly meetings. They might also stick together on expeditions, hikes, or trips away, allowing them to build strong teamwork and leadership skills.