Programme Ideas

Visits and Visitors

Code Club

Get a visit from some experts to learn how to do some basic coding.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

Book a speaker from the CWGC to learn about the history and remembrance of commonwealth war graves.

Go Outdoors Kit Talks

Probably more useful to older sections, to help them get to grips with the essentials for expeditions and nights away.

Guide Dogs

Invite a speaker to talk about how guide dogs support visually impaired individuals and see a demonstration.

Hearing Dogs for Deaf People

Learn about the vital training hearing dogs undergo to support deaf people and alert them to crucial sounds.

Met Office

Educational resources, talks, and insights into weather forecasting, meteorology, and climate change.

National Trust

Arrange a volunteer speaker to share stories about local nature reserves, historic houses, and conservation work.

NSPCC - Speak Out, Stay Safe

An age-appropriate programme helping children understand how to stay safe from abuse and who to turn to for help.

Pets at Home

In-store workshops and partner events tailored to help young people learn about animal welfare and care.

UK Parliament

Interactive sessions and speakers designed to teach youth groups about democracy, voting, and how parliament works.

Local Ideas

You'll need to do some searching to get in touch with these organisations in your local area.

Ambulance Station

Visit a local station or invite paramedics to learn essential first aid and explore an emergency vehicle.

Banks

HSBC and Metro Bank have offered this in the past — a great way to work towards the Money Skills badges.

Fire Service

A staple trip for younger sections to learn about fire safety, emergency response, and see the station equipment.

Police Station

Learn about community safety, law enforcement, and get an inside look at how a local station operates.

Hackspace / Makerspace

These often have a huge variety of tools and equipment, as well as experts to show you how to use them and have fun. Think things like 3D printing, laser cutting, woodwork, and robots!

Nature Reserves

Coordinate with local wardens for a guided night hike, bug hunting, pond dipping, or conservation work.

RNLI / Coastguard

Essential for Sea Scouts or any group looking to cover water safety, sea rescues, and maritime emergency response.

Search and Rescue

Invite a local mountain or lowland rescue team to demonstrate navigation, casualty evacuation, and tracking skills.

Sports Clubs

Judo, Karate, Rugby, Lawn Bowls — anything you can think of to try a new sport or fulfill physical activity badges.

Universities

Some universities have specialized facilities like mock-court rooms which make for excellent mock trials for Explorers.