{"alias":"blogEntry","byline":"","standfirst":"As part of the search for the Unsung Heroes 2023, we chatted to Bear Grylls about why he\u2019s so proud of Scouts as a youth movement.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/11786/bear-portrait00167-mediumres.jpg","width":4000,"height":2667,"altText":"Bear Grylls gives a thumbs up to camera wearing Scouts hoodie and stripy necker scarf with trees in background","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E1. What\u2019s your best memory of Scouts?\u0026nbsp;\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ESo many to choose from! The \u003Ca href=\u0022/national-events/windsor/\u0022 title=\u0022Windsor Day of Celebration and Achievement\u0022\u003EWindsor Day of Celebration and Achievement\u003C/a\u003E is always so special; to be able to honour so many young people\u2019s journey and effort to reach the top and earn their Queen\u2019s Scouts Awards. And to see their parents and carers\u2019 faces of pride is something I\u2019ll always remember. And so many of the Meritorious Conduct award recipients too - those stories are always so powerful, often heartbreaking, but stories of quiet courage and Scouting heroism.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBut, maybe my favourite moments are the smaller unseen ones, such as a volunteer helping a young Beaver tie a friendship knot on their necker, or an Explorer Scout giving their first presentation in front of their peers. It\u2019s simply the act of service and being able to share in some life moments alongside our young people that always moves me the most.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E2. What\u2019s the best advice you\u2019ve ever heard?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe simple power of courage, kindness and a never give up spirit. Those three things carry people far in life and set people apart.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/18711/dsc_7741_mmp-1.jpg","width":7360,"height":4912,"altText":"","caption":"Bear congratulated his Unsung Heroes 2022 at a special event at the Bear Grylls Adventure Centre at the NEC in Birmingham","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E3. Where\u2019s the most beautiful place you\u2019ve ever woken up?\u003C/strong\u003E\u00A0\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ETo be honest, the place I feel most happy is our small island hideaway in North Wales, which where I feel most at home. We have no mains electricity or water, and we run everything totally off grid, but our three boys, my wife, Shara, and I are happier there than anywhere else.\u202F\u00A0\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E4. What\u2019s your best childhood memory?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EClimbing, messing around and having adventures with my late father. He was a former Commando, and he was always such a big inspiration to me. He taught me to survive and climb from a young age, and he encouraged me to have big dreams and that it was OK to fail a few times along the way. And to be a good friend to people on the journey. All those were his values.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/18731/unsung-heroes-edward.png","width":617,"height":936,"altText":"Bear poses with a Squirrel wearing a red jumper, while holding up a certificate.","caption":"Bear with an Unsung Hero of 2022 Edward, 4, who helped organise a sponsored scoot/cycle/walk/run","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E5. Can you give us a great camping/outdoors tip? \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EGreat survivors are defined in their attitude more than their skills. In the wild, positivity, resourcefulness, courage,\u202Fdetermination\u202Fand a sense of humour conquers so much. When with dealing with other people, know that\u202F kindness and humility are at the heart of it all.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E6. What food is guaranteed to cheer you up? \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EHomemade banana ice cream, with double cream!\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E7. What do you consider the most useful \u2018skill for life?\u2019 \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBeing willing to fail. Not being afraid to go for things and to take a few risks. Failure is never failure, but it\u2019s more like a stepping stone to success. As Robert Baden-Powell said, never say die until you\u2019re dead!\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"gtmId","gtmClass":"gtmClass","image":"/media/18730/unsung-heroes-nicole.png","width":613,"height":934,"altText":"Bear Grylls poses with an Explorer while holding up a certificate.","caption":"Bear with Nicole, 17, an Unsung Hero of 2022, raises awareness of young people with illness","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E8. Why should leaders nominate Scouts as Unsung Heroes? \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EBecause our movement thrives on the unsung heroes, who quietly face incredible odds and come through. Scouts is made great by those who serve others and ask for no reward. Being able to recognise and celebrate those sorts of people amongst us (and there are many!) is truly humbling and inspiring.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E9. What\u2019s the best thing about being Chief Scout?\u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EWell, it\u2019s simply the biggest honour in my life. To stand alongside so many heroes, of every age, and know that together we are part of something so incredible. Scouts is the greatest youth movement on Earth and such an inspiring force for good. From the stories of courage in refugee camps, to the inner-city work of volunteers, the commitment and values that Scouts stands for is inspirational. I could not be prouder to be a small cog in the incredible machine and family that is Scouts.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Ch4\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E10. What are you looking forward to? \u003C/strong\u003E\u003C/h4\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022/volunteers/running-your-section/international-scouts-and-events/international-events/wsj/\u0022 title=\u0022WSJ\u0022\u003EWorld Scout Jamboree in South Korea 2023\u003C/a\u003E. It\u2019s going to be epic!\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"type":"Promo","cta":"Nominate a young person","body":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cspan\u003EWe\u2019re on the lookout for 20 young people who\u2019ve really gone above and beyond.\u003C/span\u003E\u003C/p\u003E","link":{"name":"Help us find the Chief Scout\u2019s Unsung Heroes 2023","id":null,"url":"/news/2023/january/help-us-find-the-chief-scout-s-unsung-heroes-2023/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":"#490499","title":"Help us find the Chief Scout\u0027s Unsung Heroes 2023","image":"/media/18711/dsc_7741_mmp-1.jpg?width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd2135fe20","imageFocus":"","imageId":33979,"imageKey":"00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000","imageCrop":"","gridType":"card","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"08 February 2023","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[{"caption":"","title":"Help us find the Chief Scout\u0027s Unsung Heroes 2023","url":"/news/2023/january/help-us-find-the-chief-scout-s-unsung-heroes-2023/","newWindow":false}],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Learn more about the Chief Scout","url":"/about-us/our-people/chief-scout/","newWindow":false}],"id":48742,"nodeName":"10 questions for our Chief Scout, Bear Grylls","title":"10 questions for our Chief Scout, Bear Grylls","type":"blogEntry","image":{"url":"/media/11786/bear-portrait00167-mediumres.jpg?rxy=0.33,0.7925\u0026width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1d9becd133a47e0","caption":"Bear Portrait00167 MEDIUMRES","type":"jpg","size":1625407,"width":4000,"height":2667,"altText":"Bear Grylls gives a thumbs up to camera wearing Scouts hoodie and stripy necker scarf with trees in background"},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"10 questions for our Chief Scout, Bear Grylls","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"As part of the search for the Unsung Heroes 2023, read our exclusive interview with Chief Scout Bear Grylls","browserTitle":"10 Questions for The Chief Scout","silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC80ODc0MiJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2023/february/10-questions-for-our-chief-scout-bear-grylls/"}