{"alias":"newsItem","byline":"","standfirst":"Our new Explorer Scouts programme, launched today, will help 50,000 young people find adventure and a place to belong as well as the skills for a brighter future.","content":{"layouts":[{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"value":"https://player.vimeo.com/video/1204298851","gridType":"embed","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EWe\u2019re proud to reveal our revamped Explorer programme, with outdoor adventure and real-world skills at its heart, to help our teens thrive and find a place to belong.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe launch took place in Derby on 25 June, hosted by long-standing partner, \u003Ca href=\u0022/supporters/rolls-royce/\u0022 title=\u0022Rolls-Royce\u0022\u003ERolls-Royce\u003C/a\u003E, who are also sponsors of the S.T.E.M badge.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EOver 3,000 young people and volunteers helped shape the refreshed programme, which reflects how teenagers live now, preparing them with the skills for life and work.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003E50,000 Explorer Scouts aged 14-18 can earn 40 new and updated badges to help them find their feet, build skills for work and, of course, have fun along the way.\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/e35j10kh/new-explorers-in-forest.jpg","width":7144,"height":4763,"altText":"A group of Explorers smile while walking through a wooded area.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003ENew badges and awards\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EYoung people were at the heart of the project, helping co-design 11 new badges and six new Challenge Awards with their futures in mind.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EAvailable to earn from September, the new badges include Employability and Democracy, Content Creation and Life Skills \u2013 each designed to help young people build confidence, resilience and skills to carry into school, work and everyday life.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EThe new additions sit alongside firm favourites including Pioneering, Survival Skills, Camper and Caving.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EMeanwhile, the S.T.E.M. Activity Badge (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), invites young people to discover how things work (such as car maintenance), solve challenges (like powering a campsite) and get creative with renewable energy (for example, designing a solar powered phone charger).\u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""}]}],"config":null},{"type":"twoColumnWide","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/nwjh14oy/explorers-life-skills-activity-badge.png","width":1000,"height":977,"altText":"Explorers Life Skills cloth Activity Badge.","caption":"The new Explorers Life Skills Activity Badge","link":null}]},{"items":[{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/pnpd535k/explorers-content-creation-activity-badge.png","width":1000,"height":977,"altText":"Explorers Content Creation cloth Activity Badge","caption":"The new Explorers Content Creation Activity Badge","link":null}]}],"config":null},{"type":"singleColumn","areas":[{"items":[{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EA new look for Explorers\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EA new look for Explorers is being launched at the same time, including a new logo, colours, badge designs and resources.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIt\u2019s a project everyone is extremely proud of, including Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields: \u201814-18-year-olds still want a place to belong,\u2019 he said, \u2018opportunities for independence but, most importantly, to have fun. That\u2019s why I\u2019m so proud to be launching the new Explorer Scouts programme.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EDwayne adds: \u2018I\u2019m constantly in awe of Explorer Scouts\u2019 resilience, curiosity and love of the outdoors. This new programme reflects what our Explorers have told us they want \u2013 modern skills for life, with a whole load of adventure.\u2019 \u0026nbsp;\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/gx0lxhvn/elie-with-scarf.jpg","width":2029,"height":2741,"altText":"Elie, wearing an Explorers hoodie and necker, smiles at the camera.","caption":"Elie Mondah says Explorer Scouts gives her a place where she feels like she can \u0027really belong\u0027","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Cp\u003EWhen Explorer Scouts first launched in 2002, most families shared a single desktop computer (if they had one at all), internet was a luxury and social media like Facebook and TikTok didn\u2019t exist.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENow, in 2026, most young people have smartphones. They\u2019re constantly connected to the internet \u2013 and the growing pressures that come with it.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EIn a rapidly changing world, young people face more challenges around education and future careers, and many struggle with their mental health.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003ENew research suggests lots of young people feel less prepared for adult life. According to YouGov, 66% of teachers say young people today are less prepared for work, while 47% of those aged 18-24 agreed that they felt ready for work when they left education.\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"gridImageBlock","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","image":"/media/3syhgo2k/new-explorers-hoodie.jpg","width":8256,"height":5504,"altText":"The back of a person wearing an Explorers hoodie and helmet while karting.","caption":"","link":null},{"gridType":"RichTextBlock","content":"\u003Ch3\u003EHelping young people thrive\u003C/h3\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EExplorers reached more than 50,000 members for the first time this year, highlighting the need for a fresh programme that helps young people thrive.\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EElie Mondah, a 15-year-old Explorer from Romford, said: \u2018Explorer Scouts gives me a place where I feel like I really belong. Learning how to build skills for future jobs is something I actually care about. It\u2019s a mix of fun and learning things that will really help in the future.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E\n\u003Cp\u003EFormer Explorer Scout, Frasier Stewart, aged 18, from Staffordshire, said: \u2018When I applied for an apprenticeship at a major engineering company, I gave a presentation about my King\u2019s Scout Award and the skills I gained through Scouts. It made me stand out. Without Scouts, I wouldn\u2019t have had the confidence or language to explain what I could do.\u2019\u003C/p\u003E","gtmId":"","gtmClass":""},{"gridType":"callToAction","gtmId":"","gtmClass":"","buttonText":"Find out more about the Explorer programme","buttonLink":{"name":"Running an Explorer Unit","id":null,"url":"/volunteers/running-your-section/running-an-explorer-unit/","newWindow":false,"target":null},"colour":{"value":"003982","label":"003982"},"alignment":null}]}],"config":null}]},"searchDescription":null,"pageType":null,"location":null,"versionDate":"25 June 2026","reviewDate":null,"furtherReading":[],"relatedLinks":[{"caption":"","title":"Running an Explorer Unit","url":"/volunteers/running-your-section/running-an-explorer-unit/","newWindow":false}],"id":90077,"nodeName":"Relaunching Explorers for a new generation","title":"Relaunching Explorers for a new generation","type":"newsItem","image":{"url":"/media/e35j10kh/new-explorers-in-forest.jpg?cc=0,0.1352797659285063,0,0.021029282990242412\u0026width=800\u0026height=450\u0026v=1dcfffdaa0ba190","caption":"New Explorers In Forest","type":"jpg","size":21427026,"width":7144,"height":4763,"altText":"A group of Explorers smile while walking through a wooded area."},"assets":null,"headerOptions":{"headerTitle":"Relaunching Explorers for a new generation","headerSubTitle":null,"headerCta":null,"headerCtaText":null,"headerCtaLink":null,"headerBackgroundColour":null,"showSEOImage":false,"headerBackgroundImage":null,"quickLinks":null},"subHeader":"Our new Explorer Scouts programme will help 50,000 young people find adventure and a place to belong.","browserTitle":null,"silktide":"eyJjbXMiOiJVbWJyYWNvIiwiZWRpdG9yVXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6Ly9wcm9kLWNtcy5zY291dHMub3JnLnVrLy91bWJyYWNvIy9jb250ZW50L2NvbnRlbnQvZWRpdC85MDA3NyJ9","canonicalUrl":"https://www.scouts.org.uk/news/2026/june/relaunching-explorers-for-a-new-generation/"}