When you turn 18, you can become part of Scout Network in the same District you were an Explorer in.
Network members still earn badges digitally, and still go on camps. They still throw themselves into expeditions and aim for their top awards. They still chase adventures overseas and build communities closer to home and get their hands dirty and battle it out for the last of the toasted marshmallows. The main difference is that they have more flexibility and independence and autonomy than any of the other sections. District Scout Networks are self-led, and their programme is designed to fit around the bundle of commitments humans juggle in their late teens and early twenties. You may be less likely to meet weekly, but you’re guaranteed to have just as much fun as you did in Explorers, and to gain even more skills to put on that CV. Because becoming a grown-up shouldn’t mean you have to miss out on all the good stuff.
To get a better idea of what to expect before you take the leap, have a look at Scout UK’s Network resources, and talk to your Explorer Leader about completing the Moving on Award. It involves spending at least three weeks interacting with Scout Network while keeping up your normal routine at Explorers.
