Host a Scouts’ Own

What's a Scouts’ Own?

Scouts have always taken moments to reflect together. A Scouts’ Own is the perfect opportunity for everyone to spend time sharing a topic.

Scouts’ Owns are often themed. For example, the theme could be friendship, teamwork, sportspersonship and taking part, peace or kindness. They can also be held for a special occasion, such as New Year, Remembrance, or at the end of a Nights Away or jamboree event. 

They should be informal and they shouldn’t take a long time – most can be done in 15 minutes.

It’s up to you exactly what your Scouts’ Own looks like and what you include. The best Scouts’ Owns get everyone involved with the preparing and presenting – it’s not something that adults do for young people.

Always find out what works best for your group. If wanted you could also include a promise renewal. Whatever you do, make sure it includes everyone, and is accessible and appropriate to all backgrounds.

If you’re looking for a helping hand planning your first few Scouts’ Owns, we’ve put together an example structure, including an opening, reading, activity, music, reflection, and closing.

Opening

1. Make sure that everyone who’s presenting feels comfortable and knows what they’re doing. If you need to, offer reassurance or help people to practice.
2. When everyone’s ready, gather everyone in a circle.
3. The person leading the Scouts’ Own should introduce the opening thought. For example, you could say: ‘When people think about Scouts, they usually focus on the previous meeting’s activity, what they’ll be doing next, and how much they’re looking forward to their next trip. Scouts is much more than the regular activities, though – it gives people the chance to make long lasting friendships and to join a worldwide family of friends’.

Reading and activity

1. Hand out copies of any chosen readings. You can have one between two or one per person. 
2. The chosen speakers should read through the chosen reading. Everyone else can follow the words along.
3. Give everyone a luggage tag and a pen. You could use some paper or card cut into shapes instead of luggage tags.
4. Everyone should write what friendship and Scouts means to them on their luggage tag. It’s up to them if they put their name on it too.
5. Everyone should tie their tag somewhere, such as onto a shared tree. You could choose somewhere that everyone can see.

Music, reflection, and closing

1. Give everyone a copy of the lyrics, and BSL and makaton signs if needed, for the music they’ve chosen. You can have one between two or one per person.
2. When everyone’s ready, play the song and encourage everyone can join in.
3. Everyone should think about what they wrote on their luggage tags. Some people could share what they wrote if they are happy and comfortable to. It’s OK if people want to keep part or all of what they wrote private.
4. Ask everyone to think about what it means to be a good friend, even if we don’t know someone that well, and how this relates to our Scout Promise to help others. 
5. Ask everyone to choose one thing they can do to be a good friend. You could encourage them to reflect on their own friends and set a friendship challenge for themselves. For example, it could be making friends with someone who’s new to their school or who looks lonely, saying sorry to a friend they upset, or doing at least one good thing for different friends each day this week. 
6. Older Scouts could reflect on how they are a good friend and what they could do to be an even better friend, such as knowing when to say sorry, being selfless, or including someone who’s alone at lunchtime.
7. Remember to thank everyone for taking part in the Scouts’ Own, whether they took a big or small part in planning, leading, or joining in.