How volunteers are keeping Scouts going online

We know that delivering the programme online and keeping young people engaged can be hard work, so we asked volunteers for their innovative hints and tips. We’ve picked some of our favourites and hope these top eight will inspire you to stick at it.

1. Get special online guests – like vets (or even a Roman soldier!)

‘We Zoom for an hour with our Beavers once a fortnight and set a video challenge in between. We deliver activity packs every two or three months and they unwrap the contents when we tell them to. The meetings include physical games, crafts, puzzles, challenges, badge work, and much the same Scouts content as before, but online. We’ve done raft and den building, cooking, magic, Lego building and much more – plus we’ve had visits from vets and a Roman soldier! We’ve even had celebrities set us video challenges.

‘Our Young Leaders have been great at running games and leading activities online. It keeps them involved and counts for their DofE work. Leaders enjoy it – and there’s no clearing up! The Beavers love it all too (we’ve had 95% attendance and even increased membership).

‘The resources on 1st Virtual Scout Group on Facebook and the Scout website have been invaluable.’

Dave, Assistant Beaver Scout Leader from Windsor

2. Make time to listen and bring all ages together

‘At Merseyside Scouts, we have many sections who have been delivering Scouts online (often weekly) since March. They’re realising the benefits of including regular Log Chews and listening times in their programmes, maybe incorporating a snack time too, so that leaders and youth members can exchange comments and thoughts about how they’re coping with the lockdowns. It may be a Merseyside thing, but finishing with silly jokes and games is a must – and we have an army of badge fairies safely delivering badges to keep the enthusiasm going.

‘Merseyside Scouts have made resources for Scouts at home and online: CRE8 and #TY2TT plus over 60 Beaver Scouts Pinterest boards including mental health and wellbeing and online help. Gathering all ages together is also important at this time and A Night At The Museum Online #NATMOnline weekend event takes place this month to bring the Scouts family together safely.’

Jane, Assistant County Commissioner from Merseyside

3. Let young people take the lead

‘It’s incredible to see both Young Leaders and Scouts come forward with their ideas and run programmes by themselves, with only a little help and preparation from adult volunteers.

‘Things like scavenger hunts have been turned into riddle quests, and with access to technology at home, Scouts no longer depend on leaders creating quizzes each week, instead choosing to go to space or a trip to the city via online maps. Young Leaders have benefitted from attending programme planning sessions too, so that they have complete control over the meetings they host, which is perfect for their development and keeping their commitment and motivation levels up.’

James, Scout Leader from Romford

4. Explore digital support from your District

’City of Newcastle District launched a virtual platform offering online sessions and workshops by external speakers, instructors, and leaders that are available for everyone.

‘Parents log in, browse, and book various digital sessions that their child can take part in while meeting others, having fun, learning new things and earning badges.

‘So far there have been over 60 sessions (with 1,200 bookings) including pantomimes, beatboxing, illustration, drama, dancing, science, yoga, poetry, astronomy, forensics, murder mystery, and more.’

Tony, District Commissioner from Newcastle

5. Things that work best are what you can’t do in your meeting place

‘Often, the things that work best on Zoom are things we couldn’t or wouldn’t have done in our meeting place, such as a linking up with a group in New Zealand and a virtual visit to an astronomy centre on the other side of the world. Our Troop of Scouts would never have gone around the US Air Force museum with a guide, but the internet allows that to happen.

‘We can keep to a standard format as we do in regular meetings: welcome, game, chat, activity, game, game, closing. This keeps continuity and makes planning easy. Just go to 1st Virtual Scout Group to fill in the blanks. By keeping some of the regular parts of meetings going, even if it’s using a PowerPoint for the flag break, we’ve helped bring some continuity to those who find themselves cast adrift in these strange times.’

The 1st Virtual Scout Group admins: Andy S, Andy B, Carolyn, Stuart, Dave W, Dave J and Tony

6. Offer virtual events to help maintain enthusiasm

‘As we become aware of how long the road to ‘post-coronavirus Scouts’ may be, the Somerset Team have re-launched our Scouting at Home website page. During the first lockdown, we added weekly activities for each section to support our volunteers with ideas for virtual delivery.

‘We’ve now started adding new activity content, along with links to other sources of inspiration for our remarkable volunteers – who didn’t sign up to do Scouts like this! We’ll also continue offering virtual events to help maintain enthusiasm and a feeling of belonging for young people, volunteers and families.’

Elizabeth, County Commissioner from Somerset

7. Encourage young people to keep learning new skills

‘Across Hampshire, our young people and adults have risen to the challenge of working towards their top awards virtually.
‘With constant sharing of ideas, our young people have exercised at home, mapped disaster zones through missing maps, and learned new skills for the DofE, Chief Scout’s and Queen’s Scouts Awards.

‘Our Young Leaders haven’t been left out either with over 300 taking part in online Young Leader training covering every module, facilitated by our top awards ambassadors and engaging them over a series of weeks. With young people tuning in from across the country, it’s been very powerful to see.’

Mike, ACC Top Awards from Hampshire

8. Finally, always remember the difference you’re making

‘It’s been inspirational to see so many volunteers helping young people stay connected with their friends, communities, and the outdoors throughout this crisis.

‘Scouts have taken teamwork and Patrol challenges into the new world of computer gaming, shared videos with local care homes to lift the spirits of residents, and organised mini orienteering nights for Scouts and their families in their local areas.

‘While everything else has changed around us, Scout volunteers have been bringing us together in new ways, helping young people achieve and making a difference to others.

Niall, Volunteer Head of Curriculum

Thank you to all of our volunteers who’ve shared their comments. We hope their ideas give you some inspiration for different things you could try to keep things interesting in your online meetings.

If you’d like more support about how to run a session on Zoom, take a look at our Digital Skills. For activity ideas, visit our activities database or 1st Virtual Facebook group.

Related reading: Scouts programme support during lockdown by Wendy Human, UK Commissioner Programme