On your first night at Beavers, you’ll be taking part in lots of activities, and should just wear something you feel comfortable in.

Eventually, you’ll get your own Beaver uniform to wear to meetings and on trips and nights away. Wearing a uniform is comfy and practical. It means no one feels uncomfortable or left out and helps everyone to feel a part of the Colony. It also gives you a place to show off all the Beaver badges you earn.

For Beavers, the uniform consists of a blue sweatshirt with your badges sewn on and a coloured scarf or ‘necker’ to represent your local group. There are lots of other optional accessories you can wear such as hats and hoodies. Uniform can either be bought from our online shop – Scout Store – or from a local supplier. If you’re not sure where to start, adult volunteers can give you more information about what to buy and where to buy it.

Lots of young people want to join Beavers and you might have to wait for a space to become available before you can start your journey. If your local Colony has a waiting list, parents and other adults might want to think about what they could do to help out.

Regardless of skillset or availability, there’s an opportunity for everyone to contribute.

The cost of going to Beavers will vary depending on how your local Colony does things. Usually, a basic fee covering the cost of the hire and upkeep of the Beaver meeting place will be collected weekly, monthly, termly or annually – depending on local arrangements. Trips, camps and activities that take place away from the usual meeting place are usually charged separately.

Beavers is designed to be an accessible and affordable way for young people to learn lots of new skills through a single membership. Nobody should feel excluded from Beaver activities because of money worries. If they’re concerned about costs, adults should speak to their local leader in confidence, to see what they can do to help. In most cases, support is available to make sure nobody misses out.

Each Colony is made up of young people aged 6 to 8, led by adult Beaver leaders. Other adult volunteers are on hand to supervise activities, share their skills and keep everyone safe. In some groups, Beaver leaders are nicknamed after characters from nature, books or films. In others, Beavers call their leader by their real first name.

Within their Colony, some Beavers are also part of a Lodge. A Lodge is a smaller group of Beavers, usually headed up by a young person who takes on a peer leadership role (sometimes known as a Lodge Leader or Junior Leader).

Being a peer leader is about being a superhero for a little while – doing things like welcoming new people to the Colony, being extra helpful during a camp, or taking charge of a game or activity. Everyone takes it in turns to take on the challenge.

Beavers usually stand together in their Lodges at the beginning and end of meetings. They tend to stick together on trips away, or during certain activities.