Ready to take your Paddlesport skills to the next level? Whether you’re aiming for a Kayak, Canoe, or Stand-Up Paddleboarding permit in 2026, or already hold one and want to build your confidence leading others on the water, our training is designed for you.
0900-1600. Woodmill Activity Centre or Testwood Lakes (tbc)
Bring your Canoe, Kayak or SUP (Or use one of ours). The team will help develop your skills showing you ideas for running fantastic sessions afloat. We will also cover requirements and pathways for permits. Permits can not be issued on this day unless you hold a Paddlesport Instructor or equivalent skill level.
Cost: Free (16 Places)
0900-1600. Woodmill Activity Centre or Testwood Lakes (tbc)
Learn how to look after others on the water including towing, rescues, water safety and gain a national governing body qualification. https://paddlesuptraining.com/courses/paddlesport-safety-and-rescue/
Cost £50pp (8 Places)
0900-1600. Woodmill Activity Centre or Testwood Lakes (tbc)
Learn how to look after others on the water including towing, rescues, water safety and gain a national governing body qualification. https://paddlesuptraining.com/courses/paddlesport-safety-and-rescue/
Cost £50pp (8 Places)
0900-1600, Saturday and Sunday
Learn everything you need to run safe and fun session on the water including warm-ups, games, journeying and skills development. As per Permit assessment guidance this award is equivalent to a B1 permit so we’ll also issue this at the same time. https://paddlesuptraining.com/courses/paddlesport-instructor/
Cost: £100pp. (6 Places)
For any further information and to sign up please contact [email protected]
Ready for a different kind of international adventure? Join the team setting off for the Gambia at the end of this year!
WHERE?
You guessed it.. to The Gambia. A small country on the west coast of Africa. From the capital Banjul on the Atlantic coast we take the bus 200 miles up country to SOMA, a dusty fly blown town at the junction of the two main (only) roads and stay at KAIRA KONKO Scout Lodge..
WHAT?
Help improve the Kaira Konko Scout centre, repair school classrooms, repair local homes in Soma, take paper, books and pencils to the primary school, improve the vegetable garden in the village. Plus, Friday night is Scout night and we will be there sharing ideas. Plus, helping at the schools, shopping at the market, visit the village chief, go on expeditions out of Soma in small groups with the Gambian Scouts and LOADS MORE!
COST
£2,300 approximately, TBC once flights are booked. Deposit of £300, then ten monthly payments. Includes flights, accommodation, food, travel, visits, loads of laughs, masses of hard work, lots of sunshine and a few surprises, training, a polo shirt and international necker. Excludes vaccinations and anti-malarial tablets (full details will be provided about what you need nearer the time).
WHEN?
2 weeks departing around 29th December 2026 return about Wed 13 January 2027. Note that you will need to arrange time off school/ college.
WHY?…WHY NOT?
This is an amazing chance to experience the real Africa with your mates. It is excellent value. Try it out.. meet new friends check out some ideas for your gap year, get something really impressive on your CV.
WHO??
Fantastic leaders, you, your friends, any Explorer/ Network aged 16-19 ( DOB between 01.09.2007 and 31.08.2011) who is prepared to give it a go (if they are not already a Scout then they had better join soon).
Small print warning this trip could seriously change your outlook on life
Lots of fund raising is a key part of the adventure. You should fundraise a minimum of £1,000, from whatever source works best - sponsored cycle, charity events, car washing.
Please note this is a Scout Expedition. It is not a holiday. It will be challenging but very rewarding. The training is an important part of the expedition package and Explorers should prioritise it and make every effort to attend the training events. There are lots happening to prepare you for Africa:
For more information contact the Explorer Scout Leaders.
Jackie Heath, Expedition Leader [email protected] 07918941708
Tishie Northcott & Paul Stubbington, Deputy Expedition Leaders
Are you ready for the Suisse hills, the peaks, the people, the sound of music and the permanent mini-Jamboree?
Suisse Adventure 2027 is about to launch. Staying in Kandersteg International Scout Centre in Switzerland, and open to all young people aged 14 to 25 in August 2027, this will be an Adventure you will never forget.
If you already know you're interested, you can register your interest using the form below.
The Suisse team will be holding a number of roadshows around Hampshire in January and early February ahead of opening the system for deposit payments in mid February.
These will give Explorers and Parents a chance to discover more about the expedition, about the centre at Kandersteg, and ask any questions before deciding whether to sign up and pay the deposit. The sessions will last about an hour.
The roadshows are located at various locations around Hampshire, but feel free to turn up to any one you can attend. It does not have to be your local one.
From mid February, applications and deposits for the trip will open. A unique payment reference and how to pay will be sent to everyone who has expressed an interest to attend using the form below:
You can register your interest at a roadshow, but you will not be able to formally apply to attend and pay unless you register interest using the form as well.
Happy adventuring and we look forward to seeing so many of you soon!
The Suisse Adventure Team
Grab your head for heights, the sense of adventure and get ready to return to the Suisse mountains!
Hampshire Scouts are proud to announce the return of the popular Suisse Adventure, slated for 7th to 22nd August 2027.
Staying at the Kandersteg International Scout Centre, the permanent mini-Jamboree itself, and open to all young people aged 14-25 at the time of the trip, this will be an adventure you never forget.
The base cost is £1,400 including:
Extra activities will be available to book at cost, to make the trip your very own!
Interested? Sign up to our register of interest today and the link below:
Or share the flyer below with others so they can join in the fun:
As some of you may be aware, the Hampshire Scouts Media and Communications team have hosted a series of Scouts Speak Up weekend events, combining a young people event and an adult media workshop, mostly on the first weekend in February for many years.
However, we are not planning on holding an event in 2026.
A big thank you to everyone that has helped deliver the events in the past and had already let us know they'd be happy to help this year. However, there are a lot of events happening in Hampshire this winter, making availability of the campsites we need and the volunteers we rely on very tricky.
Plus, many of the young people we would have attracted through Scouts Speak Up to give a county role a go, are being treated to a myriad of other ways to play their part. On top of that, there are now a series of great webinars from the UK Perception team to help too - the next example is here on scouts.org.uk covering an Internal communications plan.
So, we want to try and take the skills and learning to the people. We're going to bring bitesize sessions to existing skills events, such as approaching the Young Leader Rally team for young people, or the adult learning team's skills days for the adults. This is in addition to smaller workshops we can run on request, for Youth leads, at Youth Council, district teams or Scout troops or Explorer Units that want to earn their media badges.
Plus, for young people who are really interested at advocacy, there is also the national Scout Speak Up sessions running again in October 2026 which offer much more draw and support for people looking at those big networking skills.
Want to request the team come and help? Drop us a message at [email protected]! Don't worry, we'll still bring along the badges to our events.
The Countryside Education Trust, based in Beaulieu, New Forest, are looking for young people who wish to connect with the countryside and are looking for new challenges or outdoor experiences.
From one week taster courses, to young volunteer mornings, Year 10 and college work experience, internships and content makers, they provide a host of ways to learn new skills, develop experience and grown the CV.
The course is for young people aged between 16-19 years with an interest in the outdoors or sustainability. This free course is a great opportunity to get hands-on experience in environmental practices, build a CV with unique skills and experiences, and explore a future career in sustainability, nature conservation or farming.
Lifts from Brockenhurst Station and free lunches will be provided. Participants will spend the week working with the centre's farm animals and learning about environmental education, sustainable farming, conservation and woodland management, community engagement and early years education.
Date: 14th-18th July 2025
Times: 10am - 4pm
Location: The Countryside Education Trust, Palace Road, Beaulieu, New Forest
Signup: Email [email protected] to express interest.
Interested in becoming a kayaking or canoeing permit holder?
Already got a permit but want to improve your skills or build your contacts?
Maybe you’re an assessor who wants to help others get their permit?
You’re in luck! There’s a meet up of these permit holders this month.:
Where: 25th Southampton Sea Scouts, SO14 5GZ (Crosshouse road car park)
When: 09:00 to 14:00 on Saturday 26th April
What to bring: Your normal paddling equipment and clothing (Canoe, Kayak, Paddle board), Lunch and drink, Dry clothes
Cost: Free
Please let the organiser know if you intend to come: Steve Preston [email protected]
9:00 Arrive
9:30 Session 1 : Meet permit assessors and presentation on the kayaking and canoeing permits. How to obtain a permit: prerequisites, what to expect at assessment.
10:30 Session 2: On the water : Practising and improving our paddling and leading skills
12:00 Session 3: Rescue skills
13:00 Lunch and after paddling discussion: Sharing planned events this year, planning
assessments.
14:00 Depart
Join HSX for a June Climbing & Walking Adventure in the Peak District!
Sign-ups are now open for HSX's Peak District Climbing Weekend (20–22 June)! Whether you're up for traditional climbing on iconic gritstone, or exploring the Pennine Way, this is a weekend not to be missed.
We’ll be camping, and all food and transport are included in the £85 trip cost (£65 for drivers/instructors).
🚗 Depart: Friday evening from Ferny Crofts, Eastleigh Train Station, or Tesco Winnall
🎒 Kit: List available on OSM
📅 Sign-up deadline: Friday 6 June
📩 To register email [email protected]
Calling all adults and young people! Booking is now open for Hampshire Scouts Speak Up 2025 and our annual adult media workshop.
Build your confidence, learn top tips to spread your stories and get more young people and adult volunteers joining you.
February 2025 sees the return of Hampshire Scouts' training events for adults and young people. Refreshed for this year, we cover how you can get stories of the amazing work Scouts do in every corner of the county in the media and on social media.
Location: Ferny Crofts Scout Activity Centre, New Forest
Hampshire Scouts Speak Up: Friday 7th to Saturday 8th February, free, food and accommodation indoors included plus an adventurous activity. Scouts, Explorers and Scout Network aged 13-25.
Adult Media Workshop: Sunday 9th February, free, food included. Open to any adult volunteer in any role.
Aim: build your confidence, and learn the top tips to share your good news stories online and in the media
These courses are free-of-charge and funded by Hampshire Scouts, so sign up while spaces are available. Timings will be confirmed once registration closes. Places are open to those outside of Hampshire Scouts for a nominal fee of £5.
Bookings close mid-January 2025. Event is subject to cancellation if interest is insufficient so book early to avoid disappointment.
As part of the event we cover:
These give you skills not only to help grow your own skillset but also helps spread the word about what we do so more people can get involved locally. Knowing how to answer difficult questions helps in your career just as much as on camera too.
For our young people taking part in Scouts Speak Up, you'll be in small groups supported by a mentor who has done this before and can offer some tips if it feels a little daunting. For our adults attending the Adult Media Workshop there are plenty of volunteers able to answer your questions too.
We always aim to provide an adventurous activity for our young people on Scouts Speak Up and we decide this based on the requirements of our young people attending. We'll provide dormitory accommodation at Ferny Crofts overnight and keep you well fed through the weekend too.
Young people can also earn or work towards the Media and PR activity badges by attending.
All this is free of charge to Hampshire Scouts.
The team at Hinton Ampner have filled the available spaces at the moment and will let us know if any more become available. Thank you to everyone that has expressed an interest so far.
Looking to get out into nature this winter and complete a Community Impact project at the same time? We may have a project for you!
The National Trust at Hinton Ampner, near Alresford, are looking for help from community groups to plant trees.
They are currently part way through a massive ‘Reimagining a Hampshire Estate’ project where they are creating new habitat for wildlife, capturing carbon and providing some natural flood measures and creating 60-hectare of woodland.
As part of that they need help to plant 60,000 trees in just over 3 years!
The tree planting period is winter, so between December 2024 and March 2025, they are looking to invite community groups to get involved in helping plant trees.
To get in touch with the Ranger team and volunteer as a section, Scout Group, Explorer Unit, Scout Network or adult volunteer group, contact them through their form. Plus find out about the Community Impact staged activity badge on scouts.org.uk.
The team at Hinton Ampner have filled the available spaces at the moment and will let us know if any more become available. Thank you to everyone that has expressed an interest so far.
