5 ways to volunteer in Scouting

Did you know that Scouting is volunteer-led? World Scouting represents 57 million young people and adult leaders worldwide, and nearly everyone involved is a volunteer!

Adults in Scouting, parents of Scouts, community leaders, educational experts and more generously contribute their free time to build unforgettable experiences that help young people form friendships, learn skills and build lasting memories.

Scout volunteers have a lot to contribute and a lot to gain. From learning new things and building new skills, to making friends while having fun exploring the great outdoors, there is no other experience like it!

If that sounds great to you, then read on to learn about 5 ways you can volunteer in Scouting:

1. Become a Scout Leader

Scouting happens when we have two things: willing young people and adult leaders that support them. These adult leaders provide guidance and adventures for young people in safe and healthy spaces that help them thrive.

If you are keen on local involvement, improving your community and inspiring young people, then being a Scout Leader might be for you!

To become a Scout Leader: Contact your nearest Scout Group and inquire about the recruitment process, which may vary locally. 

2. Help your local Scout Group

With millions of Scout Groups worldwide, we bet your skills could be helpful locally! The great thing about this option is that it can be flexible. If you’re not available weekly, you can help when you are able, supporting Scout Leaders in different tasks.

The list is endless, but here are a few examples to consider:

• Do you have a special skill?
  
  You can help monitor and guide a young person in achieving a related merit badge, or offer a workshop to a group.
  
   
• Have amazing kitchen skills?
  
  We’re certain that Scouts would love to benefit from your food prep or teaching skills at one of their events!
  
   
• Are you great with money?
  
  Different groups, camps and regions are looking for treasurers.
  
   
• Do you love driving?
  
  Groups sometimes need safe drivers and vehicles to help get Scouts to camps, field trips or events.
  
   
• Are you handy and good with tools?
  
  Maintenance is such a helpful skill so that Scout Groups can keep their equipment in great condition.

To become a local volunteer: Contact your nearest Scout Group and inquire about their needs and recruitment process, which may vary locally. Let them know if you have specific interests or skills to explore!

3. Volunteer with your national organization

If you’re interested in expanding from local involvement or helping on the institutional side of things, you can look into your national Scouting structures.

For example, many cities or regions have councils, and every country which is a member of World Scouting has a National Scout Organization (NSO) which coordinates Scouting within that country.

NSOs need dedicated volunteers for roles such as:

• Youth advisors or representatives
• Committee members
• Event planners
• Organisers
• Communicators & marketers
• Contingent leaders for taking Scouts to regional and international events, like camps, jamborees, moots and conferences
• and more!

To become a National Scout Organization (NSO) volunteer: Search for your country under “Where” in our Directory. This will show you your National Scout Organization and their contact information so you can reach out and learn about opportunities in your country.

4. Volunteer with World Scouting

Every three years, World Scouting runs an open call for volunteers across all Scouting regions in 173 member countries!

In 2021, we received over 900 volunteer applications to fill roles across numerous standing committees, task forces and projects in areas like:

• Educational Methods
• Safe From Harm
• Good Governance
• Communications
• Sustainability
• Youth Engagement
• and more

Depending on their projects or tasks, volunteers join World Scouting for different time periods and most work online across timezones. We are grateful to have over 400 volunteers supporting World Scouting throughout each triennium!

To become a World Scouting volunteer: Keep your eyes peeled to World Scouting on social media and apply early during our next open call! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter, and turn on notifications, to be the first to know.

5. Volunteer at a Scout Centre

Scout Centres of Excellence for Nature, Environment and Sustainability (SCENES) are models for environmentalism that host Scouts and other guests from all over! Volunteers often run these centres and their activities in nearly 40 locations worldwide.

For example, the World Scout Centre in Kandersteg, Switzerland is almost entirely run by volunteers! At Kandersteg International Scout Centre (KISC), volunteers do everything from catering and communications to guiding hikes and climbing activities. 

As a volunteer at KISC, you can develop your leadership and management skills, confidence and courage to achieve your goals, all while learning new things every single day in a beautiful environment.

To become a Scout Centre volunteer: Check openings at KISC and apply on their website or contact another SCENES to learn about opportunities with them.

Be prepared to apply

Volunteers will be asked to complete background and/or reference checks within their National Scout Organisation, so make sure you have the documents you need to apply. All World Scouting volunteer positions are contingent on the successful completion of Safe From Harm training.

Let’s create a better world together

As the world’s leading educational youth movement, Scouts make a difference every day in the lives of 57 million people across 173 countries.

However you choose to contribute, know that you are part of a global team providing incredible experiences for young people and contributing to the ultimate goal of Scouting: creating a better world for all!

Scouting is possible because of millions of contributions, big and small.