2nd Beeston Sea Scouts
BEST FOR
Ages 4-18
WHERE
Nottingham
What it’s like
Weekly Scouting sections for ages 4 to 18, with camping and water-based activities out on Barton Island.
This is a proper Sea Scouts setup, split into sections by age, each meeting weekly to work through the sort of adventurous stuff that makes ordinary after-school clubs look a bit tame. Beavers takes 6 to 8 year olds, Cubs 8 to 10 and a half, Scouts 10 and a half to 14, and Explorers run from 14 up to 18. They mention plans to start a Squirrels section for 4 to 6 year olds too, so the youngest end of the age range is one to watch for rather than one that's fully up and running yet.
The land base is Lilac Grove HQ in Beeston Rylands, a hall that seats around 50 with a small kitchen (no oven, so don't expect a cooked tea) and separate male and female toilets. The bit that actually sets this group apart is Barton Island on the River Trent, near Attenborough Nature Reserve. That's where the water-based activities and camping happen, with two landing stages, a storm shelter and huts dotted about. It's proper camping too, with no running water or mains electricity out there, which is exactly the kind of detail that either sounds brilliant or puts you off depending on your tolerance for a compost loo.
Worth knowing before you get excited: Beavers, Cubs and Scouts currently have waiting lists, so this isn't a turn-up-this-week sort of activity. If your child's keen on badges, boats and sleeping somewhere without a plug socket, it's worth getting the name down and being patient about it.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 6 to 18, with a Squirrels section for 4 to 6 year olds planned
- Beavers, Cubs and Scouts have waiting lists, so join up early
- The kitchen at HQ has no oven, so meals are kept simple
- Barton Island camping has no running water or mains electricity
- A Squirrels section for 4 to 6 year olds is planned but not yet running
Plan your visit
What ages can join?
Sections run from Beavers at 6 to 8 through to Explorers at 14 to 18. There are plans to add a Squirrels section for 4 to 6 year olds as well.
Is there a waiting list?
Yes, Beavers, Cubs and Scouts all currently have waiting lists, so it's not a same-week start.
What happens at Barton Island?
It's the water base on the River Trent near Attenborough Nature Reserve, used for water-based activities and camping. There's no running water or mains electricity there, so it's proper outdoor camping rather than glamping.
What's the HQ like?
Lilac Grove HQ in Beeston Rylands has a main hall seating around 50, a small kitchen without an oven, and separate male and female toilets.
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