Age groups in Scouting and Guiding

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Scouting and Guiding organisations are currently divided up into different age groups for the purposes of providing suitable Scouting and Guiding programmes to young people across the world.

Different organisations vary on the precise groupings, but most of them offer Scouting and Guiding from the ages of 6 to 25, in one form or another.

History

Originally, there was only a single section for all members of the Scouting (Scouts) and Guiding (Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) Movements. Typically, these were for 11–17 year olds, although the exact ages varied between the countries and organisations.

Within the first twenty-five years of Scouting its founder, Robert Baden-Powell, saw that there was a demand to provide the Scouting programme for young people both above and below the core age range.

The first section to have a separate programme to the Scouts were the Wolf Cubs. This development allowed the younger brothers of Scouts to participate in similar activities. Later on, a senior section known as Rover Scouts was created. This was mirrored by similar sections being created for the Guide Movement - the [Brownie (Girl Guides)|[Brownie Guide]]s (equivalent to the Wolf Cubs) and Ranger Guides (the senior section).

In addition to the expansion of the age ranges, new programmes which ran parallel to the core Scout method were developed. For example, the Sea Scouts and Air Scouts. Another parallel programme is Extension Scouting, which aims to bring Scouting to young people with special needs.

Over time, the various Scouting and Guiding organisations around the world have continued to adapt their programmes to meet the requirements of the society they function in. However, while the age ranges and names vary, the core principles of the Scout or Guide Method are applied throughout.

Sections around the world

There are a number of similarities in the Scouting and Guiding sections around the world, and the following articles contain generic information on the various age groups:

Scouting Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts Scouts Rover Scouts	Guiding Rainbow Guides Brownie Guides Girl Guides Ranger Guides

In most countries a local organisation, a Scout Group, combines different sections together into a single body.

The following table contains links to articles with information on specific sectional programmes within the various organisations where available:

Antigua and Barbuda

	-	7	11	15
File:Scout antigua and barbuda badge.png	The Girl Guides Association of Antigua and Barbuda
File:Scout antigua and barbuda badge.png	Tweenies 4 to 6 years	Brownies 6 to 10 years	Guides 10 to 15 years	Rangers 15 to 25 years

Argentina

	-	7	11	14	17
File:Logo asociacion guias argentinas.jpg	Asociación Guías Argentinas
File:Logo asociacion guias argentinas.jpg		Alita 7 to 9 years	Guía en Caravana 10 to 12 years	Guía del Sol 13 to 15 years	Guía Mayor 16 to 19 years


	Scouts de Argentina
		Lobatos 7 to 11 years	Scouts 11 to 14 years	Caminantes 14 to 17 years	Rovers 17 to 21 years

Armenia

-	6	11	16
National Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts of Armenia
	Artswikner 6 to 10 years	Arenushner 11 to 15 years	Parmanuhiner 16 to 20 years

Aruba

	-	5	6	7	10	11	15	16	18
	Het Arubaanse Padvindsters Gilde
			Brownie 7 to 11 years			Guide 11 to 17 years		Pioneers 17 to 21 years


File:Scouting Aruba logo.png	Scouting Aruba
File:Scouting Aruba logo.png		Beavers 5 to 7 years		Cubs 7 to 10 years	Scouts 10 to 14 years		Explorers 15 to 18 years		Rovers 18 to 23 years

Australia

-	5	6	9	12	15	18
Guides Australia^[1]
	Section names and age groups are determined by the local organisation 5 to 18 years					Olave Program 18 to 30 years


Scouts Australia^[2]
		Joey Scouts 6 to 8 years	Cub Scouts 8 to 10.5 years	Scouts 10.5 to 15 years	Venturer Scouts 14.5 to 18 years	Rovers 17 to 26 years

Austria

-	7	11	14	17
Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs^[3]
	Wichtel	Guides	Caravelles	Rangers
	Wölflinge 7 to 10 years	Späher 10 to 13 years	Explorers 13 to 16 years	Rovers 16 to 20 years

Bahamas

-	5	7	10	14
The Bahamas Girl Guides Association
	Sunflowers 5 to 6 years	Brownies 7 to 10 years	Guides 10 to 14 years	Rangers 14 to 18 years

Bahrain

-	7	8	12	13	16	18	19
Boy Scouts of Bahrain
		Al-Ashbal 8 to 12 years		Al-Kashaf 12 to 17 years		Al-Matakadem over 17 years


The Girl Guides Association of Bahrain
	Brownie Guides 7 to 11 years		Guides 12 to 15 years		Senior Guides 16 to 18 years		Ranger Guides 18 to 23 years

Bangladesh

-	6	11	17
Bangladesh Scouts
	Cub Scouts 6 to 11 years	Scouts 11 to 17 years	Rover Scouts 17 to 25 years

Barbados

-	5	7	10	14
The Girl Guide Association of Barbados
	Blossoms 5 to 7 years		Girl Guides 10 to 16 years
		Brownies 7 to 11 years		Rangers 14 to 25 years

Belgium

	-	5	6	7	8	10	11	12	14	15	16	17	18
File:FOS Open Scouting logo.svg	FOS Open Scouting
File:FOS Open Scouting logo.svg		Bevers, Zeehonden 5 to 7 years			Welpen 8 to 10 years		JVG, Aspiranten 11 to 13 years		VG, Juniors 14 to 15 years		Seniors 16 to 17 years		Stam over 18 years


File:Guides Catholiques de Belgique logo.png	Guides Catholiques de Belgique
File:Guides Catholiques de Belgique logo.png		Nutons 5 to 7 years		Lutins 7 to 11 years		Guides aventure 11 to 14 years			Guides horizon 15 to 17 years		Routiers over 17 years


File:Les Scouts logo.png	Les Scouts
File:Les Scouts logo.png			Baladins 6 to 8 years		Louveteaux 8 to 12 years			Eclaireurs 12 to 16 years			Pionniers 16 to 18 years		Routiers over 18 years


File:Scoutsengidsenvlaanderenlogo.png	Scouts en Gidsen Vlaanderen
File:Scoutsengidsenvlaanderenlogo.png			Kapoenen, Zeehondjes 6 to 7 years		Welpen, Kabouters, Zeewelpen 8 to 10 years		Jonggivers, Scheepsmakkers 11 to 13 years		Givers, Zeeverkenners, Zeegidsen 14 to 16 years			Jins, Loodsen 17 years


File:Scouts et Guides Pluralistes de Belgique logo.png	Scouts et Guides Pluralistes de Belgique
File:Scouts et Guides Pluralistes de Belgique logo.png		Castors 5 to 8 years			Louveteaux 8 to 12 years			Guides, Scouts 12 to 15 years		Pionniers 15 to 18 years			Aînés 18 to 21 years


	Scouts d’Europe Belgique / Europascouts België^[4]
			Castors / Bevers 6 to 8 years		Louveteaux / Welpen			Eclaireurs / Verkenners				Routiers / Voortrekkers
			Castors / Bevers 6 to 8 years		Louvettes / Welpinnen 8 to 12 years			Eclaireuses / Gidsen 12 to 17 years				Guides aînées / Voortreksters over 17 years

Benin

-	6	8	11	15	16	18
Guides du Bénin
		Jeanettes 8 to 11 years	Guides 11 to 16 years		Guides âinées 16 years and older


Scoutisme Béninois
	Louveteaux / Louvettes 6 to 12 years			Compagnons / Compagnes 15 to 19 years
			Eclaireurs / Eclaireuses 11 to 16 years			Routiers / Guides 18 to 35 years

Bolivia

-	6	10	14	18
Asociación de Scouts de Bolivia
	Lobatos 6 to 10 years	Exploradores 11 to 13 years	Pioneros 14 to 17 years	Rovers 18 to 20 years

Bosnia and Herzegovina

-	8	11
Council of Scout Associations in Bosnia and Herzegovina
	Poletarac 7 to 10 years	Izviđači 11 to 20 years

Brazil

-	6	7	9	10	12	15	18	21
Federação de Bandeirantes do Brasil
	Ciranda 6 to 8 years		B1 9 to 11 years		B2 12 to 15 years	Guia 15 to 21 years


União dos Escoteiros do Brasil
Mascote		Lobinho		Escoteiro		Sênior	Pioneiro	Chefe
Mascote under 7 years		Lobinha 7 to 9 years		Escoteira 10 to 14 years		Guia 15 to 17 years	Pioneira 18 to 20 years	Chefe 21 years and older

Brunei

-	7	12	17	21
Persekutuan Pengakap Negara Brunei Darussalam
	Cubs 7 to 11 years	Scouts 12 to 16 years	Venturers 17 to 21 years	Rovers 21 to 30 years

Bulgaria

-	7	12	18
Organizatsia na Bulgarskite Skauty
	Cubs 7 to 11 years	Scouts 12 to 18 years	Rovers 18 to 35 years

Burkina Faso

-	7	12	17
Fédération Burkinabé du Scoutisme
Pré-Louveteaux younger than 7 years	Louvetaux 7 to 12 years	Éclaireurs 12 to 17 years	Aînés 17 to 25 years

References

↑ "Guides Australia, How is Guiding in Australia organised?". Guides Australia. http://www.guidesaus.org.au/page.php?pageid=24#Organised. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
↑ "Scouts Australia, Sections in Scouting". Scouts Australia. http://www.scouts.com.au/main.asp?iMenuID=758. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
↑ "Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs, Our Four Age Levels". Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs. http://www.ppoe.at/int/about/03.html. Retrieved 2006-12-12.
↑ "Scouts d’Europe Belgique / Europascouts België". Scouts d’Europe Belgique / Europascouts België. http://www.scouts-europe.be. Retrieved 2008-02-02.

[g_aus_sections-1] "Guides Australia, How is Guiding in Australia organised?". Guides Australia. http://www.guidesaus.org.au/page.php?pageid=24#Organised. Retrieved 2006-12-12.

[aus_sections-2] "Scouts Australia, Sections in Scouting". Scouts Australia. http://www.scouts.com.au/main.asp?iMenuID=758. Retrieved 2006-12-12.

[ost_sections-3] "Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs, Our Four Age Levels". Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs. http://www.ppoe.at/int/about/03.html. Retrieved 2006-12-12.

[GSE-B-4] "Scouts d’Europe Belgique / Europascouts België". Scouts d’Europe Belgique / Europascouts België. http://www.scouts-europe.be. Retrieved 2008-02-02.

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Age groups in Scouting and Guiding

Contents

History