The Big Birthday Adventure

Please note: this is not a West Region event. For full details and to register, please visit the original event page: https://scouts.scot/event/the-big-birthday-adventure/

The Big Birthday Adventure will bring Squirrels, Beavers and Cubs from across Scotland together for a national weekend of adventure, camping and celebration.

This special event marks three major milestones:
5 years of Squirrels
40 years of Beavers
110 years of Cubs
Squirrels, Beavers & Cubs will enjoy a programme of outdoor adventure, creative activities and traditional Scouting skills, delivered in partnership with the team at Fordell Firs.
Alongside the activities, there will be plenty of birthday celebration moments, bringing everyone together to recognise the incredible impact these sections have had on Scouting across Scotland.

Join the Volunteer Team
We’re looking for enthusiastic Young Leaders and Adult Volunteers to help bring The Big Birthday Adventure to life. Whether you enjoy supporting activities, working with young people or helping things run smoothly behind the scenes, there’s a role for you. For more information and to apply, please visit the Volunteer Team Application Form here.

What to Expect
The Big Birthday Adventure will feature a fun and active programme of outdoor experiences, giving young people the chance to try new activities and meet Scouts from across the country.

Activities may include things such as:

Climbing

Archery

Orienteering

Fire lighting

Backwoods cooking

Low ropes

Team challenges

Creative and traditional Scouting activities
And of course, no Scouting celebration would be complete without a campfire and some birthday surprises along the way.

Section Attendance
Cubs and Beavers will take part in a residential camping experience. Packs and Colonies attending should bring their own tents for sleeping throughout the event. The event will be fully catered, allowing leaders to focus on enjoying the experience with their young people.
Squirrels will attend for a Saturday daytime experience, taking part in activities before returning home later that day.

Arrival and departure times for each section are as follows:

Cubs – Arrive Friday evening and depart Sunday afternoon
Beavers – Arrive Saturday morning and depart Sunday afternoon
Squirrels – Arrive Saturday morning and depart Saturday afternoon

Cost to attend the event

Participant

Group Volunteer / Young Leader

Cubs
£80 per Cub
£35 per volunteer

Beavers
£55 per Beaver
£20 per volunteer

Squirrels
£30 per Squirrel
£5 per volunteer

Bookings for the event
To allow as many Scout Groups as possible to take part, applications must be submitted by Scout Groups, with one application per section per group. Sections attending the event are limited to the following maximum sizes:

Section

Maximum Young People

Cubs

Up to 16 Cubs

Beavers

Up to 12 Beavers

Squirrels

Up to 12 Squirrels
If your group runs more than one section of the same type (for example two Cub Packs), only one application may be submitted for that section. Groups do not need to bring the full number but cannot exceed the maximum size for their section.
Applications are now closed. Successful groups will be informed via email.
Please note that applications are not allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. All applications received before the closing date will be included in the selection process.
Applying does not guarantee a place at the event.
If you have any questions about the event, please email [email protected]

How Place Are Allocated

The Big Birthday Adventure has space for approximately:
300 Cubs
200 Beavers
100 Squirrels
As a result, we expect the event to be oversubscribed.
To ensure the event reflects the diversity of Scouting across Scotland, places will be allocated so that young people from all eight Scottish Scout Regions are represented. You can find out more in the Places Allocation Policy for this event.

Important Information for Groups
Because places will be allocated through a ballot, we encourage groups not to confirm attendance with their young people or families until the selection process has been completed.  This helps avoid disappointment if your section is not selected.
We also ask that no money is collected from families until your section’s place has been confirmed.
Groups will be notified whether they have been successful during the week beginning 11th May.
The Big Birthday Adventure will be a fantastic opportunity for young people from across Scotland to come together, try new activities, camp with friends and celebrate the birthdays of our junior sections.
Join us as we celebrate the past, present and future of Squirrels, Beavers and Cubs!