Volunteering with Scouts is one of the most rewarding things you can do. You don't need any previous experience — just enthusiasm, a bit of time and a willingness to help young people discover what they're capable of.
Whether you're helping run weekly meetings, organising camps, managing finances or supporting behind the scenes — every role matters and every volunteer makes a difference.
The Beginning: Finding My Place in Moray District Scouts
I didn’t join Moray District Scouts because I was looking for recognition or a title — I joined because I wanted young people in our area to have opportunities that felt bigger than what they saw day‑to‑day. Opportunities to grow, to explore, to laugh, to struggle a little, and to come out the other side proud of themselves.
Volunteering started small: helping with sessions, supporting events, stepping in where needed. But Moray has a way of pulling you in. Before long, I found myself not just assisting but shaping programmes, leading events, and becoming part of the district’s rhythm.
Building Something Real: 2nd Keith Beithir Explorers
Launching and leading 2nd Keith Beithir Explorers has been one of the most meaningful parts of my volunteering journey. It wasn’t just about creating a unit — it was about creating a home for young people who needed a space to grow into themselves.
We built a culture of:
Adventure — real challenge, real mountains, real mud
Belonging — a place where every young person mattered
Pride — in our community, our district, and our identity.
Watching the Explorers step up, support each other, and take ownership of their experiences has been the kind of reward that stays with you.
Kandersteg wasn’t just a trip — it was a milestone. Months of planning, fundraising, organising, and hoping it would all come together. And it did, in the most unforgettable way.
From the Gemmipass to Oeschinensee, from the chaos of the chalet to the quiet pride of seeing 91 Moray District Scouts stand tall in the Alps, it was a reminder of why volunteering matters. Young people discovered confidence they didn’t know they had. Leaders found new strengths. And as a district, we created memories that will last decades.
Volunteering within Moray District Scouts has given me:
A community that feels like family
Young people whose achievements make every hour worth it
Moments of challenge that shaped me as a leader
Pride — not loud, but steady and realIt’s not always easy.
There are late nights, early mornings, endless admin, and the occasional moment of “why did I agree to this”. But then you see a young person achieve something they thought was impossible, and suddenly everything makes sense again.
I’m excited for what’s ahead — more adventures, more growth, more opportunities for Moray’s young people to shine. Volunteering isn’t a role; it’s a journey. And I’m proud to walk it with this district.
Taking on the role of SOWA Trainer and Mentor (Scotland) has opened a new door in my volunteering journey — one that stretches far beyond Moray but still feels deeply connected to everything I’ve learned here.
Supporting the Network Section
One of the things I’m most excited about is helping strengthen the Network section across Scotland. Network is often the bridge between youth and adult volunteering — a space where young adults can explore leadership, adventure, and community on their own terms. I want to help make that bridge stronger, clearer, and more accessible.
My goal is to support Network members to:
Build meaningful, youth‑led projects
Access outdoor adventure confidently and safely
Feel connected to the wider Scottish Scouting community
See themselves as leaders, not just participants.
Being at Gilwell: A Moment of Realisation
Standing at Gilwell Park as part of the SOWA team was one of those moments where everything clicked. Gilwell has a way of reminding you that you’re part of something bigger — a movement with history, purpose, and heart.
Being there made me realise:
How far I’ve come since those early volunteering days in Moray
How much potential Scotland has for growth in outdoor adventure
How ready I am to help shape that future
It wasn’t loud pride. It was quiet, steady, “I can do this” pride — the kind that stays with you.
Being part of the Moray Scouts Target Team has been one of the most rewarding and skill‑building parts of my volunteering journey. It’s a role that demands calm leadership, precision, and a deep commitment to safety — and it’s one I’ve grown into over many years of training, practice, and hands‑on experience.
NSRA Air Rifles YPS Instructor
Achieving my NSRA Air Rifles YPS Instructor qualification was a milestone that changed how I support young people on the range. It gave me the confidence and the competence to deliver structured, safe, and engaging sessions where young people can learn focus, discipline, and self‑belief. There’s something powerful about watching a young person steady their breathing, trust themselves, and hit a target they didn’t think they could reach.
Archery Permit
This year, earning my Archery Permit added another layer to what I can offer. Archery is a different kind of challenge — quieter, more meditative, but just as empowering. It teaches patience, control, and confidence in a way few other activities do. Being able to bring that experience to Moray’s young people feels like opening a new door for them, one that leads to pride, calm, and achievement.
Long‑Standing Tomahawk Training
And then there’s Tomahawks — a skill I’ve been involved with for years. It’s one of those activities that looks bold and dramatic from the outside, but at its heart it’s about technique, respect, and responsibility. My long‑standing training means I can help young people approach it safely, confidently, and with the right mindset. When they finally land that first throw, the look on their face says everything.
Together, these skills allow me to create a space where young people feel capable, trusted, and proud of themselves. The Target Team isn’t just about hitting a mark — it’s about helping young people discover strengths they didn’t know they had.
Being part of Corda Leonum Rovers has become one of the most grounding and joyful parts of my Scouting life. It’s a space where adventure meets tradition, where service meets friendship, and where you’re reminded that Scouting doesn’t end when you turn 18 — it simply evolves.Corda Leonum isn’t just a Rover crew; it’s a family you choose. A group bound by shared values, shared challenges, and a shared belief in doing good quietly, consistently, and with heart. With them, I’ve found:
Community — a circle of people who lift each other up
Adventure — the kind that pushes you, but always with support
Tradition — the rituals and symbols that remind you why Scouting matters
Being a Rover with Corda Leonum has shaped how I lead, how I volunteer, and how I show up for others. It’s given me confidence, perspective, and a sense of belonging that stretches far beyond Moray or Scotland.
And in many ways, it’s the perfect complement to my new role with SOWA. The Rovers remind me what young adults can achieve when they’re trusted, empowered, and connected — exactly what I want to help strengthen in the Network section across Scotland.
Moray District Scouts gave me my foundation — and my Explorers gave me my purpose.
They’re the reason I push harder, plan bigger, and believe so strongly in what Scouting can do. Watching them grow from unsure teenagers into confident young adults has shaped the kind of leader I’ve become. Their energy, their humour, their resilience — it’s what keeps me grounded and inspired.
Corda Leonum Rovers gave me my family — the people who remind me that adventure and service don’t stop when you turn 18. They’ve shown me what community looks like when it’s chosen, not assigned, and how powerful it is to belong to something that spans countries, traditions, and generations.And now SOWA gives me the chance to help shape the future — to support the Network section, to strengthen outdoor adventure across Scotland, and to make sure young adults have the same opportunities for growth, challenge, and belonging that shaped me.
The Target Team — and the skills I’ve built through air rifles, archery, and tomahawks — gave me my discipline and confidence as a leader.
my Explorers, my Rovers, my district, my country — all connected by the same quiet belief that young people deserve adventure, support, and a place to belong.
Karen Fotheringhame - Explorer Section Leader
We have an amazing team making sure our young people get what they need. We follow the Scout team model:
A team of volunteers who work together to make sure Scouts is run safely and legally.
The Section Team plans, delivers, and runs quality programmes safely.
The Group Leadership Team helps volunteers across all Sections work well together and feel motivated.