Shackleton Explorer Scouts

Kandersteg Fundraising Disco

24th February 2026 by Sean Edwards

Last weekend, Shackleton ESU hosted a fantastic Squirrel, Beaver and Cub Fundraising Disco at 4th Worth – and what an afternoon it was! The hall was filled with energy, excitement and plenty of dancing as our young people came together to support the Shackleton ESU expediom fundraising. With music pumping and disco lights flashing, Squirrels, Beavers and Cubs took to the dance floor with enthusiasm, showing off their best moves and encouraging one another along the way. The afternoon was packed with fun games that kept everyone smiling and laughing. From lively challenges to group activities, there was something for …

First Aid Training Evening: Ready for the Season Ahead

9th February 2026 by Sean Edwards

As expedition season approaches, Shackleton ESU members gathered for an essential first aid training evening, reinforcing the skills and confidence needed to keep teams safe in challenging environments. Expeditions, by their nature, take us away from immediate help. Whether we’re supporting remote travel, endurance events, or adventurous training, the ability to respond calmly and effectively in a medical emergency is a vital part of what we do. This session was about refreshing core knowledge, practising practical skills, and making sure we’re ready—just in case. Managing Heat-Related Conditions With warmer months and demanding activity ahead, we began by covering heat-related illnesses. …

County Awards

9th February 2026 by Sean Edwards

Shackleton ESU are proud to congratulate our Explorers and Young Leaders who were recognised at the County Awards this weekend. Well done to those who achieved their Chief Scout’s Gold, Platinum and Diamond Awards, marking significant milestones in their Scouting journey. Congratulations also to members who received their Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards, reflecting commitment, resilience and personal challenge. We are especially proud of our Young Leaders who were presented with their belt buckles, recognising the vital role they play in supporting younger sections and developing their leadership skills. An excellent achievement for everyone involved – you are a real credit to Shackleton ESU.

Frost Camp – Shackleton ESU

8th February 2026 by Sean Edwards

This weekend, members of Shackleton Explorer Scout Unit attended a Frost Camp at Beacon Hill Campsite, camping alongside Titans ESU. Despite challenging winter conditions, the camp was highly successful and thoroughly enjoyed by all who took part. The programme included a wide range of activities designed to challenge and develop skills. Explorers took part in a night hike, caving, and rifle shooting, as well as carrying out essential campsite maintenance tasks. These activities contributed towards members’ Chief Scout’s Award (CSA) requirements and provided valuable opportunities for teamwork and practical learning. Alongside the structured activities, there was ample time for shared …

Murder Mystery Night at Shackleton ESU

3rd February 2026 by Sean Edwards

Shackleton Explorer Scout Unit held an engaging murder mystery evening at last night’s meeting. Members were divided into teams and challenged to examine clues, question suspects and work collaboratively to determine the outcome of the scenario. While none of the teams were able to conclusively solve the mystery, several came very close, demonstrating strong teamwork, analytical thinking and perseverance throughout the activity. The evening proved to be both challenging and enjoyable, encouraging participation and discussion among all those involved. The meeting also marked an important occasion for the unit with the formal investiture of four new members into Shackleton ESU. …

Shackleton ESU – Spring Term 2026 Programme

5th January 2026 by Sean Edwards

We’re pleased to share the Spring 2026 programme for the unit. We’ve got a great mix of activities planned over the coming months, including skills nights, challenges, and expedition preparation. Please take a look through the programme below and make a note of the key dates. More details will be shared closer to each session, and let us know if you have any questions. Programme Event Name Date Time Leader in Charge No Meeting – Leaders Planning 05/01/2026 19:30 – 21:30 Leaders Turf Zones 12/01/2026 19:30 – 21:30 Sean Trading Post 19/01/2026 19:30 – 21:30 Jack Kandersteg Activity Planning & …

End of Term Fun at Crawley Clip N Climb

16th December 2025 by Sean Edwards

Yesterday marked our final Shackleton ESU meeting of the term, and what a fantastic way to finish with an action-packed session at Crawley Clip N Climb! Everyone threw themselves into the challenge, showed great teamwork, and had lots of fun scaling the walls. It was brilliant to see such enthusiasm and confidence to end the term on a high. We would like to say a huge thank you to all our young people and families for your continued support this term. Your commitment and positivity make Shackleton ESU such a great unit! We wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and …

Mocktail Mayhem

10th December 2025 by Sean Edwards

This Monday, Shackleton ESU swapped compasses and camp stoves for shakers and syrups as we hosted our very own mocktail-making evening, a night full of creativity, chaos, and questionable flavour combinations. We kicked off by splitting into teams and handing out mystery recipe cards, each containing a different mocktail for the Explorers to recreate. With recipes in hand, everyone headed off on a field trip to Tesco, where the hunt for ingredients began. From exotic fruit juices to mint, mixers, and a few unexpected extras, baskets quickly filled with everything needed for an evening of mixology. Back at HQ, the …

Wii Games Evening

2nd December 2025 by Sean Edwards

Shackleton ESU held a Wii Sports evening last night, providing members with an opportunity to take part in a relaxed and accessible activity suitable for all experience levels. The session included a range of games such as bowling, tennis, and boxing, allowing participants to rotate through different activities at their own pace. The atmosphere throughout the evening remained positive and inclusive, with members supporting one another and engaging in friendly competition. The use of Wii Sports allowed everyone to participate equally, whether they preferred active gameplay or observing and cheering others on. To accompany the activities, freshly made popcorn was …

Social Media Evening

27th November 2025 by Sean Edwards

This Monday, Shackleton ESU dived into the digital world with an engaging Social Media Evening, giving our Explorers the chance to learn more about how the platforms they use every day really work behind the scenes. To kick things off, we explored how social media companies make money, looking at advertising, targeted content, and the algorithms that match posts to users. The Explorers discussed why certain videos, memes or ads appear in their feeds and how platforms keep people scrolling. It was a great opportunity to think critically about the digital environments we’re all part of. To bring these ideas …

Lighting Up Our Skills: Shackleton Explorers Build Electronic Christmas Trees!

17th November 2025 by Sean Edwards

This week Shackleton Explorers swapped tents for toolkits and got hands-on with a brand-new challenge: building and soldering our own electronic Christmas tree circuits. It was a fantastic mix of creativity, concentration, and practical skills — and the results looked brilliant! 🎄 What We Did Using electronic Christmas tree kits, each Explorer built a small LED circuit mounted on a festive tree-shaped board. After a quick safety briefing, we learned how to read the circuit board, identify components like LEDs, resistors, and battery clips, and plan out the order of assembly. Then the fun really started — heating up the soldering irons and getting …

Shackleton ESU Awards and DofE Report Back Evening 2025

11th November 2025 by Sean Edwards

Shackleton Explorer Scout Unit came together last night for our annual Awards and DofE Report Back Evening, celebrating the achievements and adventures of our Explorers over the past year. The evening began with presentations from our Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Bronze, Silver, and Gold groups, who shared stories, photos, and memories from their expedition experiences. From challenging weather to teamwork and campfire laughs, it was inspiring to hear how each group developed resilience and leadership through their journeys. We were also delighted to recognise a number of significant achievements within the Unit: Each award represents many hours of commitment, learning, …

Safeguarding and Safety in Scouting

Reporting safety incidents, illness and emergencies

Reporting safeguarding concerns