Rainbows or Squirrels, or neither?

[Luna222]

DD will be old enough to start Rainbows next year, and as I did Rainbows and Brownies as a child I was automatically going to sign her up. But I have a baby boy, and was recently reminded that girls can join the Scouts, so now I am wondering if it makes more sense for DD to join the Squirrels instead, and that way they both go down the Scouts route.

So my questions are:

• What is the difference between the two? I am wondering what makes Girl Guides relevant when girls can join the scouts.
• Would you say it makes sense for them to do the same? There is 3 years between them so it doesn't look like they'll ever be in the same group together, but maybe it makes more sense logistically (I can't actually find info on the days/times of the groups). Do boys and girls wear the same uniform?
• What do kids actually get out of these groups? To be honest when I look back at my own time in Rainbows/Brownies all I can remember doing is decorating rich tea biscuits with icing. There are lots of other activities my kids are (or will be) doing when they turn 4/5 so is it even worth adding this?

Thanks

https://pawprintfamily.com/product-category/badges/?filter_product-type=challenge-badges&orderby=date

I'd look into Pawprint Badges and just do those. I dislike the religious aspect of Rainbows, Guides and Scouting.

I think what makes the difference in any youth group of this type is the leaders. Ask around - what activities do they do, do they have a solid system of parent/other volunteers to help?

There are other options but it's true that the national support network in Scouting/Guiding is good. I wanted a less uniformed setup and a mixed sex group, which the local Scouts weren't really providing, so I went for Woodcraft Folk.

Never heard of the Squirrels, but I recommend the Beavers, then cubs and scouts. My DC had the non-religious oath at investment. They are asked to attend church at remembrance but we don’t go. Other than that, no religious elements at all. In my experience they get lots out of it. Lots of fun activities, days out, camps, outdoor activity skills etc.

The benefits of the girl guiding route is that 'sisterhood' of spending time with other females. In a good group they should get to do as many adventurous activities as the scouts.

Now, in a good scouting group where the leaders treat both sexes equally it shouldn't make a difference but in some of the ones I've seen the boys rule the roost with a "boys will be boys" mentality and the girls can be side lined or retreat a little.

DD went to a Bushcraft club instead which was mixed.

Squirrels are junior beavers

Aww I'm disappointed, just learned Squirrels are for ages 4-6, Beavers starts at 6, and there are precisely zero Squirrel troupes near me.

I am wondering what makes Girl Guides relevant when girls can join the scouts.
Also, what males Girl Guides relevant when penis-havers can join the supposed single sex organisation.
here

Might be worth looking at what the waiting lists are like for both in your area, and going by what's available. Here they need to be on the list by 2yo, to get a rainbow's place at 5.

Dd has just finished brownies and I'm a brownie leader. I like how the girls support each other, we do different kinds of things. Mainly craft but also play games and get badges. It's not like when I was a brownie. We're lucky to have a decent brown owl who actually does things with them. DD's friend (our friends' dd) goes to cubs and scouts and they do more camp and adventure stuff

It's very dependent on the individual GirlGuiding units - but in my limited experience, Rainbows/Brownies can be very craft-heavy. I run a Beavers Colony and over the years we've had a few girls switch to us from Guiding because they want to do less sticking and colouring in. (And more den building, fire lighting, hiking etc.) However, there will be Guiding units who also do all the outdoorsy stuff that Scouting groups do. Maybe try both, and see which your DD prefers?

My daughter is the least ‘girly’ girl you can imagine and has gone through Rainbows and Brownies and is now in Guides. The leaders are real adventurers and there is definitely a feminist element and a sense of embracing girls having the chance to be in all female environments. She has been to camps, fire building and all sorts of indoor and outdoor games. I know that Brown Owl is a Christian but this is not pushed at all, and God is no longer mentioned in the promise. My daughter is an outspoken non believer with two mums and this has not been an issue at all.

She still loves attending.

She is neurodivergent and finds social interaction challenging; it is the only activity she has stuck to.

I'd say rainbows simply because I suspect when you check you won't actually have any squirrel groups near you and if you do then getting a space will be almost impossible. We live in a very large city and have less than 10 squirrel groups here covering the whole area and none of them have spaces for new starters.

Different Guiding and Scouting groups are all very different.. it completely depends on the leaders strengths and facilities. Our local Rainbows and Brownies is very craft based... whereas the Beavers and Cubs make full use of the field/woods that the village Scout group owns.

Guiding is getting a bit of backlash at the moment over the decision to sell/close all their outdoor activity centres... but it doesn't stop groups using other outdoor facilities.

I'd prefer a mixed sex group. Also the activities may differ, though this may depend on the group. Scouts did a lot of hikes, wide games, bushcraft.

My eldest is in squirrels and loves it. DC2 will start after Christmas.
for me it’s the opportunities that come with scouting. Even squirrels can camp-guiding seems to not do this before brownies.

group/all section camps also appeal when both can go off for the weekend. I was a beaver leader for years and our annual Christmas camp was always fully
booked with parents sending all their kids through varying sections for a December weekend off.

I'd look into Pawprint Badges and just do those. I dislike the religious aspect of Rainbows, Guides and Scouting.

If you want religious activities then there are plenty of organised groups, certainly within the local churches, and I would guess within all the main religions in your area, but that isn’t what scouting and guiding are about.

The Pawprints badges are great and can be used to supplement the programme.

This isn't a group though is it?

I'd have a word with parents with older DC to see what the local brownie/guides and cub/scouts are like and how easy it is to get a place. In my area, the brownies/guides mainly do craft/indoor games with few trips away etc and badges whilst the cubs/scouts do loads of hiking/bushcraft etc and loads of opportunities to go on camps etc. There are always places available at brownies/guides but very rarely places at cubs/scouts because children who have been in the group beavers first are given priority. In my area, the wise choice is to put your DC name down for Beavers early (there is quite a waiting list and they start at 6) and try Beavers/cubs in the knowledge that if your child does not like it they can easily get a place in brownies/guides but they couldn't do it the other way round.

I would see what’s available. There are no squirrels groups locally for me.
Rainbows can do camps and ours do a lot of outdoor/adventure stuff. Also crafts and other things. But we do not camp because they start at 4 and I’m not about to take 4 year olds on sleepovers. It’s far too young. For the most part they would not cope even age 6 alot would struggle.

I have girls that do both guiding and scouting and a friend who is both a rainbow and a beavers leader. Both have their benefits and it really does depend on who is running the groups

Not sure about Scouting but there is no longer a religious element in Guiding.

As good as the Pawprint badges are, they are not a substitute for the opportunities kids get by enrolling in scouts or guides. While groups can vary, most have little to no religious element at all.

The similarities between scouts and guides are greater than the differences. What they do at meetings will vary, depending on the individual leaders.

My own personal preference was for scouts, although, as a cub leader and ex-guide and ex-venture scout, I am somewhat biased. However, my DD tried Rainbows, and then came to cubs with me once she was old enough, which she definitely preferred. She has just left Explorers at the age of 18, and has made some lovely friends there.

A good friend is both a beaver leader, and a brownie leader. She finds that the way the organisations are run means that there is a natural leaning towards scouts doing more adventurous activities/camps/trips etc. That's not to say that the guides don't do this, but it does seem to be easier for the scouts.

Just throwing in another option and suggesting Badgers from St John's ambulance. It's for both genders and DD has absolutely loved her time there. Very similar set up to brownies etc with the badges but also very useful with the first aid / health side.

I was in the rainbows, brownies and then guides for a couple of weeks and then moved to scouts when they first allowed girls to join. I enjoyed being a scout so much more, back when I was a doing brownies etc all we did was crafts and I wanted to do more hiking and building fires etc. There weren't many girls when I was a scout but I am sure it is more even now. I am not religious but we only ever had to do main holiday stuff for scouts. I can't wait to sign my eldest up to beavers and looking at the comments from this post I better check to see if there is a wait list!

Re religion in Scouts... its really just Remembrance Sunday these days for most groups. Some areas have St Georges as well (but the religion side is muted in that too). They learn about a range of festivals from all cultures.

There is Promises for all religions and no religion.

@Samkey get em on the list now! Don't wait until they're 6.