Explorer Belt, Austria 2025 Anne Field

Some may think me a little crazy, but I’m about to embark on a journey, an opportunity in supporting and developing young people (Explorers and Scout Networkers, aged 16+) to achieve their Explorer Belt. One of the most challenging awards in Scouting for our young people is The Explorer Belt, a 10 day expedition in a foreign country, with an a minimum travelling time of 50 hours (in this case an average of 10km per day) whilst completing 1 major and 10 minor challenges, on a very small budget. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity for these young people. I’m joining a team of amazing volunteers to take 80ish young people from all over Scotland, whom otherwise may not get the chance, to Austria to do their Explorer Belt. For me it’ll be a first time Scouting overseas and will stretch me in many way, from a long coach journey (with stinky yooths) to mentoring in the planning of expeditions and providing ‘In country support’ and dealing with any of the things that might go wrong. Our young people will have to raise around £3K to go on the trip, and they don’t fund the leaders, it’s up to us to raise funds to enable us to facilitate the event taking place. Some of the cost I’m committed to funding myself, but the rest I need to set an example and do fundraising and am therefore reaching out to you guys, my people, to get my funding over the line.