Age groups in Scouting and Guiding

Scouting and Guiding organisations are currently divided up into different age groups for the purposes of providing suitable Scouting and Guiding programmes to young people across the world.

Different organisations vary on the precise groupings, but most of them offer Scouting and Guiding from the ages of 6 to 25, in one form or another.

History

Originally, there was only a single section for all members of the Scouting (Scouts) and Guiding (Girl Guides and Girl Scouts) Movements. Typically, these were for 11–17 year olds, although the exact ages varied between the countries and organisations.

Within the first twenty-five years of Scouting its founder, Robert Baden-Powell, saw that there was a demand to provide the Scouting programme for young people both above and below the core age range.

The first section to have a separate programme to the Scouts were the Wolf Cubs. This development allowed the younger brothers of Scouts to participate in similar activities. Later on, a senior section known as Rover Scouts was created. This was mirrored by similar sections being created for the Guide Movement - the Brownie Guides (equivalent to the Wolf Cubs) and Ranger Guides (the senior section).

In addition to the expansion of the age ranges, new programmes which ran parallel to the core Scout method were developed. For example, the Sea Scouts and Air Scouts. Another parallel programme is Extension Scouting, which aims to bring Scouting to young people with special needs.

Over time, the various Scouting and Guiding organisations around the world have continued to adapt their programmes to meet the requirements of the society they function in. However, while the age ranges and names vary, the core principles of the Scout or Guide Method are applied throughout.

Sections around the world

There are a number of similarities in the Scouting and Guiding sections around the world, and the following articles contain generic information on the various age groups:

Scouting Beaver Scouts Cub Scouts Scouts Rover Scouts

Guiding Rainbow Guides Brownie Guides Girl Guides Ranger Guides

In most countries a local organisation, a Scout Group, combines different sections together into a single body.

The following table contains links to articles with information on specific sectional programmes within the various organisations where available:

Country	Organisation	Junior Section(s)							Core Section							Senior Section(s)
		-	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	+
Australia	Guides Australia File:Guides Australia.svg		Age grouping is determined by local organisations, as is naming of the sections Guides are 5 to 18 years
	Scouts Australia			Joey Scouts 6 to 8 years			Cub Scouts 8 to 10.5 years			Scouts 10.5 to 15 years				Venturer Scouts 14.5 to 18 years			Rovers 17 to 26 years
Austria	Pfadfinder und Pfadfinderinnen Österreichs File:Austria PPO.svg				Wichtel (Brownies) 7 to 10 years				Guides 10 to 13 years			Caravelles 13 to 16 years			Rangers 16 to 20 years
					Wölflinge (Cub Scouts) 7 to 10 years				Späher 10 to 13 years			Explorers 13 to 16 years			Rovers 16 to 20 years
Bahrain	Boy Scouts of Bahrain File:Boy Scouts of Bahrain membership badge.svg					Al-Ashbal 8 to 12 years					Al-Kashaf 12 to 17 years					Al-Matakadem over 17 years
	The Girl Guides Association of Bahrain				Brownie Guides 7 to 11 years					Guides 12 to 15 years				Senior Guides 16 to 18 years			Ranger Guides 18 to 23 years
Brazil	Union of Brazilian Scouts File:Brazil UEB.svg	Mascote (Mascot) under 7 years			Lobinho (Cub Scout) 7 to 9 years			Escoteiro (Scout) 10 to 14 years				Sênior (Senior) 15 to 17 years				Pioneiro (Pioneer) 18 to 20 years			Chefe (Chief) over 21 years
		Mascote (Mascot) under 7 years			Lobinha (Cub Guide) 7 to 9 years			Escoteira (Scout) 10 to 14 years				Guia (Guide) 15 to 17 years				Pioneira (Pioneer) 18 to 20 years			Chefe (Chief) over 21 years
Canada	Girl Guides of Canada File:Canada Guides no label.svg		Sparks 5 to 6 years		Brownies 7 to 8 years		Guides 9 to 11 years			Pathfinders 12 to 15 years				Cadets,Junior Leaders,Rangers 15 to 17 years
	Scouts Canada File:Canada Scouts.svg		Beavers 5 to 7 years			Wolf Cubs 8 to 10 years			Scouts 11 to 14 years (optional to 16)				Venturers 14 to 17 years			Rovers 18 to 26 years
Germany	Bund der Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder File:Germany BdP.svg				Wölflinge (Cub Scouts) 7 to 11 years					Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder (Guides and Scouts) 11 to 15 years				Ranger und Rover (Ranger Guides and Rover Scouts) 16 to 25 years								Erwachsene (Adults) 25 years and older
	Deutsche Pfadfinderschaft Sankt Georg File:Germany DPSG.svg				Wölflinge (Cub Scouts) 7 to 10 years				Jungpfadfinder (Junior Scouts) 10 to 13 years			Pfadfinder (Scouts) 13 to 16 years			Rover (Rover Scouts) 16 to 20 years
	Pfadfinderinnenschaft Sankt Georg File:Germany PSG.svg				Wichtel (Brownies) 7 to 10 years				Pfadfinderinnen (Guides) 10 to 13 years			Caravelles 13 to 16 years			Ranger (Ranger Guides) 16 years and older
	Verband Christlicher Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder File:Germany VCP.svg				Kinder (Children) 7 to 10 years				Pfadfinderinnen und Pfadfinder (Guides and Scouts) 10 to 15 years					Ranger und Rover (Ranger Guides and Rover Scouts) 16 to 25 years								Erwachsene (Adults) 18 years and older
Iceland	Bandalag íslenskra skáta File:Iceland BIS.svg				Beavers 7-8 years		Cubs 9-10 years		Scouts 11-14 years			Venture Scouts 14-18				Rescue Teams 18 and up
India	Bharat Scouts and Guides File:India BSG.svg	Bunnies 3 to 6 years		Cubs 5 to 10 years					Scouts 10 to 17 years							Rovers 16 to 25 years
				Bulbuls 5 to 10 years					Guides 10 to 17 years							Rangers 16 to 25 years
Republic of Ireland and/or Northern Ireland	Catholic Guides of Ireland File:Ireland CGI.svg		Cygnet Guides 5-6 years		Brigin Guides 6-11 years					Guides 10-14 years			Rangers 14-17
	Irish Girl Guides File:Ireland IGG.svg		Ladybirds 5 to 7 years			Brownies 6.5 to 11 years				Guides 10.5 to 15 years				Senior Branch 14.5 to 21 years
	Scouting Ireland File:Ireland Scouting.svg			Beaver Scouts 6 to 8 years			Macaoimh (Cub Scouts) Sea Cub Scouts 8 to 11 years			Scouts 11 to 15 years Sea Scouts / Air Scouts 11 to 17 years				Venture Scouts 15 to 21 years Sea Venture Scouts 16 to 20 years
Malaysia	Persekutuan Pengakap Malaysia File:Malaysia PPM.svg							Pengakap Kanak-Kanak (Cub Scouts) 10 to 12 years			Pengakap Muda (Junior Scouts) 13 to 15.5 years				Pengakap Remaja (Senior Scouts) 15.5 to 17.5 years		Pengakap Kelana (Rover Scouts) 17.5 years and older
	Persatuan Pandu Puteri Malaysia File:Pppm.svg				Pandu Puteri Tunas 7 to 12 years						Pandu Puteri Remaja 12 to 15 years			Pandu Puteri Renjer 15 to 18 years
Netherlands	Scouting Nederland File:Netherlands Scouting.svg		Bevers 5 to 7 years			Welpen, Esta's, Kabouters, Dolfijnen 8 to 11 years				(Water/Lucht)Scouts 10 to 15 years				Explorers 14 to 17 years		Jongerentak, 16 to 23 years						Plus-Scouts 23 years and older
New Zealand	Scouting New Zealand File:New Zealand Scouting.svg		Keas 5 to 7 years			Cubs 8 to 11 years				Scouts 11 to 16 years				Venturers 15 to 19 years			Rovers 18 to 26 years
	GirlGuiding New Zealand File:New Zealand Guides.svg		Pippins 5 to 6 years		Brownies 7 to 10 years				Guides 10 to 14.5 years
												Rangers 13 to 19 years
South Africa	Girl Guides Association of South Africa File:South Africa Guides no label.svg	Teddies 4.5 to 7 years				Brownies 7 to 10 years			Guides 10 to 14 years				Rangers 14 to 25 years
	South African Scout Association File:South African Scout Association logo.svg					Cub Scouts 7 to 10.5 years				Scouts 10.5 to 18 years Air Scouts Sea Scouts							Rovers 18 to 30 years
Spain	Federación de Escultismo en España Federación de Asociaciones de Scouts de España Movimiento Scout Católico File:Spain MSC.svg			Castores (Beaver Scouts) 6 to 8 years			Lobatos (Cub Scouts) 8 to 11 years			colspan=2 | Scouts 11 to 14 years			Escultas 14 to 17 years			Rovers 17 to 20 years
	Federacion Española de Guidismo			Age group naming is determined by the member organisations of the federation.
				6 to 7 years		8 to 11 years				12 to 14 years			15 to 16 years		17 to 18 years
Sweden	Svenska Scoutförbundet File:Sweden SSF.svg			Bäverscout 6 to 7 years		Miniorscout 8 to 9 years		Juniorscout 10 to 11 years		Patrullscout 12 to 14 years			Seniorscout 15 to 18 years
	Svenska Missionskyrkans Ungdom Scout File:Sweden SMU.svg				Nyingscout 7 to 9 years			Patrullscout 10 to 12 years			Tonårsscout 13 to 15 years			Seniorscout 16 years
	KFUK-KFUMs Scoutförbund File:Sweden KFUK-KFUM.svg		Bäverscout 5 to 7 years			Miniorscout 8 to 9 years		Juniorscout 10 to 11 years		Patrullscout 12 to 15 years				Roverscout 16 years
	Frälsningsarméns Scoutförbund File:Sweden FA Scout.svg				Minorscout 7 to 9 years			Juniorscout 10 to 11 years		Patrullscout 12 to 14 years			Seniorscout 15 to 20 years
	Nykterhetsrörelsens Scoutförbund File:Sweden NSF.svg				Bäverscout 7 years	Miniorscout 8 to 9 years		Juniorscout 10 to 11 years		Patrullscout 12 to 15 years				Seniorscout 16 years
United Kingdom	Girlguiding UK File:United Kingdom Girlguiding no label.svg		Rainbows 5 to 7 years			Brownies 7 to 10 years			Guides 10 to 14 years				Senior Section (Guides) 14 to 26 years Ranger Guides
													Young Leaders 14 to 18 years				Adult Leaders 18 to 65 years
	The Scout Association File:The Scout Association.svg			Beaver Scouts 6 to 8 years			Cub Scouts 8 to 10.5 years			Scouts 10.5 to 14 years Air Scouts Sea Scouts			Explorer Scouts 14 to 18 years Air Explorers Sea Explorers Young Leaders				Scout Network 18 to 25 years
				Scoutlink All ages
United States of America	Boy Scouts of America File:BSA universal emblem.svg				Cub Scouts 7 to 10 years				Boy Scouts 10 to 18 years
													Venturers 14 to 21 years
	Girl Scouts of the USA File:Girl Scouts.svg		Daisy Girl Scouts 5 to 6 years		Brownie Girl Scouts 6 to 8 years		Junior Girl Scouts 8 to 11 years			STUDIO 2B 11 to 17 years
Vietnam	Hội Hướng đạo Việt Nam File:Vietnam VSA.svg				Cub Scouts 7 to 11 years				Scouts 11 to 15 years				Venture Scouts 15 to 18 years			Rover Scouts 18 to 25 years

See also

• Scouting
• World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts
• World Organization of the Scout Movement

• List of highest awards in Scouting