The History of Scouting in Falkirk District
The first Scout Groups began to appear in the Falkirk area in 1908 and quickly blossomed. In 1916 Wolf Cubs started allowing younger boys to join and by 1928 there were 21 Groups within the area including 2nd Torwood, 14th Falkirk, 15th Grangemouth,16th Laurieston, 17th Denny, 27th Bonnybridge, 29th Graham’s Road United Free Church(Falkirk), 32nd Banton, 35th Larbert East UF Church, 19th Kilsyth(Garrell), 38th Shieldhill, 40th Christ Church, 42nd James Street Wesleyan Methodist(Falkirk), 43rd Bothkennar, 46th Muiravonside, 47th Cumbernauld, 48th Kilsyth, 52nd Baptist Church (Falkirk), 53rd Carronshore, 54th Stenhouse & Carron and 55th Greenhill & Glenyards.
Initially they were part of Stirlingshire Scouting and organised via a Local Falkirk Association. Over the years there have been many changes in the structure with the Local Falkirk Association being split into Denny & Bonnybridge, Grangemouth and District, Larbert and Falkirk local associations and latterly into Scout Districts. As Scouting is a Movement constantly changing to meet the needs of the young people, girls were allowed to join and the Beaver Scout section started in 1976. Various other re-organisations have taken place over the years - to the age ranges of the sections and to the District boundaries resulting in the current Falkirk Scout District mirroring the local Falkirk Council boundaries.
It is home to over 1,000 Squirrel Scouts, Beaver Scouts, Cub Scouts, Scouts, Explorer Scouts and Network Scouts. We have 3 Groups in Falkirk Town Centre, 3 Groups in Larbert & Stenhousemuir as well as Groups in Bo’ness, Bonnybridge, Braes area, Dennyloanhead, Dunipace, Grangemouth, Laurieston and Torwood.
The Scout Groups in the District cater for boys and girls aged from 4 to 14 years of age in the following 4 Sections:
Squirrel Scouts (for 4-6 years), Beaver Scouts (for 6-8 years), Cub Scouts (for 8-10½ years) and Scouts (for 10½-14 years).
Explorer Scouts are for young people aged between 14 and 18, and are run at a District Level.