About Sonian Explorers

Sonian Explorers is an Explorer Unit in the Northern Europe District, part of British Scouting Overseas, part of The Scout Association (UK).

Young people from 4 to 14 years old are part of a Scout Group.

In Belgium, there are 4 British Scout Groups which offer scouting to young people between the ages of 4-14:

1st Waterloo
1st Brussels
Central Brussels
SHAPE

At age 14, they can become an Explorer and move to an Explorer Unit. At 18, they can join the adult leadership team and/or join Network (18-25 years old).

In Belgium there are 2 Explorer Units: Sonian Explorers and Brussels Explorers.

Why Sonian?

At age 14 and older, school work and exams become one of the major priorities in a young person's life and many more activities require their attention. At the same time, mobility becomes easier.

At Sonian Explorers, we understand the various needs of our young people and aim to provide scouting to them with the flexibility they need so that they can continue gaining skills for life and achieving the top awards at a pace and rhythm they set for themselves during their time with us. Scouting is about them and for them, and we are there to enable and empower them to take the lead.

Hence, with the support, direction and guidance of the Unit leaders, Explorers are encouraged to lead themselves, design their own programme and work towards the top awards that Scouting offers.

We meet on Tuesdays in Sint-Genesius-Rode and sometimes at other different but convenient locations in and around the Sonian Forest for various scouting activities. From time to time, we also meet on a weekend during the day to work on outdoor skills and combine with preparations for expeditions and adventurous journeys for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award and other Top Awards like the Chief Scout’s Platinum and Diamond Awards. These meetings will be planned with the Explorers and aligned with them.

History

Sonian Explorers started in 1985 (known as Venture Scouts then and later as 1st Waterloo Explorers) at 1st Waterloo (International) Scout Group which started in 1977.

In April 2022, we became Sonian Explorers named after the Sonian Forest (Dutch: Zoniënwoud, French: Forêt de Soignes). It is a 4,421-hectare (10,920-acre) forest at the southeast edge of Brussels, Belgium. It stretches over three Belgian regions: Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia.

It is a symbol of how we offer Scouting to all.

Our Explorers come from the different Scout Groups in Belgium and various other English-speaking communities.