Exploring provides exciting activities and one-on-one mentorship for youth looking to discover their future. Whether you’re a local organization looking to strengthen the community or a young person wanting to uncover the possibilities of your future, Exploring is a great place to start.

Explorers are young men and women who are at least 10 years of age but have not yet reached their 21st birthday. Young adults join Explorer posts to gain insight into a variety of programs that offer leadership experience, citizenship, life skills, character education and fitness, and career opportunities through hands-on activities. Exploring is experiential learning with lots of fun-filled, hands-on activities. It promotes the conditions necessary for the growth and development of adolescent youth.
Explorer Clubs serve middle schoolers, age 10 – 13, in sixth through eighth grades. Explorer Posts serve older youth 14 – 20 years old.

To start an Explorer Club or Post, or to join Exploring, please contact Assistant Scout Executive Jonathan Glassman at 203-876-6868 Ext 237, or jonathan.glassman@scouting.org

or Council Vice President for Membership, Jay Lubin, at jaylubin@gmail.com

Exploring Programs

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    Arts & Humanities

    You will have an opportunity to participate in hands-on projects to give you a real feel for whether this career is the right one for you. You will have an opportunity to network with professionals who work in these careers every day – they are using the latest technology, they are aware of emerging trends, and they know what it takes to get into college for their specific career. You will learn about the educational requirements for a career in Arts & Humanities and will receive tangible advice on steps you could take now to prepare and position yourself for a successful career in the field of Arts & Humanities.

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    Aviation

    Aviation Exploring is a youth development program centered around aviation careers. Aviation Explorers might take orientation flights in military transports, helicopters, gliders, or single-engine general aviation aircraft; visit Air Force bases, aviation museums, air shows, or FAA facilities; learn to pre-flight an aircraft; or take pilot training ground school classes

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    Business

    Accounting – Review annual reports of several companies. Be able to identify the major financial statements. Create a budget for the post. Prepare personal tax returns.

    Business Policy – Review what it would take to start up a company that makes and sells bicycles. Invite a local business owner to the meeting. Invite a human resource manager.

    Business Economics – Review how the stock market works. Have Explorers “invest” in stock and track the value of their investments. Have Explorers investigate the cost of organizing the production of a product. Calculate the cost of production, advertising, distribution, capital, and salaries.

    Law and Taxation – Explain a proprietorship, a partnership, and a corporation. Review the tax laws on business.

    Marketing – Design an advertising campaign for a product. Include product designing and packaging as well as the media advertising. Put together a presentation for a product.

    Business Computer Information Systems – Tour a facility with a large computer system. Set up computer information and data for your post.

    International Business – Research the laws that govern selling a product in another country.

    Product Development – Take a product through the entire process of idea to consumer.

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    Communications

    Young people today are the communication leaders of tomorrow. Communication Explorer Posts teach America’s youth about the world of communication and potential communication careers. Through hands-on learning experiences, Explorer posts are inspiring our future reporters, producers, directors, and many others. Communications Exploring is designed to meet the needs of youth interested in communications, colleges and universities that offer above average communications curricula, and companies that employ communications graduates.

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    Engineering

    Interest in engineering is increasing among young adults in the United States. To encourage this interest Exploring, in cooperation with organizations such as the National Society of Professional Engineers, has designed materials to support the organization and operation of Engineering Explorer posts. The purpose of Engineering Exploring is to provide the youth of America the opportunity to look into the world of engineering as a career choice and to participate in engineering activities. This is accomplished through community organizations that can provide an effective Exploring program. Engineering Explorer posts are involved in a variety of programs and projects featuring training, skill development, and service projects.

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    Fire Service

    Fire Service Exploring is a worksite-based program. Fire Service Explorer posts help youth gain insight into a variety of programs that offer hands-on career activities. For young men and women who are interested in careers in the field of fire service, Exploring offers experiential learning with lots of fun-filled, hands-on activities that promote the growth and development of adolescent youth.

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    Health

    The Health Careers Exploring program offers a wide range of career experiences in the following areas: Clinical Laboratory Services, Dentists, Dietitians, Health Information and Communication, Health Services Administrators, Medicine, Mental, Physical, and Social Specialties, Pharmacy, Podiatry, Public Health. These are just a few of the health careers available for youth to participate in.

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    Law Enforcement

    Law Enforcement Exploring is a worksite-based program. Law Enforcement Explorer posts help youth to gain insight into a variety of programs that offer hands-on career activities. For young men and women who are interested in careers in the field of law enforcement, Exploring offers experiential learning with lots of fun-filled, hands-on activities that promote the growth and development of adolescent youth.

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    Law & Government

    Interest in law and government is increasing among young adults in the United States. To encourage this interest Exploring, in cooperation with law and government organizations has designed materials to support the organization and operation of Law and Government Explorer posts. The purpose of Law and Government Exploring is to provide the youth of America the opportunity to look into the world of law and government as a career choice and to participate in law and government activities. This is accomplished through community and government organizations that can provide an effective Exploring program. Law and Government Explorer posts are involved in a variety of programs and projects featuring training, skill development, leadership, and service projects.

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    Science

    Science Exploring is a worksite-based program. Science Explorer posts help youth to gain insight into a variety of programs that offer hands-on career activities. For young men and women who are interested in careers in the field of science, Exploring offers experiential learning with lots of fun-filled, hands-on activities that promote the growth and development of adolescent youth.

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    Skilled Trades

    Like tools? Enjoy creating and building? Then discover a future career through Skilled Trades Exploring! High school-age youth learn from experts in the field. Each post is organized around one occupational specialty that could lead to a challenging career! There are opportunities for awards and scholarships, fun and friendship, and leadership and service while trying a potential career! Skilled Trades Exploring is a resource as well as a “how to” guide for youth and adult leaders of Skilled Trades Explorer posts. Local community organizations, churches, and civic groups match the interests of young adults with the resources of participating organizations to develop a program.Posts can be organized for high school-age youth around one of many in-demand vocational and technical areas. Posts can specialize in the following careers: Auto repair and mechanics, Farming/ranching, Drafting, Hairstyling, Heavy-Equipment Operation, Railroad operations, Carpentry and woodworking, Forestry, Culinary arts, Building contracting and construction, Landscape Architecture, Plumbing, Heating, and Air Conditioning, Electricity, Printing and Lithography.

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    Social Services

    You will participate in hands-on projects to give you a real feel for whether this career is the right one for you. You will network with professionals who work in these careers every day including human services workers, school counselors, child care workers, librarians and so many more! You will learn about the educational requirements for a career in Social Services and will receive tangible advice on steps you could take now to prepare and position yourself for a successful career in the field of Social Services.