Young Beavers and Cubs join more than 500 Scouts from across the UK for hands-on STEM day in Leicester
BEAVER and Cub Scouts from three Scout groups across Wales joined more than 500 young people from across the UK for an “out of this world” adventure at the National Space Centre in Leicester.
The visit, held on March 29, 2026, gave young Scouts the chance to explore the wonders of space, science and aviation through a packed programme of interactive activities designed to inspire curiosity and build new skills.
The day included hands-on experiments, interactive learning sessions and the opportunity to explore key attractions at the centre, including the rocket tower.
Organisers said the event aimed to introduce young people to subjects such as space science, astronomy and aeronautics, providing opportunities that many may not normally experience.
Eight-year-old George, from 1st Roath Scout Group, said: “I had the best day ever, it was so much fun. I really want to be an astronaut when I’m older!”
Six-year-old Caycen, from 1st Senghenydd Scout Group, added: “It was a super long journey to get here but I’m so happy we came! Everything is so exciting and the spacesuits look so big!”
Volunteer leader Holly praised the impact of the visit, saying: “It was a great opportunity for the young people, getting them out of their comfort zones and trying something new. Overall, it was a fantastic day and so great to see young people from across the UK come together for such a special day.”
Chief Scout Dwayne Fields also attended the event and said it was inspiring to see young people from Wales taking part.
“It was fantastic to join young people from Wales at the National Space Centre, Leicester,” he said. “Together, we discovered more about the possibilities of STEM, both in space and down here on Earth.
“The activities fired our Scouts’ imaginations as they explored the wonders of the solar system and beyond. This is an incredibly exciting time for space with the Artemis moon missions and, who knows, maybe some of our Scouts will be the astronauts and moonwalkers of the future.
“In Scouts it’s days like these that inspire young people, set their sights higher while giving them skills for life.”
Harriet Kennedy, Head of Education and Future Workforce at the UK Space Agency, said: “We were thrilled to support this fantastic event at the National Space Centre.
“Inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers and explorers is at the heart of what we do at the UK Space Agency, and there’s no better way to spark that curiosity than giving young people hands-on experiences with space.”
Charlie Isham, Deputy CEO of the National Space Centre, said the day had been a huge success.
“Today we hosted over 500 Scouts at the National Space Centre and it was a real blast,” he said. “Working with Scouting UK and the UK Space Agency to make it happen has been a real adventure, and our team has loved building a programme jam packed with hands-on space fun activities.
“The Centre was full of energy, questions and big ideas — and we’re now quietly hoping we might earn a special badge for our own camp blankets after this!”
By the end of the day, the young Scouts had taken part in what organisers described as a “giant leap” in their Scouting journey, with the visit helping to inspire the next generation of UK space explorers.
