About Us
Neptune Explorer Scouts were formed in 2018 and are based alongside the 1st Reading YMCA Sea Scout Group. We’re affiliated with the Royal Navy as RN 83 and welcome boys and girls aged 14 to 18.
Meetings are held every Tuesday evening from 7:00 pm to 9:30 pm at our boathouse in Caversham, and we open most Sunday afternoons during the summer.
You can find out more about the unit, our history and our latest activities on our main site: Neptune Explorer Scouts.
What We Do
At Neptune we aim to balance fun adventure with real scouting skills. Our programme changes through the year depending on what members want and what the Executive Committee plans. Recent and upcoming activities include:
- Sailing, kayaking and paddleboarding on the River Thames
- Hiking and expeditions (most recently the Lake District 2026)
- Camping and backwoods cooking
- Pioneering and survival skills
- First aid and water safety
- Working toward the Queen Scout Award and activity badges
See our full programme of activities for more detail, or read about our history since 1909.
Our Boathouse
We meet at the 1st Reading Sea Scout boathouse at Wychotes, The Warren, Caversham, Reading RG4 7TH — right on the River Thames. The boathouse is also available to hire for external groups; full details and inquiries are on the Neptune boathouse page.
Uniform
Because we’re based alongside the Sea Scout Group, we follow the same uniform guidelines as Sea Scouts. Full uniform is worn on the first meeting of the month, with kit inspections if standards aren’t met.
The full uniform comprises:
- Sea Scout cap and Explorer tally band
- Blue Sea Scout shirt
- Navy & white Neptune scarf
- Black, dark grey or navy blue trousers / skirt
- Black socks
- Black shoes
We also allow ‘dress down’ uniform when full uniform isn’t required — branded items can be ordered from our official merchandise store. Unit leaders can advise on where to buy the rest of your uniform.
Join Us or Volunteer
We’re always looking for new young members aged 14–18, and for adult volunteers to help run the unit. To find out more or get in touch:
- Visit the Neptune Explorers website to learn about the unit
- Volunteer with Neptune — leaders, helpers and committee roles
Merchandise
We run our own line of branded merchandise to help with fundraising. Most items are print-to-order, and each order helps fund unit activities.
Contact Us
To contact the Neptune leadership team, please email NeptuneLeaders@1streadingseascoutgroup.org.uk.
