Yes like any organisation we have a lot of acronyms and confusing terminology, lets see if we can help you out and make things a bit clearer !!  We will start at the bottom with the most important element and work up.

So what's the most important element I hear you ask, that's easy ... it's young people.

'Scout'

• This is the term used to describe anyone connected to the Scouting movement; Beaver Scout / Cub Scout / Scout / Explorer Scout as well as Network Scouts and Leaders.

Age Ranges:

• BeaverScouts are aged 6-8
• Cub Scouts are aged 8-10½
• Scouts are aged 10½-14
• Explorer Scouts are aged 14-18
• Network Scouts are aged 18-25.

Gatherings of ... (also sometimes called sections):

• A collection of Beavers is called a Beaver Colony
• A collection of Cubs is called a Cub Pack
• A collection of Scouts is called a Scout Troop
• A collection of Explorers is called an Explorer Unit
• And you really don't want to know what a collection of Network Scouts is called !

Scout Awards:

• There is a wide range of Activity Badges that can be achieved, these are worn on the left arm.
• There is also a range of Staged Activity Badges, these are on subjects that can be progressed through at increasing skill levels, these too are worn on the left arm and continue to be worn on the uniform through progression of the sections.
• Beavers, Cubs and Scouts train and take part in various challenges which lead to the awarding of Challenge Badges which are worn on the right breast.
• Explorers train towards the DofE Bronze, Silver & Gold Awards.
• The top Beaver award is the Chief Scout's Bronze Award.
• The top Cub award is the Chief Scout's Silver Award.
• The top Scout award is the Chief Scout's Gold Award.
• The top Explorer award is the Queen's Scout Award.

Scout Leaders - Abbreviations:

• SL = Scout LEader; the person in charge of the Scout Troop.
• GSL = Group Scout Leader; co-ordinator of the Beavers, Cubs & Scouts.

Prefixes to SL: (e.g. CSL - Cub Scout Leader)

• C = Cubs; in charge of the Cub Pack.
• B = Beavers; in charge of the Beaver Colony.
• E = Explorers; in charge of the Explorer Unit.
• Prefix A = Assistant; someone who helps the leader (e.g. ACSL - Assistant Cub Scout Leader)

How Scouting is organised:

• A Scout Group consists of - a Beaver Colony, a Cub Pack and a Scout Troop.
• A Scout District consists of - approximately 10 Scout Groups and Explorer Units (Explorers is organised at a District level rather than a Group level).
• A Scout County consists of - approximately 10 Scout Districts and Scout Networks (again Network is organised at a County level).
• The National Scout Association consists of - all Scout Counties.

District & Counties - Abbreviations:

• DC = District Commissioner; who co-ordinates everyone else at a District level.
• ADC's = Assistant DC's for Beavers, Cubs & Scouts; who co-ordinate all the Beaver Colonies, Cub Packs or Scout Troops in the District.
• ESC = Explorer Scout Commissioner; who co-ordinates all matters Explorer scouting.
• DSL's = District SL's for each section (e.g. BDSL - Beaver District Scout Leader) ; who help the ADC's.
• For County Level, substitute C (County) for D in all the above (e.g. CC = County Commissioner).

Other help:

• People in uniform (Leaders) in general run the activities for Beavers, Cubs, Scouts & Explorers.
• In addition there are committees - Executive Committees at Group, District, County and National level; to take the weight off leaders by fund-raising and doing all other jobs which are not directly connected with running meetings.
• Each Committee consists of - a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and other members.
• The Chairman, Treasurer & Secretary must NOT be leaders.