A
Scout (in some countries a
Boy Scout,
Girl Scout or
Pathfinder) is a
boy or a
girl, usually 10 (AS in Australia)–18 years of age, participating in the worldwide
Scouting movement. Because of the large age and
development span, many Scouting associations have split this
age group into a junior and a senior section. Scouts are organized into
troops averaging 20–30 Scouts under the guidance of one or more
Scout Leaders. Troops subdivide into
patrols of about six Scouts and engage in outdoor and special interest activities. Troops may affiliate with local, national, and international organizations. Some national Scouting associations have special interest programs such as
Air Scouts,
Sea Scouts, outdoor
high adventure, Scouting bands, and
rider scouts. Some troops, especially in
Europe, have been
co-educational since the 1970s, allowing boys and girls to work together as Scouts.