Though much has been written about children learning science in informal settings such as science centres, surprisingly little attention has been paid to organisations such as The Scout Association and Girl Guiding UK which also, as part of a broader programme, provide science experiences for children and young people. A few years ago, prompted by a pupil's passing comment, the author became interested in the extent and nature of children's science learning opportunities in such organisations. To satisfy her curiosity and to address an important gap in knowledge of children's informal educational experiences, the author explored the possibilities for science learning through scouting. Focusing on the Cub Scout section (children aged between 8 and 10.5), the author conducted an e-mail survey followed by interviews with 10 leaders and, with parental permission, interviews and role-plays with 10 Cub Scouts. This article presents a very brief report of that research.