Scouting in Northern Ireland is represented by three Scouting associations. The Scouts NI is part of The Scout Association of the United Kingdom,^[1] which is the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM) recognized Scouting association in the United Kingdom.^[2] Scouting Ireland is the national Scouting association and the WOSM-recognized Scouting association for the Republic of Ireland,^[3] although its membership extends to Northern Ireland, supported professionally by the Scout Foundation NI (SFNI).^[4][5][6] The Baden-Powell Scouts' Association is a member of the World Federation of Independent Scouts and operates one group in Northern Ireland.^[7]

The Scout Association has seven Scout Counties covering the 6 counties that make up Northern Ireland plus the City of Belfast. These counties are overseen by the Northern Ireland Scout Council,^[8] known as "Scouts NI",^[9][10] which is a registered charity in Northern Ireland with charity number 103542.^[11] The Scout Association, Northern Ireland was an observer member of the Federation of Irish Scout Associations (FISA).^[12]

Scouting Ireland is part of Northern Scout Province and has five Scout Counties. The Northern Province Commissioner is currently Wendy Morrow.^[13]

The Northern Ireland Scout Council and Scouting Ireland has run a Scout Citizenship project to improve the relationship between the two Scouting associations in Ireland.^[14]

120 Northern Ireland Scouts, along with 12 leaders, took part in the 21st World Scout Jamboree to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Scouting at Hylands Park near Chelmsford, Essex in 2007.^[15]

The Northern Ireland Squirrel Association was a youth organization which operated solely within Northern Ireland. It was a feeder organization to the Scout Movement in Northern Ireland as its membership was limited to four and five year olds who lived in Northern Ireland.^[25] The Aim of the Association was '…to promote the development of young people in achieving their full physical, intellectual, social and spiritual potential, as individuals, as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities.'

The Northern Ireland Squirrel Association became affiliated in 2009 with the Northern Ireland Scout Council which is part of The Scout Association.^[26] Each unit is called a Squirrel Drey and some are linked to Scout Groups.

Following a piloting exercising from 2019, The Scout Association launched its Squirrels nationally in 2021.^[27] The operations of the Northern Ireland Squirrel Association were merged into the Scout Association's Squirrels.

For details of sections in The Scout Association see The Scout Association Sections. Within Northern Ireland there was an affiliated feeder organisation, The Northern Ireland Squirrel Association,^[33] (NISA) which was for young people aged four and five years living in Northern Ireland.^[34] Following the launch of the Squirrel section across the UK in September 2021, NISA Dreys were merged into Scout Association Groups in the Province.^[35]

For details of sections in Scouting Ireland see Scouting Ireland Sections.

Beaver Scouts started in The Scout Association in Northern Ireland in 1965. Scouts Ireland started the section with considerable help from the Scout Association in 1979.^[36]

For details of sections in the Baden-Powell Scouts' Association see B-PSA Organisation.

• The Scout Association
• Scouting Ireland
• Scout merit badge (Ireland)
• Girlguiding Ulster