Scouting in the UK began unceremoniously after an experimental camp on Brownsea Island in 1907 under the leadership of Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell. This was then followed by the publication of his "Scouting for Boys" in the following year which proved a huge success. Cubs, or Wolf Cubs as they were first called, began in 1916 but it wasn't until 1986 when the Beavers, for the youngest members, started up. Dursley was not slow in forming a scout troop and one of the country's earliest, the 1st Dursley, was formed in 1908. They initially met at the Tabernacle Congregational Church but later moved their headquarters to the Prospect House School, off May Lane. The Tabernacle was later used as a base by the 2nd Dursley Troop. In 2004 the 1st Dursley Scout Group, together with the Cubs and Beavers, meets at the hut in the Goodymeade field, near Water Lane.

The Girl Guides Association was formed in 1910 and this was followed by the establishment of a junior section called the Rosebuds (later the Brownies) in 1914. Once again Dursley has played its fair share in supporting Guiding and several groups have existed in the town over the last 90 years or so.