Quick 30-minute scouting and outdoor activities for leaders, perfect for short sessions, skill development, games and engaging group activities.
A woodland floor, hedgerow or patch of grass can look quiet until you start noticing the signs of life around you. A hole beneath a tree root, a nest tucked into a hedge or a web stretched between two branches can tell you that an animal has been using that spot for shelter, raising young…
Rainfall affects everything from ground conditions on a walk to how quickly streams and rivers can rise. Making a simple rain gauge gives you a way to measure what’s falling where you live, rather than relying on how wet the ground looks. For this challenge, you’ll make a rain gauge of your own, place it…
There is something satisfying about arriving at camp with little more than some rope, a few useful tools and whatever suitable materials you can find around you, then turning the campsite into something that actually works for you. A simple tripod can become a kitchen. A few poles can turn into a gear rack. With…
Setting up a tent is one of the most useful camping skills you can learn. The first few times it can seem confusing, especially when you’re faced with poles, pegs and a bundle of fabric, but it becomes much easier once you understand the basic process. You don’t need to do everything perfectly straight away….
Nature skills help Squirrels become more confident exploring the outdoors and noticing the world around them. Simple activities such as identifying leaves, listening for birds, spotting animal signs and learning about trees can turn an ordinary walk into an exciting nature adventure. What You’ll Learn Squirrels can learn how to: Equipment You can keep this…
Activity Overview Can you build a tiny raft that actually floats? 👦 Age: 6–18👥 Group size: 2–30⏱️ Duration: 30–45 minutes📍 Location: Outdoors or indoors⭐ Difficulty: 2/5 Grab some sticks, find some string and get ready to build. This simple twig raft activity is a brilliant way to combine outdoor exploration, knot tying, creativity and problem-solving….
Activity Overview Difficulty: BeginnerTime: 30 minutesGroup size: 11-20Best for: CubsSkills: Knot tying, teamwork, communication, coordination, practical campcraft Turn basic knot practice into a fast-paced team relay. Teams race against each other to correctly tie a series of simple knots. The emphasis is on getting the knot right rather than simply being the fastest. What You’ll…
Activity Overview Difficulty: BeginnerTime: 30 minutesGroup Size: 11-20Best for: SquirrelsSkills: Observation, teamwork, nature awareness, communication, listening Take the Squirrels outside and challenge them to find a series of natural objects or signs without damaging the environment. They can work in small teams or as one large group, looking for things such as a feather, a…
Activity Overview Difficulty: BeginnerTime: 30 minutesGroup Size: 6-10Best for: Cubs, ScoutsSkills: Survival awareness, teamwork, decision-making, prioritisation, problem-solving Give each team a list of survival equipment and ask them to choose the items they would take if they had to spend a night outdoors with limited equipment. The challenge is not simply about choosing the “right”…
The outdoors is full of clues. A broken twig, a feather, a footprint or a chewed leaf can tell a story about what has been happening nearby. Scouts don’t need to be expert naturalists to start noticing these details. The Nature Detective Challenge encourages Scouts to slow down, observe their surroundings and look for signs…
