Explore 90-minute scouting and outdoor activity plans for leaders, with practical ideas to keep groups engaged while developing useful outdoor skills.
A successful hike depends on more than choosing a route and putting one foot in front of the other. Conditions can change, paths can become difficult to follow, equipment can fail and people can become tired or injured. The decisions you make when something unexpected happens can have a considerable effect on how safely you…
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…
Shelter building is a great way to turn outdoor skills into a practical team activity. Scouts have to think about materials, design, stability, weather, teamwork and the needs of the person who will use the shelter. Rather than simply asking teams to build the biggest shelter possible, give them a problem to solve. Can they…
Knots and lashings are classic outdoor skills that can turn a few lengths of rope and some poles into useful camp equipment. For Scouts, learning these skills doesn’t have to mean sitting in a circle tying the same knot repeatedly. Turn the session into a practical activity where teams have to solve problems, build simple…
Survival skills don’t have to be taught through long demonstrations or serious training sessions. For Cubs and Scouts, turning survival skills into games can make learning more memorable, encourage teamwork and give young people the opportunity to practise useful skills in a fun way. These 20 survival games are designed for youth groups and can…
Activity Overview Difficulty: BeginnerTime: 1-3 hours depending on activitiesLocation: Suitable woodland, campsite or outdoor training areaBest for: Scout leaders, Explorers and outdoor instructorsSkills: Survival skills, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, navigation, shelter building, fire safety and outdoor awareness The best survival activities for Scout leaders are simple, practical exercises that teach useful skills without requiring complicated equipment…
Activity Overview Difficulty: BeginnerTime: 45–90 minutesLocation: Suitable indoor or outdoor training areaBest for: Scouts, Explorers and outdoor enthusiastsSkills: Communication, signalling, teamwork, observation, Morse code, semaphore, message handling Communication has always been an important part of Scouting. Before mobile phones and digital radios, Scouts had to rely on a combination of spoken messages, written notes, runners,…
Activity Overview Difficulty: AdvancedTime: 90 minutesGroup size: 6-10Best for: ExplorersSkills: Problem-solving, teamwork, decision-making, survival, communication Explorers work through a series of outdoor survival problems with limited equipment and time. Each challenge requires them to discuss the situation, agree on a solution and explain why they chose it. What You’ll Learn Explorers will practise: 🟡 SAFETY…
Activity Overview Difficulty: IntermediateTime: 90 minutesGroup size: 6-10Best for: ScoutsSkills: Compass use, navigation, bearings, distance estimation, teamwork, communication, problem solving Give each team a compass, a starting point and a sequence of bearings with approximate distances. Teams must follow each bearing accurately, estimate the distance travelled and locate the next marker or instruction. The winning…
Activity Overview Difficulty: BeginnerTime: 45–60 minutesLocation: Suitable indoor or outdoor training areaBest for: Scouts, Explorers and outdoor enthusiastsSkills: Communication, signalling, observation, Morse code, semaphore, teamwork, concentration Before mobile phones, digital radios and satellite communications, people had to find other ways of sending information over distance. Historical signalling methods included semaphore, Morse code, flags, whistles, mirrors,…
