Practical resources for Scout leaders, including badge guidance, activity ideas, teaching tips, safety advice and resources to help Scouts develop essential skills.
You don’t need a campsite, expensive equipment or a long journey to give children a chance to enjoy the outdoors. A garden, driveway, balcony, local green space or even a short walk around the neighbourhood can provide opportunities for children to explore, build practical skills and have fun. Outdoor activities at home are particularly useful…
Risk assessment is an important part of planning safe Scout and outdoor activities. For leaders, it doesn’t need to be a complicated paperwork exercise. A useful risk assessment is simply a structured way of thinking about what could go wrong, who could be affected, what controls are already in place and whether anything else needs…
Camping and outdoor equipment makes Scouting possible. Tents, stoves, ropes, tools, cooking equipment, torches and other kit allow young people to learn practical skills and become more independent. But equipment is only useful when it is suitable, in good condition and used correctly. For Scout leaders, equipment safety starts before an activity begins. A few…
Good supervision is one of the most important parts of running a safe and enjoyable Scout activity. It isn’t simply about watching young people and stepping in when something goes wrong. Effective supervision starts before the activity begins, continues throughout the session and includes understanding the environment, knowing the group, anticipating problems and being prepared…
Bad weather doesn’t always mean cancelling a Scout meeting. Rain, strong winds, cold temperatures and poor conditions can make your original outdoor plan unsuitable, but with a little preparation you can often switch to an indoor or lower-risk alternative without losing the purpose of the session. The key is not to try to recreate the…
A practical campfire equipment checklist for Scout leaders, covering the equipment needed to plan, prepare, run and safely clear up a campfire activity. A campfire can be one of the most memorable parts of a Scout or Cub camp, whether you’re cooking, telling stories, singing songs or simply enjoying time outdoors. Good preparation makes the…
A practical half-day survival activity for Scouts combining navigation, shelter, teamwork, observation, problem-solving and outdoor decision-making. This is designed as a larger activity that can fill a substantial morning or afternoon without feeling like one long game. Teams move through a series of connected challenges, with each stage contributing to a final expedition scenario. Activity…
A practical survival skills activity for Scouts built around a changing outdoor scenario. Instead of teaching a series of unrelated survival skills, this session puts young people into a fictional situation where they have to make decisions, prioritise resources and adapt as the situation changes. The challenge is designed to test thinking as much as…
A fast-moving Scout campcraft activity made up of short practical challenges rather than one long task. Teams move through a series of campcraft stations, earning points for completing challenges safely, accurately and as a team. The format keeps everyone active and gives young people the chance to practise several different outdoor skills in one session…
A practical lost outdoors activity for Scouts that teaches young people what to do when a walk, hike or outdoor activity doesn’t go according to plan. Rather than turning getting lost into a frightening scenario, this activity focuses on calm decision-making. Teams work through realistic situations, decide what they would do next and learn why…
