Practical resources for Scout leaders, including badge guidance, activity ideas, teaching tips, safety advice and resources to help Scouts develop essential skills.
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Never compromise fire safety just because you are struggling to light a fire. Only light fires where they are permitted, use an appropriate fire area, keep water or another suitable means of extinguishing the fire nearby, and follow local rules and landowner requirements. If conditions are unsafe — particularly during very dry,…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST If you become separated from your group outdoors, your first priority is to stay safe — not to find everyone as quickly as possible. In many situations, stopping where you are is safer than wandering around looking for the group. If you’re in immediate danger, injured, lost in hazardous terrain or unable…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST This activity is for learning purposes. Water that has been filtered during the activity must not be assumed to be safe to drink. If you demonstrate boiling or another purification method, explain that different treatment methods deal with different hazards. Filtering through cloth, sand or gravel does not make water safe to…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST These games are designed to teach fire safety without putting Scouts in unnecessary danger. Many of the activities below can be completed without a lit fire. Where a real fire is involved, it should only be used when permitted, properly planned, appropriately supervised and in accordance with your organisation’s current safety guidance…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Knot games should focus on learning and practising rope skills, not on testing how much weight a knot can support. Never encourage Scouts to tie ropes around their necks, bodies or other people, or to use ropes for climbing, suspension or lifting unless the activity is specifically designed, risk-assessed and supervised by…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Map reading activities can be run in a classroom, campsite or outdoors, but activities that involve moving around outside require appropriate planning and supervision. Before sending teams out, check the map, terrain, weather, boundaries and hazards. Make sure Scouts know where they are allowed to go and have a clear instruction for…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Navigation games should take place in an appropriate, clearly defined area with suitable adult supervision. Before starting, leaders should check the route, weather, terrain, boundaries and any hazards. Make sure young people understand where they can and cannot go and establish a clear stop signal. The aim is to develop navigation skills…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Outdoor survival games should be fun, educational and appropriately supervised. Activities involving water, fire, tools, heights or challenging terrain require additional planning and suitable controls. Adapt every activity to the age, ability and experience of your group, the location and the weather. Follow your organisation’s current safety guidance and any rules applying…
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. ⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Wet clothing can become dangerous in cold, windy or exposed conditions. Water conducts heat away from the body much faster than dry air, and wind can…
This 30-minute survival priorities activity teaches young people how to assess an unexpected outdoor situation, decide what matters most and make calm decisions before taking action. What Young People Will Learn By the end of the activity, participants should be able to: Before the Activity Prepare Your Scenarios Prepare several simple outdoor survival scenarios before…
