Practical resources for Scout leaders, including badge guidance, activity ideas, teaching tips, safety advice and resources to help Scouts develop essential skills.
Good camp planning starts well before you arrive at the campsite. Use this checklist to work through the important details, from choosing a suitable site and planning activities to checking equipment, food, transport, weather and emergency arrangements. You do not need to complete everything at once. Start early, work through the list and review your…
Not every countryside hazard is obvious. Before an activity, leaders should take time to look beyond the main path and consider what could be hidden by vegetation, darkness, weather or changes in the landscape. Look at the ground, water, surrounding area, weather, access points and anything the group could come into contact with. Then decide…
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…
A good safety briefing should tell everyone what they need to know to take part safely. Before starting, explain the main hazards, where people can and cannot go, the important rules, what to do if something goes wrong and who they should speak to if they need help. Keep the briefing short, clear and appropriate…
A simple water filter is a great way to introduce Scouts and young people to filtration, layers, materials and basic water treatment. Teams build their own filter from everyday materials, pour dirty water through it and compare the results. The experiment is easy to set up, inexpensive and works well as a short activity on…
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…
Fire lighting is a classic outdoor skill, but it should never be treated as simply a race to get a flame. A well-planned fire lighting activity can teach Scouts about preparation, responsibility, teamwork, fire safety and how to make sensible decisions outdoors. For younger or less experienced groups, the activity can focus on recognising equipment,…
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…
Planning a survival skills activity for Scouts doesn’t have to mean organising a complicated survival camp. With the right plan, you can turn simple skills such as shelter building, navigation, fire safety, knots, outdoor cooking or first aid into an engaging activity that gets young people thinking, working together and learning practical skills. The trick…
