Learn how to use and manage camping, Scout and outdoor equipment safely, with practical guidance on checks, maintenance, storage and responsible use.
Cooking outdoors is part of the enjoyment of camping, but using a stove in the wrong place can turn an ordinary meal into a life-threatening situation. Carbon monoxide is a poisonous gas produced when fuels such as gas, petrol, charcoal, wood and other carbon-based materials burn without enough oxygen. It has no colour, smell or…
A sharp knife is generally easier and more controlled to use than a blunt one, but sharpening is a skill in its own right. A blunt blade often encourages people to use more force, which can make slips more likely and makes simple camp tasks harder than they need to be. You don’t need complicated…
Activity Overview Difficulty: BeginnerTime: 30–45 minutesLocation: Suitable outdoor cooking areaBest for: Scouts and ExplorersSkills: Stove safety, fuel handling, camp cooking, fire safety, risk awareness Camp stoves provide a controlled way to cook outdoors, but they still involve flames, hot surfaces and potentially hazardous fuels. Safe stove use starts before the stove is lit and includes…
Activity Overview Difficulty: AdvancedTime: 30–60 minutesLocation: Suitable outdoor woodcraft or campfire areaBest for: Scouts and ExplorersSkills: Axe safety, woodcraft, fire preparation, tool control, concentration Quick Answer Splitting firewood means using a suitable hand axe to divide small pieces of prepared wood into smaller sections for a campfire. For Scouts, this is an advanced practical skill…
Activity Overview Difficulty: IntermediateTime: 30–45 minutesLocation: Designated outdoor woodcraft areaBest for: Scouts and ExplorersSkills: Tool safety, woodcraft, cutting techniques, concentration, risk management A saw should be used in a clear, controlled area with the timber securely supported. Check the saw before use, keep your free hand away from the blade, use steady controlled strokes, and…
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 20–30 minutes to learn the basics; applied throughout a pioneering projectLocation: Scout campsites and suitable outdoor activity areasBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Risk awareness, ropework, lashings, teamwork, equipment care and safe construction Pioneering safety is about planning the project, using suitable equipment, constructing it correctly and…
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 15–30 minutesLocation: Scout campsites, activity centres and outdoor settingsBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Ropework, campcraft, equipment care, observation and outdoor safety Rope identification means being able to recognise what a rope is made from, how it is constructed and what it is suitable for. Common ropes…
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 20–30 minutes to set up; maintained throughout campLocation: Scout campsites and outdoor campsBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Campcraft, awareness, organisation, communication and responsibility Camp security is about protecting people, equipment and the campsite from avoidable risks. A secure camp doesn’t need to feel like a fortress. Good…
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 15–20 minutes to learn; ongoing during campingLocation: Campsites, woodland, hills and other outdoor camping areasBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders, campers and outdoor enthusiastsSkills: Tent pitching, knots, tensioning, campsite organisation and weather awareness Tent guy lines are cords attached to a tent to help stabilise and tension the structure. They…
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…
