Discover outdoor activities for Explorers that develop practical skills, independence, confidence and teamwork through adventure and hands-on experiences.
Activity Overview Difficulty: ChallengingTime: 2–4 hoursLocation: Scout campsites and suitable outdoor activity areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and experienced pioneering groupsSkills: Pioneering, knots, lashings, teamwork, planning, ropework and structural awareness A pioneering bridge is a structure built from poles and rope using traditional knots and lashings. For a Scout pioneering project, the safest approach…
Outdoor cooking is one of those skills that becomes much more interesting when Explorers are given responsibility. Instead of simply following a recipe, they can plan a meal, choose ingredients, organise equipment and work out how to cook everything safely. Camping also introduces challenges that don’t normally exist in a kitchen. You might have limited…
Nature provides an endless supply of things for Explorers to discover. A woodland isn’t just somewhere to walk through. It’s a place to investigate wildlife, identify plants, understand habitats, observe changing seasons and learn how human activity affects the natural world. At Explorer level, nature activities can become more investigative. Instead of simply asking young…
First aid is one of the most important skills an Explorer can learn. An accident can happen during a hike, expedition, camping trip, cooking activity or simply while going about everyday life. Knowing what to do can make a difficult situation much easier to manage. At Explorer level, first aid activities can become more realistic…
Navigation is one of the most valuable outdoor skills an Explorer can develop. At Explorer level, navigation can move beyond simple map-reading exercises. Young people can start making their own route decisions, interpreting more complicated terrain, using different navigation methods and solving realistic problems. The aim isn’t simply to teach Explorers how to follow a…
Camping gives Explorers the chance to put their outdoor skills into practice. It’s one thing to learn how to use a map, cook outdoors or put up a tent during a meeting. It’s another thing to use those skills as part of a real camping experience. Explorer camping activities can therefore be more challenging and…
By the time young people reach Explorers, knot work can become much more interesting than simply learning a list of knots. The real skill is knowing which knot to use, why to use it and how to check that it has been tied correctly. That’s where challenges work particularly well. Instead of saying: “Tie a…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Shelter-building activities should take place in a suitable, supervised area following an appropriate risk assessment. Check for unstable trees and branches, steep ground, water hazards and other environmental risks before starting. Never encourage Explorers to climb trees, construct unstable structures or deliberately expose themselves to severe weather. Follow landowner requirements and leave…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Fire activities should only take place with appropriate adult supervision, suitable facilities, permission and a completed risk assessment. Follow your organisation’s current fire-safety guidance and any restrictions applying to the site. Keep suitable extinguishing equipment immediately available and never leave a fire unattended. The objective of advanced fire lighting is better judgement…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Navigation becomes a very different skill when the sun goes down. Familiar landmarks disappear. Distances become harder to judge. Paths can be more difficult to identify. Even a route that feels easy during the day can require much more concentration at night. That’s what makes night navigation such a useful challenge for…
