Learn essential survival skills including shelter building, fire lighting, navigation, first aid, outdoor safety and practical skills to survive in the wilderness.
Rain Doesn’t Have to Stop Skill Practice Some outdoor skills are actually easier to practise when you are not rushing around outdoors. A rainy day gives you an opportunity to work on navigation, knots, equipment organisation, planning and observation without needing a full expedition. If the weather is severe, stay indoors. You can still practise…
What Is a Naturalist’s Field Notebook? A naturalist’s field notebook is simply a place to record things you notice outdoors. It doesn’t need to be fancy. A cheap notebook and pencil can be enough. The important part is learning to observe carefully and record useful details. Your notebook might contain: Choose the Right Notebook A…
Wildlife spotting is not just about seeing animals. In fact, most wild animals are much better at avoiding people than people are at finding them. The good news is that animals leave clues behind. Tracks, feathers, chewed nuts, droppings, burrows and disturbed vegetation can all tell you that an animal has been active nearby. Learning…
You have planned your route, checked the weather, packed your bag and set off for a good day’s walking. Then you reach a footpath and discover that you cannot continue. It might be a fallen tree, flooding, a damaged bridge, a locked gate, a landslip, fallen branches or a temporary closure. The important thing is…
Seeing wildlife in the woods can feel like a matter of luck. You walk along a path and see nothing. Someone else visits the same woodland a few hours later and spots a deer, fox, squirrel or dozens of birds. The difference isn’t always luck. Wildlife spotting is a skill. The more you learn to…
A woodland walk can be much more interesting when you stop simply walking from one place to another and start looking at what is happening around you. Woodlands are full of clues. Animals may be difficult to see, but they leave behind tracks, feathers, chewed nuts, droppings, nests and other signs. Trees, plants, fungi and…
Knowing some basic first aid can make a big difference when someone is injured or becomes ill outdoors. However, knowing what not to do is just as important. In an emergency, people can panic, rush in without thinking or try something they have seen in a film or online. This can sometimes make the situation…
When you’re outdoors, knowing what the weather might do next is an important skill. Weather forecasts are extremely useful, but scouts and outdoor explorers can also learn to notice changes in the world around them. The clouds may start to change. The wind might suddenly become stronger. The air may feel different, or the temperature…
Getting outside is a great way to explore, learn new skills and see places you might never have visited before. You might go hiking through a forest, walk across open moorland, camp in the countryside or explore a local nature reserve. Wherever you go, you are sharing that environment with plants, animals and other people….
Knowing how to retrace your route is an important outdoor skill. You might need to do it if you take the wrong path while hiking, miss a turning while scouting, or become unsure about where you are in the countryside. Retracing your route means going back the way you came until you reach a place…
