Learn essential survival skills including shelter building, fire lighting, navigation, first aid, outdoor safety and practical skills to survive in the wilderness.
Learning to use outdoor tools can be an important part of developing practical Scout skills. Knives, saws and other hand tools can help Scouts learn about woodcraft, campcraft, shelter building and practical problem-solving. They also introduce risks that need to be taken seriously. Good tool safety isn’t about being afraid of tools. It is about…
Good equipment can last for years if it is looked after properly. For Scouts, learning how to maintain camping and outdoor equipment is an important practical skill. Looking after a tent, cleaning a cooking stove, checking a compass or drying a sleeping bag may not seem as exciting as using the equipment, but it is…
Choosing the right equipment can make outdoor activities easier, safer and more enjoyable. Whether you’re preparing for camping, learning survival skills, heading into the countryside or building an outdoor skills kit, it can be tempting to buy lots of specialist equipment. In reality, good equipment selection is less about having the biggest collection and more…
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…
Nature is everywhere. A woodland, campsite, park, beach or even the grounds around a Scout meeting place can become an opportunity to explore the outdoors. For Scouts, nature activities can go beyond simply identifying plants and animals. They can involve observation, navigation, photography, conservation, tracking and problem-solving. The best activities encourage Scouts to look more…
First aid is one of the most valuable skills Scouts can learn. It’s practical, useful and potentially life-saving. But first aid doesn’t have to be taught entirely through demonstrations and worksheets. Scouts can learn by practising communication, recognising hazards, working through scenarios and thinking about what they would do in an emergency. The best activities…
Cooking is a brilliant outdoor skill for Cubs. It combines practical skills with teamwork, creativity and a little bit of adventure. A Cub who learns how to prepare a simple meal at a campsite is developing skills they can use long after they’ve left Cubs. Cooking doesn’t always need to involve a campfire or camping…
Navigation is one of those outdoor skills that becomes much easier when it’s taught through games. Cubs can learn to recognise landmarks, follow routes, understand maps and begin using a compass without needing to start with complicated theory. The key is to make navigation feel like an adventure rather than a classroom lesson. A campsite,…
Nature activities are a simple way to get Cubs outside and looking more closely at the world around them. A woodland, park, campsite or even the area around your meeting place can provide plenty to explore. The aim isn’t necessarily to identify every plant or animal. It’s about encouraging Cubs to notice things, ask questions…
