Learn essential survival skills including shelter building, fire lighting, navigation, first aid, outdoor safety and practical skills to survive in the wilderness.
First aid is one of those skills that can be genuinely useful outside the Scout meeting. For Cubs, it doesn’t need to be taught through long lectures. Games, scenarios and practical challenges can make the subject much easier to understand. The Scouts programme includes Emergency Aid Staged Activity Badges, and first aid also features in…
Cooking is a great way for Beavers to learn practical skills while having fun. They can measure ingredients, mix, prepare food and work together to create something they can enjoy afterwards. You don’t need complicated recipes or specialist equipment. Simple food activities are often the most successful, especially when young people can get involved rather…
First aid can be a brilliant subject for Beavers. At this age, the aim isn’t to turn young people into qualified first aiders. It’s about helping them understand what to do when something goes wrong. They can learn to stay calm, recognise when someone needs help, tell a responsible adult and understand some simple safety…
Navigation doesn’t have to start with a compass and a complicated map. For Squirrels, it’s about developing the basic skills that help them understand where they are, where they’re going and how to recognise their surroundings. Simple games can introduce direction, observation and following routes without making the subject feel like a lesson. A campsite,…
Getting Squirrels interested in nature doesn’t need to involve complicated equipment or long walks. Young children are naturally curious about the world around them. A strange-looking leaf, an unusual insect or an interesting bird can be enough to start a conversation. Nature activities give Squirrels the chance to explore that curiosity while developing observation, teamwork…
First aid doesn’t have to be a serious or complicated subject for Squirrels. At this age, the most useful lessons are often very simple: Stay calm. Keep yourself safe. Get an adult. Know how to call for help. Don’t make an injury worse. Games and role-play can help make these ideas memorable without asking young…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Use fictional scenarios, role-play or appropriately trained simulated patients rather than creating real injuries. Explorers should only practise first aid techniques they have been taught by a suitably qualified instructor. Don’t ask young people to perform procedures beyond their training. For a real emergency, follow current first-aid guidance, contact the emergency services…
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…
