Learn essential shelter and camping skills for Scouts and outdoor adventures, including campsite selection, campcraft, tents, tarp shelters, sleeping outdoors and staying warm and dry.
A debris shelter is a simple woodland shelter made mainly from natural materials such as branches, leaves, moss and other fallen vegetation. It is one of the more interesting shelter-building skills to practise because the materials are all around you, but making a shelter that actually keeps you warm and reasonably dry takes more than…
A tarp A-frame shelter is a classic and one of the simplest shelters you can build outdoors. It is a useful skill to learn because the same basic design works with very little equipment. With a tarp, some cordage and a few suitable pegs, you can create a shelter that gives you protection from rain…
Putting up a tent is usually straightforward when the weather is calm, but strong wind can turn a simple job into a terrible battle. Poles blow around, fabric catches the wind like a sail and anything you put down seems to disappear across the campsite just when you need it. The key is to work…
Nettles are probably not the first plant you’d choose when looking for something useful to make cord from. They sting, they grow almost everywhere and most people try to avoid brushing against them. They really don’t seem like much good for anything. Look a little closer, though, and nettles have a useful fibre running through…
Start With the Space You Actually Have One of the easiest ways to make a tent feel untidy is to treat every bit of floor space as storage. It might seem harmless when you first arrive, but once your rucksack, boots, clothing, food and sleeping gear are all scattered around, you quickly run out of…
A small tent can be surprisingly comfortable when you know how to use the space properly. The problem is that it doesn’t take much equipment, wet clothing or a badly organised rucksack to make the inside feel cramped. You don’t need a huge tent to have a good night’s sleep outdoors. You just need to…
Washing clothes is not usually the first thing people think about when planning a camping trip. But on a longer camp, expedition or family trip, clothes can quickly become muddy, sweaty or wet. The good news is that you do not need a washing machine to deal with basic camping laundry. With a small amount…
Keeping food cold while camping can be surprisingly difficult. At home, you can simply put everything in the fridge. At camp, you may have a cool box, ice packs, frozen food and a warm day to deal with. The key is to start with cold food, keep it insulated and avoid letting warm air into…
Activity Overview Difficulty: BeginnerTime: 1-3 hours depending on activitiesLocation: Suitable woodland, campsite or outdoor training areaBest for: Scout leaders, Explorers and outdoor instructorsSkills: Survival skills, leadership, teamwork, problem-solving, navigation, shelter building, fire safety and outdoor awareness The best survival activities for Scout leaders are simple, practical exercises that teach useful skills without requiring complicated equipment…
What Is Historical Campsite Construction? Historical campsite construction is the study and practical recreation of the shelters, camps and outdoor structures used by people in the past. Before modern tents, camping equipment and manufactured shelters were widely available, people often relied on locally available materials and practical construction skills. Branches, poles, bark, reeds, grasses, canvas…
