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.
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 30–60 minutesLocation: Scout campsites and outdoor campsBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Campcraft, food hygiene, outdoor cooking, organisation and teamwork A good camp kitchen should have separate areas for food preparation, cooking, eating, washing up and waste, with enough space to work safely. Set the kitchen up on…
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 15–20 minutes to learn; ongoing during campingLocation: Campsites, woodland, hills and other outdoor camping areasBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders, campers and outdoor enthusiastsSkills: Tent pitching, knots, tensioning, campsite organisation and weather awareness Tent guy lines are cords attached to a tent to help stabilise and tension the structure. They…
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 10–15 minutes to learn; ongoing during campLocation: Campsites, woodland, hills and other outdoor camping areasBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders, campers and outdoor enthusiastsSkills: Tent pitching, campsite management, weather awareness and outdoor problem-solving Tent condensation happens when moisture in the air inside your tent meets a colder surface, such as…
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 15–30 minutes to learn; ongoing practiceLocation: Campsites, Scout camps, woodland, countryside and outdoor basesBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and outdoor enthusiastsSkills: Personal hygiene, food hygiene, campsite management, sanitation and outdoor living Camp hygiene means keeping yourself, your food, equipment and campsite clean enough to reduce the spread of germs,…
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 20–30 minutes to learn; ongoing practiceLocation: Campsites, woodland, hills, countryside and other permitted camping areasBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders, campers and outdoor enthusiastsSkills: Camping, environmental awareness, campsite management, outdoor ethics and responsible access Responsible camping means enjoying a camping trip while minimising your impact on the environment and respecting…
A well-organised camp kitchen makes outdoor cooking easier, cleaner and safer. Whether Scouts are using camping stoves or another approved cooking system, the cooking area should be planned before equipment is unpacked. Good organisation helps everyone understand where to work, where equipment belongs and how people should move around the area. Choose a Suitable Location…
A tidy campsite isn’t just easier to look at. Good organisation helps Scouts find their equipment, move around safely and work together more effectively. Camp can quickly become messy when tents, rucksacks, cooking equipment and outdoor gear are spread across the site. Developing simple routines helps keep everything under control. Give Everything a Place One…
Setting up a campsite is more than simply finding somewhere to put the tents. A well-organised campsite gives everyone enough space to move around, keeps equipment manageable and makes everyday camp jobs much easier. It also gives Scouts the opportunity to practise planning, teamwork and responsibility. The exact layout will depend on the site, the…
Campcraft is the collection of practical skills used to set up, run and look after a campsite. For Scouts, it can include everything from pitching tents and organising equipment to setting up cooking areas, managing camp routines and leaving a site clean and tidy. Campcraft isn’t about making camping complicated. It’s about learning how to…
Camping in wet weather is much easier when you prepare for it before leaving home. In the UK, rain can arrive with little warning, so Scouts should learn to pack in a way that protects essential equipment and keeps spare clothing dry. The goal isn’t to pack everything you own. It’s to make sure the…
