LATEST OUTDOOR GUIDES
Keep up to date with the latest guides, activities and resources from Survival Guides UK. Explore new articles covering outdoor skills, survival, Scout activities, camping, navigation, knots, fire safety and practical skills.
Our latest posts are designed to help Scouts, youth groups, leaders and anyone interested in outdoor learning develop practical knowledge and confidence. From new activity ideas and survival skills to useful how-to guides, check back regularly for the latest resources.
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Walking Pace Control: A Scout Skill for Steady Walking
Walking pace control is the ability to maintain a steady, controlled walking speed over a set distance or period of time. It is a useful outdoor skill for Scouts because it helps you manage energy, stay together as a group and make better progress on hikes and expeditions. Walking too quickly at the beginning of…
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How to Pack a Rucksack for Scout Camp
Affiliate disclosure: This article contains affiliate links. If you purchase something through one of our links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Packing a rucksack for Scout camp can seem straightforward until you realise just how much equipment a child may need to carry. The trick isn’t simply getting everything inside.…
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Scout Camping Checklist for Parents
Preparing your child for a Scout camp can sometimes feel like a military operation. There are clothes to organise, sleeping equipment to find, toiletries to pack and the inevitable question of whether they’ve actually remembered where their torch is. The good news is that packing for Scout camp doesn’t have to be complicated. This Scout…
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How to Prepare Your Child for Their First Scout Camp
Going away on their first Scout camp can be a big moment for a child. For some children, the idea of sleeping in a tent, spending time outdoors and being away from home is incredibly exciting. For others, it can feel a little daunting. As a parent, there are plenty of things you can do…
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What Should My Child Take to Their First Scout Camp?
If your child is going on their first Scout camp, working out what they actually need to take can be surprisingly difficult. You don’t want them arriving without something important, but you also don’t want to fill their rucksack with things they won’t use. The good news is that most Scout camps don’t require huge…
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Historical Scouting Communication
Activity Overview Difficulty: BeginnerTime: 45–90 minutesLocation: Suitable indoor or outdoor training areaBest for: Scouts, Explorers and outdoor enthusiastsSkills: Communication, signalling, teamwork, observation, Morse code, semaphore, message handling Communication has always been an important part of Scouting. Before mobile phones and digital radios, Scouts had to rely on a combination of spoken messages, written notes, runners,…
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Grid Reference Treasure Hunt
Activity Overview Can your team use grid references to find the hidden checkpoints? 👦 Age: 8–18👥 Group size: 4–30⏱️ Duration: 45–60 minutes📍 Location: Outdoors⭐ Difficulty: 3/5 Grab a map, split into teams and get ready to explore. In this navigation activity, teams must use grid references to find a series of hidden checkpoints around an…
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Star Fire Building Activity
Activity Overview Can your team build a stable star-shaped campfire? 👦 Age: 8–18👥 Group size: 4–24⏱️ Duration: 45–60 minutes📍 Location: Outdoors⭐ Difficulty: 3/5 A good campfire doesn’t happen by accident. Before you strike a match or create a spark, you need to think about the location, fuel, airflow, structure and safety around the fire. In…
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Camp Safety Inspector Activity
Activity Overview Can you spot the hazards before they cause a problem? 👦 Age: 8–18👥 Group size: 4–30⏱️ Duration: 45–60 minutes📍 Location: Indoors or outdoors⭐ Difficulty: 2/5 Imagine you’ve just arrived at a campsite. Everything looks fine at first, but there could be hazards hiding in plain sight. A loose guyline, a bag left on…
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Twig Raft Activity
Activity Overview Can you build a tiny raft that actually floats? 👦 Age: 6–18👥 Group size: 2–30⏱️ Duration: 30–45 minutes📍 Location: Outdoors or indoors⭐ Difficulty: 2/5 Grab some sticks, find some string and get ready to build. This simple twig raft activity is a brilliant way to combine outdoor exploration, knot tying, creativity and problem-solving.…
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