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.
-
What Would You Take? Survival Kit Challenge
Activity Overview Difficulty: BeginnerTime: 30 minutesGroup Size: 6-10Best for: Cubs, ScoutsSkills: Survival awareness, teamwork, decision-making, prioritisation, problem-solving Give each team a list of survival equipment and ask them to choose the items they would take if they had to spend a night outdoors with limited equipment. The challenge is not simply about choosing the “right”…
-
Historical Signalling
Activity Overview Difficulty: BeginnerTime: 45–60 minutesLocation: Suitable indoor or outdoor training areaBest for: Scouts, Explorers and outdoor enthusiastsSkills: Communication, signalling, observation, Morse code, semaphore, teamwork, concentration Before mobile phones, digital radios and satellite communications, people had to find other ways of sending information over distance. Historical signalling methods included semaphore, Morse code, flags, whistles, mirrors,…
-
Historical Survival Methods
Activity Overview Difficulty: IntermediateTime: 1–3 hours depending on the activities selectedLocation: Suitable indoor or outdoor training areaBest for: Scouts, Explorers and outdoor enthusiastsSkills: Survival skills, historical awareness, fire lighting, shelter building, navigation, signalling, resourcefulness Long before modern tents, GPS devices, synthetic clothing and lightweight camping equipment, people developed practical ways to survive outdoors using the…
-
Recreating Historical Scout Activities
Activity Overview Difficulty: IntermediateTime: 1–3 hours depending on the activityLocation: Suitable indoor or outdoor training areaBest for: Scouts, Explorers, leaders and history enthusiastsSkills: Research, traditional camping skills, pioneering, navigation, signalling, teamwork, historical awareness Recreating historical Scout activities can be a great way to understand how Scouting developed while practising practical outdoor skills. Historical activities might…
-
5 Survival Shelters Every Scout Should Know
Activity Overview Difficulty: IntermediateTime: 1–2 hoursLocation: Suitable woodland or outdoor training areaBest for: Scouts, Explorers and outdoor enthusiastsSkills: Shelter building, pioneering, outdoor survival, site selection, environmental awareness, teamwork Knowing how to create a basic shelter is an important outdoor skill. A good shelter helps protect you from wind, rain, cold ground and exposure to the…
-
Phonetic Alphabet: NATO Alphabet for Scouts and Outdoor Communication
Activity Overview Difficulty: BeginnerTime: 30–45 minutesLocation: Suitable indoor or outdoor training areaBest for: Scouts, Explorers and outdoor enthusiastsSkills: Communication, radio skills, spelling, emergency communication, accuracy, teamwork The phonetic alphabet is a standard way of spelling letters aloud so that they are less likely to be misunderstood. The most widely used version is the NATO phonetic…
-
Memory and Observation Games for Groups
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 10–30 minutesLocation: Indoors or outdoorsBest for: Small groups, patrols and activity sessionsSkills: Memory, observation, concentration, communication and teamwork Memory and observation games challenge participants to notice information and then recall it accurately. They can involve objects, people, sounds, pictures, surroundings or changes to an environment. For groups, the best games are…
-
Nature Observation Games for Young People
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 15–30 minutesLocation: OutdoorsBest for: Groups, patrols, family activities and outdoor sessionsSkills: Observation, awareness, concentration, memory and nature appreciation Nature observation games encourage young people to slow down and pay attention to the natural world around them. Rather than simply walking through an outdoor area, participants are challenged to notice particular sights,…
-
Kim’s Game: How to Run an Observation Game
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 10–20 minutesLocation: Indoors or outdoorsBest for: Small groups, patrols and activity sessionsSkills: Observation, memory, concentration and attention to detail Kim’s Game is a simple observation and memory game in which participants are shown a collection of objects for a limited time before the objects are covered or removed. They then try…
-
Observation Games for Scouts and Guides
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 10–30 minutesLocation: Indoors or outdoorsBest for: Small groups, patrols and activity sessionsSkills: Observation, memory, attention to detail, communication and teamwork Observation games are simple activities that challenge young people to notice, remember and communicate details about their surroundings. They can be run indoors or outdoors and usually require little or no…
Explore Survival Guides UK
Looking for something specific? Explore our activity plans for practical outdoor sessions, take on our survival challenges, or browse our badges to discover new skills and achievements to work towards.
Whether you’re looking for Scout activities, survival skills, camping ideas, navigation resources or practical outdoor learning, explore the rest of Survival Guides UK to find your next challenge.