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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Mirror Signalling: Scout Emergency Skills Guide
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 30–45 minutesLocation: Open countryside, campsites and suitable outdoor training areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Emergency signalling, observation, communication, navigation and situational awareness A signalling mirror uses reflected sunlight to attract attention over long distances. The most important skill is controlling the reflected flash and directing it towards…
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Torch Signalling: Scout Emergency Skills Guide
Activity Overview Difficulty: Easy–ModerateTime: 20–30 minutesLocation: Campsites, woodland edges and suitable outdoor training areasBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Emergency signalling, communication, Morse code, torch handling and night-time awareness A torch can be used to attract attention and communicate simple messages, particularly at night. For Scouts, the most useful techniques are…
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Distress Signals: Scout Emergency Skills Guide
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 30–45 minutesLocation: Campsites, woodland, open countryside and suitable outdoor training areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Emergency communication, signalling, situational awareness, emergency planning and outdoor safety A distress signal is used to show that you need help in an emergency. For Scouts, useful methods include a whistle, torch,…
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Emergency Signalling: Scout Outdoor Skills Guide
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 30–45 minutesLocation: Campsites, woodland, open countryside and suitable outdoor training areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Emergency communication, signalling, navigation, situational awareness and emergency planning Emergency signalling is about getting attention, communicating that you need help and making your location easier to find. The best method depends on…
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Calorie Planning: Scout Camping and Expedition Guide
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 30–45 minutesLocation: Campsites, expedition bases and suitable outdoor planning areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Meal planning, nutrition, estimation, expedition planning and food management Calorie planning means making sure your food provides enough energy for the activity without unnecessarily increasing the weight you have to carry. For Scouts,…
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Food Ration Planning: Scout Camping and Expedition Guide
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 30–60 minutesLocation: Campsites, expedition bases and suitable outdoor planning areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and experienced Cubs with supervisionSkills: Meal planning, nutrition, portion control, budgeting, packing and expedition planning Food ration planning means working out what food is needed, how much is required and how it will be stored, carried…
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Ethical Foraging: Scout Outdoor Skills Guide
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 45–90 minutesLocation: Woodlands, hedgerows, fields and other suitable countryside areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and experienced Cubs with close supervisionSkills: Plant identification, responsible countryside access, conservation, observation and sustainable foraging Ethical foraging means taking only what you can positively identify, what you are permitted to collect and what the environment…
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Mushroom Safety: Scout Outdoor Skills Guide
Activity Overview Difficulty: Easy–ModerateTime: 30–60 minutesLocation: Woodlands, fields, parks and other suitable outdoor areasBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Observation, identification, outdoor awareness, responsible countryside access and risk management The safest rule for Scouts is never eat a wild mushroom unless it has been positively identified as safe by someone suitably…
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Wild Plant Safety: Scout Outdoor Skills Guide
Activity Overview Difficulty: Easy–ModerateTime: 30–60 minutesLocation: Woodlands, fields, hedgerows and other suitable outdoor areasBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Observation, plant identification, outdoor awareness, responsible countryside access and risk management Wild plants can be useful and interesting to learn about, but never eat, touch or use an unfamiliar plant simply because…
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Magnifying-Glass Fire Lighting: Scout Campcraft Guide
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 30–45 minutesLocation: Scout campsites and suitable outdoor areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and experienced Cubs under close supervisionSkills: Fire lighting, solar energy, tinder preparation, observation, patience and fire safety A magnifying glass can concentrate sunlight onto a small area of tinder, increasing its temperature until it begins to smoulder and…
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