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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Outdoor First Aid Scenarios for Explorers
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Use fictional scenarios, role-play or appropriately trained simulated patients rather than creating real injuries. Explorers should only practise first aid techniques they have been taught by a suitably qualified instructor. Don’t ask young people to perform procedures beyond their training. For a real emergency, follow current first-aid guidance, contact the emergency services…
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Advanced Knot Challenges for Explorers
By the time young people reach Explorers, knot work can become much more interesting than simply learning a list of knots. The real skill is knowing which knot to use, why to use it and how to check that it has been tied correctly. That’s where challenges work particularly well. Instead of saying: “Tie a…
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Wilderness Shelter Challenges for Explorers
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Shelter-building activities should take place in a suitable, supervised area following an appropriate risk assessment. Check for unstable trees and branches, steep ground, water hazards and other environmental risks before starting. Never encourage Explorers to climb trees, construct unstable structures or deliberately expose themselves to severe weather. Follow landowner requirements and leave…
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Advanced Fire Lighting for Explorers
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Fire activities should only take place with appropriate adult supervision, suitable facilities, permission and a completed risk assessment. Follow your organisation’s current fire-safety guidance and any restrictions applying to the site. Keep suitable extinguishing equipment immediately available and never leave a fire unattended. The objective of advanced fire lighting is better judgement…
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Night Navigation for Explorers
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Navigation becomes a very different skill when the sun goes down. Familiar landmarks disappear. Distances become harder to judge. Paths can be more difficult to identify. Even a route that feels easy during the day can require much more concentration at night. That’s what makes night navigation such a useful challenge for…
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Advanced Navigation Challenges for Explorers
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Advanced navigation activities should be planned around the ability of the group and the environment you’re using. Set clear boundaries, use appropriate supervision and have a suitable emergency plan. Explorers should never be deliberately placed in a situation where becoming genuinely lost or unable to return safely is part of the activity.…
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Advanced Survival Skills for Explorers
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Advanced survival activities should only be attempted with appropriate adult supervision, planning and risk assessment. Activities involving fire, water, tools, remote terrain or exposure to weather require particular care. Survival training should develop good decisions and safe habits, not encourage young people to deliberately put themselves into dangerous situations. Explorer Scouts are…
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How to Teach Navigation to Children
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Navigation activities should take place in an area appropriate for the age and experience of the group. Set clear boundaries and make sure leaders know where participants are at all times. Start with simple, controlled exercises before allowing children to navigate independently. For activities away from your meeting location, use appropriate supervision,…
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How to Teach Fire Lighting Safely
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Fire lighting should only be taught with appropriate adult supervision, suitable equipment, a properly prepared fire area and permission to have a fire at the location. Always follow current Scout guidance, local restrictions and the landowner’s rules. Keep water or another suitable means of extinguishing the fire immediately available, and never leave…
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How to Teach Shelter Building
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Shelter-building activities should always be carried out in a suitable area with appropriate supervision. Check the site for unstable trees, branches, steep ground, water hazards, poisonous plants and other risks before beginning. Don’t allow children to climb trees or construct shelters that could collapse onto someone. Use only suitable materials and follow…
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