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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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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How to Make Outdoor Skills Fun
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Outdoor skills should always be taught in a way that matches the age, ability and experience of the group. Activities involving fire, tools, water, heights or other hazards need appropriate supervision and safety controls. Making an activity fun should never mean making it unnecessarily risky. Outdoor skills are some of the most…
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How to Teach Knots to Children
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Knots should be taught initially as a practical skill rather than for safety-critical applications. Children should not use knots to support people, climb, secure themselves at height or undertake other activities where a knot failure could cause serious injury unless they have been properly trained and supervised for that activity. Always use…
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Outdoor Games With No Equipment
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Choose games that suit the age and ability of your group and the space available. Check the area for hazards before starting and establish clear boundaries. Stop the game if conditions become unsafe, particularly around roads, water, steep ground or other hazards. Sometimes the best outdoor activities are the simplest ones. You…
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Map Reading Guide Printable
Being able to read a map is one of the most useful outdoor skills you can learn. Whether you’re heading out hiking, taking part in Scouting activities, working towards an outdoor award or simply exploring the countryside, understanding a map can help you plan your route, recognise the terrain around you and navigate with confidence.…
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Compass Cheat Sheet Printable
Compass Cheat Sheet Printable for Scouts Learning to use a compass is an essential navigation skill for Scouts and a useful skill for anyone who enjoys hiking, camping and exploring the outdoors. We’ve created this free printable compass cheat sheet as a quick reference for Scouts, parents and Scout leaders. It brings the key compass…
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How to Use a Whistle for Signalling
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST A whistle is a signalling tool, not a substitute for calling emergency services. If you are in immediate danger or someone is seriously injured, call 999 or 112 if you can. If you become lost, stay calm, make yourself as safe as possible and use your whistle to attract attention. Don’t keep…
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What3words, GPS and Modern Navigation
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Modern navigation tools are extremely useful, but they should not be your only navigation method in the outdoors. Phones can lose battery, GPS devices can fail, signals can be unavailable and digital maps can contain errors or outdated information. For walks where getting lost could have serious consequences, carry an appropriate map…
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How to Choose a Safe Walking Route
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST A route that looks easy on a map may be much more difficult on the ground. Before setting out, consider the weather, terrain, distance, daylight, your group’s ability and any specific hazards along the route. If conditions change or the route becomes unsafe, turn back or change your plans. Reaching the end…
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How to Store Food While Camping
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Food can become unsafe surprisingly quickly when you’re camping, particularly during warm weather. Keep perishable food cold, prevent raw and cooked foods from contaminating each other, wash your hands before handling food and follow the storage instructions on packaged products. If food has been left at an unsafe temperature for too long…
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