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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30-Minute Activity Plan: Survival Priorities Challenge
This 30-minute survival priorities activity teaches young people how to assess an unexpected outdoor situation, decide what matters most and make calm decisions before taking action. What Young People Will Learn By the end of the activity, participants should be able to: Before the Activity Prepare Your Scenarios Prepare several simple outdoor survival scenarios before…
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Tarp Shelters: A Beginner’s Guide to Building an Emergency Shelter
What Is a Tarp Shelter? A tarp shelter is a simple temporary shelter made using a waterproof or water-resistant sheet of material. Tarps are popular with: They’re lightweight, versatile and can be configured in several different ways. Unlike a tent, a tarp usually doesn’t have a built-in floor or enclosed walls. Instead, you use cordage,…
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Storm Safety: A Beginner’s Guide to Staying Safe Outdoors
Why Storm Safety Matters Storms are one of those hazards that can change an outdoor situation very quickly. A walk that started in sunshine can become cold, wet and windy. A campsite that seemed perfectly safe can suddenly be surrounded by falling branches. A stream that was easy to cross can become dangerously fast after…
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Survival Priorities: What Matters Most in an Emergency
What Are Survival Priorities? When something goes wrong outdoors, it can be tempting to start thinking about everything you might need. You need food. You need water. You need a fire. You need shelter. You need to find your way home. But trying to do everything at once can lead to poor decisions. Survival priorities…
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What to Do If You Get Lost Outdoors: A Beginner’s Guide
Getting Lost Outdoors Most people don’t expect to get lost. You set off knowing roughly where you’re going. You follow a path. You take a turning. Then another. And suddenly the landscape doesn’t look quite right. Perhaps the path has disappeared. Maybe visibility has fallen. Your phone battery is running low. Or you’ve simply realised…
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Compass Basics: A Beginner’s Guide
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. Compass Basics A compass is one of the simplest and most useful navigation tools you can carry outdoors. Unlike a phone, GPS device or electronic navigation system, a traditional…
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Meal Planning: A Beginner’s Guide
Meal Planning Good food can make a huge difference to an outdoor adventure. When you’re camping, hiking or taking part in a longer outdoor activity, food isn’t just about satisfying hunger. Your meals need to provide enough energy, be practical to carry, simple enough to prepare and suitable for the equipment and conditions you’re working…
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Water Collection: A Beginner’s Guide
Water Collection Water is one of the most important resources to understand when you’re outdoors. Knowing how to find and collect water is an important survival skill — but finding water and making water safe to drink are two different things. A clear-looking stream isn’t automatically safe. A puddle isn’t automatically unsafe. And collecting water…
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Water Safety: A Beginner’s Guide to Staying Safe Around Water
Why Water Safety Matters Water is one of the most enjoyable parts of the outdoors. Swimming, canoeing, paddleboarding, fishing, sailing and exploring waterways can all be fantastic activities. But water can also be unpredictable. A river that looks peaceful may have a powerful current beneath the surface. A lake that looks inviting may be extremely…
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Emergency Shelters: A Beginner’s Guide to Staying Safe Outdoors
What Is an Emergency Shelter? A shelter is one of the most useful things you can create when you’re spending time outdoors. It doesn’t necessarily need to be complicated. At its simplest, a shelter is something that helps protect you from the environment. It can reduce exposure to: In an emergency, getting out of the…
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