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.
-
SGUK Outdoor Skills Challenge: Something Big Is Coming
Something big is coming to Survival Guides UK. Not another short list of outdoor activities. Not a course that finishes after a few lessons. And not a challenge that stops when you reach number 100. We are building something much bigger. The SGUK Outdoor Skills Challenge is going to be a huge, ever-growing collection of…
-
Understand The Four Main Directions: Navigation for Children
Understanding directions is one of those outdoor skills that seems simple at first, but becomes incredibly useful once you start exploring. Knowing the difference between north, south, east and west gives you a basic way of describing where things are and helps you make sense of maps, paths and the landscape around you. You don’t…
-
100 Skills Every Young Outdoor Explorer Should Know (Digital Checklist)
There is something special about learning how to do things for yourself outdoors. Knowing how to read a map, put up a shelter, light a fire, recognise a tree, tie a useful knot or simply work out which way to go gives children more than another skill to add to a list. It helps them…
-
How to Ask for Help Outdoors: A Skill Every Child Should Know
Knowing when to ask for help is an important outdoor skill, but it is one that can easily be overlooked. When you’re exploring somewhere new, something doesn’t feel right or you simply don’t know what to do, speaking up can make a situation much easier to deal with. Asking for help isn’t a sign that…
-
How to Look After Your Outdoor Equipment
Outdoor equipment doesn’t have to be expensive to be useful, but it does need looking after. A muddy pair of boots, a wet jacket or a camping stove left dirty after a trip can quickly become a problem the next time you need it. Learning to look after your own equipment is one of those…
-
How to Pack a Day Bag for an Outdoor Adventure
A good day bag isn’t about carrying everything you own. It’s about taking the things you are likely to need and knowing where they are when you need them. Learning to pack your own bag is a useful outdoor skill because it gives you a little more responsibility for your own adventure. You start to…
-
How to Choose the Right Outdoor Clothing for Children
What you wear outdoors can make a surprisingly big difference to how much you enjoy yourself. A sunny morning can turn into a cold, wet afternoon, and a pair of shoes that feel fine on a pavement might not be so comfortable after a few hours on a muddy woodland path. Choosing outdoor clothing isn’t…
-
Understand Basic Outdoor Safety
Going outdoors should be an exciting experience. Whether you’re heading into a woodland, walking across the countryside, going camping or simply exploring a local park, a little knowledge about staying safe can make a big difference. Outdoor safety isn’t about being worried about everything that could possibly go wrong. It’s about knowing what to look…
-
How to Stay Safe in Lightning While Camping
A thunderstorm can turn an enjoyable camping trip into a serious situation surprisingly quickly. The rain itself might not be the biggest problem. Lightning, sudden gusts of wind, falling branches and rapidly changing conditions can all make being outdoors hazardous. The good news is that you don’t need to be able to predict exactly where…
-
How to Make an Improvised Crutch
If someone injures their leg while you’re outdoors, getting them back to safety can become a real problem, particularly if you’re some distance from a road or other help. In a minor injury, a temporary walking aid can sometimes make moving around easier. If the injury could be a fracture or is otherwise serious, however,…
-
How to Whittle Tent Pegs
Making your own tent pegs is a simple campcraft skill that is surprisingly satisfying. You don’t need much equipment, and once you know what makes a good peg, you can make one to suit the ground and the shelter you’re putting up. A homemade wooden peg doesn’t need to look perfect. In fact, a roughly…
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.