Useful camp resources for Scout leaders and outdoor groups, including planning advice, campcraft, cooking activities, kit lists and bad-weather ideas.
Activity Overview Difficulty: ChallengingTime: 1–2 hoursLocation: Scout campsites and suitable outdoor activity areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and experienced pioneering groupsSkills: Pioneering, lashings, ropework, teamwork, construction and problem-solving A pioneering catapult can be built as a controlled campcraft engineering project using poles, rope and…
Activity Overview Difficulty: ChallengingTime: 3–5 hoursLocation: Scout campsites and suitable pioneering areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and experienced pioneering teamsSkills: Pioneering, knots, lashings, teamwork, planning, structural awareness and campcraft A pioneering tower is a temporary structure made from poles joined with rope lashings. It…
Activity Overview Difficulty: Easy–ModerateTime: 15–30 minutesLocation: Scout campsites and outdoor campsBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Fire lighting, campcraft, observation, fire management and environmental responsibility A smoky campfire is usually caused by damp fuel, poor airflow, unsuitable fuel or a fire…
Activity Overview Difficulty: ChallengingTime: 2–4 hoursLocation: Scout campsites and suitable outdoor activity areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and experienced pioneering groupsSkills: Pioneering, knots, lashings, teamwork, planning, ropework and structural awareness A pioneering bridge is a structure built from poles and rope using traditional knots…
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 20–30 minutes to set up; maintained throughout campLocation: Scout campsites and outdoor campsBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Campcraft, awareness, organisation, communication and responsibility Camp security is about protecting people, equipment and the campsite from avoidable risks. A…
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 15–30 minutes to set up; maintained throughout campLocation: Scout campsites and outdoor campsBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Food hygiene, campcraft, outdoor cooking, organisation and teamwork Good camp kitchen hygiene means keeping hands, food, equipment and preparation…
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 30–60 minutesLocation: Scout campsites and outdoor campsBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Campcraft, food hygiene, outdoor cooking, organisation and teamwork A good camp kitchen should have separate areas for food preparation, cooking, eating, washing up and waste, with…
Activity Overview Difficulty: Easy–ModerateTime: 15–30 minutesLocation: Scout campsites and outdoor campsBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Observation, campcraft, organisation, hazard awareness and teamwork A camp inspection is a planned check of the campsite, tents, equipment and general organisation. For a Scout…
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 30–60 minutes to plan and briefLocation: Campsites and outdoor campsBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders, adult volunteers and experienced campersSkills: Organisation, observation, communication, teamwork, night-time awareness and emergency response A camp watch system is an organised way of monitoring a campsite…
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 45–90 minutesLocation: Campsites and outdoor campsBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders, campers and outdoor enthusiastsSkills: Camp organisation, teamwork, personal hygiene, equipment care, time management and campcraft An evening camp routine gives everyone time to eat, clean up, organise equipment, wash,…
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 30–60 minutesLocation: Campsites and outdoor campsBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders, campers and outdoor enthusiastsSkills: Camp organisation, personal hygiene, teamwork, equipment care and time management A good morning camp routine gets everyone awake, washed, fed, organised and ready for the…
Activity Overview Difficulty: EasyTime: 15–30 minutes to plan; followed throughout campLocation: Campsites, activity camps and outdoor campsBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders, campers and outdoor enthusiastsSkills: Organisation, time management, teamwork, campcraft and personal responsibility A good camp routine gives everyone a clear structure for…