Practical resources for Scout leaders, including badge guidance, activity ideas, teaching tips, safety advice and resources to help Scouts develop essential skills.
Activity Overview Difficulty: IntermediateTime: 45–60 minutesLocation: Campsite or suitable outdoor activity areaBest for: Scouts and ExplorersSkills: Leadership, communication, teamwork, problem-solving, planning, pioneering Pioneering leadership is about getting a team to work safely and effectively towards a shared goal. A good pioneering leader does not simply…
Activity Overview Difficulty: IntermediateTime: 30–45 minutesLocation: Indoors for planning and equipment checks; outdoors for practical useBest for: Scouts and ExplorersSkills: Clothing selection, weather awareness, layering, preparation, mountain safety Mountain clothing should be selected according to the weather, terrain, season, duration and difficulty of the activity….
Activity Overview Difficulty: AdvancedTime: 45–60 minutesLocation: Indoors for planning, followed by a suitable mountain or hill environmentBest for: Scouts and ExplorersSkills: Weather awareness, route planning, navigation, risk assessment, decision-making Mountain weather can change quickly, so a good plan considers what the forecast says, how conditions…
Activity Overview Difficulty: IntermediateTime: 30–45 minutesLocation: Designated outdoor woodcraft areaBest for: Scouts and ExplorersSkills: Tool safety, woodcraft, cutting techniques, concentration, risk management A saw should be used in a clear, controlled area with the timber securely supported. Check the saw before use, keep your free…
Activity Overview Difficulty: AdvancedTime: 30–60 minutesLocation: Designated axe area or suitable outdoor training areaBest for: Scouts and Explorers, with appropriate adult supervisionSkills: Tool safety, woodcraft, cutting techniques, risk management, concentration A hatchet should only be used in a controlled area with suitable supervision, a stable…
Activity Overview Difficulty: Moderate–AdvancedTime: 60–120 minutesLocation: Campsites, activity fields and suitable outdoor training areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and experienced Cubs with appropriate supervisionSkills: Pioneering, teamwork, communication, leadership, knots, lashings, planning and problem-solving Team pioneering involves working together to design and construct a structure…
Activity Overview Difficulty: AdvancedTime: 2–6 hours or a full activity sessionLocation: Large, level campsites and suitable outdoor activity areasBest for: Older Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and experienced teams with close adult supervisionSkills: Advanced pioneering, project planning, knots, lashings, structural design, teamwork, leadership and risk management…
Activity Overview Difficulty: Moderate–AdvancedTime: 60–120 minutesLocation: Campsites, activity fields and suitable outdoor training areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and experienced Cubs with appropriate supervisionSkills: Pioneering, design, knots, lashings, problem-solving, teamwork, planning and leadership Pioneering design challenges give Scouts a problem to solve rather than…
Activity Overview Difficulty: Moderate–AdvancedTime: 60–180 minutesLocation: Campsites, activity fields and suitable outdoor training areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and experienced Cubs with appropriate supervisionSkills: Pioneering, knots, lashings, teamwork, planning, problem-solving, communication and leadership Pioneering competitions challenge patrols to use knots, lashings, poles and teamwork…
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 30–45 minutesLocation: Campsites, woodland, open countryside and suitable outdoor training areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Emergency communication, signalling, situational awareness, emergency planning and outdoor safety A distress signal is used to show that you need help in…
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 30–45 minutesLocation: Campsites, woodland, open countryside and suitable outdoor training areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Emergency communication, signalling, navigation, situational awareness and emergency planning Emergency signalling is about getting attention, communicating that you need help and making…
Activity Overview Difficulty: Easy–ModerateTime: 30–60 minutesLocation: Woodlands, fields, hedgerows and other suitable outdoor areasBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Observation, plant identification, outdoor awareness, responsible countryside access and risk management Wild plants can be useful and interesting to learn about, but…
