Practical resources for Scout leaders, including badge guidance, activity ideas, teaching tips, safety advice and resources to help Scouts develop essential skills.
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST If you become separated from your group outdoors, your first priority is to stay safe — not to find everyone as quickly as possible. In many situations, stopping where you are is safer than wandering around looking for the group. If you’re…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST This activity is for learning purposes. Water that has been filtered during the activity must not be assumed to be safe to drink. If you demonstrate boiling or another purification method, explain that different treatment methods deal with different hazards. Filtering through…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST These games are designed to teach fire safety without putting Scouts in unnecessary danger. Many of the activities below can be completed without a lit fire. Where a real fire is involved, it should only be used when permitted, properly planned, appropriately…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Knot games should focus on learning and practising rope skills, not on testing how much weight a knot can support. Never encourage Scouts to tie ropes around their necks, bodies or other people, or to use ropes for climbing, suspension or lifting…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Map reading activities can be run in a classroom, campsite or outdoors, but activities that involve moving around outside require appropriate planning and supervision. Before sending teams out, check the map, terrain, weather, boundaries and hazards. Make sure Scouts know where they…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Navigation games should take place in an appropriate, clearly defined area with suitable adult supervision. Before starting, leaders should check the route, weather, terrain, boundaries and any hazards. Make sure young people understand where they can and cannot go and establish a…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Outdoor survival games should be fun, educational and appropriately supervised. Activities involving water, fire, tools, heights or challenging terrain require additional planning and suitable controls. Adapt every activity to the age, ability and experience of your group, the location and the weather….
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. ⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Wet clothing can become dangerous in cold, windy or exposed conditions. Water conducts heat away from…
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…
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…
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….
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…
