Lighting a fire outdoors is only half the job. Before you leave a campsite, you need to make absolutely sure the fire is completely extinguished and that no hidden heat or embers remain to start another fire after you’ve gone. Ash can look cold on…
A feather stick is a useful piece of kindling made by shaving thin curls of wood along a stick while leaving those curls attached. The fine curls catch a flame more readily than a thick piece of wood, making a feather stick a handy skill…
How many trees can you recognise when you’re out walking? You might know an oak by its distinctive leaves or recognise a horse chestnut from the familiar conkers that fall in autumn, but identifying trees becomes much easier when you start looking at the small…
Being able to read a map is one of the most useful skills you can develop for spending time outdoors. A map can tell you far more than where a path goes. It can help you recognise hills, valleys, rivers, woodland, buildings and other features,…
Packing a rucksack properly is one of those outdoor skills that makes a real difference to how comfortable and prepared you feel on a walk. It is easy to throw a few things into a bag and head out, but knowing what to take, where…
It’s easy to become so focused on following a path that you stop paying attention to the place that you’re actually walking through. Learning to recognise landmarks helps you build a better picture of your surroundings, making it easier to keep track of where you…
There’s something satisfying about preparing a meal outdoors. Even something as simple as a hot breakfast or a one-pot lunch can feel different when you’re cooking away from your usual kitchen. The trick is to keep things manageable, prepare what you need and make sure…
Have you ever looked at the sky before heading out and wondered whether the weather was about to change? Learning to notice what’s happening above you is a useful outdoor skill, particularly when you’re walking, camping or spending a day away from any shelter. In…
A good camp gadget doesn’t need to be complicated. Sometimes the simplest ideas are the most useful, especially when you’re trying to keep equipment organised or make life around camp a little easier. In the previous challenge, you learned how to tie a Bowline knot….
In the previous challenge, you learned how to light a fire with natural tinder. For Challenge 04, we’re going back to one of the most useful basic outdoor skills: knots. The bowline is a classic knot that creates a fixed loop in the end of…
In the previous challenge, you learned how to build a natural shelter. For Challenge 03, we’re getting into one of the most satisfying outdoor skills to practise: fire lighting. This isn’t about building the biggest fire you can. Your challenge is much simpler. Can you…
In the first challenge, you learned how to find North without using a compass. For Challenge 02, you’re going to put your shelter-building skills into practice. A good outdoor shelter isn’t about building the biggest or most impressive structure you can. It’s about understanding what…
