Develop essential Explorer skills through practical activities covering camping, survival, navigation, bushcraft, leadership and other valuable outdoor abilities.
First aid is one of the most important skills an Explorer can learn. An accident can happen during a hike, expedition, camping trip, cooking activity or simply while going about everyday life. Knowing what to do can make a difficult situation much easier to manage….
Navigation is one of the most valuable outdoor skills an Explorer can develop. At Explorer level, navigation can move beyond simple map-reading exercises. Young people can start making their own route decisions, interpreting more complicated terrain, using different navigation methods and solving realistic problems. The…
Camping gives Explorers the chance to put their outdoor skills into practice. It’s one thing to learn how to use a map, cook outdoors or put up a tent during a meeting. It’s another thing to use those skills as part of a real camping…
By the time young people reach Explorers, knot work can become much more interesting than simply learning a list of knots. The real skill is knowing which knot to use, why to use it and how to check that it has been tied correctly. That’s…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Shelter-building activities should take place in a suitable, supervised area following an appropriate risk assessment. Check for unstable trees and branches, steep ground, water hazards and other environmental risks before starting. Never encourage Explorers to climb trees, construct unstable structures or deliberately…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Fire activities should only take place with appropriate adult supervision, suitable facilities, permission and a completed risk assessment. Follow your organisation’s current fire-safety guidance and any restrictions applying to the site. Keep suitable extinguishing equipment immediately available and never leave a fire…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Navigation becomes a very different skill when the sun goes down. Familiar landmarks disappear. Distances become harder to judge. Paths can be more difficult to identify. Even a route that feels easy during the day can require much more concentration at night….
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Advanced navigation activities should be planned around the ability of the group and the environment you’re using. Set clear boundaries, use appropriate supervision and have a suitable emergency plan. Explorers should never be deliberately placed in a situation where becoming genuinely lost…
⚠️ SAFETY FIRST Advanced survival activities should only be attempted with appropriate adult supervision, planning and risk assessment. Activities involving fire, water, tools, remote terrain or exposure to weather require particular care. Survival training should develop good decisions and safe habits, not encourage young people…
⚠️ SAFETY & AGE-APPROPRIATENESS NOTE Explorer Scouts are generally 14–18 years old, so the programme can involve significantly more independence, responsibility and challenging activities. However, greater independence does not mean ignoring safety procedures or appropriate supervision. Activities involving fire, knives, tools, water, climbing, camping, navigation,…
🧭 Explorers: Take Your Outdoor Skills Further You’ve already learned the basics. You’ve followed trails, learned navigation, developed camping skills, practised first aid and discovered how to deal with problems outdoors. Now it’s time to take another step. Being an Explorer isn’t simply about learning…
