Learn essential survival skills including shelter building, fire lighting, navigation, first aid, outdoor safety and practical skills to survive in the wilderness.
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: 60–180 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: Open countryside, campsites and suitable outdoor training areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Emergency signalling, observation, communication, navigation and situational awareness A signalling mirror uses reflected sunlight to attract attention over long distances. The most important…
Activity Overview Difficulty: Easy–ModerateTime: 20–30 minutesLocation: Campsites, woodland edges and suitable outdoor training areasBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Emergency signalling, communication, Morse code, torch handling and night-time awareness A torch can be used to attract attention and communicate simple messages,…
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: ModerateTime: 30–45 minutesLocation: Campsites, expedition bases and suitable outdoor planning areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Meal planning, nutrition, estimation, expedition planning and food management Calorie planning means making sure your food provides enough energy for the activity without…
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 30–60 minutesLocation: Campsites, expedition bases and suitable outdoor planning areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and experienced Cubs with supervisionSkills: Meal planning, nutrition, portion control, budgeting, packing and expedition planning Food ration planning means working out what food is needed, how…
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 45–90 minutesLocation: Woodlands, hedgerows, fields and other suitable countryside areasBest for: Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and experienced Cubs with close supervisionSkills: Plant identification, responsible countryside access, conservation, observation and sustainable foraging Ethical foraging means taking only what you can positively identify,…
Activity Overview Difficulty: Easy–ModerateTime: 30–60 minutesLocation: Woodlands, fields, parks and other suitable outdoor areasBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Observation, identification, outdoor awareness, responsible countryside access and risk management The safest rule for Scouts is never eat a wild mushroom unless…