Master the Art of Outdoor Living
Scout Campcraft
Campcraft is the collection of practical skills Scouts use to make a campsite safe, organised, comfortable and enjoyable. It includes everything from choosing a campsite and putting up tents to cooking, campfires, pioneering, water management and leaving the site tidy.
Campcraft helps Scouts develop teamwork, practical skills, independence, problem-solving and respect for the countryside.
Empowering Scouts Through Campcraft
Campcraft and bushcraft are vital skills that empower Scouts to thrive in the great outdoors. These activities teach young adventurers how to set up camps, manage resources, and respect nature. By mastering these skills, Scouts learn teamwork, problem-solving, and self-reliance, all while fostering a deep appreciation for the environment. Whether it's building a shelter, cooking over an open fire, or navigating through the wilderness, these experiences shape confident and capable leaders of tomorrow.
Choosing a Good Campsite
Before pitching a tent, Scouts should look carefully at the area. A good campsite should be:
- On suitable, reasonably level ground
- Away from hazards such as dead trees and unstable branches
- Above areas that could flood
- Suitable for tents and other activities
- Accessible for emergency services if required
- Away from environmentally sensitive areas
- Large enough for the patrol or group
- In accordance with the landowner's permission and local rules
Setting Up Camp
A well-organised campsite makes camping easier and safer. Scouts can learn to plan where different activities will take place.
A typical camp may include:
Sleeping area → Cooking area → Dining area → Activity area → Washing area → Equipment storage
Fire and cooking areas should be positioned and managed according to the site's rules and the appropriate safety procedures.
Camp Kitchens and Cooking
Outdoor cooking is an important campcraft skill. Scouts can learn how to:
- Set up a safe cooking area
- Prepare food outdoors
- Use camping stoves safely
- Cook over an approved campfire
- Store food correctly
- Keep cooking equipment clean
- Manage hot pans and boiling water
- Deal with food waste
- Leave the cooking area clean
Campfires
Campfires are an enjoyable part of traditional Scouting, but they must always be properly planned and supervised.
Campfire skills can include:
- Selecting a suitable fire site
- Preparing the ground
- Collecting suitable fuel
- Identifying natural tinder
- Lighting a fire
- Building different fire lays
- Maintaining a controlled fire
- Cooking over a fire
- Extinguishing the fire safely
- Checking that the area is cold and safe before leaving
Pioneering and Camp Gadgets
Pioneering combines knots, lashings, poles and teamwork to create useful camp structures.
Scouts can build projects such as:
- Camp tables
- Benches
- Washing stands
- Kitchen equipment
- Flag poles
- Gateway structures
- Notice boards
- Tool racks
- Simple bridges and towers where properly designed and supervised
These projects are a great way to practise square lashings, diagonal lashings, round lashings, reef knots and other useful knots.
Campcraft and Bushcraft
Campcraft and bushcraft overlap, but they are not quite the same.
Campcraft focuses on running an organised outdoor camp, while bushcraft concentrates more on using natural materials and developing woodland survival and practical skills.
For example:
Campcraft: pitching a tent, running a camp kitchen and building a camp table.
Bushcraft: identifying trees, making natural tinder, preparing firewood and constructing a natural shelter.
Learning both gives Scouts a much broader range of outdoor skills.
Scout Campcraft Activities
Campcraft can be turned into practical patrol challenges:
- Pitch a tent correctly.
- Organise a patrol campsite.
- Build a camp gadget.
- Identify suitable firewood.
- Prepare and light a safe fire.
- Cook a simple meal outdoors.
- Complete a knots and lashings challenge.
- Set up a washing station.
- Plan a campsite layout.
- Break camp and leave the site clean.
Leave No Trace
One of the most important campcraft skills is knowing how to leave a campsite as you found it—or better.
Scouts should learn to:
- Remove all rubbish.
- Minimise damage to vegetation.
- Use established fire areas where provided.
- Avoid damaging living trees.
- Dispose of wastewater appropriately.
- Leave natural materials where required.
- Check the campsite carefully before departure.
Good campcraft is not just about building things and having fun outdoors. It is about being organised, safe, responsible and respectful of the environment.
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