Get ready for a weekend of real Scouting adventure! 🏕️🔥

Our Camp Craft Competition is back and bigger than ever, with a renewed focus on traditional Scouting skills, teamwork, and camp life. From pitching the perfect campsite to cooking over open fires, teams will battle it out across the weekend to prove they have what it takes to be true masters of camp craft.

This year’s event places a strong emphasis on practical Scouting skills, working towards the Scouts Camper Activity Badge, and celebrating the spirit of outdoor adventure.

Teams will be challenged on everything from camp setup and cooking to fire lighting, teamwork and performance around the campfire. Throughout the weekend, leaders will be observing not just the results, but how teams work together, manage their camp, and demonstrate safe and effective scouting skills.

You can enter more than one Scout or Explorer team from your section, but spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so early registration is recommended.

The Challenge

From the moment teams arrive on Friday evening, the competition begins.

Teams will create and establish their own campsite, which will be judged on layout, organisation and presentation. Creativity is encouraged – gateways, signs and clearly defined camping areas all help to show team pride and identity.

On Saturday, teams will take part in a series of Scouting Skills challenges, earning points throughout the day by completing traditional outdoor tasks. Teams will need to plan their time carefully, choosing which activities to complete and when, as every challenge contributes towards their final score. Leaders will be observing campsites and teamwork throughout the day.

Food plays a big part in the weekend too. Teams will prepare and cook their own meals, including a two-course evening meal on Saturday, which will be judged on both preparation and presentation.

As darkness falls, everyone will gather for the campfire, where each Scout and Explorer team will take to the stage. Teams will have at least two minutes to lead a song or perform, and will be judged on effort, delivery and enthusiasm– so bring your best campfire spirit!

Sunday morning continues the competition as teams strike camp, demonstrating teamwork, organisation and care for the site. The final challenge will see teams cook a two-course lunch entirely over an open fire, putting their fire lighting and outdoor cooking skills to the test before the winners are announced.

The full programme for the weekend can be found in the event schedule:

What Teams Need to Bring

Each team must bring the equipment needed to establish and run their own campsite, including:

• Tents
• Dining shelter
• Tables and chairs
• Kitchen setup (including stove and fuel)
• Cooking utensils
• Food for their planned menu
• Suitable food storage

If more than one team attends from the same Troop or Unit, each team must have their own equipment (for example, one stove and dining shelter per team).

Scouts and Explorers should also bring their normal personal kit for a weekend camp, including waterproofs, uniform shirt and necker.

Personal penknives may be brought for appropriate activities. Any axes or saws must only be used in designated cutting areas, which teams must set up themselves with the correct safety precautions.

The Nights Away Permit holder for the section must ensure that all stoves are safely set up and checked on Friday evening.

Leaders

Leaders are very welcome to camp for the weekend, and we would greatly appreciate your help in running activity bases and supporting the event.

Explorer teams will be camping under the supervision of the 14–24 team.

All young person information must be provided using the Activity Forms (OSM spreadsheets or individual forms are both acceptable) and should be handed in during check-in on Friday evening.

🌲 This weekend is all about teamwork, outdoor skills, and the true spirit of Scouting.

Whether it’s building the perfect campsite, mastering fire cooking, or leading the loudest campfire song, every team will have the chance to show what they can do.

So sharpen those campcraft skills, plan your menus, and