Night Away and Camping

Nights Away or residential events, such as camping or sleepovers, are a key part of Scouts. They're something that every young person should have the opportunity to take part in.

What to expect

Your first night away as a Beaver will probably look a lot different to your adventures away from home as an Explorer Scout, but the skills these experiences have in common will always be greater than the ways they change.

Nights away from home let young people build skills that set them up for the rest of their lives. Doing your own thing starts when you pack your own bag – and thinking on your feet starts when you get by without the things you’ve forgotten. Camping also helps everyone become a stronger team, as they work together to make sure everyone’s got a hot meal to fill their tummy and a comfy place to rest their head. Camping isn’t always easy, but the key is getting back up and trying again. At the end of the day, when you’ve put a tent up despite the wind and lit a fire despite the rain, you’ll go to bed with a warm glow inside, despite the cold. 

Fun facts

  • Some Scouts from Ontario, Canada, hold the world record for the fastest time to erect a four-person tent. They managed it in a speedy 1 minute 58 seconds!
  • The first tents were made mainly from mammoth hide, and evidence found in Russia can be dated back to around 40,000 BC. 
Activity outcomes

  • Try new things

  • Be independent

Find it easier to meet new people, go to new places, and do new things.

Learn to make your own decisions, succeed without adults’ help, and achieve things yourself.

This activity counts towards

Key documents

Below are some documents that will be useful for young people preparing to go on a nights away event.

Skip to content