Outdoor Skills
From MeritBadgeDotOrg
Outdoor Skills, Backpacking, Cooking, Navigation, Cycling, and Wilderness Survival Skills.
These are also the resources for Webelos Outdoorsman.
Outdoor Skills are important parts of the Cub Scout, Webelos, and Boy Scout programs:
- Cub Scouts can camp with their Pack or at Cub Scout Resident Camp.
- Webelos earn their Webelos Outdoorsman Activity Badge.
- Boy Scouts earn their Camping, Hiking, Backpacking, and Wilderness Survival Merit Badges.
Also see:
- Skills Instruction and Videos: First Aid Skills - Swimming - Outdoor Skills - Wilderness Survival - Backpacking - Cooking - Navigation - Campfires - Clothing - Cycling Skills
Resources
While your handbook is your primary resource, the links below can help you learn Outdoor Skills. See the Disclaimers.
- See: Camping, Backpacking, Hiking, and Wilderness Survival Merit Badges. Make these a part of your Troop Program.
► BSA Videos: The BSA Video: Skills Lessons are excellent but are large files that require Apple QuickTime.
► This symbol notes many other lesson videos.
Outdoor Basics
► BSA Video: Overnight camping gear (See notes.)
► Video: Camping Lesson Videos
Sun Protection
► Video: Sunscreen - Video: Learn What Sun & Bug Protection Gear to Pack When Camping
Insect Protection
Hygiene
Outdoor Safety
► BSA Video: Safe Hiking (See notes.)
► Video: Buddy System - Video: Hiking Regulations & Permits -
Backpacking Skills
- See Backpacking Skills for Backpacks, Packing, Reducing Weight, Stoves, Gear, and more.
Campfire Building
- See Cooking Skills for Ax and Saw Skills, Campfire Setup, Types, Starting, Safety, and more.
Campsite
► Video: Campsites - Video: Finding Practical Campsites - Video: How to Choose a Campsite - Video: How to Choose a Location - Video: Campsite Hazards
Camps
- USSCouts.Org Boy Scout Camps database with reviews
- Find BSA Council Camps: BSA: Find Councils -
- BSA: Council websites - Unofficial list of Council websites -
- Scout Camps USA Printed Book Online
Clothing
- See Cooking Skills for Footwear, Socks, Layering, Cold Weather, Warm Weather, and more.
Cooking Skills
- See Cooking Skills for Meal Planning, Recipes, Food Handling, Dutch Oven Cooking, and more.
First Aid
- See First Aid Skills, First Aid Kit, and First Aid Merit Badge.
Gear
Lights
Checklists
- Camping Checklists - More Checklists - REI: Adventure Travel Checklist - REI: Backpacking Checklist - REI: Snow Camping Checklist - REI: The Ten Essentials
Hiking Skills
► BSA Video: Second Class Five-Mile Hike (See notes.)
► Hiking Videos - Videos: Planning - Videos: Footwear - Packing for Day Hikes - How to Choose & Use a Backpack for a Day Hike - Video: Keeping a Hiking Pace - Video: How to Keep Your Feet Dry - Video: Hike Planning - Video: Hiking for Beginners - Video: Advanced Hike Plans
Hydration
► REI: Hydration - Video: Hydration - Video: Hiking Water Gear
*REI: Hydration System - REI: Water Bottles - REI: Cleaning Water Bottles - REI: Water - REI: Water Treatment: Backcountry - REI: Water Risks
Leave No Trace
- Leave No Trace - Leave No Trace LNT Site - BSA Leave No Trace - BSA's Teaching Leave No Trace - Video: Leave No Trace - REI: Minimum-Impact Travel
- Leave No Trace Awards: Cub Scouts - Boy Scouts and Venturers
Navigation
- See Navigation for Navigation Without a Compass, Maps, Compass, GPS, Lost and more.
Outdoor Code
Sleeping Bags
► Video: Sleeping Bags - Video: Choosing a Sleeping Bag - Video: Buying Sleeping Bags - Staying Warm in a Sleeping Bag - Video: Selecting a Sleeping Bag -
- Wikipedia: Types of Sleeping Bags - REI: Sleeping Bags for Camping - REI Video: Sleeping Bags for Backpacking - REI: Sleeping Bags Care & Repair - Storing Sleeping Bags
- REI: Bivy Sacks - Video: Bivi Bags
Sleeping Pads
► Videos: Video: How to Choose a Sleeping Pad - [1] - Sleeping Pads - Camping Sleeping Pads - Packing Inflatable Sleeping Pads - Video: Selecting a Ground Mat
Tent Types
► Video: Tents - Video: How to Choose a Tent - Video: How to Pitch a Tent - Video: How to Set Up a Tent - Backpacking Tent Types
- Tents: Types of Tents - REI: Tents: Family/Base Camp - REI: Tents: Backpacking - REI: Tent Care Care & Repair
Tent Setup
► BSA Video: Tenderfoot Help Pitch a Tent - BSA Video: Second Class Pitch a Tent (See notes.)
► Video: Where to Set Up a Tent - Video: Clearing an Area for a Tent - Video: How to Stake Down a Tent - Video: Laying Out Ground Tarp for Tents - Video: Laying Out a Tent - Video: Putting Tent Poles Together - Video: Raising a Tent
Water Purification
► Video: Importance of Water Purification - Video: Safe Drinking Water - Water Video: Purification Process - Video: Finding Fresh Water - Video: Water Purification
- Methods:Water Treatment
► Video: Purifying Water - Video: Methods of Water Purification - Video: How to Select a Water Purification System Videos: Water Treatment Options: Filters - Chemicals - UV - Bottle Filters - Boiling Water - Cleanable Filters - Water Tablets
Weather Skills
► Video: Adapting to Weather - Video: How to Gauge the Weather - Video: How to Check the Weather
Wilderness Survival Skills
See: Wilderness Survival Merit badge. Make Wilderness Survival A Part of Your Troop Program.
► Survival Lesson Videos: Video: Wilderness Survival Tips - Video: Assessing the Surroundings - Video: Identifying Plants & Food - Video: Patience & Making Decisions - Video: Using Personal Possessions - Video: Desert - Video: Using Pinecones
Survival Kit
► Video: Survival Kit - Video: Survival Kit -
Survival Shelter
► Video: Build a Shelter - Video: Using Straw Grass - Video: Finding Shelter - Video: Lean-To Shelters
Survival Signaling
See also
- Skills Instruction and Videos: First Aid Skills - Swimming - Outdoor Skills - Wilderness Survival - Backpacking - Cooking - Navigation - Campfires - Clothing - Cycling Skills
Related awards
- Outdoor Skills Awards
Outdoor-related awards
- Boy Scout ranks: Tenderfoot - Second Class - First Class
- Boy Scout awards: Firem'n Chit - Totin' Chip - Paul Bunyan Woodsman
- Boy Scout Merit Badges: Astronomy - Backpacking - Camping - Canoeing - Climbing - Cooking - Cycling - Fire Safety - Hiking - Orienteering - Pioneering - Rowing - Weather - Water Sports - Whitewater - Wilderness Survival
- Venturing: Outdoor Bronze Award; Ranger Award electives: Backpacking
- Webelos Activity Badges: Forester - Naturalist - Outdoorsman
- Cub Scout Belt Loops & Pins: Astronomy - Map and Compass - Weather
Disclaimers
Disclaimer: This information is not intended as a substitute for professional advice, or formal training. Please note that the only materials recommended by the Boy Scouts of America are those found or listed in official BSA materials such as the current Boy Scout Handbook. Outdoor Skills recommendations are constantly being revised. Neither MeritBadge.Org, nor its contributors make any recommendations. See the Guide to Safe Scouting.
- MeritBadge.Org Disclaimer
