Whether you’re heading off on a Scout trip, a Girlguiding adventure or a Brigades retreat, they all offer fantastic benefits for your units in your uniformed group, developing skills, socialising with others and much more!
Adventure camps give young people the chance to step out of their everyday routine and experience something new. They provide opportunities to try exciting activities, face challenges, and discover strengths they might not even know they had.
Being away from home and school in a supportive environment helps them build confidence, resilience, and independence, all while having a great time with their friends and fellow unit members.
Why are outdoor activities helpful for uniformed groups?
For many young people, time spent outdoors is one of the most rewarding and memorable parts of being in a uniformed group. Fresh air, open spaces, and a change of scenery can do wonders for their physical health and mental wellbeing, from building stamina through active games such as aquafun to reducing stress and boosting mood simply by being in nature.
Adventure activities also provide a unique environment for developing key life skills. Facing challenges like navigating a climbing wall or working together to build a raft encourages problem-solving, quick thinking, and resilience. These experiences teach young people how to adapt, support one another, and celebrate shared achievements.
For Scouts, Guides, Cadets, and similar groups, outdoor adventure has always been part of the tradition. It reflects the core ethos of learning by doing, connecting with the natural world, and developing practical skills such as navigating in unknown areas or gaining knowledge about local areas, which can’t be gained in a classroom.
And perhaps most importantly, being away together in an adventurous setting strengthens bonds in a way weekly meetings rarely can. Living, eating, and tackling challenges side by side builds trust and creates shared stories that bring the group closer together long after the camp is over.
The benefits of adventure camps for groups
Your units are born adventurers! That’s why taking them on an adventure camp is perfect for them. An adventure camp for scouts, guides, cubs and more is the perfect opportunity for them to have fun and make the most of the range of benefits that come with these trips.
Boost their confidence
A group trip with the rest of your unit is a brilliant way to boost confidence. When children take part in new and challenging activities alongside their peers, they develop a sense of achievement and self-belief. Completing a climbing wall, navigating a canoe across a lake, or even just successfully pitching a tent can make a child feel proud of themselves.
These small successes build self-esteem that often carries over into everyday life at school or in other social settings. Leaders will notice children volunteering for tasks they might usually avoid and taking on challenges with a newfound sense of courage.
Earn badges
Adventure camps often provide everything your units need to work towards their badges and awards. At PGL, for example, your Scouts or Guides can complete activities like kayaking, archery, or orienteering while ticking off badge requirements. The benefit is twofold: children are learning practical skills while achieving something tangible that recognises their effort. For example, a Girlguiding unit could work on a “Skills Challenge” badge by learning teamwork during a team obstacle course, while Scouts might earn an “Outdoor Adventure” badge through climbing and navigation exercises.
Learn new adventure skills
Adventure camps are the perfect environment for picking up new skills. Beyond badge-related tasks, children have the chance to explore skills they might not encounter at school or home. For instance, they could learn basic survival skills in a forest, how to read a map during orienteering, or how to paddle efficiently in a canoe.
These experiences teach problem-solving, risk assessment, and resilience. Even activities like abseiling or archery encourage focus, patience, and personal goal-setting. Each activity adds to their toolkit for life, making the adventure camp an invaluable learning experience.
Develop independence
An overnight adventure camp is one of the best experiences children can have for developing independence. It’s a chance to go somewhere new with their friends and unit leaders where they can spend a few days taking on responsibilities that parents might usually do at home, like choosing dinner, getting ready for the day and more.
Endless adventure fun
Most importantly, they’re so much fun. Growing up is all about new experiences and having fun, and that’s what we aim to provide for anybody who visits PGL. Exploring and adventuring is what we’re all about! We have lots of multi-activities that you can take part in with your units, such as:
- Survivor – Team challenges that test problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity.
- Abseiling – A controlled climb down a cliff face or wall, perfect for building bravery and focus.
- Climbing – Indoor or outdoor walls help children test their strength and coordination while achieving personal goals.
- Canoeing – Learn to paddle as a team, navigate waterways, and enjoy the sense of accomplishment from working together.
- Orienteering – Map reading and navigation games that challenge children’s planning and decision-making skills.
- Archery – Precision and focus come together in this classic camp favourite, offering both calm and excitement.
Every activity is designed to be safe, exciting, and rewarding, giving children experiences they’ll remember long after the trip ends.
Make new friends
Adventure camps provide the perfect setting for children to form new friendships and strengthen existing ones. Whether your Scouts have recently moved up from Cubs, or you’re bringing together multiple units, the shared experience of adventures and challenges encourages bonding.
Through a range of activities, spending time together in dormitories, at breakfast, lunch and dinner, your group have more time to build relationships with one another! It’s a place where new friendships can blossom and current relationships grow stronger.
How an adventure camp can help your group earn badges
One of the great advantages of taking your uniformed group to an adventure camp is how many of the activities can directly support badge or award requirements. Whether it’s Scouts, Guides, Cadets, or other groups, the practical experiences gained during camp often match the criteria needed for a range of badges, making it easier for leaders to help young people progress.
For example, water-based activities like kayaking or raft building can contribute towards water skills or adventure challenge badges. Climbing, zip-lining, or high ropes courses often count for physical challenge or adventure badges. Meanwhile, nature walks and environmental exploration can support badges focused on wildlife, conservation, or outdoor skills.
By attending a group camp, groups can cover multiple badge requirements in just a few days, saving leaders valuable planning time and ensuring members enjoy a varied and engaging programme. Plus, our experienced instructors can often tailor activities to suit your group’s specific badge goals, and they’re happy to provide certificates or evidence to help with badge applications.
An adventure camp is a practical step forward in your group’s journey through your uniformed organisation’s programme.
Tips and tricks to make your adventure trip a success!
Taking a group of young people on an adventure camp is exciting, rewarding, and, let’s be honest, sometimes a little daunting. From making sure everyone has the right kit to keeping the schedule running smoothly, there’s a lot to think about. With careful planning and a few practical strategies, you can make the trip enjoyable, safe, and memorable for everyone.
Adventure camps give children the chance to try new activities, build confidence, and form lasting friendships. Leaders can make these experiences even better by planning ahead, staying organised, and adding a few thoughtful touches along the way.
Below are some tried-and-tested tips to help your trip run smoothly from start to finish. These simple steps can make a big difference, helping you avoid last-minute stress and ensuring every member of your group gets the most out of their adventure:
- Plan early and involve parents from the start – Sharing information early builds excitement and trust. Parents will appreciate having plenty of time to complete forms, ask questions, and help their young person get ready.
- Have a clear kit list (and check it before you leave) – A detailed list prevents last-minute scrambles and ensures everyone has the right gear for the activities ahead such as waterproofs, a reusable bottle, and a rucksack to store things securely. A quick bag check before departure can save a lot of “I forgot my…” moments.
- Pre-assign groups or activity rotations – This keeps the schedule running smoothly and avoids confusion on the day. Mixing groups can also help members bond with peers they don’t usually work with.
- Keep morale high with small surprises or treats – Whether it’s a fun campfire snack, a silly group challenge, or a small token at the end of the trip, these touches make the experience even more memorable.
- Balance structured activities with free time – Downtime gives young people a chance to relax, reflect, and enjoy each other’s company outside of formal sessions, which is often when the best conversations and connections happen.
With a little forward planning and a few thoughtful touches, you can create a trip that runs smoothly and leaves your group with memories they’ll be talking about for years to come.
Book your Uniform group residential with PGL!
We hope the benefits of group adventure camps encouraged you to join us one day! If you’re not already heading on a group adventure with PGL, then take a look at what we have to offer. We have a range of group residential trips to choose from, including Girlguiding residentials, Youth Club & Trusts residentials, Other Uniform residentials and many more!
If you have any questions, get in touch with our friendly and experienced team today. They’ll be more than happy to help!
