Bushcraft Adventurer

Four nights that deepen bushcraft skills for Cub Scouts ready for Stage 2. Cubs explore sun safety, compass bearings, fire building, camp hygiene, and advanced knots through practical outdoor activities.

Challenge Area
Outdoor
Award Type
OAS Stage Progression
Nights
4
Total Duration
6 hr
Equipment Summary
Australian flag, butcher's paper (1 sheet per Six), markers, disconnected phone or toy phone, scenario cards, large floor compass (tarp or tape), 1 compass per Cub, bearing call-out cards, True / False signs for each end of the hall, statement cards and 49 more

About this trail

This 4-night trail is designed around the Outdoor Challenge Area, making it straightforward to program outdoor-focused nights that contribute to Milestone credit. Each night follows the Scouts Australia Plan > Do > Review cycle and is structured as a mix of indoor and outdoor nights.

Across its 4 nights, this trail maps to OAS requirements in Bushcraft. The requirements are specific — not just "do some bushcraft" but individual Stage requirements like fire-lighting methods or shelter construction techniques. Tussock pre-loads these requirements into each night's event plan so leaders can sign them off during the activity rather than transcribing them later.

The SPICES developmental domains covered by this trail are: Intellectual, Social, Character, Physical, Emotional. Programming across multiple domains in a single trail helps Groups demonstrate balanced youth development in their term plans and annual reports.

You can run the four nights in order for a coherent multi-week program, or pick individual nights to fill gaps in your existing term plan. In Tussock, importing a night from this trail pre-fills the Scout Night wizard: Challenge Area, SPICES domains, OAS requirements, and suggested segments are all set. Customise from there to suit your Section.

Import into Tussock

Import this trail into Tussock to run each night with attendance tracking and automatic OAS requirement awarding built in — no manual requirement lookup needed.

OAS Requirements Covered

The following Outdoor Adventure Skills requirements are mapped across this trail's four nights. Import this trail into Tussock to award these requirements automatically when Scouts attend each night.

Bushcraft

The Four Nights

Each night below is a standalone Scout Night session of approximately 1 hr 30 min and follows the Plan > Do > Review cycle. Run them in order for the full Bushcraft Adventurer trail, or adapt individual nights for your program.

Night 1: Planning & Compass Mastery

Cubs learn compass degrees and cardinal points, discuss bush safety precautions, and practise contacting emergency services.

Indoor Challenge Area: Outdoor Duration: 1 hr 30 min
Intellectual Social Character

OAS requirements this night: bushcraft.s2.plan-3, bushcraft.s2.plan-4, bushcraft.s2.plan-5, bushcraft.s2.plan-6

  1. Opening Ceremony Ceremony

    Grand Howl and flag break. Akela announces the Bushcraft Stage 2 trail — "You proved you know the basics; now we level up!"

    Social Character
    Equipment (1 item)
    • Australian flag
  2. Bush Safety Brainstorm discussion

    In Sixes, Cubs brainstorm safety precautions for going out in the bush. Each Six writes their ideas on butcher's paper: sun protection, water, telling someone your plan, first aid kit, appropriate clothing, checking weather. Sixes present their top three to the pack. Akela fills any gaps.

    Intellectual Social
    Equipment (2 items)
    • butcher's paper (1 sheet per Six)
    • markers

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.plan-3

  3. Emergency Services Drill practice

    Akela explains Triple Zero (000): which service to ask for and what information to give (name, location, what happened). Using a disconnected phone or toy phone, each Cub role-plays a call: "I need ambulance, I'm at Scout camp on Kowen Road, my friend has a twisted ankle." Cubs practise staying calm and giving clear information.

    Character Intellectual
    Equipment (2 items)
    • disconnected phone or toy phone
    • scenario cards

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.plan-4

  4. Compass Degrees Workshop Instruction

    Akela uses a large floor compass (drawn on a tarp or taped on the floor) to teach 360 degrees, the four cardinal points (N=0/360, E=90, S=180, W=270), and the four ordinal points. Each Cub receives a compass and practises finding bearings called out by the leader. Quiz: "Point your compass to 180 degrees — what direction is that?"

    Intellectual Physical
    Equipment (3 items)
    • large floor compass (tarp or tape)
    • 1 compass per Cub
    • bearing call-out cards

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.plan-5

  5. Camp Hygiene Rules — True or False Game

    Akela reads statements about camp hygiene and Cubs run to one side of the hall for "True" or the other for "False." Examples: "You should wash your hands before cooking" (True), "It's fine to leave food scraps on the ground" (False), "You should wash dishes in the creek" (False). Discussion after each round.

    Intellectual Physical
    Equipment (2 items)
    • True / False signs for each end of the hall
    • statement cards

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.plan-6

  6. Compass Bingo Game

    Each Cub gets a bingo card with compass bearings and cardinal point names. Akela calls out either a degree or a direction, and Cubs mark the matching square. First Cub with a full row calls "Bearing!" Reinforces the degree-direction link in a fun format.

    Intellectual
    Equipment (3 items)
    • bingo cards (pre-printed)
    • markers or counters
    • call-out list

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.plan-5

  7. Closing Ceremony Ceremony

    Pack circle. Akela asks: "If you had to call 000 right now, what three things would you say?" One Cub per Six answers. Grand Howl to close.

    Social Character

Total night duration: 1 hr 30 min

Night 2: Sun, Water & Nature Impact

Cubs learn sun protection, how much water to carry on a hike, the impact they can have on local vegetation, and how to find cardinal directions without a compass.

Outdoor Challenge Area: Outdoor Duration: 1 hr 30 min
Physical Intellectual Character

OAS requirements this night: bushcraft.s2.plan-1, bushcraft.s2.plan-2, bushcraft.s2.do-1, bushcraft.s2.do-3, bushcraft.s2.do-6

  1. Opening Ceremony Ceremony

    Cubs assemble in the park. Akela performs a quick sun-safety check — "Show me your hat, sunscreen, and water bottle." Flag break.

    Character Social
    Equipment (2 items)
    • Australian flag
    • portable flag stand
  2. Sun Smart Station practice

    Akela sets up a "Sun Smart" station. Cubs rotate through: (1) apply sunscreen properly (ears, back of neck, nose), (2) identify UV-protective clothing vs regular clothing, (3) demonstrate the shadow test — if your shadow is shorter than you, UV is high, seek shade. Each Cub earns a "Sun Smart" tick.

    Physical Character
    Equipment (3 items)
    • sunscreen (SPF 50+)
    • selection of hats (wide-brim, cap, legionnaire)
    • UV-protective shirt and regular shirt

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.do-1

  3. Vegetation Impact Walk discussion

    Akela leads a short nature walk (15 min) through the park. Cubs observe where people have walked off-trail and the impact: compacted soil, broken branches, erosion. Cubs compare a healthy area with a trampled area. Discussion: "What can we do to reduce our impact?" Cubs list: stick to trails, don't pick plants, carry out all rubbish.

    Intellectual Character
    Equipment (3 items)
    • clipboards
    • pencils
    • observation worksheet

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.plan-1

  4. Water Carry Challenge practice

    Akela explains the rule of thumb: carry at least 1 litre per hour of hiking. Cubs estimate how much water they would need for a 3-hour hike. Then, each Cub fills a water bottle to the right level and carries it in their daypack while walking a short course. They feel the weight and discuss why carrying enough water matters.

    Physical Intellectual
    Equipment (3 items)
    • water bottles (1 per Cub)
    • measuring jug
    • daypacks

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.do-3

  5. Find North Without a Compass Instruction

    Akela teaches three methods to find cardinal directions without a compass: (1) the stick-and-shadow method (place a stick, mark shadow tip, wait 15 min, mark again — line runs east-west), (2) watch method for analogue watches, (3) the Southern Cross method for night. Cubs practise the stick-and-shadow method in pairs and verify with a real compass.

    Intellectual Physical
    Equipment (3 items)
    • straight sticks (1 per pair)
    • small stones for marking
    • 4 compasses for verification

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.do-6

  6. First Aid Discussion — What Would You Do? discussion

    Akela presents three accident scenarios appropriate for Cubs: a grazed knee on a bushwalk, a bee sting, and someone feeling dizzy from heat. For each scenario Cubs discuss what action to take: clean and bandage, remove sting and apply cold pack, move to shade and give water. Emphasise: always tell a leader.

    Intellectual Character
    Equipment (2 items)
    • scenario cards
    • basic first aid kit (for show)

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.plan-2

  7. Closing Ceremony Ceremony

    Pack circle in the park. Akela asks each Six: "Which direction is north — point!" Cubs point and check with a compass. Grand Howl to close.

    Social Character
    Equipment (1 item)
    • compass

Total night duration: 1 hr 30 min

Night 3: Fire Building & Knots

Cubs build a safe fireplace, cook a snack on a fire, learn fire dangers, and demonstrate three knots in practical applications.

Outdoor Challenge Area: Outdoor Duration: 1 hr 30 min
Physical Intellectual Character

OAS requirements this night: bushcraft.s2.do-2, bushcraft.s2.do-4, bushcraft.s2.do-5, bushcraft.s2.do-7

  1. Opening Ceremony Ceremony

    Cubs assemble near the fire circle. Akela reviews campfire safety from Stage 1 and sets expectations: "Tonight you build and cook." Grand Howl.

    Social Character
    Equipment (1 item)
    • Australian flag
  2. Build a Safe Fireplace practice

    Akela demonstrates how to build a safe fireplace in the bush: clear the area of leaves and debris in a 2 m circle, ring the fireplace with rocks, ensure the fire is downwind from tents and gear, and have a water bucket within arm's reach. Each patrol builds their own fireplace under supervision. Akela inspects each one before lighting.

    Physical Character
    Equipment (5 items)
    • fire rings or designated areas
    • rocks for fire rings
    • bucket of water per patrol
    • rakes for clearing
    • fire extinguisher

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.do-4

  3. Fire Dangers Discussion discussion

    While fires are being lit, Akela gathers Cubs for a 10-minute talk on fire dangers: bushfire risk (total fire ban days), burns from hot coals hidden in ash, smoke inhalation, and how to extinguish a fire properly (drown, stir, feel). Cubs identify three dangers and three safety measures.

    Intellectual Character
    Equipment (1 item)
    • fire-danger rating chart (printed)

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.do-5

  4. Damper on a Stick practice

    Each Cub wraps a ball of prepared damper dough around a clean green stick and cooks it over the patrol's fire. Akela supervises, reminding Cubs to rotate slowly and stay behind the safety circle. Once golden, Cubs eat their damper with butter or jam. Covers cooking a snack on a fire.

    Physical Social
    Equipment (5 items)
    • pre-mixed damper dough (flour, water, salt — prepared beforehand)
    • clean green sticks (1 per Cub)
    • butter and jam
    • plates and napkins
    • hand sanitiser

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.do-2

  5. Three-Knot Challenge practice

    Each Cub must demonstrate three knots and apply them: (1) reef knot — tie two ropes together to extend a clothesline, (2) clove hitch — attach a rope to a pole for a camp gadget, (3) bowline — create a non-slip loop for hanging a billy. Cubs work in pairs, teach each other, and Akela signs off each knot.

    Physical Intellectual
    Equipment (4 items)
    • 2 x 1.5 m ropes per Cub
    • 4 broomsticks or poles
    • billy can for bowline demo
    • knot-tying instruction cards

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.do-7

  6. Fire Extinguish & Pack Down practice

    Each patrol extinguishes their fire together using the drown-stir-feel method. Cubs confirm the ash is cold to touch (back of hand near, not on). Akela inspects. Patrols scatter the ashes and return the area to how they found it. Reinforces responsible fire management.

    Character Physical
    Equipment (2 items)
    • buckets of water
    • stir sticks

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.do-5

  7. Closing Ceremony Ceremony

    Cubs circle up. Akela: "You built fires, cooked food, and tied three knots tonight — real bushcraft skills." Quick moment of reflection under the stars. Grand Howl to close.

    Social Spiritual

Total night duration: 1 hr 30 min

Night 4: Bushcraft Challenge & Review

Cubs complete a bushcraft challenge course combining all Stage 2 skills, then reflect on what they enjoyed, learned, and would do differently.

Outdoor Challenge Area: Outdoor Duration: 1 hr 30 min
Physical Intellectual Social Emotional

OAS requirements this night: bushcraft.s2.review-1, bushcraft.s2.review-2

  1. Opening Ceremony Ceremony

    Cubs assemble at the park. Akela announces: "Tonight is the Bushcraft Stage 2 finale! You will be tested on everything." Grand Howl and flag break.

    Social Character
    Equipment (2 items)
    • Australian flag
    • portable flag stand
  2. Bushcraft Challenge Course Game

    A six-station challenge course set up across the park. Patrols rotate every 6 minutes. Station 1: Tie three knots (reef, clove hitch, bowline) against the clock. Station 2: Find north using stick-and-shadow or watch method. Station 3: Lay a safe fireplace (no lighting). Station 4: Apply sunscreen and demonstrate the shadow UV test. Station 5: Answer first aid scenario questions. Station 6: Pack a daypack with correct water for a 2-hour hike. Each station is scored by a helper.

    Physical Intellectual Social
    Equipment (8 items)
    • ropes for knots
    • sticks and stones for shadow method
    • compasses for verification
    • rocks for fire ring
    • sunscreen
    • first aid scenario cards
    • daypacks and water bottles
    • score sheets and pencils
  3. Two Bushcraft Activities Reflection Reflection

    Cubs sit in a circle. Akela asks each Cub to pick two bushcraft activities from the trail (e.g. fire building and knots, cooking and navigation) and talk about what they enjoyed and what they learned from each. Cubs share in pairs first, then volunteers share with the whole pack.

    Social Emotional Intellectual
    Equipment (1 item)
    • talking stick

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.review-1

  4. What Would You Do Differently? Reflection

    Akela hands out sticky notes. Each Cub writes one thing they would do differently for a future bushcraft activity (e.g. "Practise my bowline more", "Bring more water", "Watch the fire more carefully"). Cubs stick their notes on a shared poster. Akela reads a few aloud and discusses.

    Intellectual Emotional
    Equipment (4 items)
    • sticky notes
    • pens
    • A2 poster paper
    • markers

    OAS: bushcraft.s2.review-2

  5. Bushcraft Stage 2 Badge Moment Ceremony

    Akela congratulates the pack. Winning patrol from the challenge course is announced. If badges are ready, present them. Cubs give a final cheer for their trail.

    Social Character Emotional
    Equipment (2 items)
    • Bushcraft Stage 2 badges (if available)
    • small prize for winning patrol
  6. Closing Ceremony Ceremony

    Grand Howl. Akela previews the next adventure. Pack dismissed.

    Social Character

Total night duration: 1 hr 30 min

See also

OAS Framework Reference

Full breakdown of all 9 OAS streams and their stage requirements.

Browse OAS framework →

More OAS Stage Progression Trails

Find other trails with a similar Outdoor focus.

All Night Ideas →