August Badge of the Month: Bushcraft

It’s time for a reboot: we are going to restart the Badge of the Month series! Each month we're going to feature a badge that members of The Hive can try together. The idea is that even though we're an online group, we can still all come together to do the same thing and share our experiences, tips and thoughts on it.

For this month's Badge of the Month, we are going to focus on Bushcraft, a Rangers interest badge. While the weather is this good, why not get outside and challenge yourself to get back to nature? You can read the full information with tips and safety guidelines on Girlguiding's website here.

We've set out the core activities below and would love it if you gave it a go and updated us with your progress. You could write up your experiences and tell us what did (and didn’t!) go well in a blog, or tell us all about it on social media.

1. Practise tracking

Get outside – go to a wood, garden, park or public green spaces in your neighbourhood. Look for animal tracks and signs of life. Try to identify where animals live (but don’t disturb them!). Find and identify footprints, trails, fur and feathers. Record what you find and evaluate what indicators helped you identify and track animals and birds. How many species can you track in your local area?

2. Make your own rope

Have a go at making your own rope or cord. Use long grass or natural materials to make a length. If you don’t have access to natural resources, you can use recycled materials or old cloth. Once you’ve made your rope, put it to the test! Practise tying knots with it or use your rope to lift or secure different objects. You could even create your own lasso challenge!

3. Put your bushcraft skills to the test

Spend a night out camping, where you stay outside for at least 12 hours, and do four of the following bushcraft skills:

1. Build and live in a shelter, tent or bivouac made from natural resources.
2. Light a fire without using lighters or matches.
3. Cook on a fire or oven you made and lit yourself.
4. Whittle, make or thatch your own tools and cutlery.
5. Track and survey your camping area and identify any natural hazards or risks.
6. Identify ten different bird and animal tracks.
7. When scouting the area around your camp, navigate using only natural methods, such as making a sundial or stargazing.
8. Use different knots to make something useful for your campsite.

Got an idea for our September Badge of the Month? Let us know on our Facebook and Instagram channels!

Happy badging!

The Hive Team