BushscoutUK Blog

Meet the Team

Fri, 19 Dec 2025 12:49:54 GMT

Bushscout.UK is powered by 200+ dedicated volunteers across the UK. We cannot profile everyone here, but these are a few of the key people you might come across at events, in comms, or supporting regions behind the scenes.

Everyone you see here is a volunteer. If you want to chat with one of the team, contact@bushscout.org.uk and we will point you in the right direction.

Bushscout.UK Leadership Team

Want to get involved?

�� Stay in the loop

If you are new to Bushscout, the best first step is to join our mailing list to hear about upcoming skills days, courses, and events.

We’ll be sharing:

Upcoming Bushscout.UK courses for adult volunteers in Scouting
Practical tips and resources to support your outdoor programme
A monthly spark of inspiration to keep your Scouting adventures burning bright

�� Contact us to find out more

If you have already attended a Bushscout Skills Day and are interested in volunteering, get in touch to find out about becoming a Bushscout.UK member at contact@bushscout.org.uk

Member Highlight: Sarah at NorJam

Sat, 15 Nov 2025 09:06:13 GMT

We are throwing it back to the summer to celebrate one of our brilliant volunteers. Sarah spent her week at NorJam as part of team Bushscout.UK, and she has kindly shared what makes a jamboree such a special, unforgettable experience.

After catching up on sleep, laundry and what her family had been up to while she was away, Sarah took a moment to reflect on the magic of a jamboree. Delivering at a jamboree, on the staff side, is very different from supporting a contingent. It gives you much broader exposure to the participants and leaders on site and a completely different perspective on how an event of this scale works.

Yes, the days are long and the starts are early, but there is a huge amount of joy, fun and satisfaction in being part of a team that provides meaningful activities. There is nothing better than seeing young people and adults gain confidence, build skills and try something new. The Bushscout.UK space runs at a different pace to the high energy zones, and it matters that there is something for everyone, whatever their needs or experience. Our activities are practical, accessible and easy for leaders to take back into their own programmes.

For Sarah, one of the most rewarding parts of the week was adapting activities so everyone could take part successfully. That inclusive approach helps Scouts and Guides see what they can achieve and gives their leaders new ideas for their own section nights. And from the staff side, there is plenty of learning too. Bushscout.UK volunteers share skills, try out each other's activities, and support other bases when needed. It is a collaborative team spirit from morning until lights out.

As a team, we eat together, share downtime together and look out for one another. There is always company when you want it and space to relax when you need it. There is even time to catch up with friends who might be working elsewhere on site. By the end of the week, friendships deepen, new connections form and everyone has a sense of shared achievement.

If you have never experienced the joy of a jamboree and you have the gift of time to serve others, we would love you to consider joining a Bushscout.UK staff team in the future. You will help young people make lifelong memories and, just as importantly, you will make some of your own.

Be Part of the Adventure

If Sarah’s story has inspired you, you can keep up with Bushscout.UK news, courses and activity ideas by subscribing to our newsletter .

We’ll be sharing:

Upcoming Bushscout.UK courses for adult volunteers in Scouting
Practical tips and resources to support your outdoor programme
A monthly spark of inspiration to keep your Scouting adventures burning bright

Subscribe and stay connected to a community that believes in simple, safe and successful Scouting for everyone.

Keep Learning with Bushscout: Oak Gall Ink Made Simple!

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 20:47:59 GMT

Autumn is the perfect time to get outdoors, explore the woods, and gather the ingredients for a surprisingly simple, and wonderfully scientific, craft project: making Oak Gall Ink.

It’s a brilliant activity for Scouts, leaders, families or anyone who loves turning nature into something useful.

�� What Are Oak Galls?

Oak galls are small, round growths found on oak trees. They form when a tiny wasp lays its eggs inside the tree tissue. The tree reacts by forming a gall, creating a ready-made home for the growing larva.

They look like knobbly, woody marbles and are often found in abundance on the woodland floor in autumn.

✒️ Why Oak Gall Ink?

For centuries, oak gall ink was one of the most important inks in Europe. It was prized because:

It goes onto the page as a liquid
It then oxidises and becomes permanent
It can’t be washed off once dry

It’s a fantastic blend of history, chemistry and hands-on creativity.

�� Watch the video here

In the video, Lee shows you:

How to identify and collect oak galls
How to crush them
How to steep them with iron
What the ink looks like after a day
The simple but fascinating chemistry behind it

�� How to Make Oak Gall Ink

Here’s the quick method shown in the video:

Collect a handful of oak galls from under any oak tree.
Crush them using a pestle and mortar or a heavy stone.
Place the crushed galls into a jar.
Add steel wool or rusty nails (anything containing iron).
Cover with water.
Leave for 24–48 hours .
Watch the mixture turn brown, then black, then purple-black .

That’s it — you’ve made your own traditional ink!

�� The Science Bit (explained simply)

Oak galls are packed with tannins . When you add iron, it reacts with the tannic acid to create iron ions that dissolve in the water. Once the ink touches paper, these ions oxidise into a different form that isn’t water-soluble , which means your writing becomes permanent.

A perfect “stealth science” moment for young people who don’t realise they’re learning.

�� Try the Full Autumn Project

Making ink is just the start. You can build a whole autumn term around it:

Create quill pens from feathers

Make paper from natural fibres

Write letters or labels using your own handmade ink

We’ll be sharing more videos soon to help you build the whole set of skills.

If you try making oak gall ink, let us know how it goes — tag us on socials or share a photo with your group!

Keep Learning with Bushscout.UK

If you’d like to keep growing your skills and discover more hands-on projects like this, make sure you subscribe to our newsletter .

We’ll be sharing:

Upcoming Bushscout.UK courses for adult volunteers in Scouting
Practical tips and resources to support your outdoor programme
A monthly spark of inspiration to keep your Scouting adventures burning bright

So go on - try something new, enjoy the process, and remember: simple doesn’t mean basic. It means brilliant, achievable and worth doing.

Keep It Simple: Firelighting the Easy Way

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 14:19:55 GMT

Lighting a fire doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you’re introducing Squirrels to their first flames or giving Explorers a chance to cook outdoors, sometimes the best approach is the simplest one. This month, Bushscout.UK is celebrating simple success - because every confident spark builds lasting outdoor skills.

Why We Love Fires

At Bushscout, we’ll happily admit it - we’re a bit obsessed with fires. From flint and steel to friction fire and everything in between, we’ve tried (and taught) more weird and wonderful ways to light a fire than most people could imagine.

But when it comes to the Bushscout.UK curriculum , we always return to our core motto:

Simple, Safe, Successful Scouting

That phrase underpins everything we do. Our aim isn’t just to show off clever tricks; it’s to help Scout volunteers build confidence and consistency. Whether you’re leading Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs, Scouts or Explorers , the goal is the same - to give young people successful experiences outdoors, every time.

Why Simple is Sometimes Best

There’s a certain satisfaction in mastering complex fire-lighting techniques. But when you’re running a section night, sometimes the best approach is the simplest one.

So this month, we’re giving you permission to make firelighting easy .

No pressure, no flint dust in your fingernails, no struggling with damp wood — just a warm, crackling fire and happy young people.

All you’ll need is:

�� Kiln-dried kindling – available from most big supermarkets or garden centres

�� Natural(ish) fire starters – often sold near BBQ or camping sections

�� A lighter or some matches – yes, really!

That’s it. No guilt, no gimmicks. Just a reliable fire to gather around for stories, songs or s’mores.

Watch the Demo

To see how simple can still be effective, here’s a video from Bushscout.UK National Manager Lee and Bushscout.UK Youth Ambassador Matthew , filmed for Scoutadelic back in 2022.

It’s a great reminder that confidence comes from success - and that every fire lit is a skill learned.

Keep Learning with Bushscout

If you’d like to go beyond the basics (and maybe try some of those weird and wonderful methods we mentioned earlier), subscribe to our newsletter .

We’ll be sharing:

Upcoming Bushscout.UK courses for adult volunteers in Scouting
Practical tips and resources to support your outdoor programme
A monthly spark of inspiration to keep your Scouting adventures burning bright

So go on - light that fire the easy way, enjoy the moment, and remember: simple doesn’t mean basic. It means successful.

BushscoutUK at Gilwell Reunion 2025

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 16:33:23 GMT

Gilwell Reunion is the annual weekend of programme ideas, practical skills and support for adult volunteers in Scouting at Gilwell Park, The Scout's HQ.

In August 2025, 55 BushscoutUK members provided their ever popular practical skills bases, with a mixture of taster activities from our skills days and innovative ideas that young people and adults love.

UK Chief Volunteer Carl Hankinson had nothing but praise for BushscoutUK

Teaching Tracking with a Murder Mystery! Who killed Percy the Pigeon?

Pioneering Base? Or IKEA Showroom?

Forgotton your camp kitchen? All you need is one hazel tree - dinner is saved!

Did you get a selfie in our Bushscout-style selfie frame?

Was our BushscoutUK Manager Lee in ALL the pics?!

Thanks to Hannah Gill from ScoutRadioUK for letting our National Manager Lee waffle on about all things Bushscout!

Gallery 2023

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 16:58:20 GMT

Global Bushcraft Symposium 2022

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 16:06:27 GMT

The Global Bushcraft Symposium(GBS) is an international gathering to promote bushcraft, survival, and traditional skills instruction through the open exchange of philosophies, teaching methods and dissemination of best practices within these fields”. For2022 the Global Bushcraft Symposium was hosted in the UK in Wales.

Attendees and speakers travelled from all over the world to the event, with some bringing themed camp equipment and activities by road and across the sea by ferry.

The event consisted of several main talks, break-out talks, Skills workshops and themed camps, as well as lots of conversations and discussions about bushcraft and related skills.

The theme this year was “lifelong learning” with the main speeches focused on this topic with details of how others had been on their learning journey and where it would take them next. There was a good mix of practitioners and academics covering different topics.

The other big theme mentioned was “Context”, specifically clarifying the setting, environment, surroundings and circumstances of what you are doing, learning, teaching and discussing.

There was a set timetable of events taking place, which enabled everyone to attend the main speeches in the hall. Delegates could choose their activities at the other times. Most of the speeches were recorded.

What was interesting was the number of times Scouting was mentioned within the main speeches, as one of the areas where skills are learnt and practiced.

The evenings were more of a social event with lots of introductions and discussions going on in and around the main hall as well as around campfires within the themed camps.

A small group from Bushscout attended the event to help run the Youth Engagement themed camp showing delegates and attendees some of the skills we teach in Scouting and educate leaders and young people.

Under a Parachute canopy, the team had set up several activities, including a skills workshop on creating fire bundle baskets. Activities included:

Birthday Cake timed challenge with ferro rods
Kelly Kettle timed challenge
Nordic swing braiding
Name the axe parts challenge
Animal Track Identification challenge

The parachute also hosted several other demonstrations and workshops from speakers about Youth Engagement.

Over the period of symposium there was a steady flow of delegates to the parachute to try out the activities and discuss in further detail some of the ways that we work with and train leaders in the safe delivery of bushcraft skills to Young People.

All attendees were invited to sign a UK Flag marking their attendance and this was hung next to a Canadian flag bearing the names of attendees from the first Global Bushcraft Symposium.

If you were unable to attend, you can purchase the video package on the Global Bushcraft Symposium website

https://globalbushcraftsymposium2022.com/product/gbs-videos/

Attendees and speakers travelled from all over the world to the event, with some bringing themed camp equipment and activities by road and across the sea by ferry.

The event consisted of several main talks, break-out talks, Skills workshops and themed camps, as well as lots of conversations and discussions about bushcraft and related skills.

The other big theme mentioned was“Context”, specifically clarifying the setting, environment, surroundings and circumstances of what you are doing, learning, teaching and discussing.

What was interesting was the number of times Scouting was mentioned within the main speeches, as one of the areas where skills are learnt and practiced.

The evenings were more of a social event with lots of introductions and discussions going on in and around the main hall as well as around campfires within the themed camps.

Under a Parachute canopy, the team had set up several activities, including a skills workshop on creating fire bundle baskets. Activities included:

Birthday Cake timed challenge with ferro rods
Kelly Kettle timed challenge
Nordic swing braiding
Name the axe parts challenge
Animal Track Identification challenge

The parachute also hosted several other demonstrations and workshops from speakers about Youth Engagement.

All attendees were invited to sign a UK Flag marking their attendance and this was hung next to a Canadian flag bearing the names of attendees from the first Global Bushcraft Symposium.

If you were unable to attend, you can purchase the video package on the Global Bushcraft Symposium website

https://globalbushcraftsymposium2022.com/product/gbs-videos/

BushscoutUK Blog

Meet the Team

Bushscout.UK is powered by 200+ dedicated volunteers across the UK. We cannot profile everyone here, but these are a few of the key people you might come across at events, in comms, or supporting regions behind the scenes.

Everyone you see here is a volunteer. If you want to chat with one of the team, contact@bushscout.org.uk and we will point you in the right direction.

Bushscout.UK Leadership Team

Want to get involved?

�� Stay in the loop

If you are new to Bushscout, the best first step is to join our mailing list to hear about upcoming skills days, courses, and events.

We’ll be sharing:

�� Contact us to find out more

If you have already attended a Bushscout Skills Day and are interested in volunteering, get in touch to find out about becoming a Bushscout.UK member at contact@bushscout.org.uk

Member Highlight: Sarah at NorJam

We are throwing it back to the summer to celebrate one of our brilliant volunteers. Sarah spent her week at NorJam as part of team Bushscout.UK, and she has kindly shared what makes a jamboree such a special, unforgettable experience.

If you have never experienced the joy of a jamboree and you have the gift of time to serve others, we would love you to consider joining a Bushscout.UK staff team in the future. You will help young people make lifelong memories and, just as importantly, you will make some of your own.

Be Part of the Adventure

If Sarah’s story has inspired you, you can keep up with Bushscout.UK news, courses and activity ideas by subscribing to our newsletter .

We’ll be sharing:

Subscribe and stay connected to a community that believes in simple, safe and successful Scouting for everyone.

Keep Learning with Bushscout: Oak Gall Ink Made Simple!

Autumn is the perfect time to get outdoors, explore the woods, and gather the ingredients for a surprisingly simple, and wonderfully scientific, craft project: making Oak Gall Ink.

It’s a brilliant activity for Scouts, leaders, families or anyone who loves turning nature into something useful.

�� What Are Oak Galls?

Oak galls are small, round growths found on oak trees. They form when a tiny wasp lays its eggs inside the tree tissue. The tree reacts by forming a gall, creating a ready-made home for the growing larva.

They look like knobbly, woody marbles and are often found in abundance on the woodland floor in autumn.

✒️ Why Oak Gall Ink?

For centuries, oak gall ink was one of the most important inks in Europe. It was prized because:

It’s a fantastic blend of history, chemistry and hands-on creativity.

�� Watch the video here

In the video, Lee shows you:

�� How to Make Oak Gall Ink

Here’s the quick method shown in the video:

That’s it — you’ve made your own traditional ink!

�� The Science Bit (explained simply)

Oak galls are packed with tannins . When you add iron, it reacts with the tannic acid to create iron ions that dissolve in the water. Once the ink touches paper, these ions oxidise into a different form that isn’t water-soluble , which means your writing becomes permanent.

A perfect “stealth science” moment for young people who don’t realise they’re learning.

�� Try the Full Autumn Project

Making ink is just the start. You can build a whole autumn term around it:

Create quill pens from feathers

Make paper from natural fibres

Write letters or labels using your own handmade ink

We’ll be sharing more videos soon to help you build the whole set of skills.

If you try making oak gall ink, let us know how it goes — tag us on socials or share a photo with your group!

Keep Learning with Bushscout.UK

If you’d like to keep growing your skills and discover more hands-on projects like this, make sure you subscribe to our newsletter .

We’ll be sharing:

Keep It Simple: Firelighting the Easy Way

﻿

Why We Love Fires

At Bushscout, we’ll happily admit it - we’re a bit obsessed with fires. From flint and steel to friction fire and everything in between, we’ve tried (and taught) more weird and wonderful ways to light a fire than most people could imagine.

But when it comes to the Bushscout.UK curriculum , we always return to our core motto:

Why Simple is Sometimes Best

There’s a certain satisfaction in mastering complex fire-lighting techniques. But when you’re running a section night, sometimes the best approach is the simplest one.

So this month, we’re giving you permission to make firelighting easy .

No pressure, no flint dust in your fingernails, no struggling with damp wood — just a warm, crackling fire and happy young people.

All you’ll need is:

�� Kiln-dried kindling – available from most big supermarkets or garden centres

�� Natural(ish) fire starters – often sold near BBQ or camping sections

�� A lighter or some matches – yes, really!

That’s it. No guilt, no gimmicks. Just a reliable fire to gather around for stories, songs or s’mores.

Watch the Demo

To see how simple can still be effective, here’s a video from Bushscout.UK National Manager Lee and Bushscout.UK Youth Ambassador Matthew , filmed for Scoutadelic back in 2022.

It’s a great reminder that confidence comes from success - and that every fire lit is a skill learned.

�� Watch the video here

Keep Learning with Bushscout

If you’d like to go beyond the basics (and maybe try some of those weird and wonderful methods we mentioned earlier), subscribe to our newsletter .

We’ll be sharing:

BushscoutUK at Gilwell Reunion 2025

Gilwell Reunion is the annual weekend of programme ideas, practical skills and support for adult volunteers in Scouting at Gilwell Park, The Scout's HQ.

In August 2025, 55 BushscoutUK members provided their ever popular practical skills bases, with a mixture of taster activities from our skills days and innovative ideas that young people and adults love.

Gallery 2023

Global Bushcraft Symposium 2022