Today at the Outdoor Conference 2026 we:
- went on a wander to identify trees
- made char cloth, charcoal sticks (out of Hazel tree), char fungus (out of horse hoof fungus), I helped with the latter (I made the former last year)
- made “hitty sticks”
Hoped for the best the ceilidh would be better than last year's and wore my kilt, but I walked in and chose the table nearest the door just in case.
Good call, it was the same people they got to run it last year. 😬
I lasted an hour, but I wasn't going to be lonely in crowded room, so left.
It's not that I haven't enjoyed talking to people at this event, I just haven't latched onto a small group like last year.
Early night. (I need it anyway.)
My team was 2nd in the Welcome Evening quiz...somehow. 1 better than I was last year.
Day 1 (today) - My bushcraft course covered:
-Splitting wood with Axes and Hitty Sticks
-Splitting wood into smaller size with Knives and Hitty Sticks
-Firelighting (Ferro Sticks,Flint and Steel), birch bark...
-Firebuilding
-Kelly Kettle use
-Teaching all of the above to others
-Eating some of the other course's food
Welcome to the Outdoor Conference 2026!
There be Scout Leaders everywhere!
All Sections*!
(*Expression, not actually checked.)
This weekend I’m attending the Outdoor Conference again. It’s an outdoors training event run by Scouts Scotland.
I’m doing a purely Bushcraft Skills course this time. The aim of the course I’m signed up to is to learn new & develop my own skills and also how to teach them to Young People.
Let #Outdoors25 become #Outdoors26! I’m nothing if not original with my hashtags…😆
⚜️ 🌄 🌲 🪢
Happy Founder’s Day to all of you, wherever you are, that have ever been involved in Scouting!
Wow. It had seemed that Scouts had implemented the Disclosure Scotland Act changes in their POR changes in the Autumn last year, but they hadn’t.
Parent Helpers and Young Leaders of 16 and over now need a PVG Disclosure, and these changes must be implemented fully by 31st March 2026.
Parent Rotas and older Young Leaders may become extinct in Scotland for Scouting.
🫤
The Gilwell Reunion 2025 campfire was last night, & once again was mostly performed by Scouters from Scouts Scotland. Lorna & Alan supported again by Kenny, & this time also by Stacey.
I’ve been at a campfire hosted by the former pair & they get a great response from the youngsters. The latter two are both fairly local. It was nice surprise to see Stacey.
Stream doesn’t start until 36 minutes in.
#GilwellReunion #CampfireSongs #Scouting #ScoutingScotland #ScoutingUK
This morning I set off on my charity Kiltwalk to fundraise for Scouts Scotland’s Clan Challenge.
I managed to complete the approximate 20 miles from St Andrews to Dundee in around 6 hours 20 minutes.
I was well puggled, it was hot. 🥵
Thank you to those who contributed. I’ve done much better than I was expecting, especially as I started late.
⚜️ 🚶♂️
#Kiltwalk #ScoutsScotland #ScoutingUK #ScoutingScotland #ClanChallenge #Fundraising
Was showing something to someone on my phone, only to be confronted with my own mug.
Surprised and grateful though.
CheekyMcB