Explorers Water Activities Activity Badge
Explorers Water Activities Activity Badge
If you love being on the water, trying new challenges, and learning how to stay safe while having fun, then the Explorers’ Water Activities badge is for you!
Complete your Water Activities badge:
Take part in at least two activities that take place on or in the water while earning this badge.
The activity should be supervised by an appropriately qualified person.
Complete 3 Activities. You Could:
- Discover - Find out about the history of a water activity, or an inspirational person who takes part in water activities.
You could talk to a local instructor about how they started in the activity. - Experience - Plan a 2-3 hour Journey for a chosen water activity, then carry it out with an appropriately qualified person.
This could be a journey along a river, or a fun session for you and your Unit. - Mobilise - Learn about water quality issues. Find out about a campaign near you and take part in an activity to support the work they do.
This could be water quality testing at your local venue, taking part in a river clean up or helping to raise awareness. - Solve - Think about what could happen if things go wrong. Practice some rescue techniques and find out how to keep each other safe in water activities.
- Create - Design a craft or equipment you might use in water activities.
Think about the properties of your craft or equipment. You could even build your craft, either as a model or full sized, and try it out on some water!
- Discover - Find out about the history of a water activity, or an inspirational person who takes part in water activities.
Tips
- Do you already do a water activity? How could you share your knowledge with others?
- Could you undertake a personal award, permit or qualification in a water activity?
- What are the mental health benefits to water activities. Can you present these to other scouts?
- To get the badge, you can either try some of our example activities, or come up with your own with support from a Scouts volunteer or trusted adult. The activities should be challenging for you and take a reasonable amount of time.
Offer flexibility and encourage Explorers to tailor their badge to their interests and skill set.
Everyone has different skills and experiences, so try to consider their starting point when choosing what they will achieve.
As a rough guide, an Activity Badge should be achievable within 3 weeks of activities.
- When taking part in adventurous activities, remember to let someone know:
- Where you’re going.
- Who you’re with.
- What time you plan to be finished.
- A plan for communicating your progress.
- Ask for help if you're visiting new places or trying new activities.
- Make sure you have an appropriately qualified person with you while taking part in water activities. More information can be found here.
- Make sure you know what kit you need, that it is in good condition, and you know how to use it effectively.
- Complete your own risk assessment based on your plans and ask an adult volunteer to check it for you.
- Do make sure that any external provider you use, do follows The Scouts' requirements by checking the Externally Led Activity guidance.
- When taking part in adventurous activities, remember to let someone know:
- All activities for this badge must be safely managed.
- Support Explorers to review and understand the Externally Led Activity guidance, that external providers can follow The Scouts requirements.
- Volunteers must have completed a thorough risk assessment and make sure it is shared. Use the safety checklist and activity guidance to help you plan and risk assess the activity.
- Always get approval for the activity, and have
Badges will be available to purchase from Scout Store later in September, please check back for updates.
June 2026.
Requirements can be adapted to suit each young persons abilities. See our guidance on flexibility.