8 ways to have adventure when you haven’t got your permit yet
Who says you need a permit to have a good time to get Outdoors in 24? Adventure is all around us, and you can dive right in with Dacia!
There are plenty of ways to help Scouts get their adrenaline pumping and make some unforgettable memories. We've joined forces with Dacia to make adventure affordable and accessible to young people throughout the UK.
Their Outdoor Adventure Fund is available to all sections looking for financial support for an adventure, and they are also funding towards the cost of young people and volunteers getting permits and training.
So, if you're already itching for excitement, here are 8 brilliant ways to have a blast and still have lots of amazing adventures while you’re working on your Adventurous Activities permit.
1. Join a local Scout event
Why not see what events are happening in your local area? You may have a local event day coming up that’s something a little different, such as a muddy obstacle race or trip to Gulliver’s Theme Parks. They might also have an adventure day planned, with permit holders arranged by the district, so you can just jump into the adventurous activities!
2. Find a local external provider
You could find a local external provider or instructor to lead the activity. They just must hold a relevant accreditation or qualification for the activity they are delivering, have a relevant risk assessment in place and have the relevant public liability insurance in place. Remember, external providers should be given a copy of our Yellow Card and follow Scouts safety guidelines for activities. Discover our safety guidance on external providers, including Scout members being external providers.
3. Ask someone else in your district to lead
Someone else in the local area, who has the required permit, could be the permit holder to lead the activity. Always follow their advice and remember to say a big thank you.
4. Go to Scouts activity centre
Why not head to a Scout Adventures activity centre for a day out or overnight adventure? They’ll help make sure you’ve everything in place for lots of fun.
5. See if you try another version of activity
If you don’t have a permit yet, you can choose another version of the activity, so you can still have fun while working on your permit. For example, you could:
- Have a go at artificial caving
- Try soft archery
- Stick to level zero terrains when hillwalking
- Go bouldering instead of climbing
6. Think of adventurous activities outside of the permit
There’s lots of adventurous activities that don’t need a permit, but they still need to be done safely, so look at the safety guidance for each activity. You could try swimming, axe throwing, cycling, ice skating or sledging.
7. Ask young people what they think is adventurous
It’s important to be youth-shaped, so remember to ask young people what they think is adventurous. It may be different to what you have planned, and you may not need a permit. You can use our Dacia partnership activities and get your Scout group working towards their Adventure Challenge Award. A picnic in the park or a trip to the beach might be their ideas of an exciting adventure to have!
8. Put out a shout-out to counties or regions
Remember, the permit holder does not have to be local, so you ask for a permit holder from your own or another County, Region or Scouts area. Why not put a shout out in a newsletter, on social media or in WhatsApp groups for volunteers? You could maybe make it into an event for your whole district.
Staying safe
All activities must be safely managed. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Complete a risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk.
Always get approval for the activity and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.
Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers, especially if you’re going away from the meeting place. You may need some parents and carers to help. Always make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
Check the weather forecast before doing the activity outside. Make sure you have all the safety equipment you need and check it's in good condition.
Always follow our adventurous activity guides and safety information. Remember, some of these activities will still need a Scout Permit holder in place, or an appropriate external provider.