The Royal Air Force (RAF)
See how the RAF supports our Air Activities staged badge with a range of fantastic STEM resources and events.
Why we work together
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is passionate about equipping young people with the skills they need to soar.
The RAF sponsors our staged Air Activities badges across all Scout sections and is on hand to share expert knowledge in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM).
The RAF provides Scouts with
- Resources to complete the Air Activities badges,
- Access to STEM-based activities, challenges and competitions,
- The opportunity to attend exclusive events - including museum takeover days - where Scouts can learn from RAF STEM ambassadors and work towards or complete their badges in a single sitting.
Planning a day trip with your Scouts?
Visiting the Royal Air Force Museums is a great way to bring the Air Activities staged badges and their content to life. Try something new together, entry is often free, or available at a discounted rate for groups.
Always check the opening details on the websites for museums before planning your trip.
Free Scout Takeover Days 2024
Work towards or even complete stage one or two of the Air Activities badge in a single day at RAF Midlands or RAF London Museums.
- 12 October: RAF Museum London
- 12 October: RAF Museum Midlands
- 29 October: Shuttleworth Museum
Tickets required, please contact the museums for more information.
Badges and resources
With the Air Activities staged badges, all Scout sections can explore the secrets and science of flight. They'll learn about the workings of an aircraft, how to chart a journey across the sky and how to prototype their own flying machine.
Keen to get stuck in? Activities for all six badges are available on the Programme Planning Tool.
Activities and information packs
During our partnership with the RAF, we have created some amazing additional resources which were featured in issues of our Partnerships Magazine, Make Do Share.
- Emergency Delivery: Design and build a lander to deliver emergency aid from the air.
- Build a lolly-stick bi-plane: Learn about the Wright brothers with your own plane.
- Make a cloud in a jar: Find out how clouds are formed with this science experiment.
- Be a podcaster: Explore the world of podcasting by planning, recording, editing and sharing an episode.
The Royal International Air Tattoo
On Friday 19 July, the sky above RAF Fairford was filled with the thrilling sights and sounds of several hundred aircraft of all shapes and sizes, and from all eras and countries of the world.
Scouts from across the country found all sorts of STEM activities taking place on the ground too. They got up close and personal with a huge selection of aircraft and met the people who fly them and keep them in the sky.
It's a brilliant day out that puts a smile on the faces of many groups and leaders alike. Please check back in early 2025 for RIAT 2025 tickets.
About the RAF
The RAF is the air component of the United Kingdom's Armed Forces, the other services being the Royal Navy and British Army. It's the oldest independent air force in the world.
The RAF's mission is to support the objectives of the British Ministry of Defence, which are to "provide the capabilities needed: to ensure the security and defence of the United Kingdom and overseas territories, including against terrorism; to support the Government’s foreign policy objectives particularly in promoting international peace and security."
The RAF describes its mission statement as "... [to provide] An agile, adaptable and capable Air Force that, person for person, is second to none, and that makes a decisive air power contribution in support of the UK Defence Mission."
The mission statement is supported by the RAF's definition of air power, which guides its strategy. Air power is defined as "the ability to project power from the air and space to influence the behaviour of people or the course of events."
If you would like to contact the RAF Youth Engagement Team please email them at rafyouthengagement@gmail.com. Learn more about the RAF on the RAF website.
Get your Air Activities Staged Badges
Buy your badges from Scout Store
The RAF offers a range of hands-on activities for Scouts, from one-hour STEM sessions to full-day programmes, challenges and competitions.
For more information, contact the RAF Youth and STEM team.
Stuck on a STEM badge or activity? Get a boost from a real-life superhero! Ask a STEM Ambassador to join your session.
These free science, tech, engineering, and maths experts can help ensure your learning adventures are fun and successful.
The Royal Air Force Charitable Trust (RAFCT) is the youngest member of the Royal Air Force family of charities and has had a significant and positive impact on the lives of many young people. Through the support of a wide range of projects and initiatives, particularly those focused on supporting STEM, the RAFCT strives to improve the lives and opportunities of young people across the UK.