Our Scout Leader Skip has compiled the following list of items that we think any Beaver, Cub or Scout would love to see in their stocking this festive season.
Pen knife
A really useful piece of kit that we teach the Scouts and older Cubs to use legally and safely (and how to deal with the inevitable nicks!). Please make a judgement as to the maturity of your child before buying. There are lots available, personally I like the classic Victorinox Fieldmaster and Huntsman knives (with posidrive screwdriver / corkscrew respectively). They come in a range of colours and can be engraved when you buy them. Keep an eye out for the first time buyer discount. For any older children (including Mums and Dads), I have used Leatherman and Gerber multitools for many years and highly recommend.
Fire lighting kit
We teach the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts to light fires without matches. There are lots of options for fire lighting kits, but a couple that you might want to look at are this one which includes a tin for making char cloth. Or this one that comes with a blow tube
First aid kit
Lots of these available, but these are the ones that the leaders carry for Scouts when we are away from the hall and are the ones recommended for Duke of Edinburgh expeditions [Link]. We also add in a survival blanket (bought separately).
Compass
Lots of choices for lots of different budgets and I suggest you think about how likely your Scout is to lose them before spending out on an expensive one.
The Chinese imports [Link] have very mixed reviews and the bevels are reportedly often off by 3 degrees or so, but they will suffice for much of what we do and are about a third of the price of the Silva compass. The Silva Expedition compass is great for beginners with a gauge to help with grid references and a magnifying glass.
The Silva classic is smaller, lighter and cheaper, but slightly less user friendly – I have used one for many years, but may not be best suited to those who are developing their map reading and navigation skills.
Knot tying kit
Great for any Scout with an interest in pioneering, climbing, sailing etc, this kit comes with waterproof instruction cards a carabiner and two cords [link]. The Scout shop also does this one [link] which teaches slightly fewer knots.
Shelter making kits
- Poncho – Coupled with paracord, pegs and bungees, these are great for making sleeping shelters with. They are also a lightweight waterproof that will also cover your rucksack and are fantastic for helping stay dry on theme park water rides. Lots available, but I would recommend this one.
- Para cord – Really useful and I still carry and use the length of paracord that I got when I was a Scout. Lots available like this.
- Bungee cords – They are really helpful for taking the strain off the pegs when making shelters, but I suggest you avoid e bungee cords with hooks in them, they cause a lot of eye injuries. There are loads available like these.
Bivi bag
Great for keeping you dry when you are sleeping outside without a tent. The price goes up and down (they are often on sale for £20), but this is the one I bought for my kids [link]
Cutlery
Traditional camp cutlery, such as this [link] is great, but I am a fan of sporks that are a bit easier to use one handed. They are available in plastic [link], but the metal ones are much more durable [link] and I would recommend would last longer.
Mess tins
Make a great alternative to plate and bowel, are more durable and you can cook in them! [Link]
Blanket
Fleece blankets are great for those chilly evenings around the fire and keeping warm in the tent. They are also great to sow all your old badges on. The Scout shop sells this one [link] and if you order through Shere Khan, our Group gets a rebate.
Woolly Hat
It is a myth that you loose 90% of your body heat through your head, but a good hat definitely helps keep you warm in the winter. The Scout shop does these ones [link] which look awesome and will sure keep Scout ears nice and warm.
Books – There are loads of great books available for people who love the outdoors and/or have an adventurous spirit, but these ones are good:
- Dangerous book for boys – A classic for boys and girls from 8 upwards [link]. Lots of fun projects and interesting information
- Lost book of adventure – One of the Scouts has this and it looks a great book [link]
- Bear Grylls – Firecraft & Campfire Cooking [link] – Good for Cubs and younger Scouts
- Lonely planet kid survival guide [link] – Good for Cubs and younger Scouts
- Food for free – A great pocket sized guide to what you can forage [link]
- Collins Gen – Survival Guide – A much older version of this little book has sat in my rucksack on many adventures since I was a Scout.
Stocking fillers
- Paracord bracelets [link]
- Red light led torch – While sailing at night, we have a ‘no white light rule’ so that we don’t lose our night vision. I use a red light torch similar to this [link], clipped to a lanyard, for when I need to see something a bit more clearly
- First aid mask and gloves – One of our Scouts, on her way home from school last year, had to deal with an elderly lady with a badly cut leg. While we always teach that you need to use gloves when dealing with a first aid casualty, it is not something that we all carry with us. These key rings [link] contain a CPR mask and gloves and are handy to have in school bags/rucksacks if the need should ever arise.
