In this episode of Big Man in the Woods, I’m joined by fellow Scout Leader Scouty Cathy from the UK Inclusion Team.Cathy is well known on TikTok for her work around inclusion in Scouting, and in this conversation we dig into what that really means in practice — from supporting neurodiversity, to rethinking traditional events like St. George’s Day, to making sure every young person can fully belong and take part.We talk openly about:

• Making Scouting more inclusive for all young people
• Why traditional St. George’s Day parades may need to evolve
• Supporting neurodiverse Scouts and reasonable adjustments
• Quiet spaces, support plans, and understanding behaviour as communication
• How leaders can better engage parents and work as a team around the young person
• Why asking young people what they actually want matters more than assumptions

Cathy also shares practical ideas for adapting activities so that every young person can engage in a way that works for them, not just in one fixed format.This is a honest, practical conversation for Scout Leaders who want to reflect, improve, and make Scouting more inclusive in real, achievable ways.Featuring: Scouty Cathy (Scouty Cathy on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook & YouTube)If this sparks some thoughts for your own group or district, drop a comment below — I’d love to hear how you approach inclusion and events like St. George’s Day.

Summer Time is here, the evenings are lighter, and outdoor programme season is officially ON.

But what if, like me, you’re inner‑city and your “outdoor space” is basically a tarmac driveway?

In this week’s livestream, I’m joined by Max for a proper Scout Leader catch‑up as we swap ideas, hacks, and realistic ways to get our young people outside each week — even when space is tight, the weather’s unpredictable, or you’re working with whatever patch of concrete you’ve got.

We’ll be chatting about:• Simple outdoor activities that work anywhere• How to adapt your programme for tiny or urban spaces• Quick wins for leaders with limited time or resources• Creative ways to bring nature into the city• What’s worked (and what hasn’t!) in our own groups

Whether you’re a Beaver, Cub, or Scout Leader, this session is packed with practical, no‑nonsense ideas you can use straight away.

Join the conversation, share your own tips in the chat, and let’s help each other make outdoor Scouting happen — wherever we are.

Join me in the back garden for a bushcraft fire lighting challenge inspired by Wildly Curious YouTube channel.In this challenge, I’m trying to light a candle using a match prepared as a mini feather stick, ignited with a fire steel. It’s a practical fire lighting test using basic bushcraft skills, focusing on feather sticks, ignition technique, and alternative fire-starting methods with everyday materials.Will this bushcraft method be enough to get the candles lit?

Scout Leaders , are you looking for fun ways to use a parachute indoors? 🪂 Whether it’s a rainy day or a hall session, these 5 parachute games will keep your Scouts active, laughing, and working together!From Cat & Mouse 🐱🐭 to Popcorn 🍿, Sharks 🦈, Mushroom & Run 🍄, and even Parachute Volleyball 🏐, there’s something for every group size and energy level.Perfect for Beavers,Cubs, Scouts, or Explorer sections, these games are easy to set up, super engaging, and guaranteed to bring chaos… the fun kind! 😅💡 Leader tip: Short rounds, clear resets, and rotating roles = happy Scouts and smooth sessions.

This video addresses UK Scout Leaders about new updates to the Scout uniform, a topic sure to spark debate within the scouting community. I discuss the standardization of the Neckerchief color, a significant change for our Uniform Shirt. This is a crucial update for every Scouter and their Uniform

Last weekend I was invited to speak on the Outdoor Theatre Stage at the National Outdoor Expo 2026, giving a talk called Scout Leader Hacks”… not exactly my title choice 😅But inside this talk I share some genuinely useful, real-world tips from my time as a Scout Leader—things that actually make life easier when you’re running sessions, camps, and everything in between.If you were at the show and came along to listen in person—thank you, I really appreciate it.And if not, here’s your chance to catch it 👇

Hey Scout Leaders!I’ve got a fun question for you: what did you absolutely hate doing as a Scout, but now as a Scout Leader, you actually love?For many of us, tasks like washing up or dealing with Elson toilets were once dreadful—but now they’re part of the camping experience we actually embrace.Share your thoughts below—which once-dreaded Scout activities do you secretly enjoy now?

Some of the best Scout nights don’t tick a single badge requirement.They’re the slightly chaotic ones. The creative ones. The nights where patrols end up arguing about moss, building strange contraptions, or presenting something that technically counts as “food”.In this video I’m sharing 6 Scout activities that don’t neatly fit into a badge, but build exactly the things Scouting is supposed to build — teamwork, leadership, confidence, creativity and a lot of laughter.These are the nights Scouts remember years later.Perfect if you're a Scout Leader planning a programme night and want something fun, energetic, and slightly different from traditional badge work.If you’ve got an activity your Scouts still talk about years later, drop it in the comments, I’m always looking for new ideas.🌲 Big Man in the WoodsSharing ideas, lessons, and honest thoughts from life as a Scout leader.If you enjoy practical ideas for Scout leaders, camping skills, and running better Scout meetings, consider subscribing.