Adventurous Activities

Activities are an integral part of Scouting, and what makes it so exciting for the young people involved. From here you should be able to find all the information you need to provide all the activities your young people can manage.

Find an activity

As a starting point we would suggest you look at the A-Z of Activities under Find an activity. This is designed to link you to all the information you need to run any particular activity, and to give you new ideas of activities you could run.

Activity Permit Scheme

For some of our more adventurous activities; our members require an Activity Permit in order to lead. The Adventurous Activity Permit Scheme is an internal assessment scheme designed to ensure that all those leading adventurous activities for young people within Scouting have the skills, experience and personal suitability to do so.

A Clear Process is a resource that aims to explain how to access adventurous activities within Scouting and how you could work towards providing more experiences. It’s not a one stop shop for everything you need to know but hopefully it will help you understand the first steps you need to take.

Take a look at this page for more information about the scheme.

Activity Permit Application Process in Merseyside

The Activity Permit Scheme across Merseyside is managed by the County’s Activities team. Applications for permits are made to, and processed by, this team.

If you would like to apply for a new permit, or renew an existing permit:

  1. Click here to complete our Permit Application Form
  2. Once submitted, this will be reviewed by our Manager of the Activity Permit Scheme who will ensure completeness and assign to a County Assessor
  3. In the meantime, you’ll receive an email asking you to submit any relevant further documentation, which may include a logbook (a template for which you can download here).
  4. Once assigned to a County Assessor, they will be in touch to discuss and process your application
  5. Once the assessment is complete, and a Permit agreed, the Assessor will add the Permit to your Compass records, for approval by your District Commissioner or County Commissioner
  6. Once the Permit is granted by the relevant Commissioner, you will have a valid Activity Permit.

Please remember – if you think you have a permit, but it isn’t recorded on Compass, then it is not valid. The only valid Activity Permits are those recorded against your personal record within Compass. 

Funding to Support the Permit Scheme

The Scout Association has various funding streams to help support some of the training needs that adult volunteers in Scouting will have to enable a diverse and safe programme of adventurous activities. They are:

  • County Activity Assessors
  • Activity Permit Assessment
  • Assessor Workshops – Technical Advisers
  • DofE training

For support with Activities, please contact:
Alistair Cubbin (Team Leader for Adventure)

Courses Available

To book any of the below courses, please complete the booking form and return to [email protected].

Traditional Rafting

Training & assessment for Permit

6th and 7th April 2024, Saturday 08:30 to 16:30 Sunday 09:00 to 14:00
£20 per person

A one and a half-day course, please bring a packed lunch, although hot & cold drinks would be available throughout. Indoor accommodation (shared) or camping can be provided at a small cost, self- catering, please enquire for this to be added to your booking.

Archery GB

Training, Certificate & Permit

This course will teach you everything you will need to deliver safe and fun archery sessions to young people.

6th and 7th April 2024, 09:00 to 17:30 both days. *Now fully booked*
£195 per person

A two-day course, please bring a packed lunch each day although hot & cold drinks would be available throughout. Indoor accommodation (shared) or camping can be provided at a small cost, self- catering, please enquire for this to be added to your booking.

Introduction to Paddle Sports

Training taster session

7th April 2023, 08:30 to 16:30 *Spaces Available*
£20 per person

A one-day course, please bring a packed lunch, although hot & cold drinks would be available throughout.

Tomahawk / Angel Throwing

Training & Certificate

This course will teach the basics and safety for running successful Angel and Tomahawk throwing sessions for young people.

13th April 2024, 08:30 to 17:30 *Now fully booked*
£20 per person

A full-day course, please bring a packed lunch, hot & cold drinks will be available throughout.

Paddle Sports Permit Benchmarking

Assessment and Training

This session will assess what help you require to gain a permit.

11th and 12th May 2024, 09:00 to 17:30 both days. *Spaces Available*
£20 per person

A two-day course, please bring a packed lunch each day although hot & cold drinks would be available throughout.
Indoor accommodation (shared) or camping can be provided at a small cost, self- catering, please enquire for this to be added to your booking.

NSRA YPS Rifle Shooting Training

Training and certificate.

This course will teach you everything you need to deliver Air Rifle shooting to young people.

11th and 12th May 2024, 08:30 to 16:30 both days. *Spaces Available*
£120 per person.

A two-day course, please bring a packed lunch each day although hot & cold drinks would be available throughout. Indoor accommodation (shared) or camping can be provided at a small cost, self- catering, please enquire for this to be added to your booking.