Hikes Away Stage 1 Activity Badge (Go Outdoors)

Hikes Away Stage 1 Activity Badge (Go Outdoors)

GO Outdoors proudly sponsor the Hikes Away and Nights Away Staged Activity Badges. Through their partnership, they offer a number of benefits to Scouting, including free resources and in-store kit talks.

Your first hike away is an amazing milestone, which deserves to be recognised. And as you become more experienced in hikes away, you can pick up other badges. there are 8 to collect in all.

How to earn the badge:

There are eight different badges you can collect. Each one marks a certain number of hikes or journeys you will have completed:

1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 35, 50

You must be dressed and equipped for the weather conditions and terrain. Your leader will also need to make sure you’re following the rules in chapter nine of the Policy and Organisation Rules and the Activity Permit Scheme.

For Squirrels, each hike or journey must involve at least one hour of activity and a purpose, which you will agree with your leader. The sorts of activity that count as a hike away include:

• taking a walk around your local area and discovering what’s around you
• going on a nature walk to look for plants and animals
• exploring somewhere new on a hike

For Beavers, each hike or journey must involve at least two hours of activity and have a purpose, which you will agree with your leader. The sorts of activity that count as a hike away include:

• exploring a country park or nature reserve on foot
• going on a family ramble
• taking part in a woodland walk. You could look out for wildlife or do a tree safari

For Cubs, each hike or journey must involve at least three hours of activity and have a purpose, which you will agree with your Leader. The sorts of activity that count as a hike away include:

• following a towpath trail and discovering how locks work on a local canal
• exploring a local town or village while you’re on camp or a Pack holiday
• walking up a hill and enjoying the view

For Scouts, each hike or journey must involve at least four hours of activity and have a purpose, which you will agree with your leader. The sorts of activity that count as a hike away include:

• taking part in a dusk to dawn hike
• exploring a bridleway on horseback
• an overnight expedition by foot
• a trip down a river in an open canoe
• a cycle ride
• any other similar activity

For Explorers, each hike or journey must involve at least five hours of activity and have a purpose, which you will agree with your leader. The sorts of activity that count as a hike away include:

• hill walking
• mountain biking
• canoe touring
• pony trekking
• ski touring
• backpacking

You can do your hike away during the day or night and it’s fine to take part in other similar activities.