;

There are three categories of permit:

• Indoor - for any Sleepover or Pack Holiday, or other residential experience in a building;

• Camp Site - camping on sites where there are toilets and water and waste disposal facilities;

• Green Field - for any camping in areas where the above facilities do not exist - for example, a summer camp on a farmer's field.

Those holding a Green Field Permit may lead residential events in the other two categories, while a Camp Site Permit holder may also run an Indoor residential event.

Permit holders proposing to work outside their usual Section should obtain guidance from the Nights Away Adviser before the event takes place.

Assessment:

1. An applicant's experience will be assessed and validated by a Nights Away Adviser appointed by the District or County Commissioner;

2. Warranted adults not holding a Sectional Wood Badge would ordinarily be expected to have completed validation according to the Module 16 Nights Away in The Scout Association's Adult Training Scheme;

3. A Nights Away Adviser and the relevant Commissioner may activate a 'fast track' system for experienced adults applying for permits.

Detailed advice on assessment and 'fast tracking' is given in factsheet FS120432 Application for a Nights Away Permit, available from the Scout Information Centre.

Notification:

1. The relevant home Commissioner (or their nominee) must be notified before any camping or residential event takes place. Seven days notice should be given;

2. Where a camp or residential event takes place using facilities not owned or operated by Scouting, for example a youth hostel, a public (commercial) campsite, or a farmer's field, the host District Commissioner must be notified beforehand. 14 days notice should be given;

3. Where a camp, expedition or residential event involves facilities not owned or operated by Scouting spread across a number of Districts in one County, the event leader must instead notify the County Secretary, who in turn should notify the respective host District Commissioners. (For expeditions, see Rule 9.63.)

4. The notification must include all the information required in the Nights Away Notification Form (NAN).

Nights Away Notification Forms (NAN), District, County Commissioners and County Secretary's addresses are available from the Scout Information Centre.