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An adults guide to camping, holidays, expeditions and sleepovers

Spending nights away from home is central to successful Scouting. Nights away provides everything you need to know for enjoying the outdoors and taking young people away safely and with confidence.

What are nights away?

A night away or 'residential experience' is any event that takes young people away from home that involves them sleeping somewhere overnight. Whether it takes place in a farmer's field, or in a village in Africa, a well run event will be remembered by young people for the rest of their lives.

Who is Nights away for?

This is an essential resource for every adult in Scouting who spends nights away. Whether you are a Beaver Scout Leader or a member of the Scout Network, this file will help you plan and run successful camps, holidays, expeditions and Sleepovers.

How to use this file

Nights away has been designed for you to dip into and easily find what you want. It should be used for reference rather than bedtime reading! Some information may be daunting for a beginner while the more experienced Leader may like to skip some of the basics. All of it will be useful at some time or another. The chapters contain information relevant to all five Sections of the Movement. Where there are specific requirements or rules for a Section, these will be clearly highlighted.

This file has the following chapters:

1   Approval and qualifications

This chapter looks at the rules and procedures in place to ensure safe and enjoyable nights away. It provides some basic definitions of the different types of residential experience in Scouting, exploring what they have in common and how they differ.

2   Planning a residential experience

This chapter will help you plan an enjoyable event for young people. It provides advice on how to choose a campsite, how to pick the best form of transport and how to run joint events with other organisations.

3   Effective administration

This chapter contains information on managing a budget, communicating effectively with parents and carers, and arranging a Home Contact. You will also find out how to review an event once it is over.

4   Programme planning

This chapter provides tips for good programming and safety. It also contains suggestions for campfires, Scout's Own services and hiking which can help make your event that extra bit special.

5   Sample programmes

This chapter provides some complete sample programmes for the different Sections. Use them for ideas or as a template for your own event programme planning.

6   Preparing your staff

This chapter explains ways of selecting and preparing staff for nights away. Individual roles and responsibilities are also examined in detail.

7   The right equipment

This chapter will give you a good idea of equipment for your camp, expedition, holiday or Sleepover. It contains information on how to obtain, store and pack everything you need for successful nights away.

8   Health, happiness and safety

This chapter provides advice for the prevention and treatment of injury and accident. It identifies common causes and what to do in the event of an emergency. It also explores sanitation issues, preventing the spread of infectious diseases and keeping young people safe.

9   Catering

This chapter looks at catering for a residential event; it provides you with sample menus, explains how to set up a kitchen and tells you all you need to know about hygiene, storage, estimating quantities, cooking methods, and waste disposal.

10   Use of the venue

This chapter looks at how to use a campsite or holiday centre to your advantage. Find out where to best pitch your tents, hire your equipment and ways to leave the venue in good order.

11   Overseas events

This chapter provides a step-by-step guide to planning and carrying out residential vists abroad. It explores the reasons for making an international trip and some of the challenges you will face when making the arrangements.

Appendices

The file contains a number of appendices

• Appendix 1 - The Country Code

• Appendix 2 - Riverside Safety Code

• Appendix 3 - Water Sports Safety Code

• Appendix 4 - Mountain Safety Code

• Appendix 5 - Mountain Bike Code

• Appendix 6 - Useful addresses

• Appendix 7 - Forms