The last day of July 2025 was beautiful at Wytham Woods - just the right temperature and no rain. The perfect setting for the 1st Holtspur Troop of scouts and their leaders to learn about nature and complete their Naturalist and Forester badges.
They were staying at Youlbury Scout Camp a few miles away for the week. It was Wednesday and the kids arrived bouncy, clearly having a wonderful week. The Dads were already exhausted, but up for an adventure, particularly if it included the occasional power nap.
July presented challenges for the Forester badge which assumes it is autumn and that activities such as coppicing and tree planting could be done. But we improvised: learned tree names, found tree seeds, looked at what grows on and lives in trees, decided which trees were planted by people and which were self seeded, looked for ancient trees and baby trees that come up to your knees, and much more. The Naturalist badge was easier - the groups progressed slowly through the woods, even towards our lunch destination, because everyone was collecting bugs using sweep nets, and just general cunning. At the start everyone was rushing around, but as the day went on, eyes and ears were on the the nature all around us and they found so much to be curious about., and to stimulate the imagination.
After lunch the scouts did a drawing of something they had found, labelled it, and discussed it with me. Some of them measured tree heights using a clinometer. We then all wandered home through a highly researched area of Wytham Woods, wondering about all the fascinating equipment that the researchers have put there.
The scout leaders had had a short briefing online before the event to give them a few hints and tips about how to help the scouts engage with nature. They stepped up and did a fantastic job, leading the scouts through the treasure hunt that I had devised to ensure they met all the badge requirements.
There is nothing better than opening the eyes of young people, and their grown ups, to the fascination and wonder of the natural world. Wytham Woods is a wonderful and unique place to do this, but it can be done in any green space. This scout group uses a nature reserve close to their base, and I hope that with their new skills they will find many natural wonders there too.
These two scout badges are a fantastic opportunity for nature educators to reach an eager audience. Working with scout groups has been fantastic for me - the leaders are experienced in working with groups outdoors so they look after behaviour and safety, leaving me free to lead the engagement activities. I thoroughly recomment it.
I’d like to add how rewarding the experience was from our perspective. The setting was ideal, and the activities were thoughtfully adapted, ensuring the scouts remained engaged and curious throughout. It was lovely to see how the young people shifted from energetic exploration to focused observation, truly connecting with the natural world around them.
The structure of the day (particularly the treasure hunt format) helped reinforce learning in a fun and memorable way. The online briefing beforehand gave me the confidence to support the scouts effectively, whilst also taking the opportunity to learn as well.
For me personally, it was a reminder of how powerful outdoor learning can be. The scouts not only met their badge requirements but also developed a deeper appreciation for nature something we’ll continue to nurture back at our ‘Holtspur Bank Nature Reserve’. I’d wholeheartedly recommend this kind of experience to other leaders. It’s a brilliant way to combine badge work with environmental education.
Matthew, Scout Leader, 1st Holtspur Troop
