The heart of Scouting

Camping is where so many great Scouting memories are made. This OAS stream builds the skills to sleep under canvas (or under the stars) safely and comfortably — from a backyard sleep-out to a week-long camp.

What the stream covers

• Pitching tents and setting up camp
• Camp kitchens and outdoor cooking
• Packing personal and group gear
• Safety around camp, including fires and stoves
• Planning menus and catering for a group
• Running a full camp, from site choice to pack-down

Early stages to advanced stages

Early stages focus on simple things — helping pitch a tent and spending a night away from home. By the later stages, young people are organising camps themselves: choosing sites, planning meals for the whole unit, managing a budget and leading the camp crew.

Why it matters

A night at camp teaches independence like nothing else. Young people learn to look after themselves, work as a team and cope when things don’t go to plan — all while having a brilliant time. Those skills stick with them for life.

How units deliver Camping

Camping happens everywhere in our program — unit camps, district and region events, and family camps. Leaders guide progression stage by stage, and parents are always welcome to see how camps run.

Try this

At your next camp, pick one job you haven’t done before — cooking, water duty or flag ceremony — and own it.

Stage badges

The OAS stages for this stream. Youth members wear their highest achieved stage with pride.