Looking for Inspiration? Have a badge that you would like to complete but not sure where to start? Fancy doing something new and exciting but not sure who can help you?
There are lots of rules around how Adventurous Activities in Scouting must be run to ensure that they are delivered in a safe, appropriate way, that means our Young People will want more. On the positive side there are very few activities that you will want to do that haven’t already been done by someone somewhere within Scouting – you just need the right advice and this page can hopefully point you in the right direction.
Have you done something that you want others to know about Dave Cook who can help you get the message into the rest of the District. If you want to do something that’s not on this list, so long as its not listed as an explicitly Banned Activity Dave and he will do everything he can to help you find the right provider or Scout Centre of Excellence to run the activity.
If you are interested in running any of these Activities as a permit holder please also Dave Cook who can help you to make sure that you have the appropriate training, skills and experience to gain your permit and to run them safely.
Target Sports
Archery
There are several ways of accessing Archery within the Local Area. Of course, you can access Indoor and Outdoor Taster Sessions at our very own CRAI Scout Activity Park, but if you are looking for a new venue or a change of coaches you could look at:
CRAI Scout Activity Park – https://www.onlinescoutmanager.co.uk/v/crai-activity-park
Dolygaer Activity Centre – manager@dolygaer-scouts.co.uk
Gwent Scouts Archery Team – newportscoutsarchery@gmail.com
Permit Enquiries – dave.cook@craiscouts.org.uk
Air Rifle Target Shooting (Adventurous Activity Badge)
For Taster sessions you could, of course, consider booking a session at CRAI Activity Park.
There is a CRAI District Competition (for Scouts) usually run February/March time run by 2nd Caerphilly, the team also run a Scouts Master at Arms course every few years at the same time. You don’t need your whole Scout Troop to commit, individuals can join up along side Scouts from other groups – it’s a great way to meet new Scouts and there is usually enough leader cover so that you don’t have to commit to attend every week, speak to the team and offer your Scouts a new opportunity – who knows they might just win the Team or Individual Trophy!
CRAI Scout Activity Park – https://www.onlinescoutmanager.co.uk/v/crai-activity-park
2nd Caerphilly – anthony@2ndcaerphilly.craiscouts.org.uk
Permit Enquiries – dave.cook@craiscouts.org.uk
Tomahawk Throwing
If you want to introduce Young People to the skill of Hawk Throwing the obvious place to go would to CRAI Activity Centre (it get’s a lot of mentions on the page – but we try to run a lot of activities out of there). We have run sessions for Young People Indoors and Outdoors for several years now. If you have a special camp somewhere, we can even bring the equipment to you and run at your location.
CRAI Scout Activity Park – https://www.onlinescoutmanager.co.uk/v/crai-activity-park
Permit Enquiries – dave.cook@craiscouts.org.uk
Crossbow Target Shooting
CRAI Scout Activity Centre is just about to introduce Crossbow Target Shooting to its list of activities, we will be looking at starting early 2021 so keep an eye out for the announcements.
CRAI Scout Activity Park – https://www.onlinescoutmanager.co.uk/v/crai-activity-park
Permit Enquiries – dave.cook@craiscouts.org.uk
Land Activities
Indoor Climbing and Abseiling
We are lucky enough to be well served for indoor Climbing and Abseiling as well as having some real experts in the subject close to hand. We can offer Taster sessions and a low level introduction to both activities at CRAI Scout Activity Park (yes another shameless plug). We also have Boulders and Summit Centre relatively locally. Before arranging a session at one of these commercial centres it is worth taking advice just to make sure that you have the right cover in place.
General Climbing/Abseiling Advice – richard.terrell@craiscouts.co.uk
CRAI Scout Activity Park – https://www.onlinescoutmanager.co.uk/v/crai-activity-park
Summit Centre (Commercial Centre) – Summit Centre
Boulders (Commercial Centre) – Boulders UK
Permit Enquiries – dave.cook@craiscouts.org.uk
Outdoor Climbing and Abseiling
Our local area is full of great locations to introduce Young People to Climbing and Abseiling as ell as locations that can prove more challenging. It is definitely worth getting some expert advice in this area, but once again we are lucky enough to be well served with knowledgeable people who are happy to help.
General Climbing/Abseiling Advice – richard.terrell@craiscouts.co.uk
Gwent Land Activities SASU – landactivities@gwentscouts.org.uk
Permit Enquiries – dave.cook@craiscouts.org.uk
High Ropes
High Ropes covers, pretty much, any “off the ground” activity that is not covered by Climbing and Abseiling (see above). Once again, we have a number of locations that can offer this (including Cave Ladder Climbing, Prusiking and Crate stacking coming soon to CRAI Scout Activity Centre). This is definitely an area where good advice is essential, and luckily we have people that can provide advice.
General Climbing/Abseiling Advice – richard.terrell@craiscouts.co.uk
Gwent Land Activities SASU – landactivities@gwentscouts.org.uk
Summit Centre (Commercial Centre) – Summit Centre
Permit Enquiries – dave.cook@craiscouts.org.uk
Hiking and Hill Walking
Based, as we are, in the South Wales Valleys there are some amazing walks over hills, through Woodlands, and along The Rivers that formed the Valleys. We are close to the Brecon Beacons, people travel hundreds of miles and cross continents to walk the Brecon Beacons – but at the same time the SAS use it as a training ground so don’t underestimate how challenging it can be.
If you walk in the right area you can offer your Young people a real challenge and fantastic experience, safely, without having to have special permits and no matter what age your Young People are. If you want to offer more of a challenge one of the CRAI Hill Walking team who can provide advice on how to proceed.
General Hill Walking Advice – richard.terrell@craiscouts.co.uk
CRAI Hill Walking Team – dave.cook@craiscouts.org.uk
Gwent Land Activities SASU – landactivities@gwentscouts.org.uk
Dolygaer Campsite (location for Hill Walking) – manager@dolygaer-scouts.co.uk
Permit Enquiries – dave.cook@craiscouts.org.uk
Caving
What do you find where you have Hills and Water – Caves! Ever wanted to get your Young People underground safely we have a few different ways we can do that. The Summit Centre offer a nice, artificial caving experience that allows Young People to Sample caving and get a feel for if they want to take it further. To really go underground the obvious people to are our friends in Gwent Land Activities SASU who love getting wet and muddy.
Gwent Land Activities SASU – landactivities@gwentscouts.org.uk
Summit Centre (Commercial Centre) – Summit Centre
Permit Enquiries – dave.cook@craiscouts.org.uk
Camping
Nights away activities are a requirement for all our Young People. There are loads of different options for camping locally and further afield. Some suggestions are below.
CRAI Scout Activity Park – CRAI Scout Activity Centre
Dolygaer Campsite (location for Hill Walking) – Plas Dolygaer
Miskin Mill Scout Village – Miskin Mill Scout Village
Silver Cross Campsite – Silver Cross Campsite
Botnay Bay – Botnay Bay Camp and Training Centre
Llancaich Fawr (by special arrangement) – LLancaich Fawr
Alternative Monopoly Run – Alternative Monopoly Run Events
Water Sports
Canoeing/Kayaking
What do Young People like more than Hiking and Camping? Getting wet! We are lucky enough to have a number of great locations locally that can be used for Canoeing and Kayaking but first you’ll need a permit holder, or at least someone with the relevant experience and skills to keep Young People safe on the water. Unless you are using a commercial provider CRAI Scout Activity Centre or Barry Boat Base to rent equipment.
For Permit Holders/Class C Leaders
CRAI Scout Activity Park – https://www.onlinescoutmanager.co.uk/v/crai-activity-park
Barry Boat Base – barryscoutboatbase@gmail.com
Scouts Cymru Water Activity Team – swat@scoutscymru.org.uk
Permit Enquiries – dave.cook@craiscouts.org.uk
Swansea Sea Scout Activities Team – Facebook Group
Locations for Paddling (class of location at July 2020 is shown in Brackets)
Pen-y-fan Pond Oakdale (B1)
Taff Bargoed Lakes (B1)
Pontywaun Canal (C)
Brecon-Monmouth Canal (C)
Barry Boat Base (C & B1 depending on location)
Sailing
Every Young Person (and Leader) should try Sailing at least once, it’s a feeling like flying when you get it right! Once again, we are lucky enough to have a number of local teams that can support Scouts in accessing Sailing at an incredibly low cost.
Newport District Scouts Water Activity Team (SWAT) – ndswat@btinternet.com
Barry Boat Base – barryscoutboatbase@gmail.com
Permit Enquiries – dave.cook@craiscouts.org.uk
Raft Building
Raft Building brings together the Young Peoples love of the water with the skills of Pioneering and combines the two with the teamwork needed to build and crew a raft they have built themselves (and who knows when you may get stranded on a desert island and need that skill!)
Barry Boat Base – barryscoutboatbase@gmail.com
Permit Enquiries – dave.cook@craiscouts.org.uk