Major Oak Camping Challenges

Scout/Explorer/Adult

Bronze & Silver

General Challenge Information

Open to all Scouts and Scout Troops, Explorers and Explorer Units, Scout Networks and all their Scouting Leaders including Young Leaders to camp in unfamiliar places. There is a separate one for Cubs.


This award recognises the contribution camping makes to building successful teams and the effort young people and their leader teams make in achieving the top awards. Every night camped whilst obtaining this award counts towards your Scouting Nights Away challenge.


There are 3 awards – Bronze, Silver and Gold that each have different challenges built around achieving top awards and having fun. For each award you must camp in every month of the year and this can be spread over several years. There is no time limit for each award.

Bronze Challenge Requirements

Camp in every month of the year in at least 5 different locations that meets either the Nights Away Permit Scheme campsite such as Hollygate, Greenfield such as Stonepits or light expedition categories. The remaining 7 camps can be in the same or different locations. Up to 2 Residential Camps are allowed but no more than 4 camps can be held in a Scout Hall, in the Scout Hall grounds or similar or a back garden.

Scouts/Explorers can sleep in tents either on their own or with a friend or larger group, or sleep in shelters made of:


a) natural materials

b) materials at hand like a large poly sheet.

c) using a table or chair/bench as the base and any covering to make a shelter to sleep under.                                                                                             


If an area supports this then Scouts could also sleep in hammocks if preferred. This could be done at the Scout Hut grounds, back garden or recognised Scout Camp site. Residential Camps can be at a campsite like Drumhill in Derbyshire, in the Scout Hall or an approved centre, not necessarily owned by Scouts but which would count for Nights Away.


Challenges are not required in the Bronze Award but you might like to consider

·      Camping at another Campsite in Nottinghamshire such as Walesby or Robin Hood Scout Campsite

·      Camping in another County like Oaks in Charnwood in Leicestershire or Gradbach in Derbyshire

·      Camping during Duke of Edinburgh practice or Expedition challenge.

·      District and County Camps also count.

·      Camp at a family event organised by your Troop, Unit or Group.

Silver Challenge Requirements

You must have completed the Bronze Award


Camp in every month of the year in at least 8 different locations that meets either the Nights Away Permit Scheme campsite such as Hollygate, Greenfield such as Stonepits or light expedition categories. The remaining 4 camps can be in the same or different locations.


Complete 12 Challenges from the list below: -

1. At a camp take part in a new adventurous activity that you have not done before.

2. The camping skills challenge. In a single camp complete the following tasks:

• Take part in a wide game;

• Take part in a campfire or other entertainment;

• Cook a backwoods meal with the group; and

• Show how to pack a rucksack correctly, with appropriate kit for the camp.

3. Complete an expedition or an exploration over two days with at least three other Scouts.

4. Camp with scouts from another country. (Can include Scouts from Scotland Ireland or Wales)

5. Camp with a friend you wish to introduce to Scouting.

6. Camp in a large wooded area or forest.

7. Camp on any island that is not a country and is surrounded by water.

8. Camp as part of an activity to promote Scouting.

9. Camp with no more than 3 other members of your Troop, Unit, or Network.

10. Camp at an Area / County Camp Site.

11. Camp at a District Camp Site.

12. Camp at a District, County, or English event.

13. Camp with your section for five or over consecutive nights.

14. Camp at a Greenfield site such as Stonepits

15. Camp in Wales

16. Camp at Gilwell Park or Brownsea Island.

17. Camp with a recognised youth organisation that is not Scouting.

18. Sleep* in a hammock off the ground.

19. Camp on a farm.

20. Camp in a traditional tent from another country.

21. Camp on ground that is no more than 10 metres above sea level.

22. Camp at a family event organised by your Troop, Unit or Group.

23. Sleep* on a boat as part of a scouting activity.

24. Camp as part of a 3-day expedition in the UK with similar aims to those of the Explorer Belt.

25. Camp as part of a two day and one-night expedition in rural country by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, boat or dinghy.

Gold Challenge Requirements


You must have completed the Silver Award

Complete at least 12 Challenges from the list below. Camp outside in every month of the year. The exception could be the Residential element when completing your Duke of Edinburgh award or taking part in a SOWA event.

You can also use up to 3 challenges from the Silver Award list provided you have not used these challenges to gain the Silver Award.

The completed challenges must be in at least 10 different locations. The remaining 2 camps can be in the same or different locations.



26. Complete six nights away camping as an Explorer Scout/helper/leader.

27. Camp as part of a minimum three-day, two-night (consecutive) self-led

expedition in wild country by foot, cycle, horse, canoe, boat or dinghy.

28. Camp as part of a 7-day Expedition in the UK with similar aims to those of

the Explorer Belt.

29. Take part in a project with an international development organisation.

30. Attend an International Camp in the United Kingdom.

31. Take part in a project at a campsite abroad, such as Kandersteg.

32. Camp in a country outside of the United Kingdom.

33. Camp as part in an environmental or community-based project to make an

improvement in your local environment or community.

34. Attend a camp in another country, for instance, a Jamboree or Moot.

35. Take part in a residential Scouts of the World Award (SOWA), discovery

event.

36. Camp at 0 degree centigrade or below.

37. Camp at least 500 metres above sea level.

38. Camp using the Nights Away Event Passport.

39. Camp on greenfield site not in Nottinghamshire.

40. With a group of at least three others, take part in a survival exercise lasting

two nights. The group should:

• construct a shelter of natural or salvaged materials and sleep in it;

• cook all meals over an open fire; and

• cook without utensils or aluminium foil (although a knife may be used).

41. Camp in Scotland.

42. Camp in Northern Ireland or Ireland.

43. Camp in the snow.

44. Sleep* under the stars.

45. Sleep* out as part of an activity supporting homeless awareness for

example an organised sleepout.

46. Camp in an unusual place.

47. Camp as part of a Scouting Inclusion project.

48. Camp 2 metres above the ground once a risk assessment has been

completed and the challenge has been shown to be safe.

49. Camp at a Youth Shaped Scouting event.

50. At a camp complete a Module or Mission for the Explorer Scout Young

Leaders’ Scheme. A Young Leader helping with the Cub Major Oak Award can count this as part of his/her own award

Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who can do the Major Oak Challenge?

    All three Awards are open to Young People in the Scout, Explorer and Network sections and any adult member in Scouting.

    The Awards are progressive, and you must do them in order of Bronze followed by Silver and then Gold. This recognises and rewards members who are nights away active.

    The individual awards do not have to be achieved within one calendar year and can cross into as many years and sections as it takes to complete the Award.


  • What are the Award Challenges?

    There is a list of Challenges for the Silver and Gold Awards. The challenges in each award can be done in any order. You can complete more than one challenge in a month but a minimum of 12 challenges must be completed for each award.

    You can record your completed challenges on the downloadable record card on this page, on your own spreadsheet, or even keep your record as a photolog - see the example on this page.


  • What is a Camp?

    A camp consists of one or more nights in a tent or a shelter (see the Scout Association’s Victorinox Survival Skill Shelter Resource).

    Where necessary, an adult with a relevant Nights Away Permit should be involved and this doesn’t prevent the Young Leader or Scout Network member with an active leadership appointment from planning or delivering the actual experience. Nights Away Permit holders may also be required to issue Nights Away Event Passports for peer-led camps. Camps that use a large Scout managed campsite can count as different locations providing each camp is in a different type of environment for example a grassed field, woodland area or greenfield site.

    Camps of two nights or more that include more than one month can count for two challenges provided the two challenges are undertaken in different months e.g. a 2 night camp held on 31st May and 1st June can count as achieved under May and June of that year.

  • Must it always be under canvas?

    For the Silver and Gold Challenge a camp can include up to two recognised

    residential courses.

    If the challenge starts with sleep (marked*), you do not have to be under canvas

  • Who awards the Challenge?

    The Bronze Challenge can be awarded by your Section Leader or GSL once you have camped every month of the year and you have filled out the record card and/or photolog.

    The Silver Challenge can be awarded by your District Commissioner or District Mayor on completion of the Challenges usually on Rushcliffe Award Nights and you have filled out the record card and/or photolog.

    To be confirmed as The Gold Challenge will be awarded by County. More details will be forthcoming.