Activities are an integral part of Scouting, and what makes it so exciting for the young people involved. The national pages are a good source for  the rules on various activities, there is also an A-Z to help inspire you, but what we hope to do here is link you to local places and ideas for activties.

Permits

Firstly – do you need a permit? The best place to look is to find the activity on the national member resources .  This will tell you if you need a permit or additional insurance (the latter mostly only for motor sport or high risk activities), and if so what qualifications are required. But generally speaking many common activities can be done, to a lower risk level, without a permit. This include

Walking

Cycling / Mountain Biking

Canoe / Kayaking on man made water streaches (e.g. canal)

These make use of two elements of the rules. For land activities its terrain zero, where the activity takes place in low level (less than 500 m above sea level) and near to a road access (for a road going ambalance), specifically 30 minutes walking time. On water its class C waters, the best defination of which can be found on the Scouts.org.uk website but basically locally the only place that fits this is the Lancaster Canal. The nearest man made boating lake is Fleetwood. both these rule require the DC’s permission first . Contact your ADC for information or Pete Willingham.

The following activities always require a permit regardless of where they take place – this includes public places and Scout property:

Climbing / Absailing

Caving

Ghyll Scrambling

Anything on a river, in the sea or on a lake.

Archery / Shooting

If your activity is not listed, then take a look at the activity pages linked above. The latest information is available there, or by emailing Pete Willingham on adc.activities@lonsdalescouts.org.uk

Where to do an activity

Some activities can be done on our very own district sites. We’ve tried to list some of the most common activities below with some suggestions on where you can try them. This list is still growing – so please be patient. If you have any suggestions or requests please contact Pete Willingham on adc.activities@lonsdalescouts.org.uk .

Absailing – See Climbing

Archery – At our campsite Littledale. You’ll need a suitable award / qualification to lead the session.

Assault Course – Waddecar

Bowling – Ten pin kind is better suited to groups, and more practical for Scouts and younger. Sometimes local clubs will do a taster night for older age ranges on the more traditional flat and crown types. Ten pin – Morecambe has a large ten pin bowling centre that does discounts for group from time to time. For the traditional outdoor bowling its best to ask for a contact, usually available from the green or the attached pub.

Camping – On its own a great activity, as any member will tell you. In Lonsdale we can camp for free at one of our activity centres (menu link at the top), but you MUST book. Further afield there are centres nationally. A good place to start is the County Page  under the Centre’s menu where there is a list of local places and National sites.

Canoing – See Kayaking

Caving – Locally we tend to use the area near Ribblehead. This requires a permit. However, there is an artifical caving network at Waddecar

Climbing – Lancaster University has a climbing wall, but requires SPA instructors. Contact the university for information. Alternatively there is the climbing wall at Waddecar or the natural climbing that can be fould at Silverdale or other local quarries. However, you MUST have a permit to do any climbing.

Crate Climbing – This is available at GT.

Cycling – Lancaster District is a Celebrating Cycling area with a lot of off road routes including the canal. If you wish to cycle on the canal in areas which are not part of the national route “6″ then you should look at the national waterway’s site for the cycle code and carry the printable permit with you. One route that is a challenge but a good adventure is either the windmills at Caton or Glasson Dock. Both are largely or entirely off road and a good destination with somewhere to stop at the end. For off road / off cycle track then see mountain biking.

Ghyll Scrambling – Ghyll is a Cumbria North Lancashire phrase for a small river, Scrambling is the climbing / walking term for walking up hill using your hands and perhaps a rope. Together locally its known as Ghyll Scrambling, but its also known as Canyoning or gorge walking in other parts of the world including Wales and South West England. This requires a permit but can be run by our Littledale site team on the beginner course there.

Gliding – The West Lancs air activities team with the Bowland Gliding club offer taster sessions in the summer. check out their website for the next sessions. They book up quick!

High Ropes (also known as confidence ropes) – There is a new indoor course in Lytham St Annes (Fylde Coast) which has a scouting link to the owner so will be friendly to members. Outdoors there is the course at GT and of course the Go-Ape centre in Grizedale.

Karting – There are karting places in Blackpool and Preston (and further afield). Popular with older age ranges such as explorers, but very costly. Note extra insurance IS required. See the national page for information.

Kayaking – On Lancaster canal you require only DC permission. On the Lune (and other rivers) or on the Coast, you will need a permit. As too at Moor Crag near Great Tower on Lake Windermere. However, at Moor Crag instructures are usually supplied with the equipment. Also the paddlesports group from the county often run days either at Moor Crag or at Brockholes in Preston. Finally very basic tasters can be gained from the pond at waddecar which is class C waters.

Ice Skating – Blackburn Ice Rink is open to the public, and if you go on a Ice Hockey evening you usually watch the match and skate afterwards. A popular even with another West Lancs District.

Mountain Biking – Grizedale largely falls with Terrain Zero (therefore does not need a permit), as do areas around Great Tower and Ambleside. All of these have hire places (contact GT for bikes to be delivered to site). In the Trough of Bowland there is Gisburn, although elements can be quite difficult.

Quad Biking – Can be done near Endmoor, Kendal and some other places in the South Lakes – but is expensive. Note that just like Karking extra insurance is required.

Sailing – The nearest place is Moor Crag (Great Tower). Permits are required although Moor Crag does usually supply an instructor.

Shooting – One of our Campsites. You’ll need a suitable award / qualification to lead the session.

Skiing / Snow Boarding – Another expensive one, can be done in Kendal via Kendal Ski Club’s aritifical slope, or in Manchester at the snow dome next to the Trafford centre. You will need a qualified instructor in both instances.

Walking – Terrain zero places include several local places, from Silverdale, parts of the Trough of Bowland (take care with the 30min rule) and the South Lakes. Depending on your and your group’s ability.

More to come!