Big Man in the Woods

Can a single secret from the Belgian Scouts transform how your organization works? In this video, I’m diving into a fascinating discovery I made about the way Belgian Scouts operate. It’s a simple yet powerful "secret"!Whether you're a Scout Leader looking to improve your Troop or Scout Group. In this video, you’ll learn:The core "secret" behind the Belgian Scouts' succ...

We often talk about recruitment, attracting new volunteers, and growing our teams. But before we focus on bringing new people into Scouting, perhaps we should ask a more important question:Why are experienced volunteers walking away? In this video, I share four real stories of Scout leaders who left Scouting and the reasons behind their decisions. From personality clashes and feeling excluded with...

Scouting advice is broken because Scout Leaders are making it boring. I am banning three specific practices in 2026 to fix the program. This Podcast is for Scout Leaders who want to revitalize their sections and stop the common mistakes that drive members away. If you feel like your meetings have become stale or repetitive, this breakdown offers a direct look at the outdated methods that need to b...

I've been a scout leader for over 15 years and in this video, I'm getting honest about the anxiety that comes with leading young people. From surprising challenges to the moments that really test your patience (yes, Squirrel Scouts, I'm looking at you), this is the emotional side of volunteering nobody talks about.

🎙️ Scout Group Traditions We Still Do TodayEvery Scout Group has them, those little traditions that quietly define who we are, shape our young people, and keep the Scouting spirit alive. In this episode, Mark, Max and Colin share the unique traditions still happening in their own Scout Groups, from ceremonies and rituals to those slightly quirky moments that somehow just stick year after year. We...

Stuck for game ideas at the last minute? Don’t panic! All you need is a roll of duct tape. In this video, I dive into 6 incredibly simple, low-prep, and high-energy games that are perfect for Squirrels, Beavers, Cubs Scouts and Explorers. What we cover in this video: 🎯 Tape Tag: A sticky twist on a classic. 🕸️ The Spider Web: A team-building challenge that requires focus. 🏃 Line Jump: High speed...

On this week’s Scout Shed Live Catch-Up, we talked about how Scout Leaders can handle disagreements among Leaders without things escalating. We shared thoughts, experiences, and practical ideas for dealing with conflict while still keeping meetings positive, fun, and safe for everyone involved. We also discussed some games to play at Scouts this week, including:* Dragon’s Tail* Smelly Santa* The K...

As Scout volunteers, do we take on too many roles? It’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. I honestly don’t know many leaders who only have one role in Scouting anymore. Quite often we’re helping in our Group, taking on District responsibilities, maybe even County roles too. And while it’s brilliant that so many volunteers are willing to step up and help… is it always a good thing? A...

I'm helping my son, who’s a Cub, develop his fire lighting skills using a FireSteel — but being left-handed has made it a bit more of a challenge for him. Then I remembered I’ve got the PolyStriker XL in my kit, and it’s actually really well suited to left-handed users like Thomas. This firesteel has a unique design that I’m hoping will make fire lighting a little easier for him. While it’s no...

Are Jumble Sales actually worth the effort? In this video, I chat to fellow Scout Leader Max about the reality of running a Jumble Sale for a Scout Group. We dive into the big questions: Do they make enough money to justify the stress? How do you organize a successful sale? And is it still a viable fundraising method for charities and nonprofits in 2026?In this video, we cover:-How much profit a S...

Join me in the Scout Shed with fellow Scout Leaders Max and Colin for another relaxed live catch-up, talking through the real ups and downs of running a Scout Group. This week we dig into the balance between experienced Leaders and new volunteers joining the team. There’s a real mix of value in both — fresh ideas, different perspectives, and years of hard-earned Scouting knowledge. The challenge i...

Is your Scout Group a "Movement" or just a "Club"? In this Podcast, we’re taking a trip down memory lane to the late 90s to look at the rise and fall of the iconic search engine, Ask Jeeves. You might be wondering: “Mark, what on earth does a digital butler have to do with running a Scout Troop in 2026?” The answer lies in the one word Robert Baden-Powell used to describe Scout...

A few days ago, something really sad happened on our doorstep in Golders Green here in London ,a man attacked both Jewish and Muslim people because of their faith. It got me thinking deeply about what Scouting is really about. In this video I talk about why now is the perfect time to dust off the My Faith Badge and remind our young people and ourselves that whatever you believe, you are welcome in...

Scout leaders, I've got a burning question for you! 🔥In this video, I make a case for what I believe is the most underrated Scout Activity Badge available in 2026: the Hobbies badge. Often overlooked in favour of high-adventure activity badges, this badge holds significant value for a Scout's personal development and long-term interests. I take a moment to reflect on everything from class...

This week’s Scout Shed Live, Mark and Max have an open discussion about the life of being a Scout leader. We talk through a mix of real Scout experiences from the week, including programme ideas that worked (and a few that definitely didn’t go to plan), plus the ongoing reality of trying to keep activities fresh, meaningful, and engaging for young people. The main discussion this week asks a simpl...

⚜️ Sunday Night Scout Shed Catch-Up | Community Service in Scouting This week’s Scout Shed catch-up dives into a question that many of us quietly wrestle with… a re we actually doing enough community service in Scouting and how do we get young people to buy into it ? Mark & Max chat through real experiences from the week, including jumble sale fundraising (the good, the bad, and the “why are w...

In this episode of Big Man in the Woods, I’m joined by fellow Scout Leader Scouty Cathy from the UK Inclusion Team. Cathy is well known on TikTok for her work around inclusion in Scouting, and in this conversation we dig into what that really means in practice — from supporting neurodiversity, to rethinking traditional events like St. George’s Day, to making sure every young person can fully belon...

Summer Time is here, the evenings are lighter, and outdoor programme season is officially ON. But what if, like me, you’re inner‑city and your “outdoor space” is basically a tarmac driveway? In this week’s livestream, I’m joined by Max for a proper Scout Leader catch‑up as we swap ideas, hacks, and realistic ways to get our young people outside each week — even when space is tight, the weather’s u...

Join me in the back garden for a bushcraft fire lighting challenge inspired by Wildly Curious YouTube channel. In this challenge, I’m trying to light a candle using a match prepared as a mini feather stick, ignited with a fire steel. It’s a practical fire lighting test using basic bushcraft skills, focusing on feather sticks, ignition technique, and alternative fire-starting methods with everyday...

Scout Leaders , are you looking for fun ways to use a parachute indoors? 🪂 Whether it’s a rainy day or a hall session, these 5 parachute games will keep your Scouts active, laughing, and working together! From Cat & Mouse 🐱🐭 to Popcorn 🍿, Sharks 🦈, Mushroom & Run 🍄, and even Parachute Volleyball 🏐, there’s something for every group size and energy level. Perfect for Beavers,Cubs, Sc...

This video addresses UK Scout Leaders about new updates to the Scout uniform, a topic sure to spark debate within the scouting community. I discuss the standardization of the Neckerchief color, a significant change for our Uniform Shirt. This is a crucial update for every Scouter and their Uniform

Last weekend I was invited to speak on the Outdoor Theatre Stage at the National Outdoor Expo 2026, giving a talk called Scout Leader Hacks”… not exactly my title choice 😅But inside this talk I share some genuinely useful, real-world tips from my time as a Scout Leader—things that actually make life easier when you’re running sessions, camps, and everything in between. If you were at the show and...

Hey Scout Leaders! I’ve got a fun question for you: what did you absolutely hate doing as a Scout, but now as a Scout Leader, you actually love? For many of us, tasks like washing up or dealing with Elson toilets were once dreadful—but now they’re part of the camping experience we actually embrace. Share your thoughts below—which once-dreaded Scout activities do you secretly enjoy now?

Some of the best Scout nights don’t tick a single badge requirement. They’re the slightly chaotic ones. The creative ones. The nights where patrols end up arguing about moss, building strange contraptions, or presenting something that technically counts as “food”.In this video I’m sharing 6 Scout activities that don’t neatly fit into a badge, but build exactly the things Scouting is supposed to bu...

Get ready for game-changing Scout uniform hacks! I'm diving into the budget-friendly alternatives you NEED to see, straight from Scout Leaders themselves. Don't let cost hold back your Scouting Adventure!