The Navigator Staged Activity Badge helps young people across all sections develop essential map‑reading and navigation skills. It’s designed to be progressive, so each stage builds on the one before. Whether they’re beginning with simple directions or confidently navigating in remote terrain, this badge supports practical skills useful in Scouting and everyday life.

What the Badge Covers

Across the stages, young people will learn to:

  • Understand and use basic directions and symbols

  • Read different types of maps (street plans, OS maps, digital maps)

  • Follow and plan simple routes

  • Interpret scale, grid references, contours and terrain

  • Use a compass correctly

  • Navigate outdoors safely and responsibly

  • Apply navigation skills during hikes, activities and expeditions

Overview of Stages

Stage 1
Ideal for Beavers and early Cubs.
Young people learn simple directions, recognise basic map symbols, follow a very short route, and begin exploring what a map is used for.

Stage 2
Suitable for Cubs or early Scouts.
Introduces more detailed map work, including using a simple key, giving directions, following a short pre‑planned route and identifying landmarks.

Stage 3
Common for Scouts.
Young people work with Ordnance Survey maps at an appropriate scale, use six‑figure grid references, follow a route of around 1–2km, identify features using contours, and use a compass confidently.

Stage 4
For older Scouts and Explorers.
This stage develops route‑planning, risk awareness, advanced compass work, and navigation over mixed terrain. Participants demonstrate good judgement and route choice.

Stage 5
For confident Explorers and adults working towards leadership skills.
Young people independently plan and navigate a longer route, often in unfamiliar or more challenging environments. This includes using advanced navigation techniques, timings, bearings and alternative strategies in poor visibility.

Why This Badge Matters

Navigation is a core Scouting skill. It teaches:

  • Self‑reliance

  • Problem‑solving

  • Confidence outdoors

  • Practical map and compass skills

  • Safer participation in hikes, expeditions and adventurous activities

Leaders can easily blend Navigator badgework into hikes, camps, wide games and map‑based challenges—making it fun, active and hands‑on.

Navigator Staged Badge (Stages 1–5)

Jump to activities

Navigator Staged Activity Badge – Activities for Stages 1 & 2

Stage 1 – Activity Ideas (Beavers / early Cubs)

These activities help young people get comfortable with simple maps, directions, and symbols.

1. Follow a Simple Trail
Create a short trail around your meeting place using arrows, pictures or chalk marks. Young people follow the route and identify symbols along the way.

2. Map the Meeting Hall
Provide a blank outline and help them add in doors, tables, fire exits and key landmarks.
This introduces the idea that maps represent real places.

3. Find the Missing Object
Hide a toy or object outdoors. Draw a very simple ‘treasure map’ using pictures.
Young people follow the map to find the object.

4. Compass Introduction: N, E, S, W
A playful activity where they stand in the correct direction when you call out a compass point or hold up a card.

5. Spot the Landmarks
Take a short walk outside. Ask them to point out features such as benches, road signs, trees, post boxes or playground equipment.
Back at the meeting place, they draw these on a simple map.

Stage 2 – Activity Ideas (Cubs / early Scouts)

These activities deepen their understanding of keys, simple OS maps, and following planned routes.

1. Build a Map Key
Give them symbols for car parks, churches, rivers, woods, paths, etc.
They create a key and then add symbols onto a simple map.

2. “Route Cards Lite”
Give them a short pre‑planned 500m–1km route (e.g., around a park).
They follow it using list‑style directions such as “Turn left at the big oak tree”, “Cross the footbridge”, etc.

3. Grid Reference Game (Four‑ or Six‑Figure)
Place pictures or objects on a printed grid. Young people practise finding them and giving the correct grid reference.

4. Contour Guessing Game
Show pictures of hills and valleys. Match them to simple contour diagrams or ask them to identify which picture looks steepest.

5. Compass Course
Set up a basic compass course with cones or markers.
They move from point to point using bearings you provide or bearings they measure themselves.

6. “Build Your Own Mini‑Hike”
In small groups, they plan a short local walk using a printed OS map or digital map.
Include key points: start, end, hazards, safe crossing points, rest points.

Contact

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