01
Reef knot
Joining two ends of the same cord, such as tying a bandage or a bundle.
Test: Two neat loops lie flat side by side. If the ends sit on opposite sides, it is a granny knot.
An outdoor skills guide
Learn a skill, practise it, keep it alive
Merit Canlı explains practical outdoor skills the way skill badges do: one clear goal, a few steps to practise, and a simple test you can set yourself. Knots, map reading and camp cooking come first.
Start with Knots & Rope
Free to read. No sign-up.
Three skills to start
Pick a badge and begin
Badge oneKnots & Rope
Six knots that cover most camp jobs, how to coil a rope and how to test your own work.
Badge twoMap & Compass
Contour lines, grid references, setting the map and walking on a bearing.
Badge threeCamp Kitchen
Stove safety, simple one-pot meals, clean water and leaving the site as you found it.
How a skill is earned
Four stitches to every badge
Every guide on the site follows the same pattern, so you always know what comes next and when you are done.
- 1Learn it. Read the steps and look at the pictures until the idea makes sense.
- 2Practise it. Repeat it at home or in the park, slowly at first, until your hands remember.
- 3Test yourself. Each skill ends with a short challenge. Pass it on three different days.
- 4Teach someone. Showing a friend is the best proof that a skill is really yours.
The knot board
Six knots, six jobs, six tests
02
Bowline
A fixed loop that will not slip, for hanging a bag or making a mooring line.
Test: Tie it round your own waist with your eyes closed, then untie it after a hard pull.
03
Clove hitch
Starting a lashing, or tying a line quickly to a post or rail.
Test: Tie it on a pole from above and from the side in under ten seconds.
04
Sheet bend
Joining two ropes of different thickness.
Test: Join a thin cord to a thick rope and pull hard; it should not slide apart.
05
Taut-line hitch
An adjustable loop for tent guylines.
Test: Slide it to tighten a guyline, then let go: it should hold its place.
06
Figure-eight stopper
Stopping a rope end from running through a pulley or eyelet.
Test: Tie it, check it forms a clear figure of eight, and untie it easily.
Before any walk
The ten-item day bag
A short version of the classic outdoor essentials list. Tick items off as you pack. Nothing is saved; it is just for you, on this screen.
0 of 10 packed
Map reading in one minute
Three ideas that unlock any map
Contours
Close lines mean steep ground
Each brown line joins points of the same height. Lines bunched together mean a steep slope; wide gaps mean gentle ground.
Set the map
Turn the map, not yourself
Rotate the map until the features on it line up with what you can see. North on the map then points north on the ground.
Bearings
A number you can walk
A bearing is a direction in degrees from north. Once set on the compass, you follow the arrow and stop to check every few minutes.
Questions people ask
Quick answers
Short versions. Each skill guide goes further.
Do I need to join a club to use these guides?
No. The guides are written for anyone who wants to learn on their own, with a friend or as a family. If you belong to a youth group or club, follow its own requirements as well.
Are these official badge requirements?
No. The challenges are self-tests written for this site. Organisations that award badges set their own rules.
Which knot should I learn first?
The reef knot and the bowline. Between them they cover tying things up and making a loop that holds.
Is a phone enough for navigation?
A phone is useful, but batteries run out and signal drops. Carry a paper map and a compass, and know how to use them.
Can I light a campfire anywhere?
No. Many parks and countries ban open fires, especially in dry weather. Check the local rules and use a stove where fires are not allowed.
Supper is a skill too
Learn to cook one warm meal on a small stove, safely, and the rest of the trip gets easier.
Open the Camp Kitchen