Terrain and environmental hazards
Slips, snakes, ticks, plants, and water crossings.
Skill 3.19 · About 25 minutes to begin
Awareness prevents most injuries. Look up, down, and ahead — not at your phone on rough ground.
Before you begin
Bring along
- Official forecast
- Route map
- Shelter and turnaround plan
Support & boundaries
Choose an age-appropriate task with your leader or trusted adult. Outdoor practice follows the approved route, buddy, and supervision plan; adapt the challenge to your abilities.
01 / Learn
Understand the skill
- Wet rock and leaves are slick — test footholds; use hands when needed.
- Stay on trail in snake country; do not reach where you cannot see.
- Check for ticks after brushy hikes; shower and parent check as appropriate.
- Poison ivy has three leaflets — learn it before yard work and trail maintenance.
- Water crossings require qualified leader assessment. High, fast, or uncertain water means stop and choose an approved alternative; a rope does not make a hazardous crossing safe.
02 / Practice
Try it, step by step
- 1
Wear ankle-support footwear on rocky trails.
- 2
Use trekking poles for balance on streams when leaders approve crossing.
- 3
Brush pants legs and use repellent when ticks are active.
- 4
Report unstable trees or trail damage to leaders.
- 5
Carry whistle for separation — three blasts means emergency in our practice.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Try it first to see how deep it is.
- Treating a successful practice attempt as permission to skip the supervision or checks for a real task.
Your call
A stream is higher and faster than expected. What next?
03 / Demonstrate
Show what you can do
Use these prompts with a mentor. This practice checklist resets when you leave; record your overall stage below in the signed-in manual.
0 of 3 reviewed together
Mentor notes & sources
Help someone learn
- Brief local hazards at trailhead each trip.
- Stop the line when someone struggles — regroup before continuing.
- Keep a tick kit and know disposal method in group first-aid supplies.
Start together, then let the learner take responsibility at an appropriate level. Offer a shorter task, a different role, or more practice time when useful. Review the demonstration criteria together; advanced practice never removes supervision requirements.
Reference shelf
Original program lessons informed by these references. Equipment manuals, current local rules, and qualified instruction govern technical practice.
- National Weather Service: lightning outdoors ↗
Lightning shelter and trip decisions
Edition updated 2026-09-28. Program learning material; not a professional qualification.
04 / Apply · In Action
Walk and notice
On an approved short route, identify hazards from a safe distance and explain an avoidance plan.
What success looks like
Point out footing, overhead hazards, and a place where you would stop for leader guidance.
Talk it through
Which hazard changes most after rain?
05 / Teach · Take it further
Prepare a brief for the next group using verified local information.