Survival guide

So, you want to discover and explore?

This page explains how to find locations and survive our missions. Good luck!

1. Playing the game
2. Safety and survival
3. Staying safe online
4. Follow the Natural England, Countryside Code or the Scottish Outdoor Access Code
5. Before starting – Be mission safe
6. WIFI or NO WIFI
7. Emergency contacts
8. Emergencies
9. Keep a cool head and do things right
10. People, wildlife and places
11. Completing a mission
12. First Aid
13. Keeping safe

1. Playing the game

On this site you will be able to discover different locations and take part in lots of exciting missions.

You can find out more about playing the game on our HOW TO PLAY page, which takes you through these six simple steps:

1. Join Up
2. Become an Explorer & create your profile
3. Explore Fun-tastic Locations
4. Choose & Complete Daredevil Missions
5. Discover the Answer
6. Win Super-Duper Badges

2. Safety and survival

We want you to survive your explorations. Any activity involves a level of risk and it's up to you to keep as safe as possible when out and about investigating new places and trying new things. We can't take responsibility for you making decisions that result in pain! We have thought carefully about each of the locations we have chosen and all of the missions that we have created, but places and circumstances can change quickly.

Always read the ‘Top Survival Tips’ and ‘Explorer Essentials’ on the right hand side of the Location page. This information is also available on the downloadable Explorer Pack. This is where we share some thoughts on how to have a more successful adventure.

Top tips for staying alive!

3. Staying safe online.

The internet is awesome, but sadly some people online are not as friendly as we would all like. Keep safe online by:

1. Never share any personal information in your comments or explorer log. This includes your full name, address, phone number or email.
2. Never share your password with anyone. Ever.
3. Don't arrange to meet people you do not know. It's better safe than sorry.
4. Don't share where and when you will be visiting a place or arrange to meet someone you don't know. Someone could turn up whom you really don't want to meet.
5. Telling your parent, CEOP or contacting us if someone does something that makes you feel uncomfortable or asks you for personal information.

We recommend that you take a look around the Think U Know website too. This is packed with advice on keeping safe online and what to do if things go wrong.

4. Follow the Natural England, Countryside Code or the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

Here are the key points from the code and you should follow these at all times.

1. take responsibility for your own actions and act safely;
2. respect people's privacy and peace of mind;
3. help land managers and others to work safely and effectively;
4. care for your environment and take your litter home;
5. keep your dog under proper control;

You can read the full Scottish Outdoor Access Code or the Natural England Countryside Code here.

5. Before starting – Be mission safe

Get permission to do the mission and make sure the weather is not going to turn dangerous.

Always pack some basic kit: a watch, a fully charged phone or some change for a phone box, and a basic survival kit (including any medication you take, some plasters, a snack and a drink). Pack a map and compass too, for navigating and marking discoveries. Colouring pens and a notepad are essential and a camera if you have one. Don’t forget to pack your Explorer Pack!

Don’t go solo! You may need to leave your fellow explorers for while to complete some of the missions but always make sure they are close at hand and know where you are going. Get into a team for the Buddy Mission and the more challenging missions. Three is a magic number. If one of you gets hurt, one person can stay with them while the other goes for help. Agree a call (hoooo!) sign and a place where you can meet if you get split up.

If you are going for longer walks always leave a route card or plan of where you are going with someone. Let them know the time you are due back. If you don't return on time they will know to send out a search party and they will have an idea of where to look.

Always hatch a plan in case it all goes wrong. Where could you go to get help? Who would you call?

6. WIFI or NO WIFI

Many of the places that you explore will not have access to the internet. Decide which locations you are going to visit and plan your route. Each location has a dedicated Explorer Pack for you to download, which includes maps, essential items to bring, top survival tips and specific information pertinent to each location. You will see a download button on each location page and by every mission. You can either save them (to any device that can read a PDF) or print them out.

NB: Don’t rely on always having an internet connection at every location. We suggest you have a hard copy of the Explorer Pack to hand at all times.

7. Emergency contacts

Make sure you know whom to contact in an emergency. In the UK 999 is our emergency number. Write any other numbers down on a notepad, in your phone or somewhere else safe.

8. Emergencies

If the mission goes pear-shaped, follow these three steps:

1. Don't panic!
2. Call your emergency contact, tell them what has happened and where you are.
3. Stay where you are and wait for them to arrive.

If you need to do some first aid, you will find some tips and tricks on what to do below.

9. Keep a cool head and do things right

All the best explorers have rules that they never break. Here are some to help you keep your head on:

• Follow the instructions on warning signs and follow any other rules that you know about.
• Always let a grown up know where you're going and what time you'll get back.
• Cars can be very dangerous. Avoid crossing roads but, if you have to, use a zebra crossing or a pelican crossing or wait for your fellow explorer.
• Make sure that you look after your friends and don't be persuaded to take silly risks.
• If you get injured make sure you tell someone who knows what to do.
• Never use kit that you need training for like climbing ropes. It won't keep you safe if you don't know how to use it.
• Never go anywhere with a stranger, including their car or house.
• Always take supplies: juice, fruit, snacks and most importantly... water!
• Don't stick anything in your mouth if you don't know what it is. You don't want to be poisoned or become sick.

10. People, wildlife and places

Protect and care for all people, animals, plants and places you visit.

• Look out for dangerous animals. Don't try and touch them, they may bite and could cause you serious harm.
• As many of your missions take place outdoors there is a risk you may pick up ticks. Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that can leave an itchy bite and in some cases pass on Lyme disease. It’s important that if you get a tick you remove it correctly. Check out the advice here on the safest ways to avoid and remove ticks.
• Whenever possible, leave no trace that you have even been to a place. Leave everything, from gates and trees, to ruins and squirrels, as you find them. Dispose of your rubbish appropriately or take it home with you.
• If you're taking a dog, cat, ferret or other animal with you make sure it's under your control.

11. Completing a mission

It's a good idea to have a notebook, colouring pencils and the Explorer Pack with you. Many of the missions involve drawing and recording information so having something to write on is important. If you have a camera, video camera or other cool technologies bring them too if you can.

Once you've done a mission make sure you come back to the website and mark the mission complete. This is where you will WIN your badges. You can also keep an explorer log of your adventures on your Explorer Profile page.

12. First Aid

Injured in the name of exploration? In all cases, tell someone you trust what happened and get checked out. Even the bravest and most famous explorers need a bit of looking after, especially if it involves some hot chocolate and cake.

For advice on what to do check out this information from the British Red Cross.

13. Keeping safe

Dangerous people

Most people you will encounter on your missions will be quite safe. Most people in the world are. But, just to be certain, don't get into the car of anybody you don't know. Ever. Most importantly, don't agree to go into anyone's house without the permission of the people who look after you.

Safe people

It is safe to ask most adults for help. If you get hurt or run into trouble, the vast majority of adults will be able to help you, but the best people to ask are those in the emergency services. If they're not around, ask a group of adults in a public place.

Dangerous places

There are lots of signs that warn you of hazards and advice you what not to do. For example, high, slippery, electric, explosive, sharp, keep off and don’t touch. Follow their advice. There may be some places you cannot enter or some places where you need to be accompanied by an adult or specially trained member of staff. Seek permission if you are uncertain.

Safe places

Whenever you feel you need help, public buildings are always a great place to head for. Hospitals, police stations, schools and libraries tend to be full of people who will be able to help you in your moment of need.

Further training and advice

There are lots of great organisations that can help you to have more successful and less painful explorations. Here are a few:

British Red Cross
John Muir Trust
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Scottish Outdoor Access Code
Natural England – The Countryside Code