Skip to main content

Pathfinders dilema

Plan routes for different users and discover how public rights of way help people explore outdoors.

Back to Activities

You’ll need

  • Printed maps
  • Pens or pencils
  • Clipboards
  • Highlighters

Before you begin 

  • Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Additional help to carry out your risk assessment, including examples can be found here.  Don’t forget to make sure all young people and adults involved in the activity know how to take part safely.
  • Make sure you’ll have enough adult helpers. You may need some parents and carers to help if you’re short on helpers. 

Planning and setting up the activity 

  • Prepare maps showing a network of public rights of way, including footpaths, bridleways, restricted byways, and byways open to all traffic.
  • Create a set of scenario cards featuring different people who want to travel between two locations.
  • Include information about the terrain, distance, accessibility, and permitted route users.
  • Divide everyone into small teams. 

Running the activity  

  1. Gather everyone together and explain that public rights of way help people access and enjoy outdoor spaces.
  2. Tell everyone that not all routes are suitable for every user. Explorers will need to think carefully about who they're planning for.
  3. Split everyone into teams and give each team a map.
  4. Give teams their first scenario card.
  5. Challenge teams to identify the best route for the person in their scenario.
  6. Teams should consider factors such as accessibility, safety, distance, terrain, and what rights different users have on each route.
  7. Once teams have chosen a route, ask them to explain and justify their decision.
  8. Introduce additional scenarios and encourage teams to adapt their thinking each time.
  9. Bring everyone back together and compare the different routes chosen by each team.
  10. Discuss whether there was one "best" answer or whether different priorities led to different decisions. 

Reflection

Public rights of way help people access the outdoors, but different people experience routes in different ways. Ask everyone to think about the decisions they made. What factors were most important when choosing a route? How did thinking about someone else's needs change their approach? Why is it important that outdoor spaces are accessible and welcoming for as many people as possible?

Safety

All activities must be safely managed. You must complete a thorough risk assessment and take appropriate steps to reduce risk. Use the safety checklist to help you plan and risk assess your activity. Always get approval for the activity, and have suitable supervision and an InTouch process.

You must run your activities in line with the Safeguarding Code of Conduct for Adults (Yellow Card) and report any concerns to the UK HQ Safeguarding Team.

Hiking and walking

Follow the guidance for activities in Terrain Zero, or the guidance from our adventurous activity pages.

  • To make it easier… provide route options for participants to choose from and include fewer route types.  
  • To make it harder... introduce additional information such as temporary closures, challenging weather conditions, or conflicting priorities that teams must consider when planning their routes. 

Make it accessible

All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.

Explorers Exploration Activity Badge