Royal Navy

Why we work together - over 100 years of inspiring adventure

The Royal Navy has been a proud partner of The Scouts for over 100 years, making it one of our most longstanding and valued supporters. Together, we’ve helped generations of young people build confidence, learn new skills, and enjoy unforgettable experiences on the water.

Sharing its knowledge and expertise, the Royal Navy supports our volunteers to teach skills for life – from leadership and teamwork to resilience and independence.

Thanks to this partnership, thousands of young people across the UK have earned their Time on the Water badges and taken part in exciting water-based activities that spark curiosity, fuel imagination, and create a real connection with the world around them.

Time on the Water Staged Activity Badges 

You can earn Time on the Water staged badges when you take part in any of these activities:

• Kayaking
• Canoeing
• Sailing
• Windsurfing
• Powerboating
• Kitesurfing
• Surfing
• Yachting
• Motor cruising
• Narrow boating
• Pulling or rowing
• White water rafting
• Traditional rafting
• Paddleboarding

For Beavers - each session should last about one hour.

For Cubs - an ideal session length goes up to 1-2 hours.

For Scouts and Explorers - sessions should last about 2-3 hours.

Please remember: You must be properly dressed and equipped for your activity and the weather conditions. Your leader will also need to make sure you’re following the activity rules in chapter nine of the Policy, Organisation and Rules (POR) and the Activity Permit Scheme.

Activities

During our partnership with the Royal Navy, we have created some amazing additional resources which were featured in issues of our Partnerships Magazine, Make Do Share.

• Build a Paddle Boat: Make a mini paddle boat and watch as kinetic energy powers it along.
• Be Water Kind: Protect the marine environment from pollution so everyone can enjoy time on the water.
• Cardboard Canoe: Make a cardboard canoe with this Royal Navy template.
• Build a Vessel: Design an environmentally-friendly vessel that's fit for the future.