Further learning opportunities: Branching Out
Discover learning opportunities to continue developing your skills
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Page last reviewed: September 2025
What is Branching Out learning
Branching Out is our selection of optional learning opportunities you can do to develop your knowledge further and to earn the Wood Badge. You can complete as many or as few of these as you like, without committing to do a Wood Badge.
You might need to complete some Branching Out learning to get permits or accreditations.
As this learning is optional, there’s no specific timeframe to complete it.
How to complete Branching Out learning
The delivery methods for Branching Out learning vary. You can complete some of them online through My Learning, under the section ‘explore learning’. For others, you might attend a face-to-face session or complete a workbook or you might have to do something to demonstrate your understanding.
Most of Branching Out learning is offered locally. You need to contact your District or County / Area / Region Volunteering Development Team to find out how the learning is delivered where you volunteer.
For Branching Out learning that you’ve completed outside of My Learning, a Learning Assessor needs to credit it to your profile by assessing what you've done. For example, you might provide a certificate of attendance from a course, talk to a Learning Assessor about what you’ve learnt or show skills and knowledge based on experience.
Read the My learning digital tool guide to learn how to enrol in learning and how to request to be assessed in a skill.
Remember that your Team Leader and Lead Volunteer can also help you understand Branching Out learning.
What learning is part of Branching Out
Here’s a list with all Branching Out learning. You’ll find more information about each of them on the description tab in My Learning.
Some learning from our previous Adult Training Scheme is continuing until all Branching Out learning is developed.
Branching Out learning you can complete through My Learning (eLearning):
These are eLearning you can complete at your own time.
- Data lead learning
- First aid kits
- Leading on Safety
- Permit approver (workbook)
- Nights Away approver (workbook)
- Suspension lead learning
- Terrain definitions
- Think CO: Carbon Monoxide awareness for scouts
- Welcome conversation learning
Learning temporarily continuing as Branching Out:
These are delivered locally and can’t be completed through My Learning. You need to contact your District or County / Area / Region Volunteering Development Team to find out how the learning is delivered where you volunteer.
- Skills of leadership (Module 8)
- Working with adults (Module 9)
- Growing the section (Module 13)
- Residential (Module 16)
- Practical Skills (Module 18)
- International (Module 19)
- Assessing Learning (Module 25)
- Instructing Practical Skills (Module 27)
- Presenting (Module 29)
- Skills for Residential Experience (Module 38)
- Mentoring and Coaching (Module 39)
- Manager and Supporter Skills Courses
How we’re developing Branching Out learning
We’re developing new Branching Out learning together with volunteers by running workshops and testing activities. Our goal is to create learning that's relevant and engaging, and available to you when you need it, whether it’s videos, in-person or virtual learning sessions or workbooks.