Many Scouts, Brownies, Cubs, and other youth groups are lucky enough to have spaces where they meet, learn new skills, and forge lifelong friendships. However, as these groups grow and evolve, so must their facilities. If your current meeting place is feeling outdated, cramped, or ill-equipped to handle all the exciting activities your group wants to do, it might be time to consider developing your space by adding a log cabin.
A log cabin can transform your site into a year-round, weather-resistant hub for group activities. From team talks around a circular seating area to roasting marshmallows and cooking meals safely, a log cabin is the perfect blend of tradition and modern convenience. Here’s how a log cabin can enhance your group’s experience and some tips for making it a reality...
1. Upgrade Outdated Facilities and Expand Capacity
For many youth groups, facilities can quickly become outdated or insufficient as group sizes grow. Whether you have an old scout hut that’s seen better days or simply need more space, a log cabin offers the perfect solution. By modernising your facilities or adding a cabin as an expansion, you can increase capacity, ensuring there’s enough room for all your scouts, brownies, and cubs to participate in every adventure.
Since our log cabins offer circular bench seating which encourages discussion and active listening, they make great spots for group activities and team talks. Whether your youth group leaders need to prepare your young people for a team challenge, set up tasks or demonstrate activities, the seating arrangement promotes unity and inclusion. Youth groups are about community, and circular seating strengthens that sense of community!
A log cabin is perfect for increasing space for group indoor activities where facilities are limited. From crafts, learning to tie knots and to learning survival skills, you can use the cabin as a base. The versatility of the space means you can adapt it to suit whatever activities are on your group’s agenda each meeting.
3. Perfect for Barbecues and Campfire Fun
No scouting experience is complete without roasting marshmallows and preparing/cooking meals outdoors! Our log cabins can be installed with a central BBQ grill unit which opens up so many opportunities for youth groups. Teach fire safety, barbecue various foods or even use the fire as an exciting alternative for when the British weather gets in the way of self-constructed outdoor fires. Activities involving fire and cooking don't have to stop on account of torrential rain!
Outdoor activities require gear—lots of it! We can design your youth group log cabin with a side room extension for storage, providing ample space for outdoor equipment, games, sports gear, and even tents. By having everything in one place, you ensure that your group is always prepared for whatever adventure comes next.
Expanding or developing your youth group with a log cabin is an exciting project, but as you know, it often requires funding. Luckily, there are several ways to rally the community and raise the funds to bring your new scout hut, cub group cabin or brownies meeting spot to life:
1. Local Business Sponsorships
Reach out to local businesses for sponsorship. Many companies are keen to support community projects, especially those that benefit local children. You could perhaps offer to acknowledge them during group events in exchange for financial support.
2. Crowdfunding Campaigns
Online crowdfunding platforms like GoFundMe or JustGiving can be effective ways to raise money. Share your vision with the local community through videos, pictures, and stories about what the cabin will mean for your youth group. Encourage families, friends, and community members to contribute.
3. Grant Applications
Many organisations offer grants for community projects. Look into grants from the National Lottery Community Fund, local councils, or youth-oriented charities that support outdoor and educational initiatives. These grants can provide a significant boost to your funding.
Need help writing your grant application? Read our tips here
4. Community Fundraisers
Host events like bake sales or family fun days where the proceeds go towards your log cabin project. Get the whole community involved by offering games, challenges, and raffle prizes to draw people in.
Here, we enhanced Coventry Scout Group's outdoor facilities with a 10m² log cabin. They opted for a central BBQ grill unit, however you can opt for a solar pipe if you wish to keep your fires outdoor and traditional! While Coventry Scout group only required 10m² of extra space, your youth group might want more. We offer our log cabins in a range of sizes depending on the requirements of your site and group size. We also offer the option to connect two log cabins together to create the ultimate scouting or guiding space! With our connected cabins, you can choose to have a BBQ grill in both cabins, solar pipes in both cabins, or one of each! Our experts can guide you through making the best choice for your youth group.
Adding a log cabin to your youth group’s facilities is an investment in the future of your scouts, brownies, and cubs. It creates a safe, weather-resistant space for learning, team-building, and fun, all while fostering a sense of community and adventure. With features like a central BBQ grill for marshmallow roasting, circular seating for group talks, and storage for outdoor gear, your youth group will have everything they need to thrive. By tapping into community funding and making the cabin a true communal effort, your group can invest in a lasting, multifunctional space that will serve generations of scouts, brownies, guides or cubs for many years to come.
If you're ready to modernise your youth club facilities or expand your scout group space, get in touch.