To earn the Venturing Ranger award, a young man or woman must complete eight core requirements and four electives. One of the electives to meet the Ranger award requirements is Scuba

To complete the Venturing Ranger Award requirements for Scuba, a Venturer must learn all about scuba diving and then assist in teaching others about scuba diving through the Discover Scuba program.

Venturing Ranger Award Requirements - Scuba

1. Become certified as an Open Water Diver by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) or the National Association of Underwater Instructors (NAUI). If PADI or NAUI instruction and certification are not available, certification may be accepted from other agencies that comply with the Recreational Scuba Training Council (RSTC) guidelines, provided that such acceptance has been expressly approved by your local BSA council in consultation with the BSA national Health and Safety Service.
2. Make a presentation to your crew, another crew, or a Cub or Boy Scout group on what it takes to become certified and some other subject related to scuba diving.
3. Assist with a Discover Scuba program. (Note: An Open Water Diver may assist with logistics under the guidance of the instructor conducting the program, but is not qualified to and is not expected to perform as a professional-level assistant such as a divemaster or assistant instructor.)

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BSA provides Wolf den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders. Today’s plan is a supplemental den meeting plan in which Wolf Cub Scouts go on a picnic and play some games together.  This plan covers part of  Wolf Elective 18 – Outdoor Adventure  and Wolf Elective 4 – Play a Game .

If you don’t already have the BSA den meeting plans, download BSA Supplemental Wolf Den Meeting Plan G to follow along with this article.

Wolf Den Meeting Plans –  Outdoor Adventure

Preparation and Before the Meeting

Find a good location for your picnic and make any reservations which are needed.  Let everyone know what they should bring to the picnic. Don’t forget things like paper plates, charcoal, etc.  You will also need to gather any supplies required for the games.

Gathering, Opening, and Business

See my Gathering Activities page for ideas for the gathering time. Do an opening flag ceremony.

Activities

This meeting is simply a picnic with games. The picnic itself fulfills Wolf Elective 18a

Help plan and hold a picnic with your family or den.

The games will take care of parts of Wolf Elective 4.  Choose whichever games you like:

Elective 4a: Pie-tin Washer Toss

Elective 4b: Marble Sharpshooter

Elective 4c: Ring Toss

Elective 4d: Beanbag Toss

Elective 4f: A wide-area or large group game with your den or pack.

Here are some suggestions for some wide-area games:

• Spud Game
• Steal the Bacon
• Capture the Flag
• Kick the Can
• Red Light Green Light

Closing

Do a closing flag ceremony.

After the Meeting

The Wolves should clean up the picnic area and help you put away the game supplies. And ask the parents who can help at your next meeting.

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To earn the Venturing Ranger award, a young man or woman must complete eight core requirements and four electives. One of the electives to meet the Ranger award requirements is Project COPE

To complete the Venturing Ranger Award requirements for Project COPE, a Venturer must complete a COPE course, a COPE director’s course, or a college level outdoor education course.

Venturing Ranger Award Requirements - Project COPE

Do 1, 2, or 3.

1. 1. Complete a BSA Project COPE course including both low and high initiatives. (Project COPE stands for Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience and is an outdoor course available through most Boy Scout councils. It usually involves a weekend of team building using group initiative games and low and high ropes course obstacles. This is an excellent crew activity.)
   2. After you have personally been through a COPE course, help run at least two other COPE courses.
2. Attend BSA camp school and successfully complete the COPE director’s course.
3. Complete a hands-on outdoor education course through a college or university of at least 80 hours.

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Sometimes when we are out hiking with Scouts it seems like they are so focused on getting from here to there that they forget to look around and see the sights.  If you are out with a goal oriented group and you want them to take some time to explore, consider adding one or more additional hiking activities. You’ll find some suggestions below.

Hiking Activities

Themed Hike

Themed hikes usually involve looking for items which fit a theme or doing something similar.  Scout Helps has an extensive  list of themed hikes. Some of my favorite ideas from their list:

• Sound Hike: Hear and identify all sounds heard along the way.
• Homes Hike: Look for nature’s homes, like nests, holes, spider webs, etc. (Don’t disturb them! Don’t put your hand in a place you can‟t see, either.)
• Blindfold Hike: Divide boys in pairs. Have one blindfolded. The other leads him a short distance, quietly and slowly. Encourage the blindfolded boy to listen, smell and feel the surroundings. Trade places.
• Shadow Walk: Walk only in the shadows. This may require some jumping. (Don‟t plan this walk at noon since that is when shadows are shortest!)
• Detective Hike: Spot and list all evidence of man in nature (litter, footprints, fire scars, chopped trees, etc.). What litter you may find, pick up and dispose of properly.

Scavenger Hunts

On a scavenger hunt hike you search for items in a list. You can make your own list or use one of the ones below:

• Nature Scavenger Hunt from List PlanIt
• Woodland Scavenger Hunt from B Nute
• Nature’s Bingo from Camping With Gus combines a scavenger hunt with a bingo game

Geocaching

Geocaching involves using GPS coordinates to find caches – small containers which hold a log and sometimes trinkets. This adds a little adventure to your hike. Boy Scouts can work on their Geocaching Merit Badge  if they find caches while out hiking. You can learn more about geocaching at Geocaching.com.

Games for the Trail

There are many other types of games you can play while out hiking. There are good lists at Appalachian Mountain Club and Footprint Press. Here are some of my favorites:

• Chain Story: One person starts a story, but stops in the middle of a sentence oridea. The next person must continue the story then break to let the next person continue, and so forth.
• I Spy: One person thinks of something that everyone can see and gives a clue such as “I spy something round and hard.” The others try to guess what it is. The winner then gets to choose the next “I Spy.”
• Mystery Bag: You’ll need a stuff sack or lunch bag and items found along the trail. Collect items (acorns, pine cones, small stones, trash, etc. — no fair picking any living plants). When you stop for a rest, have your kids put their hands in the bag and try to identify the items they touch. Scatter the materials back in the woods when you’re finished.
• Hug a Tree: You’ll have to know your trees for this one! One hiker is the treemaster. While hiking along the trail, the treemaster calls out the name of a tree in the area —for example, birch. Everyone scrambles to find a birch tree and give it a big hug. Try not to step on live vegetation or wander too far from the trail.

See more ideas on my Hiking Activities Pinterest Board. 

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BSA offers supplemental pack program ideas for each month. One of the Cub Scout themes for the May core value of Health and Fitness is a Destination Parks theme.

Here is what the program helps say about this theme:

Destination Parks is a natural theme partner to health and fitness. May is a great time to get outdoors and explore nature while improving our health by walking, hiking, bicycling, and playing games and sports. Scouts keep fit by doing outdoor activities that keep them physically active as they earn Scouting awards. Local parks provide that opportunity close to home.

So this theme is based on the idea improving fitness by getting involved in some outdoor activity.  Below you’ll find some ways to form your pack and den programs around this theme which can be done at your local park.

Cub Scout Themes – Destination Parks (Health and Fitness)

Tiger Cub Scouts

• Tiger Achievement 5 – Lets Go Outdoors
• Tiger Elective 29 – Safety in the Sun
• Tiger Elective 33 – Cleanup Treasure Hunt
• Tiger Elective 34 – Conservation
• Tiger Elective 35 – Fun Outdoors
• Tiger Elective 37 – Take a Bicycle Ride

Wolf Cub Scouts

• Wolf Achievement 7 – Your Living World
• Wolf Elective 18 – Outdoor Adventure
• Wolf Elective 19 – Fishing
• Wolf Elective 20 – Sports
• Wolf Elective 23 – Lets Go Camping

Bear Cub Scouts

• Bear Achievement 5 – Sharing Your World with Wildlife
• Bear Achievement 6 – Take Care of Your Planet
• Bear Achievement 12 – Family Outdoor Adventure
• Bear Achievement 14 – Ride Right
• Bear Achievement 15 – Games, Games, Games!
• Bear Achievement 16 – Building Muscles
• Bear Achievement 23 – Sports, Sports, Sports
• Bear Elective 14 – Landscaping
• Bear Elective 15 – Water and Soil Conservation
• Bear Elective 18 – Backyard Gym
• Bear Elective 25 – Lets Go Camping

Webelos

• Athlete Activity Badge
• Forester Activity Badge
• Naturalist Activity Badge
• Outdoorsman Activity Badge
• Sportsman Activity Badge
• Arrow of Light Badge

Academics and Sports Program

• Bicycling Belt Loop and Pin
• Fishing Belt Loop and Pin
• Hiking Belt Loop and Pin
• Horseback Riding Belt Loop and Pin
• Map and Compass Belt Loop and Pin
• Wildlife Conservation Belt Loop and Pin

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To earn the Venturing Ranger award, a young man or woman must complete eight core requirements and four electives. One of the electives to meet the Ranger award requirements is Mountaineering.

To complete the Venturing Ranger Award requirements for Mountaineering, a Venturer must learn all about climbing, including knots, equipment, and safety.  Then he or she must demonstrate climbing skills and assist another group in a climbing activity.

Venturing Ranger Award Requirements - Mountaineering

You must complete the First Aid Ranger Core Requirement before you begin this elective.

1. 1. Explain the difference between bouldering and technical climbing.
   2. Tell how bouldering can help your crew get ready for more advanced climbing.
   3. Demonstrate bouldering using the three-point stance and proper clothing.
2. 1. Explain the classification and grades of climbing difficulty in technical rock climbing.
   2. Tell how weather can change the difficulty of any ascent.
3. Learn and then teach the following climbing knots to your crew, another crew, a Scout group, or another group:
   • Figure eight on a bight
   • Water knot
   • Bowline on a coil
   • Figure eight follow-through
   • Grapevine or fisherman’s knot
4. 1. Learn about the different types of ropes available for climbing and explain the uses of each and the characteristics of each.
   2. Learn proper climbing rope care. Know and practice proper coiling and storage.
   3. Know how to keep proper records on climbing rope and how to inspect it for wear and damage. Know when to retire a rope.
   4. Using the knowledge acquired above, make a tabletop display or a presentation for your crew, another crew, a Cub Scout or Boy Scout group, or another group.
5. 1. Demonstrate the difference between natural and artificial anchors.
   2. Be able to identify and describe the use of at least three different types of hardware and setups.
   3. Tell about proper climbing safety both before and during a climb.
   4.  Learn about rescue equipment and techniques.
   5. Learn about appropriate clothing, footwear, gloves, helmets, and other climbing gear.
6. Be able to correctly put on and then be able to teach others how to put on at least two of the following:
   • Commercially made climbing harness
   • Diaper sling
   • Knotted leg-loop seat
   • Swiss seat sling
7. 1. Demonstrate three types of belays.
   2. Learn and then demonstrate that you know proper verbal climbing and belaying signals used between climber and belayer.
8. Do 8(a) and (b), or do 8(c).
   1. Under the supervision of a qualified rappelling or climbing instructor, rappel at least 30 feet down a natural or artificial obstacle.
   2. Under the supervision of a qualified climbing instructor, climb at least 30 feet up a natural or artificial obstacle.
   3. Attend a two-day rock climbing clinic/course led by a qualified climbing instructor. This course should include some instruction on technical rock climbing.
9. Lead your crew, another crew, an older Boy Scout group, or another teenage group on a climbing and/or rappelling activity. Recruit adequate, qualified adult instructors and assist in instruction.

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BSA provides Webelos den meeting ideas for Cub Scout den leaders on the Scouting.org website.  The second in the Arrow of Light series of Webelos den meeting plans covers the Outdoorsman Activity Badge.

You don’t have to camp overnight to meet the requirments for Outdoorsman, but your Webelos would find it fun and exciting. If you want to camp overnight but are not sure about the paperwork and preparation required, check with your Boy Scout troop. They should be able to help you out.

If you don’t already have the BSA Webelos den meeting plans, download BSA Arrow of Light Meeting Plan 3 to follow along with this article.

Arrow of Light Den Meeting Plans: BSA Plans #3 – Outdoorsman

Preparation and Before the Meeting

You need to find a suitable location for the meeting, a place which will let you have a campfire.

Gathering

You probably won’t need many gathering activities. When you get Webelos outdoors, they can usually start up a game on their own. Or they can help you set up.

Opening

Say the Scout Law.

Business

Hand out recognitions. This might be a good time to go over some safety rules.

Activities

You will be doing Outdoorsman requirements and 2, and then 5, 7, 8, 10, 11.

Outdoorsman Requirement 1: Present yourself to your Webelos den leader, properly dressed, as you would be for an overnight campout. Show the camping gear you will use. Show the right way to pack and carry it.

Note that they just have to present themselves ready to complete this requirement, not actually camp.

Outdoorsman Requirement 2: With your family or Webelos den, help plan and take part in an evening outdoor activity that includes a campfire.

Skits are always a fun addition to a campfire program. See my skits page for ideas. You might want to save this for last though.

Outdoorsman Requirement 5: During a Webelos den meeting, discuss how to follow the Leave No Trace Frontcountry Guidelines during outdoor activities

See my Cub Scout Leave No Trace Award article for more information. Your Webelos might even want to work on this award.

Outdoorsman Requirement 7: Discuss with your Webelos den leader the rules of outdoor fire safety. Using these rules, show how to build a safe fire and put it out.

For some ideas, see How to Build a Fire Skit, Edible Campfires Recipe, and Fire Safety with Cub Scouts.

Outdoorsman Requirement 8: With your accompanying adult on a campout or outdoor activity, assist in preparing, cooking, and cleanup for one of your den’s meals. Tell why it is important for each den member to share in meal preparation and cleanup, and explain the importance of eating together.

See my Camp Cooking page for some recipe ideas.

Outdoorsman Requirement 10: Demonstrate how to whip and fuse the ends of a rope.

If you have a Den Chief, let him help with this. He should have learned this skill as part of his early rank requirements.

Outdoorsman Requirement 11: Demonstrate setting up a tent or dining fly using two half hitches and a taut-line hitch. Show ho to tie a square knot and explain how it is used.

Your Den Chief can also help with this. If you don’t have a Den Chief or aren’t sure about how to do knots, see My Favorite Knot Book

Closing

Close with the Scout Oath.

After the Meeting

Have the Webelos help clean up, following the rules of Leave No Trace. Remind everyone what needs to be done for the next meeting.

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To earn the Venturing Ranger award, a young man or woman must complete eight core requirements and four electives. One of the electives to meet the Ranger award requirements is Hunting.

To complete the Venturing Ranger Award requirements for Hunting , a Venturer must take a hunter education course, learn about hunting rules and regulations, and plan and carry out a hunting trip.  He or she must also assist with a hunter education course, assist in a hunting or fishing event, or interview a game warden or conservation officer.

Venturing Ranger Award Requirements – Hunting Elective

1. 1. Successfully complete a hunter education course offered by your state wildlife/conservation agency.
   2. Learn and explain the requirements to become a volunteer hunter education instructor in your state.
   3. Explain how to report a wildlife-related violation to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
2. Do 2(a), (b), or (c).
   1. Successfully complete a bowhunter education course offered by your state or the National Bowhunter Education Foundation.
   2. Successfully complete a National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association Rifle Basic course.
   3. Participate in a National Rifle Association-International Hunter Education Association Youth Hunter Education Challenge event sponsored by your state.
3. Do 3(a), (b), or (c).
   1. Assist a certified hunter education instructor with a hunter education course. Review the ERHIC (Educational Tools for Hunters: Improving Choices) materials provided by Tread Lightly! and the Specialty Vehicle Institute of America to see how they can be used in the course.
   2. Either plan or assist in putting on a National Hunting and Fishing Day program.
   3. Talk with a game warden/conservation officer about his/her job. If possible, observe/assist at a game check station in your state.
4. Plan and carry out a hunting trip approved by an Advisor.
5. Make a tabletop display or presentation on what you have learned for your crew, another crew, a Cub or Boy Scout group, or another youth group.

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To earn the Venturing Ranger award, a young man or woman must complete eight core requirements and four electives. One of the electives to meet the Ranger award requirements is Fishing.

To complete the Venturing Ranger Award requirements for Fishing, a Venturer must learn fishing rules and skills and then share this knowledge with others. He or she must also consider fishing ethics and assist with a fishing event.

Venturing Ranger Award Requirements – Fishing Elective

1. 1. Become familiar with the freshwater fishing laws, regulations, and license requirements for your state.
   2. If you live in a coastal state, become familiar with the saltwater fishing laws, regulations, and license requirements for your state. If you live in an inland state, become familiar with the saltwater fishing laws, regulations, and license requirements for a coastal state of your choice.
2. 1. Using a map of your state, designate where the different varieties of water are located, such as warm fresh water, cold fresh water (include tail waters), brackish water, and salt water.
   2. On the map, note the most popular game fish found in each spot you marked.
   3. On the map, note any protected fish species found in your state.
3. Learn and then teach the following to someone else:
   1. The four main types of fishing equipment: spincast, spinning, baitcast, and fly. Explain how they differ and the benefits of each type, describing how one might be better for certain fishing situations.
   2. Three different fishing knots.
   3. How to correctly spool line on a reel of the four types of fishing equipment.
   4. How to execute three different types of cast with two of the four types of fishing equipment. Use targets. Know safety measures needed while casting.
4. Develop a personal ethical code for fishing. List a variety of potential ethical situations where choices may have to be made and describe how you plan to make decisions for those situations.
5. List at least 10 potential safety situations that you could encounter wh@e fishing in your area and what precautions you should take to protect yourself and your fishing partners.
6. 1. For two different species of game fish found in your state, learn where they are in the food chain, the types of waters they can be found in, and the type of underwater structure and temperature they might be most likely to be found in during the fall, winter, spring, and summer.
   2. Catch at least one fish of each of the above two species.
7. Do one of the following:
   1. Build a fishing rod-the type of your choice.
   2. Tie six freshwater or saltwater flies common to your area.
   3. Design and make your own fishing lure (not a fly) and explain the fish-attracting principle of the lure.
8. Do one of the following:
   1. Plan or assist with a National Fishing Week or National Hunting and Fishing Day event.
   2. Assist with a Hooked On Fishing, Not On Drugs program.
   3. Organize and lead a fishing trip or event to introduce other youth to fishing.
9. Make a tabletop display or presentation for your crew, another crew, a Cub or Boy Scout group, or another youth group on what you have learned about fishing.

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BSA provides a set of Tiger den meeting plans for Cub Scout den leaders. There are 16 basic meeting plan ideas and then some additional supplemental Tiger den meeting ideas. This is the sixth of the supplemental tiger den meeting plans. It covers Tiger Elective 22 – Picnic Fun, Tiger Elective 25 – Snack Time, Tiger Elective 29 – Safety in the Sun, and Tiger Elective 35 – Fun Outdoors. The focus of this Tiger den meeting plan is a picnic.

You can download the complete meeting plan from the BSA website: Printable copy of BSA Tiger Den Meeting Supplemental Plan G – Picnic Fun, Snack Time, Safety in the Sun, and Fun Outdoors

Tiger Den Meeting Ideas: Picnic Fun, Snack Time, Safety in the Sun, and Fun Outdoors

Preparation and Before the Meeting

To prepare for this meeting, you need find an appropriate meeting area for your picnic. You also need to let each family know what type of food they should bring.

Gathering

See my gathering activities page for ideas for gathering activities. Or play a  game during gathering time.

Opening

Start with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Business

Hand out any recognitions. Keep the rest of the business to a minimum.

Activities

Do Elective 22 Picnic Fun

With your family or with your den, have a picnic—indoors or outdoors.

and lective 25 Snack Time

Make a snack and share it with your family or den.

You are covering Elective 22 and Elective 25 by having the picnic and letting everyone share the food they brought.

Next, talk about elective 29 Safety in the sun

Talk with your adult partner about when you should use sunscreen. Find out whether you have any in your home and where it is kept. With your adult partner, look at a container of sunscreen and find out whether it still protects you when you are wet. Also find out how long you are protected before you have to put on more. Look for the expiration date and make sure the sunscreen is not too old.

See my Sun Safety Activity article for ways to make this discussion interactive.

Elective 35 Fun Outdoors

Play a game outdoors with your family or den.

See my games page for lots of great games for Tigers and their adult partners.

Closing

Keep it simple. Say the Law of the Pack.

After the Meeting

Clean up your meeting area and arrange for some parents to help at the next meeting. Have all of the Tigers and their adult partners help with the cleanup.

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To earn the Venturing Ranger award, a young man or woman must complete eight core requirements and four electives. One of the electives to meet the Ranger award requirements is Equestrian.

To complete the Venturing Ranger Award requirements for Equestrian, a Venturer must learn how to ride, saddle, and care for a horse. He or she must demonstrate this knowledge of horsemanship. Then he or she must share this knowledge with others.

Venturing Ranger Award Requirements – Equestrian Elective

1. Explain the characteristics of each of the three distinct American riding styles.
2. For your preferred style (one of three styles in 1), explain the equipment you would use, including parts of the saddle and bridle.
3. Explain the difference in natural versus artificial aids used in communicating with your horse, such as use of hands, legs, weight, voice, whips, crops, martingales, bits, and auxiliary reins.
4. 1. Present yourself properly attired for the riding style you prefer.
   2. Explain the clothing and safety equipment a rider must have for your preferred style of riding.
5. 1. Demonstrate how to properly catch, bridle, and saddle a horse.
   2. Demonstrate and explain at least three steps in proper mounting and two ways of dismounting.
6. 1. Show how to test your correct stirrup length while you are dismounted and when you are mounted.
   2. Explain short stirrup length, medium stirrup length, long stirrup length, and why stirrup length is important.
7. 1. Explain and demonstrate the correct position of your body, feet, hands, arms, and legs while mounted.
   2. Demonstrate how all parts of your body should be positioned on your horse during a trot, a canter, and a gallop and explain why this is important.
8. Demonstrate by using a pattern that you have control of your horse. On command, be able to slow down, speed up, stop, back up and be able to move your horse through its gaits.
9. 1. Properly remove tack from your horse and store it.
   2. Demonstrate proper care of your tack after riding.
   3. Demonstrate proper care for your horse after a ride, including cool down, brushing, and watering and feeding, and explain why each of these steps is important.
10. Make a tabletop display or presentation on what you have learned about horsemanship for your crew, another crew, a Cub Scout or Boy Scout group, or another group.

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To earn the Venturing Ranger award, a young man or woman must complete eight core requirements and four electives. One of the electives to meet the Ranger award requirements is Cave Exploring

To complete the Venturing Ranger Award requirements for Cave Exploring, a Venturer must learn about caves and how to safely explore them.  Then the Venturer must use these skills and teach them to others.

Venturing Ranger Award Requirements – Cave Exploring Elective

1. 1. Write the National Speleological Society (NSS) to request information about caving and information about caves and cavers near you.
   2. Learn about the different types of caves.
   3. Learn about caving courtesy, caving dos and don’ts, and what the BSA policy is on cave exploring.
   4. Read at least one book about caving.
2. 1. Learn the following knots used in caving:
      1. Endline knots: bowline, figure eight, figure eight on a bight
      2. Midline knots: bowline on a bight and butterfly
      3. Joiner knots: water knot, fisherman, figure eight on bend
      4. Prusik knot
   2. Teach these knots to your crew, another crew, a Cub Scout or Boy Scout group, or another group.
3. 1. Learn about the different types of ropes available for climbing and caving and explain the uses of each and the characteristics of each.
   2. Learn proper climbing rope care. Know and practice proper coding and storage.
   3. Know how to keep proper records on climbing rope and how to inspect it for wear and damage. Know when to retire a rope.
   4. Using the knowledge acquired above, make a tabletop display or a presentation for your crew, another crew, a Cub Scout or Boy Scout group, or another group.
4. 1. Demonstrate that you know how to properly and safely rappel a distance of at least 30 feet.
   2. Demonstrate that you know how to ascend a rope using mechanical ascenders or Prusik or other ascending knots. Ascend at least 30 feet.
   3. Know and explain the differences, advantages, and disadvantages of single rope (SRT) and double rope (DRT) for rappelling and belaying.
5. 1. Visit a sporting goods store or NSS-affiliated organization or have them make a presentation to your crew so you can learn about personal caving gear, including helmets, light sources, backup lighting sources, clothing, boots, cave packs, etc.
   2. Find out what the American National Standards Institute requirements are for helmets.
6. 1. Make a list of what you need in your personal cave pack. Include your personal first aid kit and cave survival gear.
   2. Learn what crew equipment is, including a first aid kit, caving ropes, and ascending equipment.
   3. Help make a first aid kit for your crew or group and demonstrate that you can keep it up.
   4. Demonstrate to your crew, another crew, a Cub Scout or Boy Scout group, or another group how to construct both a personal and crew first aid kit.
7. 1. Learn about the many types of cave formations.
   2. Make a tabletop display or presentation on cave formations and caving conservation for your crew, another crew, a Cub Scout or Boy Scout group, or another group. Include practices such as proper carbide removal; care of walls, ceiling, and formations; and principles of Leave No Trace.
8. Find a cave you would like to visit; get permission to enter it; make a trip plan including cave location, a list of participants, expected time in the cave, expected date and time of return, and an emergency contact; and then go in the cave, led by a qualified caver.
9. From a cave expert, learn about natural and fabricated hazards such as mudslides, loose rocks, pits, deep water, critters, complex routes, wooden ladders, and flooding.
10. 1. Using a three-dimensional cave map, learn what the standard map symbols represent.
    2. Using the knowledge above, make a tabletop display or presentation for your crew, another crew, a Cub Scout or Boy Scout group, or another group.

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BSA provides Wolf den meeting ideas for Cub Scout den leader. Today, I’ll go through  the sixteenth  Wolf Cub Scout den meeting plan. This plan covers Wolf Elective 18 – Outdoor Adventure and Wolf Elective 19 – Fishing

If you don’t already have the BSA den meeting plans, download BSA Wolf Den Meeting Plan 16 to follow along with this article.

Your Wolf Cub Scouts will probably be able to earn the Fishing Belt Loop during this meeting also.

Wolf Den Meeting Ideas: BSA Den Meeting Plan 16 – Outdoor Adventure and Fishing

Preparation and Before the Meeting

Most of the preparation for this meeting will involve finding an appropriate location. Look for a local park or conservation area  which also has picnic shelters and tables. Ask around to find out which local lakes and ponds are well stocked. Cub Scouts can lack patience, so you want to take them to a location where the fish will be biting.

Check your local regulations to find out what the licensing requirements are. Many locales let youth fish without a license, but adults will almost certainly need one. Your best bet might be to call the location you will be visiting. They should have this information.

You will also need a few supplies. These are listed in the den meeting plan.

Ask each family to bring something for the den family picnic. Remind them to let their Wolf provide some input about what to bring.

Gathering

See my gathering activities page for some ideas.

Opening

Do a simple opening flag ceremony. If a flag pole is available, you could do a flag raising ceremony.

Business

Keep business to a short and sweet.

Activities

Have a family picnic to complete parts a and b of  Wolf Elective 18 – Outdoor Adventure

18a Help plan and hold a picnic with your family or den.
18b With an adult, help plan and run a family or den outing.

You will also do several parts of Wolf Elective 19 – Fishing. If you have some parents who are fishermen (or fisherwomen), let them lead the discussion for this part of the meeting. They will be happy to talk about fishing techniques and equipment.

19a Identify five different kinds of fish.
19b Rig a pole with the right kind of line and hook. Attach a bobber and sinker, if you need them. The go fishing.
19c Fish with members of your family or an adult. Bait your hook and do your best to catch a fish.
19d Know the rules of safe fishing.
19e Tell about some of the fishing laws where you live.
19f Show how to use a rod and reel.Then go fishing with an adult, following the rules for safe fishing and obeying local and state fishing regulations.

Closing

Do a simple closing like the Law of the Pack or the Cub Scout Promise. Or if you did a flag raising at the beginning of the meeting, lower it.

After the Meeting

Have them all help clean up the picnic area. Remind the Scouts that they should leave the area looking nicer than they found it.

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To earn the Venturing Ranger award, a young man or woman must complete eight core requirements and four electives. One of the electives to meet the Ranger award requirements is Backpacking

By completing the Venturing Ranger Award requirements for Backpacking, a Venturer must learn many aspects of backpacking – from equipment to cooking on the trail to first aid. Then the Venturer must use these skills and teach them to others.

Venturing Ranger Award Requirements – Backpacking Elective

1. Develop a personal exercise plan and follow it for at least three months, exercising at least three times a week. Set your goals with backpacking in mind and write them down. Keep a daily diary.
2. Backpacks
   1. Try on three types of backpacks. Learn how to choose the proper size frame for your body size. Learn and then be able to explain to others the difference between a soft pack, an internal frame pack, and an external frame. Tell the pros and cons of each type and what kind of trek you would take with each pack.
   2. Explain the different parts of a backpack and their use.
   3. Learn the proper way to lift and wear your backpack.
   4. Describe at least four ways to limit weight and bulk in your backpack without jeopardizing your health and safety.
   5. Learn how you would load an internal frame pack versus one with an external frame.
3. Packing gear
   1. Pack your backpack with your personal gear, including outdoor essentials, additional gear, and personal extras. Pack as though You were sharing equipment with one other person for a three-day, two-night backpacking trip.
   2. List at least 10 items essential for an overnight backpacking trek and explain why each item is necessary.
   3. Present yourself to an experienced backpacker, unload your pack, have him or her critique your packing, then repack your pack. Have him or her critique your efforts.
4. Cooking
   1. List at least 20 items of group backpacking gear. Include a group cleanup kit.
   2. Learn how and then demonstrate how to cook a meal using a backpacking stove.
   3. Demonstrate proper sanitation of backpacking cook gear.
   4. Learn how to properly pack and carry a backpacking stove and fuel.
5. Environmental impact
   1. List at least 10 environmental considerations that are important for backpacking and describe ways to lessen their impact on the environment.
   2. Considering Leave No Trace principles, tell how to dispose of the human waste, liquid waste, and garbage you generate on a backpacking trip.
6. Three treks
   1. Participate in three different treks of at least three days and two nights each, covering at least 15 miles in distance each.
   2. Plan and lead a backpacking trek (can be one of the treks in (a) above) with at least five people for at least two days. This group can be your crew, another crew, a Boy Scout group, or another youth group.
   3. Plan the menu for this trek using commercially prepared backpacking foods for at least one meal.
   4. Check for any permits needed and prepare a trip plan to be left with your family. Have an emergency contact number.
   5. Using the map you used to chart your course, brief the crew you are leading on your trip plan.
   6. Lead a shakedown for those you are leading.
7. Outerwear
   1. Learn about proper backpacking clothing for backpacking in all four seasons.
   2. Learn about proper footwear, socks, and foot care.
   3. Learn and then demonstrate at least three uses for a poncho in backpacking.
8. Health and first aid
   1. Learn about trail health considerations and typical backpacking injuries such as hypothermia, frostbite, heat exhaustion, heat stroke, altitude sickness, dehydration, blisters, stings and bites, and sprains and how to avoid and treat these injuries and illnesses.
   2. Because fluid intake is so important to a backpacker, tell how to take care of your water supply on a backpacking trip. Include ways of purifying water and why that is important.
9. Using all the knowledge you have acquired about backpacking, make a display or presentation for your crew, another crew, a Boy Scout group, or another youth group. Include equipment and clothing selection and use, trip planning, environmental considerations, trail health and safety considerations, food selection and preparation, and backpacking physical preparation.

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To earn the Venturing Ranger award, a young man or woman must complete eight core requirements and four electives. One of the core requirements is Wilderness Survival.

By completing the Venturing Ranger Award requirements for Wilderness Survival, a Venturer must learn how to survive in the wild, focusing on things like hydration, fire making, food, and shelter. The Venturer must also share these skills with others.

Venturing Ranger Award Core Requirement – Wilderness Survival

1. Write a risk management plan for an upcoming crew high adventure activity such as a whitewater canoeing or rock-climbing trip. The plan should include nutrition, health, first aid, supervision, insurance, safety rules and regulations, proper equipment, maps and compass, in-service training, environmental considerations, emergency and evacuation procedures, and emergency contacts.
2. From memory, list the survival priorities and explain your use of each in a survival situation.
3. Learn about and then make a tabletop display or presentation for your crew, another crew, a Cub or Boy Scout group, or another youth group on the following subjects:
   1. Emergency signals used in the outdoors
   2. Search and rescue patterns
   3. Evacuation procedures and value of when to move and when not to move in a wilderness emergency
4. Explain the following environmental exposure problems. Discuss what causes them, signs and symptoms, and treatment.
   1. Hypothermia
   2. Frostbite
   3. Sunburn
   4. Heat exhaustion
   5. Heat cramps
   6. Heat stroke
5. Hydration
   1. Explain dehydration and the necessity of conserving fluids in a survival situation.
   2. Explain at least four methods of obtaining water in the outdoors and demonstrate at least two ways to purify that water.
6. Fire making
   1. Demonstrate at least two different fire lays-one for cooking and one for warmth.
   2. Learn and discuss the use of fire starters, tinder, kindling, softwoods, and hardwoods in fire making.
7. Explain and demonstrate how you can gain knowledge of weather patterns using VHF band radio and other radios, winds, barometric pressure, air masses and their movements, clouds, and other indicators.
8. Knots and lashings
   1. Explain the different rope materials and thicknesses that are best for wilderness use and how to care for them.
   2. Know the use of and demonstrate how to tie the following knots and lashings:
      1. Sheet bend
      2. Fisherman’s knot
      3. Bowline
      4. Bowline on a bight
      5. Two half hitches
      6. Clove hitch
      7. Timber hitch
      8. Taut-line hitch
      9. Square lashing
      10. Shear lashing
9. Food
   1. Explain the usefulness and drawbacks of obtaining food in the wilderness, including things to avoid.
   2. Prepare and eat at least one meal with food you have found in the outdoors.
10. Survival kit
    1. Make a list of items you would include in a wilderness survival kit and then make copies to hand out to visitors to your wilderness survival outpost camp.
    2. Using your list, make a wilderness survival kit. Explain the use of each item you have included.
11. Outpost camp
    1. Set up a wilderness survival outpost camp and spend at least two nights and two days in your site.
    2. Use and demonstrate several knots and lashings from requirement (h) in your wilderness survival campsite demonstration.
    3. Know how to plan a wilderness shelter for three different environments and then build a shelter as part of your wilderness survival campsite demonstration.
    4. Have your crew, another crew, a Cub or Boy Scout group, or another youth group visit you in your outpost for a presentation you make on wilderness survival (at least one hour).

Remember to use the Leave No Trace principles you learned.

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The 50 Miler award recognizes Scouts who go the distance, literally. This recognition can be earned by Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers, and Scout leaders. If your unit went on a trek this summer, your members might have earned this award.

Basically, the 50 Miler award requirements say that you must go 50 consecutive miles in five days or more without the use of motorized transportation. You can go on foot, on bicycle, in a boat, or even use pack animals. While on your trip, you do a service project.

See the complete requirements for the 50 Miler Award below:

50 Miler Award Requirements

The 50-Miler Award is presented to each qualifying individual for satisfactory participation in an approved trip. In order to qualify for the award the group of which the individual is a member must fulfill all of the following requirements.
Make complete and satisfactory plans for the trip, including the possibilities of advancement.

1. Cover the trail or canoe or boat route of not less than 50 consecutive miles; take a minimum of five consecutive days to complete the trip without the aid of motors. (In some areas pack animals may be used.)
2. During the time on the trail or waterway, complete a minimum of 10 hours each of group work on projects to improve the trail, springs, campsite, portage, or area. If, after checking with recognized authorities, it is not possible to complete 10 hours each of group work on the trail, a similar project may be done in the unit’s home area. (There should be no unauthorized cutting of brush or timber.)
3. Unit or tour leader must then file a 50-Miler Award application with the local council service center. This application gives additional details about planning the trip.

For more information, see this article in Scouting Magazine: How Scouts can earn the 50 Miler Award

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To earn the Venturing Ranger award, a young man or woman must complete eight core requirements and four electives. One of the core requirements is land navigation.

By completing the Venturing Ranger Award requirements for Land Navigation, a Venturer is not only prepared to  use a map and compass to navigate from one place to another in unfamiliar territory. They then teach these orienteering skills to others.

Venturing Ranger Award Requirements – Land Navigation

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Blisters are a common injury for outdoor and physical activities. Correct blister treatment can prevent further irritation. This article from Boy’s Life magazine describes the appropriate treatment for blisters. In particular, it discusses how to drain a blister if leaving it intact is not an option due to irritation or enlargement.

Blister First Aid: How to treat a blister

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Whitewater kayaking has been a part of the Whitewater merit badge, but now there is a merit badge for flat-water kayaking, which will make kayaking merit badge fun to earn while out on the lake at summer camp.

Note that this is different than the Kayaking BSA award, but there is some overlap between the two.

Kayaking Merit Badge Requirements

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The Boy Scout Roundtable Planning Guide suggests a Boating/Canoeing troop program feature for Boy Scouts for June 2012. BSA provides the troop program features as a resource for Boy Scout troops. A PLC can use these guides to plan a series of meetings and outings around a single theme. My post Troop Program Features for Meetings and Outings has  more information about these guides.

The plans for the Boating and Canoeing troop program feature can be found in  Volume 1  of Troop Program Features from BSA:

Activities on the water have been popular in Scouting since the founding of our organization. In this program feature, your Scouts will have an opportunity to pursue several forms of aquatic activities.

So the focus of this program feature is on fitness, boating skills, and swimming skills. Younger Scouts will work on physical fitness and swimming requirements, along with a few other requirements. Experienced Scouts will work on Canoeing and Rowing merit badges. Your older Scouts could also consider working on  Whitewater, Small-Boat Sailing, and Motorboating merit badges.

The big feature for the program theme is a boating outing on a lake.

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