The Mountain Lion Adventure is a fun journey for Lion Cub Scouts that immerses them in the wonders of the natural world. Through this adventure, Lions learn how to prepare for outdoor activities and recognize the importance of safety and situational awareness. They explore their local environment, gaining a deeper appreciation for nature and learning how to differentiate between natural and man-made objects.
During the adventure, Lions are introduced to the Cub Scout Six Essentials, a set of items every scout should carry when going outdoors. This helps them understand the purpose of each item and how it can help them during their outdoor activities. They practice packing and using these essentials, which builds their confidence and self-reliance.
The Lions also spend time outside with their den, pack, or family, exploring and observing their surroundings. This not only enhances their ability to notice details in nature but also strengthens their bonds with fellow scouts and family members through shared experiences.
Overall, the Mountain Lion Adventure equips Lion Cub Scouts with fundamental outdoor skills and instills a respect for nature. They learn to be observant, prepared, and safe, all while having fun and exploring the world around them. This adventure lays a solid foundation for a lifetime of outdoor enjoyment and responsible citizenship.
Requirements for the Mountain Lion Adventure
Mountain Lion Adventure Requirements
- Identify the Cub Scout Six Essentials. Show what you do with each item.
- Take a walk outside spending for at least 20 minutes exploring the outdoors with your Cub Scout Six Essentials. While outside, identify things that you see with your Lion adult partner that are natural and things that are manmade.
- Discover what S.A.W. means.
- Identify common animals that are found where you live. Separate those animals into domesticated and wild.
Printable requirements for the Mountain Lion Adventure
Checkoff sheet to keep track of your den’s progress on the Mountain Lion Adventure
Resources for the Mountain Lion Adventure
Learning the Cub Scout Six Essentials
Identify the Cub Scout Six Essentials. Show what you do with each item.
The first requirement of the Mountain Lion Adventure helps Lion Cub Scouts understand and use the Cub Scout Six Essentials. These essentials are items every Cub Scout should carry when exploring the outdoors to ensure they are prepared and safe.
- First Aid Kit: Teaches Lions how to handle minor scrapes or bug bites.
- Water Bottle: Shows the importance of staying hydrated.
- Flashlight: Helps Lions learn to navigate and see in the dark.
- Trail Food: Introduces the concept of maintaining energy with snacks.
- Sun Protection: Reminds Lions to wear sunscreen and a hat to protect against the sun.
- Whistle: Teaches Lions how to signal for help if they get separated from the group.
Some Fun Ways to Teach These Essentials
- Scavenger Hunt: Organize a scavenger hunt where Lions must find each of the six essentials. This makes learning about the items fun and interactive.
- Role-Playing: Create scenarios where Lions would need to use each item. For example, pretending to treat a minor injury with the first aid kit or signaling with a whistle when lost. This helps them understand the practical use of each essential.
- Pack It Up: Have each Lion practice packing these essentials in a backpack. Discuss how to choose the right place for each item for easy access.
See ideas for game and activities, and get a handout to send home, on my Cub Scout Six Essentials page.
Here are some more options for Mountain Lion requirement 1:
- Guess the Cub Scout Six Essentials
- Play a game of charades to identify the Cub Scout Six Essentials.
- Supplies: Lion handbook, crayons, filled water bottle, whistle, flashlight, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, trail mix, small first aid kit, index cards, black magic marker
- Indoor, moderate energy, 1 to 3 days prep
- Kim’s Game Cub Scout Six Essentials
- Play Kim’s Game to help Cub Scouts learn about the Cub Scout Six Essentials.
- Supplies: Lion handbook, crayons, filled water bottle, whistle, flashlight, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, trail mix, small first aid kit, other items (umbrella, book, hammer, phone for example), towel or blanket
- Indoor, low energy, 3 to 4 days prep
- Learn more about Kim’s Game
These activities not only teach Lions about the essentials needed for outdoor activities but also engage them in practical, hands-on learning, making them more confident and prepared for their adventures outdoors.
Discovering Nature
Take a walk outside spending for at least 20 minutes exploring the outdoors with your Cub Scout Six Essentials. While outside, identify things that you see with your Lion adult partner that are natural and things that are manmade.
The second requirement of the Mountain Lion Adventure encourages Lion Cub Scouts to actively use their Cub Scout Six Essentials while exploring the outdoors. This activity is designed to teach Lions the difference between natural objects and man-made ones, enhancing their observation skills.
- Plan the Route: Choose a safe and interesting place nearby, like a park or a trail. Make sure it offers both natural and man-made elements for observation.
- Pack Essentials: Before heading out, help Lions pack their Six Essentials. Discuss why each item is important for the walk.
- Guided Observation: As you walk, point out various objects and ask Lions if they are natural or man-made. For example, you could point to a bird (natural) and a bench (man-made).
- Encourage Questions: Let Lions ask questions about what they see and encourage them to describe the objects themselves.
Creative Activity Ideas
- Nature vs. Man-Made Bingo: Create bingo cards with pictures of natural and man-made items that they might see during the walk. As they spot these items, they can mark them on their cards.
- Sketching Stop: Bring along some paper and crayons, and have Lions draw some of the natural and man-made objects they find interesting. This helps them focus and remember their observations.
- Scavenger Hunt: Make a list of natural and man-made items to find during the walk. This adds excitement and a sense of adventure to the outing.
See more ideas for hiking with Cub Scouts
Here are some options for Mountain Lion requirement 2:
- A Different Point of View
- During the walk stop and change where you are looking by moving your body.
- Supplies: Lion handbook, crayons, filled water bottle, whistle, flashlight, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, trail mix, small first aid kit
- Outdoor, moderate energy, one week prep
- I Spy Something Natural
- While on a walk, play “I Spy” to identify natural items and things that are man-made.
- Supplies: Lion handbook, crayons, filled water bottle, whistle, flashlight, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, trail mix, small first aid kit
- Outdoor, moderate energy, one week prep
- Outdoor Scavenger Hunt Lion
- While on a walk play a scavenger hunt for things that are natural.
- Supplies: Lion handbook, crayons, outdoor scavenger hunt sheet, pencils, filled water bottle, whistle, flashlight, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, trail mix, small first aid kit
- Outdoor, moderate energy, one week prep
- See a scavenger hunt sheet here
These activities not only make the walk more engaging but also deepen the Lions’ understanding of their environment by distinguishing between elements shaped by nature and those created by humans.
Stay Answer Whistle
Discover what S.A.W. means.
SAW stands for Stay, Answer, Whistle, and it’s a simple yet effective mnemonic to help Lion Cub Scouts remember what to do if they get separated from their group during an outdoor activity. Let’s break down what each component means.
- Stay: The first rule is to stay put. When you realize you’re separated, your instinct might be to move around and look for the group, but that usually makes it harder for others to find you. By staying in one spot, you become more easily locatable.
- Answer: The second part is to answer any calls or shouts from your group or rescuers. Your voice can carry quite far in open spaces, and even farther in quiet forests. Regularly call out so people know where you are.
- Whistle: Finally, use a whistle to make noise if you have one. Whistles are especially effective because the sound carries much farther than the human voice and requires less energy to use. It’s a useful signaling tool for drawing attention to your location. Blow three short blasts on your whistle to signal that you need help.
Here are some options for Mountain Lion requirement 3:
- Does My Whistle Work?
- Cub Scouts will blow whistles and demonstrate how to use the whistle if they get lost.
- Supplies: Lion handbook, pencils, whistles
- Indoor, low energy, minimal prep
- Reverse Hide and Seek
- Play a version of hide and seek where the idea is to be found.
- Supplies: Lion handbook, pencils, whistles
- Outdoor, high energy, 1 to 3 days prep
- S.A.W. Maze
- Complete a maze that helps teach the S.A.W. method.
- Supplies: Lion handbook, pencils
- Indoor, low energy, 1 to 3 days prep
The SAW technique is basic, but it addresses a stressful situation with straightforward actions. By keeping these three steps in mind, young Scouts are better prepared to handle an unexpected separation from their group. It’s a small bit of knowledge that provides a significant safety net during outdoor adventures.
Learning About Local Animals
Identify common animals that are found where you live. Separate those animals into domesticated and wild.
The fourth requirement of the Mountain Lion Adventure helps Lion Cub Scouts identify and categorize the common animals they might encounter in their local area into two groups: domesticated (pets and farm animals) and wild (animals that live freely in nature).
This activity is important because it helps Lions understand the difference between animals that depend on humans for care and those that survive on their own in the wild. It’s a great way to teach respect for wildlife and promote responsibility towards domesticated animals.
- Animal Matching Game: Create cards with pictures of both domesticated and wild animals that are common in your area. Have Lions match each animal with a label of “domesticated” or “wild”. This can be a fun way to reinforce the differences.
- Local Animal Walk: Take the Lions on a walk in a park or a community area where they might see some of these animals. Point them out and discuss if they are domesticated or wild. Bring binoculars for spotting distant or shy wild animals.
- Guest Speaker: Invite a local wildlife expert or a veterinarian to talk about the animals found in your area. They can discuss habits, habitats, and how to safely observe wild animals.
- Create an Animal Book: Have each Lion pick one domesticated and one wild animal to research and draw. Compile their pages into a book that can be shared with the den. This project encourages learning and creativity.
Here are some options for Mountain Lion requirement 4:
- Animal Craft
- Using craft supplies make a domesticated animal and a wild animal.
- Supplies: Photos of animals, construction paper, scissors, glue, googly eyes, crayons, craft sticks, tape, cotton balls
- Indoor, low energy, 1 to 3 days prep
- Visit to Animal Rescue
- Travel to an animal rescue that has both wild and domestic animals.
- Supplies: None
- Requires travel, moderate energy, a week or more prep
- Wild or Domestic
- Matching activity for wild and domesticated animals.
- Supplies: Lion handbook, crayons, photos of animals
- Indoor, low energy, 1 to 3 days prep
These activities not only help fulfill the adventure requirement but also engage Lions in hands-on learning that deepens their appreciation for the animals around them and their roles in the local ecosystem.
Before any activity, check the SAFE Checklist to make sure everyone is safe. Everyone involved in Scouting America activities should know the Guide to Safe Scouting and other relevant guides or books. Also follow any state or local rules that are more strict than Scouting America rules and guidelines.
Before doing a craft activity, watch the Craft Tips video (2 minutes 34 seconds).
Before starting this Mountain Lion Adventure:
- Review Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities.
- Complete the online “Hazardous Weather” training on my.scouting. If you finished den leader, Cubmaster, or pack committee chair training online, you have done this already.
- Watch the Weather-Related Safety Moment video (1 minute 48 seconds).
- Check the BSA Annual Health and Medical Record for all Cub Scouts and adults going on the walk. Look for any safety concerns.
- If someone in the den has an EpiPen for severe allergies, make sure at least one other adult knows how to use it. Review the Safety Moment on anaphylaxis to learn more.
During the Adventure:
- Use the buddy system.
- All adults should provide active supervision.
Frequently Asked Questions for the Mountain Lion Adventure
What is the Mountain Lion Adventure?
It’s an outdoor activity for Lion Cub Scouts to learn about nature and safety.
What are the Cub Scout Six Essentials for the Mountain Lion Adventure?
The Six Essentials include a first aid kit, water bottle, flashlight, trail food, sun protection, and a whistle. Learn more about the Cub Scout Six Essentials here.
Why do we need to bring the Six Essentials on our walk?
They help keep us safe and prepared while we explore the outdoors.
What should we look for during our outdoor walk?
Try to spot things that are natural, like trees and birds, and things that are made by people, like roads and benches.
What does S.A.W. stand for in the Mountain Lion adventure?
S.A.W. stands for “Stay, Answer, and Whistle.” It’s a way to think about safety if you get lost.
How do we identify common animals in our area for the Mountain Lion adventure?
Look for animals you see often and learn if they are wild or domesticated.
Can we do the Mountain Lion adventure in any outdoor area?
Yes, any safe outdoor area that has both natural and man-made features is great.
Into the Wild
The Mountain Lion Adventure is designed for Lion Cub Scouts to learn about the great outdoors. It introduces young scouts to basic outdoor skills and safety practices, using fun and engaging activities. Lions start by learning the Cub Scout Six Essentials, which are items they should always have when exploring outside. This includes things like a water bottle and a first aid kit.
During the adventure, Lions take a walk outdoors with their den, pack, or family. They use this time to observe and identify natural and man-made objects. This helps them understand their environment and learn the importance of being prepared.
The adventure also teaches Lions about safety with the S.A.W. method, which stands for Stop, Assess, and Wait. It’s a simple strategy to use if they ever find themselves unsure or lost. Additionally, they learn to identify common animals in their area and differentiate between domesticated and wild animals.
Overall, the Mountain Lion Adventure builds essential outdoor skills and safety awareness. It encourages curiosity about the natural world while teaching Lions how to be responsible and safe explorers.
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