Tiger Safe and Smart Adventure
Adventure Type: Elective
Number of Requirements: 7
Typical Time to Complete: 1–2 meetings
Parent Involvement: High; several activities involve an adult partner
Preparation Needed: Low to moderate; more for emergency responder visit
Activity Level: Low to high, varies by activity
Indoor or Outdoor: Mostly indoor, some activities may involve travel
Special Requirements: Practice fire escape route, check smoke detectors, meet an emergency responder
Supplies Snapshot: Tiger handbook, pencils, crayons, paper or graph paper; activity-dependent supplies
The Tiger Safe and Smart Adventure helps Tiger Cub Scouts learn basic skills for staying safe at home and during an emergency. Tigers practice information they should know, such as their home address and an emergency contact’s phone number.
Fire safety is a major part of this adventure. Tigers practice Stop, Drop, and Roll, create and practice a fire escape plan, locate smoke detectors, and learn why matches and lighters should only be used by adults.
Tigers also meet emergency responders by visiting a station or welcoming a responder to a den meeting. By completing these activities, Tigers learn simple actions they can take to stay safe, get help, and respond when something goes wrong.
Requirements for the Tiger Safe and Smart Adventure
Tiger Safe and Smart Adventure Requirements
- Memorize your address. Recite it to your Tiger adult partner or den leader.
- Memorize an emergency contact’s phone number. Recite it to your Tiger adult partner or den leader.
- Show you can Stop, Drop and Roll.
- With your Tiger adult partner or den leader, create a fire escape plan for your home or den meeting place. Include your outside meet-up spot. Practice the escape route you would take.
- With your Tiger adult partner, find the location of the smoke detectors in your home or den meeting place. Confirm they are working properly.
- With your Tiger adult partner or den leader, learn why matches and lighters are only for adults.
- Visit an emergency responder station or have an emergency responder visit your den.
Printable requirements for the Tiger Safe and Smart Adventure
Check off sheet to keep track of your den's progress on the Tiger Safe and Smart Adventure
Printable checkoff sheet for the Tiger Badge (for den or individual use)
Resources for the Tiger Safe and Smart Adventure
Requirement 1: Know Your Address
Memorize your address. Recite it to your Tiger adult partner or den leader.
Knowing their home address helps Tigers tell a trusted adult or emergency responder where they live if they ever need help. Leaders can make memorizing it easier by using repetition, songs, games, or simple role-play instead of treating it like a test.
Easy Option: Have each Tiger put their address to the tune of “BINGO” and practice singing it with their adult partner. See BINGO! That is Where I Live.
Another idea:
- In Case of an Emergency: Tigers will complete an activity with their, name, address, emergency contact number, and 911 to post in their home.
Requirement 2: Know an Emergency Contact Number
Memorize an emergency contact’s phone number. Recite it to your Tiger adult partner or den leader.
Tigers should have at least one trusted person they know how to contact when they need help. Encourage families to choose one number and practice it several times using songs, number games, or pretend phone calls.
Easy Option: Have Tigers turn the phone number into a simple song or chant and repeat it together with their adult partners. See Sing a Phone Song.
Another option:
- Cheerio My Number: Using Cheerios, Cub Scouts learn their emergency contact number.
Requirement 3: Practice Stop, Drop, and Roll
Show you can Stop, Drop and Roll.
This requirement works best when Tigers actually move rather than just talk about fire safety. Demonstrate the three steps, then let everyone practice several times so the response becomes familiar and easy to remember.
Easy Option: Turn Stop, Drop, and Roll into a quick relay where each Tiger demonstrates the three actions before tagging the next Scout. See Stop Drop and Roll Relay.
Requirement 4: Make and Practice a Fire Escape Plan
With your Tiger adult partner or den leader, create a fire escape plan for your home or den meeting place. Include your outside meet-up spot. Practice the escape route you would take.
Help Tigers understand that a fire escape plan answers two important questions: “How do I get outside?” and “Where do we meet?” Keep the plan simple, make sure everyone knows the outside meeting spot, and give Scouts a chance to actually practice the route.
Easy Option: Draw a basic map of the den meeting location together, mark the exits and meeting spot, and then walk the escape route as a group. See Den Meeting Exit Plan.
More resources:
- Tips for a home fire drill
- It’s Time to Get Out! Create an escape route.
Requirement 5: Find and Check Smoke Detectors
With your Tiger adult partner, find the location of the smoke detectors in your home or den meeting place. Confirm they are working properly.
Tigers do not need to understand all the technical details of smoke detectors. The goal is for them to recognize what smoke detectors do, know where they are located, and understand that adults should make sure they are working.
Easy Option: Send Tigers on a supervised smoke detector scavenger hunt at home with their adult partners and have them help press the test button. See Where There Is Smoke.
Requirement 6: Learn About Matches and Lighters
With your Tiger adult partner or den leader, learn why matches and lighters are only for adults.
Keep this discussion straightforward: matches and lighters can start fires very quickly, so they are tools for adults, not toys for children. Ask Tigers what they should do if they find one and reinforce the simple answer—leave it alone and tell an adult.
Easy Option: Give Tigers a few “What would you do?” situations and let them practice saying, “Don’t touch it—tell an adult.”
Another resource:
- Spread Like Wildfire: The den will learn how fast fire can spread and why starting fires can cause harm.
Requirement 7: Meet Emergency Responders
Visit an emergency responder station or have an emergency responder visit your den.
Meeting firefighters, police officers, EMTs, or other responders helps Tigers see them as people who are there to help during emergencies. Encourage Scouts to ask questions and notice the equipment, vehicles, and safety gear responders use.
Easy Option: Invite a local emergency responder to a den meeting for a short visit and question-and-answer session instead of arranging a group trip.
Another option:
- Visit a police station or firehouse: Plan a visit to a fire station or other emergency response station.
Frequently Asked Questions for the Tiger Safe and Smart Adventure
Why do we need to memorize our home address for the Tiger Safe and Smart Adventure?
Knowing your home address is important in case you need to tell someone where you live during an emergency.
How often should we test our smoke detectors?
You should test smoke detectors once a month to make sure they are working properly.
What should we do if we find matches or lighters?
If you find matches or lighters, you should tell an adult immediately and not touch them.
Why do we practice Stop, Drop, and Roll for the Tiger Safe and Smart Adventure?
We practice Stop, Drop, and Roll to know how to quickly put out flames on our clothes if they catch fire.
What should be included in a fire escape plan for the Tiger Safe and Smart Adventure?
Your fire escape plan should include two ways out of each room, a path to the outside from each exit, and a safe meeting spot outside.
How can we make sure our fire escape plan works for the Tiger Safe and Smart Adventure?
You can make sure your fire escape plan works by practicing it regularly with everyone in your home.
What is the best way to learn about emergency responders for the Tiger Safe and Smart Adventure?
Visiting an emergency responder station or having an emergency responder visit your den are great ways to learn directly about what they do and how they help us.
Becoming a Safety-Savvy Tiger
The Tiger Safe and Smart Adventure is designed to equip Tiger Cub Scouts with essential safety knowledge and skills, focusing on proactive measures and responses to potential hazards in and around the home. This adventure begins with the basics, such as memorizing and reciting personal and emergency contact information, which is crucial in any urgent situation.
Tigers also engage in practical safety drills like Stop, Drop, and Roll, reinforcing how to act if their clothing catches fire. Additionally, they work with their adult partners to create and practice a fire escape plan, ensuring that everyone knows how to exit the home safely during an emergency.
Another key component of this adventure is learning about the importance of smoke detectors. Tigers explore their locations and test them to confirm they are functioning correctly, which teaches regular maintenance and vigilance. Furthermore, the adventure addresses the responsible handling of items like matches and lighters, highlighting the reasons why they are strictly for adult use.
By visiting emergency responder stations or hosting responders at their meetings, Tigers gain firsthand insights into the roles and responsibilities of those who keep our communities safe. This not only increases their awareness but also builds respect for these professionals.
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