Don’t forget to put the “outing” in Scouting with a Cub Scout hiking theme. Cub Scouts enjoy going hiking. Remember to pick a trail of an appropriate difficulty level for your age group. Webelos have a lot more stamina than Lions and Tigers. Here are some ideas to help with a Cub Scout activity or two centered around hiking.
Leave No Trace Frontcountry Guidelines
Leave No Trace is an outdoor ethics program which encourages responsible use of outdoor resources. The frontcountry guidelines are the guidelines for day-use areas like parks and trails. Go over these with your Cub Scouts before heading out on the trail.
The Outdoor Code
Also review the Outdoor code before going on your Cub Scout hiking activity.
As an American, I will do my best to
Be clean in my outdoor manners
Be careful with fire
Be considerate in the outdoors
Be conservation-minded
Hiking Safety (Front Country)
Before going hiking with a group of Scouts, check that they are prepared and go over some hiking safety guidelines.
These guidelines are appropriate for a front country adventure in an area like a park. This is the only type of hiking which is appropriate for Cub Scouts.
Hiking Activities
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. See some ideas here.
Recipes, Crafts, and More
Trail Food
When you are on the trail, you don’t have a way to keep food cool and you want something which will provide energy, will travel well, and is lightweight. Trail mix is a popular trail food and there are many possible combinations. See some ideas.
Powdered Sports Drink Recipe
Sports drinks like Gatorade or Power Aid are designed to replenish the water and salt your body loses when you are active or exercising. You can mix up your own powdered mix to accomplish this for a fraction of the cost of purchasing these drinks by the bottle.
Homemade Energy Bars Recipe (Peanut Free)
You are going to need some energy to go with this Cub Scout hiking theme. There are lots of recipes for energy bars out there, but most homemade energy bars include peanuts. This recipe is a peanut free alternative.
Hiking Stick Project
Cub Scouts love to get their pocketknives out and strip bark from fallen sticks. Why not make it into a hiking stick project? They can strip the bark from a large sturdy stick and then sand it to make a sturdy stick for their hike. Make sure they have their Whttlin’ Chip cards handy!
Take Me Out to the Forest Song
Take Me Out to the Forest is a classic Scouting song. It fits in perfectly with this Cub Scout hiking theme. It goes to the tune of Take Me Out to the Ballgame. See the lyrics.
Cub Scout Hiking Adventures
Complete some of the requirements for these Cub Scout adventures when you go hiking.
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