Bear Roaring Laughter Adventure

Adventure Type: Elective
Number of Requirements: 5
Typical Time to Complete: 1 meeting
Parent Involvement: Optional, helpful for family activities
Preparation Needed: Low, prepare jokes and activity prompts
Activity Level: Low to moderate
Indoor or Outdoor: Indoor, outdoor also works
Special Requirements: Use clean, age-appropriate humor
Supplies Snapshot: Paper, pencils, bowl, printed prompts, timer

The Bear Roaring Laughter Adventure helps Bear Cub Scouts build confidence while having fun. Scouts practice speaking, performing, and sharing ideas with the den.

Activities such as tongue twisters, charades, jokes, and funny stories help Scouts improve communication skills. They also learn how humor can bring people together.

This adventure gives Scouts a relaxed way to express themselves. Through laughter and group activities, they grow more comfortable speaking in front of others.

Printable requirements for the Bear Roaring Laughter Adventure

Checkoff sheet to keep track of your den's progress on the Bear Roaring Laughter Adventure

Printable checkoff sheet for the Bear Badge (for den or individual use)

Requirement 2: Tongue Twisters

Practice reading tongue twisters. 

Choose a few short tongue twisters and let Scouts practice them slowly before trying to speed up. Keep the activity playful and remind Scouts that mistakes are part of the fun.

Easy Option: Put several tongue twisters in a bowl. Each Scout draws one and tries to say it three times. See Tongue Twister Challenge.

• “She sells sea shells by the sea shore.”
• “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
• “How can a clam cram in a clean cream can?”
• “Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair, Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn’t very fuzzy, was he?”
• “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.”

More ideas:

• Tongue Twister Dice Game: Cub Scouts play a tongue twister game with dice.
• Tongue Twister Tales: Cub Scouts read a Dr. Suess story such as Fox in Socks or Oh, Say Can You Say?

Requirement 3: Charades

Play charades with your den or family. 

Use simple words or actions that Bear Cub Scouts will know. Encourage Scouts to use clear movements and facial expressions while the group guesses.

Easy Option: Write animals, hobbies, and Scout activities on slips of paper. Let each Scout choose one and act it out.

More Resources

• Learn more about Charades and see some ideas for lists and variations

Requirement 4: Funniest Joke Contest

Have a “Funniest Joke Contest” with your den or family.

Ask Scouts to bring or choose a clean, age-appropriate joke. Focus on taking turns, speaking clearly, and supporting each person rather than choosing one winner.

Easy Option: Have each Scout tell one joke. Let the den clap for every speaker and vote by applause only if the group wants a winner. See Funniest Joke Showdown.

Requirement 5: Run-Ons

Practice “Run-Ons” with your den or family. 

Explain that a run-on is a very short skit used between activities. Pair Scouts together, give them time to practice, and keep the skits simple so everyone can take part.

Easy Option: Give each pair a printed run-on. Let them practice it once, then perform it for the den.

The Lost Quarter

• Scout 1: (searching the ground) “I lost my quarter!”
• Scout 2: (helps look) “Where did you lose it?”
• Scout 1: “Over there.” (points offstage)
• Scout 2: “Then why are we looking here?”
• Scout 1: “Because the light is better!”

Invisible Bench

• Several Scouts walk onstage and mime sitting down on an “invisible bench.”
• Another Scout walks up and asks what they’re doing. They say, “Sitting on this invisible bench.”
• The newcomer says, “But I moved that bench over there this morning!”
• The seated Scouts all fall down.

Time Fly

• Scout 1: (carrying a flyswatter) walks onstage, looking around.
• Scout 2: “What are you doing?”
• Scout 1: “Trying to catch time flies.”
• Scout 2: “Time flies? Don’t you mean ‘time flies when you’re having fun’?”
• Scout 1: “Exactly, I’m trying to catch some fun!”

The Echo

• Scout 1: shouts towards the wings of the stage, “HELLOOOO!”
• Offstage Voice: (returns the echo) “Hellooo!”
• Scout 1: (smiling) “I love hearing the echo, it makes me feel less alone.”
• Scout 2: (walks onstage) “What echo? I’ve been trying to get your attention to give you back your lost hat!”

See more run-ons.

Won’t You Smile Game: This simple icebreaker combines the challenge of staying stone-faced with the warmth of laughter.

They’re All Over and All Around! I Can’t Get Away!: See some more classic run-ons here.

The Bear Roaring Laughter Adventure is designed for Bear Cub Scouts to explore what makes them laugh and develop their confidence in speaking and performing in front of others. Throughout this adventure, Scouts engage in activities that are both fun and educational. They start by discussing what makes them laugh, which helps them understand their own sense of humor and that of their peers.

Scouts also practice reading tongue twisters, which improves their speech skills and provides a lot of laughs. Playing charades helps them with non-verbal communication, encouraging creativity as they act out different prompts without words.

A highlight of the adventure is the “funniest joke contest,” where Scouts can share jokes and learn about timing and delivery in comedy. This not only entertains but also boosts their confidence as they perform in front of an audience. Additionally, practicing “run-ons,” or quick, humorous skits, teaches Scouts to think quickly and keeps everyone entertained between activities.

Overall, the Bear Roaring Laughter Adventure offers a mix of activities that promote character development through laughter and shared joy. It’s a wonderful way for Scouts to build confidence and improve their communication skills in a supportive, enjoyable environment.