Hiking is a good way for Scouts to get some physical activity while enjoying the outdoors. And it is a fun adventure for all ages. Hiking also provides an opportunity to learn about how to stay safe on outdoor adventures.
Outdoor Essentials for Cub Scouts
Even as winter approaches and it gets to cold for the Cub Scouts to get out tent camping, we can still get them outdoors on a day hike. Make sure your Cub Scouts know the 10 Outdoor Essentials.
Camping Checklist for Scouts
When preparing for a campout, one of the most common questions from less experienced campers is "What should I bring?" This article from Boy's Life magazine is a good list of must haves for that campout.
Hiking Safety (Front Country)
These guidelines are appropriate for a front country adventure in an area like a park. That is the only type of hiking which is appropriate for Cub Scouts. If you are going on a back country hike, then you need to consider some other safety rules, like bringing a fire source and knife.
Mountain Lion Adventure: Cub Scout Helps and Documents
For the Mountain Lion adventure, Lions learn about having fun and staying safe outdoors. Mountain Lion is one of the required adventures for the Lion badge.
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.
Product Review: Flowfold Optimist Mini Backpack
The nice folks at Flowfold sent me one of their Optimist Mini Backpacks for review. This is a 10L backpack and is just the right size for a day pack. I used it over the weekend at a youth camp where the buildings were very spread out and I wanted to be able to keep a few things with me all day.
Webelos Walkabout Adventure: Cub Scout Helps and Ideas
Webelos Walkabout is one of the Webelos required adventures. For this adventure, Webelos plan and carry out a three mile hike and complete a service project.
Tigers in the Wild Adventure: Cub Scout Helps and Documents
Tigers in the Wild is one of the Tiger required adventures. For this adventure, Tiger Cubs and their adult partners learn some outdoor skills, go hiking, and participate in other outdoor activities.
Avoiding Hypothermia During Cold Weather Activities
Avoiding hypothermia is key to a successful outdoor activity in cold weather, be it camping, hiking, skiing, ice skating, or snowman building.
Scouts BSA Second Class Navigation Requirements Helps and Documents
Second Class requirement 3 is related to map and compass skills. Scouts learn how to use these tools. Then they put these skills to use on a hike. They also learn about hiking safely.
Webelos/AOL Castaway Adventure: Cub Scout Helps and Documents
Castaway is one of the Webelos/Arrow of Light elective adventures. For the Castaway adventure, Webelos learn survival skills for situations where shelter, water, and electricity might not be available.
Wolf Finding Your Way Adventure: Cub Scout Helps and Ideas
Finding Your Way is one of the Wolf Cub Scout elective adventures. For the Finding Your Way adventure, Wolves learn map and compass skills.
Scouts BSA Tenderfoot Hiking Requirements Helps and Documents
Hiking is an excellent way for new Scouts to learn outdoor skills. The Tenderfoot hiking requirements ensure that less experienced Scouts are safe and prepared while out on the trail.
Hiking Cub Scout Theme
Don't forget to put the "outing" in Scouting. 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.
50 Miler Award
The 50 Miler award recognizes young men and women in Scouts BSA and Venturing who hike, paddle, or ride a total of 50 miles over at least 5 consecutive days. The trek must be completed without using motors. Riding can be cycling or horseback riding. To earn the award, members of your unit must plan and participate in a service project.
Hiking Troop Program Feature for Scouts BSA
The Hiking feature teaches Scouts how to prepare for a successful and safe exploration of locations near and far. Scouts learn to appreciate everything they see and experience around them as they hike trails in parks, the back-country, and urban areas.
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. Or with a small trail stove, you can heat something up with water.
Adjusting a Trek and Backpacking Merit Badge
A reader asks about the Backpacking merit badge "I understand that the purpose of the backpacking merit badge is to learn backpacking skills, but where does it say that they had to backpack every single day of those 5 days? They were already in Philmont, backpacking and staying in tents. I think the counselor is missing the point of the requirement and adding more to it. "
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
Doing a scavenger hunt while hiking will help scouts really explore the world around them while they are walking. This post includes a suggested list in printable format.
Backpacking Ranger Elective Helps and Documents
To complete the Backpacking elective for the Venturing Ranger award, Venturers must learn the skills needed for backpacking and take part in several treks. Then they must share their knowledge with others.
Hiking Activities
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.
Pack Activity – Plan a Hike
Do you have a Pack hike planned for this spring? If not, now is the time.
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