Webelos Let’s Camp Adventure for 2024

This for the 2024 program year Cub Scout updates. This is a preview and is not official information yet. This new program takes effect on June 1, 2024. See more details about the overall program updates here.

The Webelos Let’s Camp adventure is a key activity for Cub Scouts in the Webelos program. It helps Scouts learn important skills and gain a love for the outdoors. During this adventure, Webelos plan and go on a campout with their den, pack, or family. This experience teaches them how to work as a team and builds their confidence in handling outdoor activities.

Camping teaches Webelos many useful skills. For example, they learn how to set up a tent on their own and identify and respond to weather hazards. These activities help Scouts become more independent and aware of their environment. They also learn safety skills, like fire safety and how to build and manage a campfire safely.

Another important part of the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure is learning about environmental responsibility. Webelos recite the Outdoor Code and the Leave No Trace Principles for Kids. This teaches them how to enjoy the outdoors while taking care of it. They learn why it’s important to minimize their impact on nature.

The Webelos Let’s Camp adventure is about building skills, respecting nature, and enjoying the outdoors safely and responsibly. This adventure prepares Webelos for more challenging activities in Scouting and helps them develop a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors.

Webelos Let’s Camp Adventure Requirements

1. With you den, pack or family, plan and participate in a campout.
2. Upon arrival at the campground, determine where to set up your tent.  
3. Set up your tent without help from an adult.
4. Identify a potential weather hazards that could occur in your area.  Determine the action you will take if you experience the weather hazard during the campout.
5. Show how to tie a bowline.  Explain when this knot should be used and why.
6. Know the fire safety rules.  Using those rules, locate a safe area to build a campfire.
7. Using tender, kindling, and fuel wood, properly build a teepee fire lay.  If circumstances permit, and there is no local restriction on fires, show how to safely light the fire while under adult supervision. After allowing the fire to burn safely, extinguish the flames with minimal impact to the fire site.
8. Recite the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace Principles for Kids from Memory.  
9. After your campout, share the things you did to follow the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace Principles for Kids with your den or family.

Printable requirements for the Webelos Let’s Camp Adventure

Check off sheet to keep track of your den’s progress on the Webelos Let’s Camp Adventure

Webelos Adventures Check Off Sheet

Go Camping

For the first requirement of the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure, Webelos plan and go on a campout with their group or family. This is a great chance for Scouts to learn how to organize an outdoor trip.

See here for a suggested packing list.

The expectation for a den or pack campout is that parents will attend if possible. According to BSA guidelines for Cub Scout camping, parents are strongly encouraged to camp with Webelos.

Add Some Fun Activities

Here are some ideas to make planning and participating in a campout fun and educational:

• Theme Campout: Pick a theme for the campout, like “Wilderness Survival” or “Astronomy Night.” This can make learning more fun and give the Scouts a unique camping experience.
• Campfire Cooking Challenge: Have the Webelos plan a meal and cook it over the campfire. They can learn about different cooking methods and safety. See some easy camping recipes here.
• Nature Scavenger Hunt: Create a scavenger hunt list with items they can find around the campsite. This helps Webelos explore nature and learn about the local environment.
• Skills Competition: Set up stations where Scouts can practice and show off their skills, like knot tying or setting up a tent quickly.

These activities make the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure exciting and help Scouts learn important skills in a hands-on way.

Choosing a Site

For the second requirement of the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure, Webelos need to decide where to set up their tent at the campground. This task teaches them to observe and consider the environment to find the best spot.

Here are a few tips Webelos should think about when choosing a tent site:

• Look for Flat Ground: Find a flat area to set up the tent. This makes it more comfortable to sleep and ensures everything inside the tent stays in place.
• Stay Dry: Avoid low areas that might collect water if it rains. Look for a spot that is slightly elevated.
• Consider Safety: Stay away from danger like big rocks that might fall, or large tree branches above that could break.
• Think about Sun and Wind: Choose a place where the tent won’t be in direct sunlight all day, and where wind won’t be too strong.

By thinking about these points, Webelos learn to be careful and smart about where they set up camp. This is a key part of the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure.

Setting Up the Tent

For the third requirement of the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure, Webelos must set up a tent by themselves without any help from an adult. This task is important because it teaches Scouts to be independent and confident in their abilities.

Setting up a tent alone involves several steps:

1. Choose the Right Spot: Using what they learned from the previous requirement, the Webelos must find a good place to set up their tent.
2. Prepare the Area: Clear the space of rocks, sticks, and other sharp objects that could damage the tent or make sleeping uncomfortable.
3. Unpack and Assemble: Take out the tent parts, like poles, stakes, and the tent itself, and put them together following the instructions.
4. Secure the Tent: Make sure the tent is properly staked to the ground to handle wind and weather.

You can practice these skills before the campout with a tent pitching competition.

Practicing these steps helps Webelos become more skilled in camping and prepares them for future outdoor adventures. Completing this task is a proud moment in the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure.

Weather Hazards

For the fourth requirement of the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure, Webelos need to identify a potential weather hazard that could happen in their area and plan what to do if it occurs during a campout. This teaches Scouts to be prepared and aware of their environment.

Here are some common weather hazards and actions to take for each:

• Thunderstorms: These can happen almost anywhere. If a thunderstorm occurs, find shelter in a vehicle or a substantial building. Avoid open fields, high land, trees, poles, and water.
• Heavy Rain: Common in many regions. Prepare by having waterproof gear and ensuring the tent is securely waterproofed. Avoid setting up camp in areas that could flood.
• High Winds: These can occur in open or mountainous areas. Secure all items and use extra tent stakes. If winds are very strong, consider relocating to a more sheltered area.
• Tornadoes: These are more likely to occur in the Midwest and South, but they can happen in many areas. If a tornado warning is issued, immediately seek shelter in a sturdy building, preferably in a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor, away from windows. If no buildings are available, lie flat in a nearby ditch or low-lying area away from trees and cars.
• Extreme Heat: Often happens in areas with high temperatures. Stay hydrated, avoid heavy activity during the hottest parts of the day, and use sun protection like hats and sunscreen.
• Snow and Cold: Common in colder climates or high altitudes. Dress in layers, stay dry, and keep active to maintain body heat. Make sure the tent is suitable for cold weather and use a sleeping bag rated for low temperatures.

By learning about these hazards and how to react, Webelos become more capable of handling unexpected situations safely during the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure.

Bowline Knot

For the fifth requirement of the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure, Webelos learn to tie a bowline knot. This knot is useful because it is strong and secure but can be untied easily even after being under strain.

See how to tie a bowline knot here.

Here are some key points about the bowline knot:

• How to Use: The bowline is often used to make a loop at the end of a rope. This loop can be used for many things, like attaching the rope to something or rescuing someone by pulling them.
• When to Use: Use a bowline when you need a loop that will not tighten under load. It’s great for securing tents, tying up boats, or during rescue situations.
• Why It’s Important: This knot is reliable and versatile, making it a favorite among scouts and outdoor enthusiasts. It holds well under tension but remains easy to untie, which can be very helpful in emergency situations.

Learning this knot during the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure helps Scouts become more skilled and confident in handling various outdoor and safety-related tasks.

Fire Safety Rules

For the sixth requirement of the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure, Webelos need to learn and apply fire safety rules to pick a safe spot for a campfire. This helps ensure that camping remains safe and fun for everyone.

Here’s how Webelos can choose a safe area for a campfire:

• Clear and Open Space: Find a spot far from trees, tents, and other flammable materials. The area should be clear of dry leaves, grass, and branches.
• Non-Flammable Ground: The ground where the fire will be built should be dirt or gravel, not grass or forest floor. This reduces the risk of the fire spreading.
• Wind Direction: Check the wind direction to ensure that sparks won’t blow towards flammable materials.
• Water Source Nearby: Make sure there is a water source close by or have water ready to extinguish the fire if necessary.

By following these guidelines, Webelos learn to respect the power of fire and the importance of safety while enjoying the warmth and light a campfire provides during the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure.

Starting a Fire

For the seventh requirement of the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure, Webelos learn to build and manage a campfire responsibly. They use three types of wood: tinder, kindling, and fuel wood.

Understanding the Fire Triangle / Science of Fire beforehand can be helpful for successful fire starting.

Steps to Build a Teepee Fire Lay

1. Prepare the Area: Choose a safe spot as discussed in a previous requirement and clear it of any flammable debris.
2. Gather Materials: Collect tinder (small, easily ignitable materials like dry leaves or small twigs), kindling (slightly larger sticks), and fuel wood (larger pieces of wood).
3. Build the Structure: Place the tinder in the center. Arrange the kindling around the tinder like a teepee. Then, add the fuel wood in a larger teepee shape around the kindling.
4. Light the Fire: If allowed, light the tinder with a match or lighter under adult supervision. Ensure the fire starts small and grows steadily.
5. Maintain Safety: Keep the fire manageable, and don’t let it get too big.
6. Extinguish the Fire: Let the fire burn down to ash if possible. Then, pour water over the ashes, stir them, and apply more water until all materials are cool. Check that no embers are left burning.

Learning how to properly set up, light, and extinguish a fire teaches Webelos responsibility and respect for nature, key aspects of the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure.

Outdoor Code and LNT

For the eighth requirement of the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure, Webelos must memorize and recite the Outdoor Code and the Leave No Trace Principles for Kids. This teaches them about responsible outdoor behavior and environmental stewardship.

The Outdoor Code

“As an American, I will do my best to –
Be clean in my outdoor manners,
Be careful with fire,
Be considerate in the outdoors,
and be conservation minded.”

Leave No Trace Principles for Kids

• Know Before You Go – Learn about where you are going and prepare for your visit.
• Choose the Right Path – Stay on trails to protect nature.
• Trash Your Trash – Pack it in, pack it out. Keep the outdoors clean.
• Leave What You Find – Keep natural objects and sites as you find them.
• Be Careful with Fire – Use fire responsibly or not at all.
• Respect Wildlife – Observe animals from a distance and never feed them.
• Be Kind to Other Visitors – Respect others’ outdoor experiences.

By reciting these words, Webelos reinforce their commitment to caring for the environment and respecting others while enjoying their adventures in the Webelos Let’s Camp program.

Reflection

For requirement 9 of the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure, Webelos need to share what they did during their campout to follow the Outdoor Code and the Leave No Trace principles. This helps them reflect on their actions and understand the impact they have on the environment.

After the campout, Webelos can talk with their den or family about different things like:

• How they chose and cleaned up their campsite to keep nature undisturbed.
• Ways they managed their trash by packing everything out, ensuring nothing was left behind.
• How they were careful with fire by picking a safe spot for the campfire, watching the fire closely, and making sure it was completely out before they left.
• Their behavior towards wildlife by observing animals from a distance and not feeding them.
• Respecting other campers by keeping noise down and giving them space.

Discussing these points shows how they practiced responsible camping as part of the Webelos Let’s Camp adventure. It also encourages them and others to continue these good practices in the future.

What do I need to bring on a Webelos campout?

Bring camping essentials like a tent, sleeping bag, water bottle, clothes for any weather, and your personal items. Your leader will give you a full list. See here for a suggested packing list.

Can parents join the Webelos campout?

Yes, according to BSA guidelines for Cub Scout camping, parents are encouraged to camp with Webelos.

What if I’ve never camped before?

That’s okay! Webelos Let’s Camp is designed to teach you how to camp. Your leaders and other Scouts will help you learn what to do.

How do I prepare for bad weather during a campout?

Always check the weather forecast before you go. Bring the right clothes and gear to stay dry and warm. Your den leader will teach you how to handle different weather situations.

Why do I need to learn how to build a fire?

Learning to build a fire is important for cooking and keeping warm safely. It’s also a key skill for emergencies.

What are the ethical guidelines for camping?

Always follow the Outdoor Code and the Leave No Trace principles. This keeps you and nature safe.

How do I pick a good spot to set up my tent?

Look for flat, dry ground away from trees and water. Make sure it’s safe from wind and not in a low area that could flood.

The Webelos Let’s Camp adventure is a fun and educational experience for Webelos Scouts. It’s part of the Cub Scouts program and focuses on outdoor skills and environmental stewardship. This adventure prepares Scouts for more advanced outdoor activities they will encounter in Scouts BSA.

During the adventure, Webelos take part in a campout with their den, pack, or family. They learn how to plan a camping trip, choose a campsite, and set up a tent without adult help. This builds independence and teamwork skills. They also practice identifying weather hazards and creating a safe plan to handle them, which teaches them about safety and preparedness.

Another key part of the adventure is learning to build a fire safely. Webelos use tinder, kindling, and fuel wood to build a teepee fire lay. They learn the importance of fire safety rules and how to extinguish a fire with minimal impact on the environment. Tying knots is also covered, with a focus on the bowline knot, known for its reliability and ease of untying.

The adventure emphasizes respect for nature through the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace Principles for Kids. Webelos recite these principles from memory, ensuring they understand their importance. After the campout, they share how they followed these guidelines, reinforcing their commitment to protecting the outdoors.

The Webelos Let’s Camp adventure is an opportunity for young Scouts to gain valuable skills, learn about environmental responsibility, and have a great time exploring the great outdoors.