Develop essential Cubs skills through practical activities covering camping, survival, navigation, nature, fire, knots and other useful outdoor abilities.
Being able to follow simple directions is an important outdoor skill. Whether you’re walking with your family, taking part in an activity or exploring with a group, you need to be able to listen, understand what you’ve been told and use the information around you to work out where to go next. It doesn’t mean…
There is something special about learning how to do things for yourself outdoors. Knowing how to read a map, put up a shelter, light a fire, recognise a tree, tie a useful knot or simply work out which way to go gives children more than another skill to add to a list. It helps them…
Activity Overview Difficulty: ModerateTime: 20–30 minutes to learn the basics; applied throughout a pioneering projectLocation: Scout campsites and suitable outdoor activity areasBest for: Cubs, Scouts, Explorers, Patrol Leaders and adult leadersSkills: Risk awareness, ropework, lashings, teamwork, equipment care and safe construction Pioneering safety is about planning the project, using suitable equipment, constructing it correctly and…
Cooking is a brilliant outdoor skill for Cubs. It combines practical skills with teamwork, creativity and a little bit of adventure. A Cub who learns how to prepare a simple meal at a campsite is developing skills they can use long after they’ve left Cubs. Cooking doesn’t always need to involve a campfire or camping…
Navigation is one of those outdoor skills that becomes much easier when it’s taught through games. Cubs can learn to recognise landmarks, follow routes, understand maps and begin using a compass without needing to start with complicated theory. The key is to make navigation feel like an adventure rather than a classroom lesson. A campsite,…
Nature activities are a simple way to get Cubs outside and looking more closely at the world around them. A woodland, park, campsite or even the area around your meeting place can provide plenty to explore. The aim isn’t necessarily to identify every plant or animal. It’s about encouraging Cubs to notice things, ask questions…
First aid is one of those skills that can be genuinely useful outside the Scout meeting. For Cubs, it doesn’t need to be taught through long lectures. Games, scenarios and practical challenges can make the subject much easier to understand. The Scouts programme includes Emergency Aid Staged Activity Badges, and first aid also features in…
Camping gives Cubs the chance to put their outdoor skills into practice. Instead of simply talking about tents, cooking or campcraft, they can actually have a go. Camping is also an important part of the Cub programme. The Our Outdoors Challenge Award includes taking an active part in at least three nights away, along with…
⚠️ SAFETY & AGE-APPROPRIATENESS NOTE Cubs are 8–10½ years old, so activities should always be suitable for their age, experience and individual needs. Activities involving fire, knives, tools, water, climbing, cooking, camping and outdoor exploration should be properly planned and supervised by appropriately responsible adults. Progression doesn’t mean removing supervision. It means gradually giving young…
🐺 Cub Scouts: Become a Confident Adventurer Welcome, Cub! By now you’ve probably discovered that the outdoors is full of adventures. But being an adventurer isn’t just about going outside. It’s about learning how to: 🧭 Find your way 🏕️ Look after yourself outdoors 🎒 Prepare your equipment 🔥 Use outdoor skills safely 🌿 Understand…
