3/5 of SCOUT is OUT! Cub Scout Hiking Club How-To
One day, when I as a den leader was telling the then Cubmaster of our pack that I wish we got the kids out into nature more, he mentioned that he’d read a blog post from Bryan Wendell about a Cub Scout pack with a hiking club that he’d love to emulate, but that he was too busy. I said I’d do it, and I did! We even got a nod from Council for it.
I took their framework and after two years of running it, have seen similar growth in the cubs that the original pack did. As part of my Wood Badge ticket I’ve created a much more detailed “manual” for running one that I hope makes it super easy not just for my pack to continue when I leave, but also easy for other packs to set one up and run it! I updated things when the Cub Scout program changed in 2024 – this version uses all the new adventures!
The General Setup
Membership is voluntary – but showing up is gamified with getting an empty dongle (wood slice on a leather cord) to fill up with mileage beads (for hiking 5, 10, 20, 30, and 40 miles cumulatively). The beads have symbolic colors to reflect on the journey of growth that hiking takes kids on. At 50 miles, they get either a custom windhorse hiking stick or a custom windhorse leader grip for a hiking stick (if they already have one).
The symbolism of the hiking club is the Four Dignities describing the qualities of windhorse – tiger, snow lion, Garuda, and dragon. The beads have the colors of the associated dignity (plus the golden warmth of the Great Eastern Sun for the first bead, the foundation of cultivating windhorse).
The club is as scout-led as possible – cubs research and plan hikes, they take the visible lead with vertical windhorse flags marking the front, and they read the map to guide the group (with adult coaching). This substantial ownership motivates especially older cubs to engage and start practicing leadership. It also demonstrates that outdoor skills matter to how much fun you have, making the “why” behind some of the adventures more clear.
Cumulative miles per scout, for the whole pack, and where we’ve hiked is tracked on a trifold board, with scout names on the left side panel and hike locations with distances on the right side panel.
Each hiking club meeting starts with going over the Outdoor Code, Leave No Trace for Kids in some detail, S.A.W. and S.T.O.P., talking about what kinds of animals we might see, and picking a Flagbearer (defines the front that may not be passed) and a Pathfinder (map reader).
During the hike, cubs make nature observations as per their required adventures, and if a good opportunity comes together we do either walking (silent) five senses meditation or a short “sit spot” meditation of some kind to fulfill the methods of rest requirement of the personal fitness adventures. This is a great time to connect with drala.
We always have a snack afterwards – this serves a three-fold purpose. First, there is simple bribery. Second, there is temperature regulation in both summer and winter. Third, while the cubs eat sweets, the leaders can finish the requirements that need to be done after the hike. (Not staying for these is the most common reason cubs don’t complete their hiking adventure at any one hike.)
Download the Files!
Would you like to do this with your pack? Then get the printable files with not just the above core manual, but reminder cards with what to cover before, during, and after the hikes to cover all the new Cub Scout hiking outdoor adventures! (And a few other adventures, too!)
The overview of how to run the club from start to steady state.
Help yourself cover all the new Cub Scout program hiking adventure requirements with these printable reminder cards! Load your printer with cardstock, hit double-sided print, cut the pages in half along the line, and laminate them for extra durability! The cards will walk you through covering all the requirements every time.
This handout (intended to be assigned as homework, so that they can take their time and also have an internet connection and a printer) combines Webelos Walkabout and Tech on the Trail planning requirements into one learn-how-to-plan-adventure guide.
To make a Hiking Club Board showing who's hiked how far, where, and cumulative miles for the pack for the year you'll need this side panel printable for cub's names and how far they hiked by month.
To make a Hiking Club Board showing who's hiked how far, where, and cumulative miles for the pack for the year you'll need this side panel printable for hike locations and distances.
I made the dongles and award beads from scratch - here's how!
Print these on Avery 8371 Business Card paper, and they will be tear-apart cards to present the beads on!
Just the two lowest mileages (that you will hand out more of) for Avery 8371 Business Card paper.
This printable, together with some stampers, will help you keep track of which Lions have completed what outdoor adventure requirements!
This printable, together with some stampers, will help you keep track of which Tigers have completed what outdoor adventure requirements!
This printable, together with some stampers, will help you keep track of which Wolves have completed what outdoor adventure requirements!
This printable, together with some stampers, will help you keep track of which Bears have completed what outdoor adventure requirements!
This printable, together with some stampers, will help you keep track of which Webelos have completed what hiking-related adventure requirements! (For Webelos, it's a lot!)
This printable, together with some stampers, will help you keep track of which Arrows of Light have completed what on Into the Woods!