Adventures are a big part of Scouting, some adventures have a den outing. Cub Scouts get out and about with many kinds of outdoor fun, such as den outings, hikes, conservation activities, and outdoor games.
Field Trips
Do you like to visit museums, businesses, parks, and other fun and interesting places? Here are some field trips you might go on.
- How Things Are Made—Visit manufacturing plants such as aircraft, automotive, appliance, or electronic firms; chemical, paper, plastic, paint, furniture, or toy plants; and handicrafts or other small-craft industries.
- How Your City Runs—Visit power, water, and sewage plants; a gas company; police and fire stations; city hall; municipal buildings; the county jail; a telephone company; the post office; the Red Cross; hospitals; newspaper plants; and radio, television, and weather stations.
- How Your City Is Fed—Visit farms, flour mills, and bakeries; food canning or bottling plants; stockyards and meat or poultry packing houses; a fish hatchery; beverage, candy, and ice-cream companies; markets; and food distributors.
- Learn About Your Heritage—Visit art galleries, museums, and memorials; famous old homes, monuments, and other historic sites; places of worship; civic centers; important local buildings; summer theaters and band concerts; and local historical celebrations.
Field trips often tie in with the monthly theme or activity badge, to show you firsthand the things you’ve been learning about.
Hikes
A hike is a journey on foot, usually with a purpose, a route, and a destination. Cub Scout dens take short hikes, and Webelos dens take longer hikes and can even camp overnight.
Here are some different types of hikes your den may take.
- Homes Hike—Look for spider webs, nests, holes, and other homes in nature. Make a list.
- Stop, Look, and Listen Hike—Hike for a certain length of time or for a certain number of steps. Then stop and write down all that you see and hear. Make several stops.
- Puddle Hike—Hike in a gentle rain or just after a rain, wearing your rain gear. See how animals and insects take cover from the weather.
- Penny Hike—Flip a coin to see which direction you will go. Flip the coin at each intersection or fork in the road or trail.
- Color Hike—Look for objects of a certain color. Make a list.
- Historical Hike—Hike to an historical spot. Know the history before you go.
- City Hike—Look for little bits of nature between cracks in the sidewalk. Look at the buildings for architectural details (carvings, cornices, etc.). Your den leader will help you spot these. Look for nature in a vacant lot. Even one overturned rock can uncover surprises.
Games and Sports
Outdoor games and sports teach you the skills of good sportsmanship—following the rules, taking turns and sharing, getting along with others, and fair play. Every Cub Scout can have the chance to learn the basic skills of a sport or game. Playing and doing your best and having fun are more important than winning!
