PACK ADMIN HELPS

Cub Scout Outdoor Program Guidelines

www.scouting.org

Planned, organized outdoor activities at the den, pack, district, and council levels fulfill the promise made to our Cub Scouts. Young boys have a great desire for outdoor fun, excitement, and adventure. These experiences encourage them to spend quality time with family and friends. Quality council camps and fun pack outdoor events directed by qualified, trained leaders provide an ideal setting for these activities.

Cub Scouts can camp! Every pack's annual plan should include day camp or resident camp and many other outdoor activities. Advanced planning will allow leaders to arrange to attend the training needed to successfully accomplish the program goals of the units and the training requirements of the BSA. Most boys join Cub Scouting because of the outdoor activities. Boys in this age group have a natural curiosity about their surroundings, especially the world out-of-doors. Introducing these boys to the fun and adventure of Scouting in the outdoors will benefit them as they mature through the program. Their participation and enthusiasm will grow for continuing in the program into Boy Scouting and beyond.

It's More Fun Outdoors!

Why Cub Scout Outdoor Activities?

When a boy and his family join Cub Scouting, they join an organization that values the fun and excitement of experiencing the outdoors. Each Cub Scout pack is encouraged to provide its youth members with enriching, positive outdoor experiences. Many boys experience their first organized outdoor adventure as a Cub Scout. Good planning using Cub Scouting guidelines should assure a positive experience. A successful outdoor program that meets the goals of the Cub Scout program will ensure that all activities are appropriate for the target age group. Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities and the Guide to Safe Scouting are both available on the BSA Web site.

In addition, apply these Cub Scouting program-specific criteria:

ü  The activity is parent/youth or family-oriented.

ü  The activity is conducted with adult supervision.

ü  The Cub Scouts are asked to do their best.

ü  The activity is discovery-based.

ü  Advancement occurs as a natural part of a well-planned program.

Two-Deep Leadership Required

It is the policy of the Boy Scouts of America that trips and outings may never be led by only one adult. Two registered adult leaders, or one registered adult leader and a parent of a participant, one of whom must be 21 years of age or older, are required for all trips and outings. The chartered organization of any Cub Scout pack, Boy Scout troop, Varsity Scout team, or Venturing crew has the responsibility to stress to the committees and leaders of the unit that sufficient adult leadership must be provided on all trips and outings.

Outdoor Activity Tips

·         Obtain permission from parents or guardians for activities that are held away from the regular den and pack meeting places.

·         File a local tour permit if necessary. Check with your local council on its policies regarding field trips in your council.

·         Be sure to have enough adult leaders for the activity.

·         Check out the site before the activity. Check on reservation procedures, restroom facilities, availability of adequate drinking water, and any potential hazards.

·         Use the buddy system. Coach the boys in advance on what to do if they get lost.

·         Carry a first aid kit and know how to use it. Be prepared with emergency procedures.

·         Arrange adequate and safe transportation.

·         Always leave a site in its natural condition.

For additional information on specific activities not covered in this document, refer to Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities and the Guide to Safe Scouting.

Reference

Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting, No. 18-260

Cub Scout Leader Book, No. 33221

Guide to Safe Scouting . No. 34416

Pack Overnighters

Pack overnighters are pack-organized overnight camping activities involving more than one family from a single pack, focused on age-appropriate Cub Scout activities and conducted at council-approved locations (use Pack Overnighter Site Approval Form, No. 13-508). If nonmembers (siblings) participate, the program must be structured to accommodate them. BSA health and safety and Youth Protection guidelines apply. In most cases, each youth member will be under the supervision of a parent or guardian. In all cases, each youth participant is responsible to a specific adult.

At least one adult giving leadership to a pack overnighter must complete Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO), No. 34162, and be present on campouts. BALOO trains participants to properly understand the importance of program intent, Youth Protection guidelines, health and safety, site selection, age-appropriate activities, and sufficient adult participation. Permits for campouts shall be issued locally, according to council policies. Packs use the Local Tour Permit Application, No. 34426.

Other Cub Scout Trips and Excursions

Going outdoors is one of the most exciting parts of Scouting. All Cub Scouts look forward to taking field trips to museums and local places of interest, going on hikes, and taking part in sports, service projects, and nature and conservation activities. All trips should be conducted in accordance with established procedures. Tour Permits for such tours shall be issued locally or nationally, depending on the distance traveled.

The National Council has established the following guidelines for non-camping Cub Scout trips and excursions:

ü  Trips normally will be one-day excursions.

ü  Overnight stays are permitted but they are not encouraged.

ü  When overnight stays are necessary, participants will stay in private homes, motels, or hotels.

ü  Lock-ins or overnight programming at local museums or other appropriate locations may be approved by the local council.

ü  Den leaders, pack leaders, and parents or guardians are expected to accompany the boys on approved trips.

ü  The adult partner must accompany the Tiger Cub on all trips and outings.

Standards for Privacy on Trips or Outings

To support the BSA policy of two-deep leadership on all trips and outings, we must address the sleeping arrangements of male and female leaders.

All leaders are expected to reflect high moral standards established by customs, traditional values, and religious teachings.

·         Male and female leaders require separate sleeping facilities. Married couples may share the same quarters if appropriate facilities are available.

·         Male and female youth participants must not share the same sleeping facility.

·         When tents are used, no youth will stay in the tent of an adult other than his/her parent or guardian.

·         When housing other than tents is used, separate housing must be provided for male and female participants. Adult male leaders must be responsible for the male participants; adult female leaders must be responsible for the female participants.

·         Adult leaders need to respect the privacy of the youth members in situations where the youth are changing clothes or taking showers, and intrude only to the extent that health and safety require. Adults need to protect their own privacy in similar situations.

·         Although it is not mandatory, councils are strongly encouraged to have separate shower and latrine facilities for females. In camps where separate facilities are not available, separate shower schedules for males and females should be posted. Exercise the buddy system for latrine use by having one person wait outside the entrance, or use Occupied or Unoccupied signs on door latches.

·         For more guidelines on camping and supervision for Cub Scouts, see the Guide to Safe Scouting, No. 34416

Get Your Cubs OUTDOORS!!

SURVEY SHOWS TIME-STRESSED MOMS and OVER-SCHEDULED KIDS WANT MORE OUTDOOR PLAY

NEOSPORIN® Offers “50 Ways to Play” to
Help Parents Encourage Safe Outdoor Fun

Before TVs, DVDs, home computers and video games, kids spent most of their free time playing outside. But today, according to the new NEOSPORIN® 50 Years of Healing Survey, 50 percent of moms say their children typically play outside fewer than five hours a week. The nationwide survey of moms also reveals that not only would more than half prefer that their kids play outside the majority of the time, but 53 percent state that kids themselves would prefer to play outside the majority of the time – although fewer than one-quarter do.

So what’s stopping children from getting outside to play?

ü  One reason may be that they are overscheduled in structured activities: in the survey, only one-third (34%) of mothers report that the activities most often engaged in by their child include unstructured outdoor play, such as bicycle riding or rollerblading.

ü  A second reason is a lack of time: busy moms, time-pressed kids, and even motivated families find that it’s sometimes a challenge to come up with new outdoor activities that are affordable, practical and most of all, fun. To help moms and families increase kids’ “fresh air time,” and to celebrate more than half a century of healing, the makers of the NEOSPORIN® family of healing products has developed “50 Ways to Play,” a comprehensive list of ideas for outdoor free play that moms can use as a resource – and kids are sure to enjoy. And because the tips are from the makers of NEOSPORIN® products, the number-one over-the-counter, doctor-recommended brand of antibiotic ointment, the focus is on safe-to-play activities.

ü  The survey also points to a third barrier to outdoor play: moms’ worries. Two out of five moms say they worry about minor injuries such as cuts, scrapes and bruises, when their children play outside — and only half of all moms say they are aware of the basic steps for proper wound care.

“As a mother of two, I want my children to have the freedom to play outside, but I’m also concerned about minor injuries that may put a damper on playtime,” said the founder of Mom Central, Inc., a company that provides advice to busy families, and author of The Mom Book: 4,278 Tips for Moms. “To reduce the risk, I always keep a first-aid kit on hand stocked with basics, including bandages, aspirin and an antibiotic ointment like NEOSPORIN®.”

Scrapes and cuts are a natural part of playing outside, but moms can protect their kids by learning the

“3 Cs of Wound Care”:

«  Clean: Wash hands carefully before treating the wound. Rinse the wound thoroughly with lukewarm water to remove germs, dirt and small stones.

«  Coat: Apply an antibiotic ointment, such as NEOSPORIN® Antibiotic Ointment, to the wound one to three times a day to help prevent infection and to minimize the appearance of scars.

«  Cover: Keep the wound site covered with a sterile bandage to create a moist healing environment. Check the wound daily to monitor healing.

50 Ways to Play

Parents, you can get the fun started with these suggestions from “50 Ways to Play”.

Have a blast from your past: Everyone has a favorite playground or backyard game they loved growing up. Why not get outside and introduce the kids to an “oldie but goodie”? Chances are they’ll have as much fun with Red Light Green Light, Kick the Can or Flashlight Hide and Seek as you did.

Dripping Dodgeball: Ramp up this childhood favorite by using water balloons instead of balls. Remember, the less full the balloons are, the less likely they are to break, so be sure to fill them up to the MAX!

Track and Field day: Invite neighborhood kids to compete in events like relay races, sprints and long jumps. (Be sure to race on grass only to avoid serious injury, and bring along some Neo to Go®, pocket-sized packets of NEOSPORIN® Antibiotic Ointment in case someone falls.)

Scavenger Hunt! Create a list of ten things that can be found outside with a little bit of concentration, such as specific leaves, feathers or bottle caps. The first child to return with all ten things wins.

Visit http://www.neosporin.com/opportunitycenter.htm to get the complete list of 50 tips.

Sorry for the commercial part of this item, but the article and the list are great so take advantage of it when planning your outdoor activities this year!!  CD