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Cub Scout Outdoor Activities at Local Parks

Nature Center Bat House

When you’re planning your Cub Scout year, check out any local nature centers or parks. Many of them have great programming that you can consider. Most even have programs that are specifically for Cub Scouts.

I've found that the employees of nature centers are very knowledgeable and enthusiastic about their work.  And that enthusiasm rubs off on the boys.  

A lot of nature centers and parks have an online schedule so that you can see what programs they are offering.  If you see a program that you want to attend, be sure that you call as soon as possible.  Most of the ones in our area have a maximum number of attendees.

Let them know that you have a Scout group.  They may have special programs that will allow boys to complete adventures.  Or they may schedule an event just for your group.

I learned an important lesson when I was trying to schedule an outing to our local nature center.  You really need to call early!  There may only be a few staff members or volunteers who present the programs, so they could be limited.  In an ideal world, I would call them when I’m doing my Cub Scout planning and ask about programs they can do for my Cubs.

Even if you can't attend a program, take your Cub Scouts to visit local nature centers anyway!  There are many adventures in the Cub Scout program that require a visit to a nature center or similar location.

Tiger Adventure – Tigers in the Wild 7:  nearby nature center, zoo, or another outside place with your family or den. Learn more about two animals, and write down two interesting things about them in your Tiger Handbook.

Bear Adventure – Fur, Feathers, and Ferns 3:  Visit one of the following: zoo, wildlife refuge, nature center, aviary, game preserve, local conservation area, wildlife rescue group, or fish hatchery. Describe what you learned during your visit.

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure – Into the Wild 9a:  Visit a museum of natural history, a nature center, or a zoo with your family, Webelos den, or pack. Tell what you saw.

Webelos/AOL Elective Adventure – Into the Woods 4:  Visit a nature center, nursery, tree farm, or park, and speak with someone knowledgeable about trees and plants that are native to your area. Explain how plants and trees are important to our ecosystem and how they improve our environment.

Do you have nature centers in your area that you can take advantage of?

Yours in Scouting,
Sherry

P.S. If you liked this Cub Scout activity idea, sign up below for more suggestions!

Bat House Photo Courtesy of Grant, My Kindergartener, who was the official photographer the day of our visit!

aiPxvpay

Friday 1st of March 2024

1

Heather

Tuesday 21st of June 2016

What about Wolf? Did you miss it or does it not apply?

Old-Time Cub Scouter

Saturday 27th of February 2016

Nature Centers are excellent places to visit with your Den/Pack! We happen to have two nature centers located in our District, one is just a few blocks away from our Chartered Organization, and the other is about 15 miles north. Both offer programs for Cub/Boy and Girl Scouts! I took my den to the closer nature center during “Sugarbush Time” (Feb.- March) when they were making maple syrup the old-fashioned way. The staff showed us the whole process, from tapping the maple trees to collect the sap, to boiling the sap down over a wood fire in the sugar house creating the final product: maple syrup! At the end of the demonstration everyone got to sample some maple candy that was made on site. Sherry is correct in that nature centers have different (seasonal) programs throughout the year, with many geared specifically for youth groups. Just check out the schedules for details!

aiPxvpay

Friday 1st of March 2024

1

Sherry

Thursday 3rd of March 2016

I wish we were close enough to a center that makes maple syrup! That sounds like so much fun.