Council Fire is about being a good citizen and neighbor. You'll learn to respect the flag, build a model neighborhood, and do something helpful for the people around you. It shows how even young scouts can make a difference.
Why it's worth it
Council Fire shows you that even a second grader can make a neighborhood better. You'll learn to fold and honor the flag, build a model of your home and the places you go, and put them together into a tiny town. Then you'll do a real service project and see the difference it makes for people who live near you.
Start this week
- Look for flags in your neighborhood this week and notice where they fly.
- Start saving clean boxes, tubes, and egg cartons for your model home.
- With your adult, list the buildings you visit most, like school, the library, or the grocery store.
- Think of one thing near your home that could use help, like a messy playground or a food drive.
Requirements · 6
Every official requirement and part, numbered to match Scouting America, in plain language. Sign off against the official wording (opens in a new tab).
- Requirement 1
Learn how to care for and fold the U.S. flag; take part in a flag ceremony with your den or pack
Tip: Practice folding a flag with a partner, then help with the flag ceremony at a den or pack meeting.
For example: Practice folding a flag into a triangle with a partner, keeping it off the ground. At a den meeting, you might carry the flag in or lead the Pledge of Allegiance during the ceremony.
- Requirement 2
Name three points of the Scout Law that matter for being a good neighbor
Tip: Think about neighbors you know. Which points of the Scout Law make someone a good neighbor?
For example: Your three points might be helpful (carrying groceries for a neighbor with your adult), friendly (waving and saying hi), and kind (making a get-well card for someone on your street).
- Requirement 3
Build a model of your home
Tip: Use boxes, blocks, or clay to build your home. Add doors and windows.
- Requirement 4
Use the materials from requirement 3 to model a building in your town or community
Tip: Use the same materials to build a place you visit, like school, a store, or a library.
- Requirement 5
Put your models from requirements 3 and 4 together to make a neighborhood
Tip: Put everyone's models together and add streets. Talk about what makes a neighborhood work.
For example: Line up everyone's models on a big sheet of paper, draw streets between them, and talk about what's missing: a park, a fire station, a crosswalk.
- Requirement 6
Take part in a service project and explain how your volunteering helps your neighborhood
Tip: Pick up litter at a park or collect food for a pantry, then share how it helped.
For example: Picking up litter at a park helps because it keeps trash out of storm drains and makes the park nicer for everyone. Be ready to say who your project helped and how.
Places to visit
Ask an adult to set it up, and go with your family, den, patrol, or crew.
A fire station or library in your neighborhood
Seeing a building up close helps you build a better model, and the people who work there can tell you how they help the neighborhood.
How: Have your den leader call ahead and ask for a short tour for a Cub Scout den.
Talk about it together
- What does being a good neighbor look like on your street?
- What did you notice about your neighborhood when you built your model?
- How did people react to your service project?
- What is another way you could help where you live?
Good questions to ask a veteran or flag ceremony leader
- Why is the flag folded into a triangle?
- What should we do if the flag touches the ground?
- What does the flag mean to you?
Helpful reads
For leaders & parents
- Bring a real flag to a meeting so scouts can practice folding it.
- Choose a service project scouts can see, like cleaning up a nearby park or school yard.
People & places that can help
- Local veterans' group — Members often enjoy teaching flag care and ceremonies.
- City or town parks department — Can suggest simple service projects for young volunteers.
- Scouting America: Council Fire (opens in a new tab) — The official requirements and den activity ideas for each one.
- USAGov: The American Flag (opens in a new tab) — Facts about the flag and other national symbols.
- The American Legion: Flag (opens in a new tab) — How to display, fold, and respect the U.S. flag.
Pairs well with
Counts toward
More Wolf adventures
- Footsteps, Required, Adventure · 4 requirements
- Paws on the Path, Required, Adventure · 5 requirements
- Running with the Pack, Required, Adventure · 6 requirements
- Safety in Numbers, Required, Adventure · 4 requirements
- A Wolf Goes Fishing, Elective, Adventure · 5 requirements
- Adventures in Coins, Elective, Adventure · 4 requirements
- Air of the Wolf, Elective, Adventure · 4 requirements
- Code of the Wolf, Elective, Adventure · 4 requirements
- Computing Wolves, Elective, Adventure · 4 requirements
- Digging in the Past, Elective, Adventure · 4 requirements
- Finding Your Way, Elective, Adventure · 5 requirements
- Germs Alive!, Elective, Adventure · 5 requirements
- Let's Camp, Elective, Adventure · 5 requirements
- Paws for Water, Elective, Adventure · 6 requirements
- Paws of Skill, Elective, Adventure · 3 requirements
- Pedal with the Pack, Elective, Adventure · 6 requirements
- Race Time, Elective, Adventure · 5 requirements
- Spirit of the Water, Elective, Adventure · 4 requirements
- Summertime Fun, Elective, Adventure · 1 requirement
Into this? Explore more
Tips, examples, and questions are ideas from experienced leaders, not extra requirements. Your unit leader or counselor decides when a requirement is complete.