Knife Safety

Cub Scouts · Adventure, Elective

Knife Safety teaches you to use a pocketknife and kitchen knife the right way. You'll learn the rules, care for your knife, and make something useful at camp. A knife is a tool, and using it safely shows you're ready for responsibility.

Why it's worth it

A pocketknife is one of the Scout Basic Essentials, and knowing how to use it safely shows you're ready for more responsibility. You'll learn the safety rules, care for your knife, carve something useful at camp, and handle a kitchen knife like a cook. In a troop, these skills come up on almost every campout.

Start this week

Read the Cub Scout Knife Safety Rules with your adult and talk about why each one matters.
Practice opening, closing, and passing a closed pocketknife with your adult watching.
Pick something you'd like to carve at camp, like a tent stake or marshmallow stick.

Stay safe

Use a pocketknife only where your leader allows it, with an adult supervising, and always cut away from yourself.
Put away any knife that is dull, loose, or broken, and tell an adult.

Requirements · 5

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
Know the rules for handling and using a knife safely
Tip: Read the rules with an adult and talk about why each one is important.
Requirement 2
Demonstrate the knife safety circle
Tip: Hold your arm out and turn in a circle. If no one is in reach, you're safe to use the knife.
For example: Before opening your knife, hold it closed, stretch your arm out, and turn slowly. If you can't touch anyone, that's your safety circle. If someone steps in, stop, close the knife, and wait.
Requirement 3
Show that you know how to take care of a knife and use it safely
Tip: Learn how to open, close, pass, clean, and store your knife. Always cut away from yourself.
For example: Keep your knife clean and dry, close it with your palm away from the blade, and pass it closed or handle first. Always cut away from your body and keep the knife closed when you walk.
Requirement 4
Show how to use a pocketknife properly by making something useful on a campout
Tip: Carve a tent stake, marshmallow stick, or simple tool at camp with an adult watching.
For example: Carve a tent stake: pick a straight, dead stick about as thick as your thumb, sit down with your elbows on your knees, and shave the end into a point with strokes away from you.
Requirement 5
Pick the right cooking knife and demonstrate how to slice, chop, and mince properly
Tip: Practice slicing, chopping, and mincing vegetables on a cutting board with an adult.
For example: Use a chef's knife on a cutting board that doesn't slide. Slice a carrot into coins, chop an onion, and mince garlic. Keep the fingers of your other hand curled like a claw.

Talk about it together

Which knife rule do you think matters most, and why?
How did it feel to make something useful with your own knife?
What did you learn about being trusted with a tool?
How would you teach a younger Scout to use a knife safely?

Helpful reads

For leaders & parents

Practice with soap carving before moving to wood, and supervise closely.
Plan a camp cooking meal so scouts can use their kitchen knife skills.

People & places that can help

Den leader or troop Scouts — Can show knife skills and check safety.
A parent or family cook — Can teach kitchen knife skills at home.

Arrow of Light, Rank · 7 requirements

Tips, examples, and questions are ideas from experienced leaders, not extra requirements. Your unit leader or counselor decides when a requirement is complete.