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Let's Camp

Cub Scouts · Adventure, Elective

Printable worksheet (PDF)

Let's Camp gets you ready for a Cub Scout campout. You'll learn the buddy system, plan for the weather, pack your Six Essentials, learn a camping skill, and then spend a night outdoors. You'll be ready for the adventure.

Why it's worth it

Campfire smells, flashlight games, and waking up in a tent with your den nearby: a Cub Scout campout is something you'll remember. In Let's Camp you'll learn how buddies keep each other safe, plan clothes for the weather, pack your Six Essentials, learn a real camping skill, and spend a night outdoors with your grown-up and your pack.

Start this week

  1. Ask your den leader when the next pack campout or council Cub Scout overnight is, and put it on the calendar.
  2. Practice rolling up a sleeping bag or blanket as tightly as you can.
  3. Gather your Six Essentials and check that your flashlight has fresh batteries.
  4. Try setting up a tent in the yard, a park, or the living room with your adult.

Stay safe

  • Stay with your buddy and your adult at all times, and stay out of the fire ring unless an adult says it's safe.
  • Check the weather before you go and have a plan for storms. Rain gear and warm layers keep camping fun.

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).

  1. Requirement 1

    Learn how the buddy system works outdoors

    Tip: Practice the buddy system at a park: stay together, check on each other, and tell an adult if your buddy needs help.

    For example: At a park, you and your buddy stay where you can see each other. When an adult calls "Buddy check," you find your buddy, hold hands, and raise them high. If your buddy gets hurt, you go tell an adult together.

  2. Requirement 2

    Before the overnight campout, talk about the weather expected and what clothes to wear

    Tip: Check the forecast with your adult and pick clothes in layers for cool nights.

    For example: The forecast says 70 in the day and 45 at night. You pack a T-shirt, a long-sleeve shirt, a sweatshirt, long pants, a warm hat, and dry socks to sleep in. Layers let you add or take off clothes.

  3. Requirement 3

    Pack your own Cub Scout Six Essentials to bring on the campout

    Tip: Pack your Six Essentials yourself, then have your adult check your bag.

  4. Requirement 4

    Learn a camping skill

    Tip: Learn something like setting up a tent, rolling a sleeping bag, or using a flashlight safely at night.

    For example: Learn to help set up a tent: lay out the tent, slide poles into the sleeves, and push stakes in at an angle with your adult. Or learn to roll your sleeping bag so it fits in its sack.

  5. Requirement 5

    Go on a campout with your pack, or to a Cub Scout overnight camp run by your council or district

    Tip: Go to a pack campout or a council or district Cub Scout overnight with your adult partner.

    For example: At the pack campout, help pitch your family's tent, play a night game with flashlights, join the campfire program, and help clean up the campsite in the morning.

Places to visit

Ask an adult to set it up, and go with your family, den, patrol, or crew.

  • A Scout camp open house or family day

    Many councils open their camps so families can see campsites and trails before a first overnight.

    How: Ask your den leader or pack committee about council events for Tigers and families.

Talk about it together

  • What were you most excited about before the campout, and was it as fun as you hoped?
  • How did you and your buddy look out for each other?
  • Were you warm enough at night? What would you pack differently?
  • What camping skill can you do now by yourself?
  • What was the best moment of your campout?

Helpful reads

For leaders & parents

  • Practice tent setup at a den meeting so Tigers feel confident at camp.
  • Share a simple packing list with families before the campout.

People & places that can help

Pairs well with

Counts toward

More Tiger adventures

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