Check out Cub Scout Pack 145’s impressive list of do-it-at-home challenges

Faced with the challenge of keeping their pack active and running without the benefit of in-person meetings, Cub Scout Pack 145 from Christiansburg, Va., did what so many dedicated Scout leaders have had to do during these tough times: They got creative.

Beginning in March, the pack leaders challenged their Cub Scouts to complete 35 tasks related to the Cub Scout program. Among our favorites:

No. 1: “The Scout Oath asks that all Scouts work on being ‘physically strong.’ Let’s hear reports or see a photo or a video of our Cub Scouts being physically active outside today.”
No. 2: “Show ‘A Scout is Clean’ by demonstrating or explaining how you wash your hands.”
No. 9: “A Scout is Thrifty! Find and count spare change from around your house.”
No. 11: “Litter cleanup in your neighborhood.”
No. 21: “Make your own musical instrument.”
No. 31: “Plant a garden.”
No. 33: “Duct tape is a Scout tool that can repair or craft anything. Show what you can do!”
No. 35: “Scout patches tradition — Show off all the patches you have earned before or during COVID.”

It’s a very fun and impressive list, and you can read the rest here. To receive credit for completing the challenges, the Cub Scouts had to document everything with photos or videos and send them to the adult leaders.

Once the challenges were verified as complete, the pack leaders mailed patches to the Scouts. It took more than 1,000 stamps to make sure every youth got the patch they deserved.

To top things off, the pack leadership made a personal visit to the home of every Scout. While observing appropriate social-distancing rules, the adults asked the Cub Scouts to say these four powerful words on video: “I’m a Cub Scout.” Watch the powerful and moving collection of responses below: 


About Aaron Derr 510 Articles
Aaron Derr is the senior editor of Scout Life and Scouting magazines, and also a former Cubmaster and Scouts BSA volunteer.