Cub Scouting’s Family & Reverence Adventures are great for winter break

Cub Scouting’s Family & Reverence Adventures are designed to build values for Scouts and instill meaningful connections within a Scout’s family, making them the perfect activities for everyone during the holidays.

Reverence is the final point of the Scout Law. Scouts of all ages should be reverent toward God and faithful in their religious duties while remaining respectful of the beliefs of others. (Scouting America is nonsectarian in its attitude toward a member’s religion or faith.)

The Family & Reverence Adventures were created to help Scouts learn about their family’s faith traditions and celebrations. Since many Cub Scout packs include children from different religions, it’s a great idea to guide families to explore these Adventures during the holidays.

What are the Family & Reverence Adventures?

There is a required Family & Reverence Adventure in every Cub Scouting rank, each with slightly different age-appropriate objectives.

• Lion (kindergarten) dens have the Lion’s Pride Adventure, which requires Cub Scouts to draw a picture that depicts their favorite faith holiday or celebration, attend a religious service or other gathering that includes an expression of reverence, and make a cheerful card or drawing for someone they love.
• Tiger (first grade) dens will complete the Tiger Circles Adventure, which requires Cub Scouts to identify three holidays or celebrations that are part of their family’s faith, draw a picture of their favorite tradition, attend a religious service or gathering, and carry out an act of kindness.
• Wolf (second grade) dens have the Footsteps Adventure, which requires them to identify three holidays or celebrations that are part of their family’s faith, make a craft or work of art depicting their favorite tradition, attend a religious service or gathering, carry out an act of kindness, and read Aesop’s fable The Boy Who Cried Wolf, then discuss why being truthful is important.
• Bear (third grade) dens will complete the Fellowship Adventure, which requires them to identify three holidays or celebrations that are part of their family’s faith; make a craft, a work of art or a food item that is part of their favorite tradition; attend a religious service or gathering; carry out an act of kindness; and identify a religion or faith that is different from their own.
• Webelos (fourth grade) dens have the My Family Adventure, which requires Cub Scouts to identify three holidays or celebrations that are part of their family’s faith; make a craft, a work of art or a food item that is part of their favorite tradition; carry out an act of kindness; identify a religion or faith that is different from their own; and discuss what it means to be reverent.
• Arrow of Light (fifth grade) dens will complete the Duty to God Adventure, which requires them to choose a faith tradition and discuss how it is related to the Scout Law, meet with a representative from a faith-based organization who provides a service that assists people in crisis, and discuss what Duty to God means to them.

What about the Scouting America Religious Emblems programs?

Cub Scouts of all ages have the option to earn their Family & Reverence Adventure by earning the Religious Emblem of the Cub Scout family’s preference, if they choose to do so.

The Religious Emblems programs have been developed over the years by religious groups in conjunction with Scouting America. Though the programs are administered by the religious groups themselves, they have been approved by Scouting America.

Scouts working on the Religious Emblem for their faith use curriculum booklets produced by their religious organization. Contact your local council or religious organization to obtain the proper curriculum booklet.

If the Cub Scout’s religious emblem award covers two years, then they’ve earned the Family & Reverence Adventures for both of those years.

Can the Family & Reverence Adventures be completed at den meetings instead of at home?

The Family & Reverence Adventures are commonly done at home with the Cub Scout’s family because most dens have members from different faiths. In these situations, the den leader’s role is to make sure each family in their den knows the requirements and is aware of what they need to do at home to complete the Adventure.

If your pack is chartered by a religious organization and every member of the den is also a member of that same religious organization, you can consider conducting these activities at den or pack meetings under the guidance of someone from your chartering organization.

Still, leaders should ensure that every parent and guardian is aware of the content and the activities that the den will do and allow parents to opt out and complete the requirement at home, should they choose to do so.