What you need to know about Cub Scout winter camping

A photo of Cub Scouts in the snow

Camping is an essential part of the Cub Scout program, and the Cub Scout program is designed to run all year round.

It stands to reason, then, that at some point you’re going to be outdoors in weather ranging anywhere from “cool” to “chilly” to “downright cold.”

“Fundamentally, we have camping guidelines that include things like adult supervision, BALOO training, camping on council-approved properties and conducting age-appropriate activities,” Scouting America health and safety specialist Tracie Turner told us in the most recent episode of #CubChatLive. “But Scouting America does not have a uniform rule that says at X temperature you can go camping, or at X temperature you can’t.”

In short: There is no national policy for Cub Scout winter camping temperatures. Instead, this is a local council-based discussion and decision.

That doesn’t mean, however, that we’re leaving you totally out in the cold. Here are five national Scouting America resources for camping with Cub Scouts when the weather outside is a little bit chilly.

Winter activities Safety Moment

Turner’s department has produced a lot of helpful Safety Moments. Cub Scout leaders and parents might find the Winter Activity Safety page an especially useful resource this time of the year.

Among other things, this Safety Moment discusses the C.O.L.D. method of staying warm: Clean, Overheating, Loose layers and Dry. It also covers the important role a good diet — including staying hydrated — plays in staying warm.

There is magic to camping in winter. It is one of the most challenging outdoor adventures. However, potentially extreme weather conditions, cold temperatures and unique hazards associated with outdoor winter activities require careful planning to ensure safety.

SAFE checklist

Yeah, we love our acronyms. In this case, SAFE stands for supervision, assessment, fitness and skill, and equipment and environment.

While staying SAFE is important on all outdoor activities, Scouting America’s SAFE Checklist can provide excellent guidance plans your Cub Scout winter camping plans.

Scouts and their parents expect all Scouting America activities to be conducted safely. To ensure the safety of participants, Scouting America expects leaders to use the four points of SAFE when delivering the Scouting program.

A photo of Cub Scouts in the snow

Age-appropriate guidelines

Scouting America’s official Age Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities document is another great resource to consult as you plan your next Cub Scout event.

When it comes to winter camping, you’ll want to note the policies on fire building and outdoor cooking, activities that are approved for Webelos Cub Scouts and older.

The document contains age guidelines for lots of other activities that you might consider for a winter campout, including horseback riding and map-and-compass activities (available only to Wolf/Bear Scouts and older), and conservation projects and hiking (open to Cub Scouts of all ages and ranks).

The Guide to Safe Scouting section on winter activities

An expansion of the winter Safety Moment, the Guide to Safe Scouting’s winter activities guidelines are collected here.

Though much of this page focuses on older Scouts, some of it is relevant guidance for Cub Scout camping too, including nine special considerations for winter camping: qualified supervision, equipment, physical fitness, buddy system, planning, safe area, weather check, burning and discipline.

The Guide to Safe Scouting sections on Cub Scout camping

Another part of the Guide to Safe Scouting that you’ll want to review is the section on Cub Scout camping.

This is the section of the guide that was recently updated to clarify the differences between Webelos, Arrow of Light and Scouts BSA camping. These guidelines are especially important in winter.

Among them:


About Aaron Derr 525 Articles
Aaron Derr is the senior editor of Scout Life and Scouting magazines, and also a former Cubmaster and Scouts BSA volunteer.