Ready to put the adventure in elective Adventure?
From fishing to knife safety, the many activities available as electives in the Cub Scout program are designed to spark curiosity and keep Cub Scouting fun and fresh.
In a recent episode of #CubChatLive, longtime volunteer and Cub Scout committee member Sherry Smothermon-Short joined Aaron to talk about which electives are most popular, based on interest from packs across the country.
As Aaron put it during the livestream, “This show is not based on a hunch. … it’s based on the actual data that shows which elective Adventures are the most popular.”
So which electives come out on top? Let’s dive into the top 10 elective Adventures in Cub Scouts.
1. Pinewood Derby (the Race Time Adventure)
It’s no surprise that Pinewood Derby continues to be an all-time favorite across ranks. Scouts design and race their little wooden cars down the track. Sounds simple, but it makes a huge impact on Scouts’ brains (and their parents). Even people who don’t know much about Cub Scouts know about Pinewood Derby. The activity is just that iconic.
2. Let’s Camp
Camping is at the heart of Scouting, and this elective lets Scouts experience the magic of sleeping under the stars, cooking outdoors and building lasting memories with their pack.
3. Fish On (Tiger rank)
The data shows Cub Scouts love fishing! This Tiger elective introduces the basics of casting, baiting hooks and enjoying time by the water.
4. Wolf Goes Fishing
For Wolves, the fishing fun continues. This elective builds on what younger Scouts experienced as Tigers, letting them practice patience and skill while spending time outdoors.
5. Catch the Big One (Webelos)
Webelos take fishing to the next level with this Adventure. And it’s as much about the thrill of the catch as it is about learning respect for nature.
6. Whittling (Bear)
Knife skills are serious business, and this elective introduces Bears to safe pocketknife use. Scouts learn responsibility while gaining independence with a new tool.
7. Chef’s Knife (Webelos)
In this Adventure, Scouts move from outdoor tools to the kitchen. They learn proper knife handling and get a taste (literally!) of cooking skills they can use at home.
8. Knife Safety (Arrow of Light)
By the time Cub Scouts reach Arrow of Light, they combine all of their knowledge into a deeper focus on knife safety for both outdoors and in the kitchen.
9. Count on Me (Lion)
Math meets hands-on fun. Lions explore patterns, shapes and building activities, making learning feel like play.
10. Air of the Wolf
What kid doesn’t love paper airplanes? This Adventure takes simple paper and transforms it into flight tests and competitions in design and engineering.
Honorable mentions
True to form, Smothermon-Short brought even more data to the table, expanding the list to a top 24 elective Adventures (that’s a top four for each rank). To catch the full list, check out the recording of the livestream, or listen to the #CubChatLive podcast episode.
Why these Adventures matter
What makes these electives stand out is how they resonate with real Scouts (remember, this is a list based on data). Fishing teaches patience, knife skills empower responsibility, camping builds resilience, and paper airplanes spark curiosity in science and design.
Whether you’re a new leader planning your unit calendar or a parent curious about what your Cub Scout will experience, these electives represent some of the very best of the program. And what’s more, they help us identify what real Scouts actually want to learn more about.
Does anything in this list surprise you? Anything missing you expected to see? Let’s discuss in the comments!
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