Cub Scout Hiking Resources

Transcription

1 BLUE JACKET DISTRICT DBC Cub Scout Hiking Resources Blue Jacket District - Dan Beard Council District Roundtable April 2010 Compiled by John F. Kennedy Cubmaster Pack 146 (jfkennedy@fuse.net) CUB SCOUT HIKING BLUE JACKET DISTRICT

2 Table of Contents Why Cub Scout Hiking? 2 BSA Cub Scout Hiking Belt Loop & Sports Pin 3 General Hike Guidelines 4 Pre-Hike Checklist 5 Hiking Rules 6 Types of Cub Scout Hikes 7 Trail Locations 9 BSA Hiking Emblem / Patch 13 Patrol Sketchbook Scout Stave or Hiking Stick 14 Uses of Scout Staff 15 Why Does a Boy Scout Carry a Staff 16 Pack 146 s Let s Go Hiking Program 17 1

3 Why Cub Scout Hiking? So why did your son want to join Scouting? He wanted to do out-of-door stuff, hike, camp, & explore the out-of-doors! One of the easiest and FUN ways to get your Scouts out, is to start a hiking program in your pack. The Benefits: 1) Very outdoor oriented (Council surveys have indicated that one of the key items our Scouts want is more camping and outdoor activities). 2) Helps ready Scouts for Boy Scouts. By their Webelos year, they are very comfortable in outdoor situations. 3) Recruitment. The hiking stick is a very positive incentive for new Scouts. 4) Increases participation in the Pack. Scouts look forward to earning their hiking stick, feathers, etc. 5) Miles transfer to Boy Scouts. 6) Easy to reinforce buddy system along trail, walks to outhouse, etc. 7) Numerous opportunities to draw in Scouting requirements and lessons. The above information is from the Three Fires Council Website; 184&Itemid=232 My Interest in Cub Scout Hiking Several years ago in an issue of Scouting magazine (October 2007), there was an excellent article Let s Hit the Trail, about Pack 110 in the Three Fires Council, who had an ongoing Cub Scouting Hiking program. I was intrigued. Due to the influence of the article, hiking became a core part of our Pack s yearly theme ( Fitness Is Fun ) the following year of As a Hiking Merit Badge Counselor I wanted to begin getting the Cub Scouts out onto the trail and away from the computers and electronic game systems. Throughout the year we encouraged the Cub Scouts, their Dens and families to hike trails on the weekends and on vacations. We provided them forms (and MS Excel forms) to log their hikes and miles. Our goal was to set up an on-going outdoor activity with rewards of patches and Hiking staffs. I ve since discovered that Hamilton County Park District has had a hiking program for over 25 years, in which anyone can earn a reduced price hiking staff and yearly medallions. See I hope you find this resource helpful in getting your Cub Scouts or younger Boy Scouts on the trail, start logging some miles and exploring our world. Yours in Scouting, John F. Kennedy Cubmaster Pack 146 PS I can provide a PDF of this document by . Just send me a request at jfkennedy@fuse.net 2

4 Cub Scout Sports Hiking The requirements listed below are taken from the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program Guide (34299) 2009 Printing. This sport was added in Requirements Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts may complete requirements in a family, den, pack, school, or community environment. Tiger Cubs must work with their parents or adult partners. Parents and partners do not earn loops or pins. Belt Loop Complete these three requirements: 1. Explain the hiking safety rules to your den leader or adult partner. Practice these rules while on a hike. 2. Demonstrate proper hiking attire and equipment. 3. Hike at least 30 minutes with your adult partner, family, or den. Sports Pin Earn the Hiking belt loop, and complete five of the following requirements: 1. Make a chart and record at least five hours of hiking. 2. Help plan a den, pack, or family hike. 3. Earn Cub Scouting s Leave No Trace Awareness Award. 4. Earn the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award. 5. Learn seven trail signs and tell your den leader or adult partner what they are. 6. Be able to identify five different trees and five different birds on your hike. (These can be of the same species if multiple species are hard to find.) 7. Using pictures or photographs, identify three poisonous plants. (Examples are poison ivy, poison sumac, and poison oak; oleander, poinsettia, etc.). Watch for these plants while on a hike. 8. Take two different hikes for different purposes, for example, a nature hike, neighborhood hike, historical hike, city hike, stop-look-and-listen hike, and so on. 9. Explain to your den leader or adult partner what a compass is and show how to use one on a hike. 10. Explain to your den leader or adult partner what a global positioning system is and demonstrate how to use one on a hike. 11. With visuals such as pictures or maps, report about one of your hikes to your den. Tell about how you prepared for your hike, who went with you, and what you saw. 3

5 General Hike Guidelines Hike lengths range typically 3 7 miles. Tigers have no problem with 3 4 mile hikes. Just ensure that the parent-guardian has plenty of water along, and a few snacks (for both of them). On longer hikes we will typically eat lunch on the trail (practicing Leave No Trace at all times). (See ) Scouts will carry water bottles and may use day packs (or parent-guardian acts as the beast of burden). On warmer weather hikes, a small water bottle is not enough for even the smallest Scout. During winter, prior to departure, double-check the dress of the Scouts (particularly newer Scouts) to ensure they are properly prepared. If not, you may need to wait for them to go and pick up the forgotten, hat, gloves, mittens, coat, boots, etc. An adult leader is assigned to the tail position. No one is allowed behind this individual. The Pack hikes as a unit. We start together, break together, etc., with everyone following the same trail. We may allow an older Scout to Lead. We will usually work in map reading with them, where we have a route we want to take on the map from the Forest Preserve. It s up to the Scout to sort out to sort out the forks, etc., in the trail. However, they will have their parent-guardian with them also. (The above guidelines created by the Three Fires Council) 4

6 Pre-Hike Checklist What to wear Scout Uniform Dress for weather conditions - Fall/Winter-cold (ears/hands/feet) - Spring/Summer-sun - Winter- (insulated/waterproof) - Spring- (mid weight/waterproof) - Summer- (light weight/waterproof) - Fall- (mid weight/waterproof) Dress in layers (hooded sweatshirt) Gloves Coat (down filled best for winter) Hat (stocking cap best for winter) Comfortable shoes or boots Extra pair of socks (wool best for winter) Extra hat, pair of gloves What to bring Trail map (if available) Trail pack or small backpack (tagged-name/home phone #) Trail whistle Compass Cell Phone (parents) Camera/Binoculars (optional) Sunglasses Sunscreen Kleenex Small notepad and pen Small first-aid kit Plenty of water (1-2 Qts.), snack Lunch on 5+ mile hikes Wet Ones/Purell Grocery plastic bag Insect Repellent Flashlight w/ extra batteries Note on winter hikes; assuming there s snow, your scouts will have a great time, but they will get into the snow. You should plan for that to happen. Have spare gloves, hats and socks along (remember the Scout Motto: Be Prepared). (Portions of the Checklist was created by Pack 63 of the Three Fires Council) 5

7 Hiking Rules Use the Buddy System Leave No Trace See Plan ahead Stick to the trails Leave what you find Respect other visitors Trash your trash Remember Compass Points North East South West Sun Rises East, Sets West Trail Rules Hike on right, pass on left Respect Nature s peacefulness Stay with group - never wonder off Watch for cyclists Don t startle horses or other animals Stay off ski tracks If you get lost Stay calm and put Hug a tree Blow your trail whistle Provisions Plenty of Snacks they say an army travels on its stomach, so do scouts Plenty of Water a lot of scouts (and adults) aren t used to drinking enough water. Keep an eye that everyone is carrying plenty of water and drinking it. (The above Hike Rules created by Pack 63 of the Three Fires Council) BSA s Cub Scout Hiking Safety Rules: 1. Always tell someone where you are going and when you will return. 2. Never hike alone or at night; always use the buddy system. 3. Dress properly for the weather and environment. 4. Wear sun and insect protection. 5. Take an extra pair of socks in case you need to change. 6. Obey traffic signs and signals. 7. Avoid hiking along roadways. 8. Stay on the trail. 9. Be alert to your surroundings. 10. Don't litter as you hike. 11. Be alert to dangerous animals, insects, and plants. Never touch a wild animal. 12. Take 1 pint of water for each hour you will be hiking. Never drink untreated water. 6

8 Different Kinds of Hikes for Cub Scouts Portions of the following is from Bill's Unofficial Cub Scout Roundtable Hikes are generally simple and informal activities and usually don't require a lot of advance preparation, but there are some simple themes that can be added to the hike to make it more interesting and possibly educational. NATURE HIKES for observation; for purposes of setting out bird feeding stations; to protect rare wild plants by killing pests; cut and clear trails; to remove dead trees; for listening. GET-TOGETHER HIKES two or more dens hike to a location for games, stunts, and fun. TREASURE HIKES a trail laid out with treasure at end. TRACKING AND TRAILING HIKES one den stalks another. HISTORICAL HIKES to historical landmarks. Know the history of the spot before going. PIONEER HIKES carry no equipment. Improvise any equipment needed along the way and at the destination. EXPLORING HIKES Try a zigzag hike. At first crossroad turn right; at second turn left, etc. Carry sack lunch and water. RAIN HIKES go dressed in raincoats for observation of nature in rain. BREAKFAST HIKES reach destination in time to see the sunrise, then cook breakfast. HEADS-TAILS HIKE toss a coin each time you reach a crossroad. Turn left if the coin turns up heads. turn right if coin is tails. PROJECT HIKE Gather nature items to use for projects KNOT HIKE Along a path tie ropes around trees using knots. Instruct the boys in advance which direction to go when they identify a particular knot. 7

9 RAIN HIKE hike in a gentle rain. Be sure all boys have waterproof rain gear. Note how plants and animal conduct themselves and appear in the rain. SNOOP HIKE Be snoopy, be aware. Explore everything and collect everything. STOP, LOOK & LISTEN HIKE Hike for 5 minutes or for a certain number of steps. Stop and write down all that you see and hear. Make several different stops. NIGHT HIKE Try flashlight signaling. Listen to night sounds. Find north by the stars. Learn to recognize some constellations. Tell stories about them. MAP / NATURE TRAIL HIKE Pick a location in a park, a farm camp or field and lay out your nature trail in advance. Mark each station with a number. Supply boys with maps of the nature trail showing them where they can locate each station. Also give them a score sheet which they are to mark as they go from station to station. See below for sample questions. PROCEED TO THE STARTING POINT. MARK YOUR SCORE SHEET AS YOU GO Station 1 - Near this spot there are several animal tracks. What may have made them? Station 2 - Observe the effects of water erosion here. What did you see? Station 3 - You are standing under a tree. Describe the bark and leaves. Station 4 - Observe the large flowing bush. Smell the flowers. Look at the leaves. Can you identify the bush? Station 5 - Near this spot is an insect home. Describe the insect. Station 6 - Here you will find a square foot claim staked out. Write down all the things of nature you see in that area. 8

10 Trail Locations There are many Hiking locations on-line including National Parks, State Parks, County Parks, City Parks and private nature preserves. Many of these parks have websites where you can find directions to the parks, trail maps, trail lengths and other useful information. The links below local and regional to Cincinnati but are in no way exhaustive. The links are current, but like all internet links, these are subject to change. FYI Cub Scout Pack 998 has linked some of the sites below and has some additional locations that you may be interested. State Parks State Park Trails Hamilton County Little Miami State Park Clermont County East Fork State Park Stonelick State Park Greene County John Bryan State Park Clifton Gorge Nature Preserve Warren County Caesar Creek State Park 9

11 Caesar Creek Gorge State Nature Preserve Silver Moccasin Trail Clinton County Cowan Lake County Parks Hamilton County Park District HAMILTON COUNTY PARK DISTRICT HIKING PROGRAM Surveys have shown that walking is one of the favorite activities of visitors to the Hamilton County Park District. To increase the enjoyment and encourage more people to get involved in outdoor exercise, the Hamilton County Park District has two hiking programs. The Hiking Staff Program requires that you simply hike 7 different trails in the Park District in a year to qualify. You then become eligible to purchase the wooden hiking staff for $3.00. Each year following, when you hike 7 trails in the Park District, you are eligible to purchase the annual metal insignia for your hiking staff for $2.00. Limit one emblem per year Armleder Park Embshoff Woods Farbach-Werner Nature Preserve Fernbank Park Glenwood Gardens Miami Whitewater Forest 10

12 Mitchell Memorial Forest Sharon Woods Shawnee Lookout Triple Creek Winton Woods Withrow Nature Preserve Woodland Mound Park City Parks City of Cincinnati Parks City of Cincinnati Park Maps Ault Park Alms Park Avon Woods Caldwell Nature Preserve 11

13 California Woods French Park Stanbery Park Mt Airy Forest Dan Beard Council Trails Dan Beard Riverwalk Trail Camp Friedlander - Agony Trail There is no map on-line, but a hard copy is available at the Camp office. I m not sure if the triangle patch is still available. Camp Michaels Private Nature Preserves Glen Helen Nature Preserve The Arc of Appalachia Preserve System railm1.jpg Ohio Historical Society Southwest Ohio Serpent Mound Fort Hill 12

14 Fort Ancient map.gif National Park Service Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Hiking Emblem 2009 Silhouette of scouts hiking on a mountaintop with a blue sky and yellow sun in the background, outlined in the shape of a FDL. Khaki circle behind the FDL. Hiking in white. Retail Price: $ RODUCTS&c2=NEW&C3=&C4=&LV=2&item=80270&prodid=80270^ 8^01RTL& 13

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