Where to find activities for scout troops

By Catalogs Editorial Staff

Fun is easy when you know where to find activities for scout troops

Joining the scouts gives young boys and girls a chance to make friends, learn life skills and go on a few adventures. For parents, helping to lead a troop is a lively way to get involved and plan meaningful projects.

There are numerous places to find activities for your scout troop year round. From crafting imprinted t-shirts or pillow cases and tote bags and coloring them in with fabric markers, to painting a hiking stick for spring wanderings, this guide is here to help. Naturally, appropriate activities will vary for different age groups, but with a little imagination you can adapt most of the suggestions provided.

Hot spots for scout activities:

Parent websites

ScouterMom.com is one of many websites created for parents just like you. It includes a comprehensive list of puzzles, crafts and games members can play when waiting for a meeting to begin or during group gatherings. You?ll find a few creative icebreakers to get them thinking about history or particular themes.

On the crafty side, a silly putty recipe and a how-to for doughnut snowmen help you combine snack and craft time. For younger kids, having the chance to play with their food and eat it too is a dream come true.

Organization websites

BoyScoutTrail.com offers a directory of classic games, crafts and challenges passed down from one generation to the next. Since the organization began in 1930, instilling a tangible sense of history and know-how has been a core part of the experience. For example, playing ?Get to Know You ? Truth or Lie? is a challenging, creative way to welcome new members to the fold.

Your community

Whether you live in a small town or bustling city, small adventures await. Libraries and municipal buildings are an excellent resource to consult as they often maintain a calendar of local events. If you find a craft fair, parade or upcoming 5k fundraiser, call the organizer to find out if your troop can help.

Community engagement is a value best taught by doing. Possible tasks may include setting up registration, building floats, conducting a demonstration of a new skill or simply decorating to make the event more festive. This time spent volunteering may also apply towards earning a merit badge.

Hiking books and websites

Activities for your scout troop abound just outside the door. Checking out local hiking books is a timeless way to find your next adventure. If you prefer digital media, AmericanTrails.org contains a directory of over 1,000 recreation trails throughout the United States.

Once you?re out in nature, activities will find you. Build a small fire on a cool afternoon or bring along a pair of binoculars and bird or plant book to play I Spy the flora and fauna. At night, a similar game will help them identify lesser-known constellations. The first few times will be particularly challenging, but after a few trips they’ll surprise themselves with what they know.

Crafty media

The cold months can put a damper on your little campers? enthusiasm, understandably. On indoor days, guided crafts invite everyone to express their creativity. Between craft magazines, websites and best-selling books you have thousands of references at your fingertips.

Choose one designed for the kids? skill level that calls for basic materials. Put on some music and have them show off their creations at a makeshift art show before going home. For team-building exercises, have everyone work together on a larger, more challenging project, like a lean-to made from found sticks and fallen leaves.

If you?re in a bind, call another local leader and set up a Pen Pal letter exchange for an ongoing activity to fill downtime. But don?t over think finding activities for your scout troop. Young boys and girls attend these meetings with tireless energy and an active mind. Planning outlets for them should be fun.