Cub Scouts 6-Week Programme Adventure Skills
Introduction This programme is designed to be completed over a six-week period, but you may choose to extend the time frame to suit the location, circumstances and abilities of your pack. Week 1 Main Topic: Hillwalking A key part of hillwalking is to comprehend and understand maps; how to read them and how to create a route from them. Base 1: Introduction to Maps and Routes Requirements: OS Maps (or any equivalent), Compasses, pens, papers • Start by showing your cubs some of the common symbols found on an OS map. Colour - water, land, height Lines - roads, railways, coast, contours, powerlines, boundaries Numbers - heights, roads Writing - placenames, antiquities, services Symbols - youth hostel, camping site etc • In sixes (or small groups), ask your cubs to mime key symbols (each cub can take a turn, choosing a different symbol each time) based on what they think it means. • When each cub has had a turn, call them back into a large group and then go through the official meanings of each symbol. Choose as many as suits the abilities of your pack. • Next, using a local map from your area, ask the cubs to plan a route for a hike for next week’s meeting. Ask them to explain why they should choose one route over another e.g. think about your location and where you can easily get to from your den. Suggestion from cubs to travel further afield for hillwalking could be noted with an agreement to plan a hike to a particular location when transport can be arranged. Base 2: Hiking Gear Requirements: Rucksack, Hiking Gear (boots, wet gear, first aid kit, bivy bag, lunch, jumper, hat, gloves) •
In sixes (or small groups) ask the cubs to talk about what should be packed in a rucksack for a hike to get them thinking about what they might need and why they might need it.