Week 5: Cub Scout Obstacle Course

We have a small combined wolf, bear and webelos den, but due to boys moving away and summer vacations we only have 1 wolf this month and he has a lot to finish by his birthday.  I combed thru the requirements to make sure we hit as many as possible in this obstacle course as well as adding some obstacles just for fun. (Those not included, were done at cub scout day camp) It was awesome!. After going thru the course (about 2 1/2 mins long) the boys were breathing hard and wanting to rest!

You may wonder how I can pull this off with just one lone wolf.   Easy...we have two 11 year old scouts that regularly come and we, the leaders, have other children.   It can be very helpful to have our numbers padded for certain activities.

Here are the Wolf requirements this activity will meet:  Counsil Fire #2 & 6b, Paws on the Path #8, Running with the Pack #1, 2, 3 & 4

First,  I mapped it out on paper. (Sorry about the poor lighting in this picture... best I could do with a baby sleeping on my lap!)  This map came in handy as I guided the boys thru the course!

Gathering Activity: Play catch with a partner 10 feet apart.  Give instruction as outlined in the Wolf Handbook.  Once they are proficient have everyone move back a step. (Running with the Pack #1)
Next we made a  Den Duty Chart by letting the boys choose the duty they wanted to perform each week. I prepped ahead of time by printing out the duties on a chart and laminating it. As the boys chose a duty,  I wrote their name on the chart with a white board marker.  My chart included: Take Attendance, Prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, Scout Oath and Law and Meeting Helper (Council Fire #1 Mark complete after 1 month)

Opening: Prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, Scout Oath and Scout Law

Obstacle Course:  We discussed good sportsmanship before starting our game as outlined in the Wolf Handbook ( Running with the Pack #4) I actually had to take some more pictures the next day to show you each station.  It was too fast paced at our activity to get all the pictures I wanted.

Here goes...

1. Monster Stomp - Stomp on one soda can and add to a recycle pile.

Note: be sure to transport smashed cans to a recycling bin. (Council Fire 6b). 

2. Front Roll - (Running with the Pack #3)

3. Walk 5 steps backwards (Running with the Pack #2)

4. Frog Stand (Running with the Pack #3)

5. Back Roll (Running with the Pack #3)

6. Running thru the ropes (for sideways balance Running with the Pack #2) - made out of PVC stakes and parachute cord.

7. Hurdles - make with swim noodles and
ground stakes ( we made PVC stakes but wooden dowel rods work too). We had 4 hurdles spaced about 15 feet apart.  Another option is alternate going over one, then under the next...

8.  Mini Trampoline - 10 jumps

9. Balance Beam (Running with the Pack #2)

9. Ring Toss and Drive the Green Machine around the cones - Make rings by taping the ends of a pool noodle closed with packing tape.  Line 4 cones in a line about 15 feet apart and place rings a few feet from the cones.  Boy runs down the line throwing loop over cones.  At the last cone, he hops on the green machine and drives around each cone in an alternating manner (figure 8 style)  to the finish line.

 We had a drink station set up to refresh them after the course. This is how my husband cut the PVC pipe to make stakes.

Map activity - When the boys finished the course we moved to a table set up with map making supplies.  The boys drew a map of the obstacle course and we used a compass app to label North on the map (Paws on the Path #8)

At the end we served light refreshments. Everyone really enjoyed this activity!  Cub Scouts is fun!