Cub Scout Fun Activities
Cub Scouting is all about Fun, Family and Friends and finding new things to do and adventures to share. Many leaders and parents want to find more activities that are easy and simple to put on, and fun for Scouts and families -- kids and parents alike.
While there are many fun activities in Cub Scout Advancement Adventures, sometimes you and your Cub Scouts just want to do fun things with family and friends, and sometimes parents and leaders don’t want to stress out over advancement requirements.
Click to buttons below to learn more about all the fun, simple and easy activities that dens and packs can enjoy!
Outdoor Ideas
- Go for a Walk. Just a Walk. Fun, Family and Friends on your Feet!
- Maybe a Hike. But a Walk is fun too.
- Maybe make it a regular thing. Your Scout Den, Pack or Troop can be a hiking club too.
- Urban Destination Hikes (like to an ice cream shop) are great.
- So many destinations for this, from Scout Camps to State Parks, and even more.
- The Atlanta Area Council will highlight selected hiking destinations as part of a Family Outdoor Adventures program -- but there are so many places to go.
- Back Yard Campfires. Or Campfires at a Park with S'mores. Fun, Family, Friends and Fire!
- Fire Building Competitions (Webelos Scouts)
- Geocaching! Fun, Family, Friends and Finding!
- Tour de Playgrounds: How Many Can You Visit?
- You know the ones in your neighborhood.
- Here's a cool list of playgrounds around Atlanta to visit.
- Camping Camping Camping Camping.
- Even if just "for the day" and go home after campfire.
- Backyard Camping too. But you have many Scout Camps and other destinations.
- Here is a great "Intro" to Cub Camping from Scouting on Demand
- Of course, many terrific Atlanta Area Council family camping options exist -- Spring, Summer and Fall!
- A Star Saunter, also known as a night hike just to look at the stars.
- The Charlie Elliott Wildlife Center hosts astronomy events.
- Hike Destinations (Atlanta Area):
- An Atlanta Journal Constitution piece on 7 beginner friendly hikes.
- 15 Hikes here: urbanoutdoors.com/hiking-in-near-atlanta/
- South Fulton/Clayton County Parks and Trails, both big and small, long and short, and remember: you don't need the biggest trail to take a good walk and explore with Cub Scouts.
Fun on Wheels
- Bike Rides.
- Just Ride. Simple. Fun. In a vacant parking lot, or on a bike trail or at a camp.
- Over 300 miles of Bike Trails in and around Atlanta. Here's more ideas about where to ride.
- For more, Bike Rodeo. Lots of ways to do it. Do what works for you.
- Here's the Cub Scout Biking Adventure with lots of resources to learn how to ride.
- The Atlanta Area Council will highlight selected biking destinations as part of a Family Outdoor Adventures program -- but there are so many places to go beyond the Eastside Beltline (which is often crowded).
- Roller Skating and Inline Skating
- Ice Skating!
- Scooters
- Skateboards, and visit a skateboard park
- Go-Karting at a safe commercial facility
- Here's a popular one - Andretti.
- Maybe check out this Tiny Towne Driving Edutainment facility
- Hoverboards
Cooking Activities
- Picnics and More: Fun, Family, Friends and Food!
- Maybe an Iron Chef Contest?
- Baking Competition?
- Scouter Mom has some recipes (of course)
- Some more here and here.
- Here's another collection of Cub Scout Recipes
- And if you cook, you have more recipes, right?
- Cast Iron Cooking
- Best BBQ?
- Cookie Competition?
- Ice Cream Shop Celebration
- Homemade ice cream!
- Pack Popsicles!
- S'mores. There's s'more ways than just chocolate, marshmallow and graham cracker, right?
- Pizza Party
- Pizza Making Party!
- Outdoor Pizza Oven, maybe also Dutch Ovens
Water Sports & Activities
- Fishing. Fun, Family, Friends and Fishing!
- Many places to fish around Atlanta.
- More places to fish from the Georgia DNR.
- Some tips on fishing with kids.
- Maybe a Deep Sea Fishing (big weekend trip)
- The Atlanta Area Council will highlight selected fishing days as part of a Family Outdoor Adventures program -- but there are so many places to fish beyond Allatoona.
- Swimming: Safe pools and lake swimming areas
- Learn to Swim? Like at the YMCA.
- Boating: Can't do better than Allatoona Aquatic Base: Fun, Family, Friends and Floating!
- More Water: splash pads, water slides and sprinklers
- Water Walk - in a safe creek (get wet, get messy -- maybe use the "Creek Critters" app from the Izaak Walton League of America)
- Toy Boats on a lake or creek
- Boogie Boarding (big weekend trip to the beach)
- Water Parks
- Car Wash: Yeah, why not?
Fun in Nature
- So many Nature Center destinations all over Atlanta, from
- Nature Clubs - birds, birds of prey, reptiles, fish, astronomy, trees, flowers, more
- Like Audubon Society Birding Events
- Falcons! (Not the NFL team)
- Reptiles and Amphibians are our friends, and The Orianne Society wants to keep it that way.
- Gardens to visit.
- Yes, there is an Atlanta Astronomy Club.
- Trees Atlanta has many educational events. And volunteering for tree plantings and more.
- Scavenger Hunt. First item to find -- Scavenger Hunt Ideas!
- Maybe a "photo scavenger hunt"
- Plant (or tend) a Garden -- maybe at one of your Scout's homes, or maybe a neighbor's garden
- There are many community gardens too.
- More here.
- Composting Ideas and Help
- Worm Composting! www.scoutshop.org/blog/worm-composting
- Visit a "you pick it" orchard
- Like apples? Go pick some here.
- Berries? Yes please.
Special Cub Scout Program Ideas
- Pinewood Derby
- Got a Track? Why not have more than one race day?
- Maybe a "just line up and race" with no standings, no brackets, just racing?
- Lego Pinewood Derby!
- Raingutter Regatta?
- Maybe with boats made of recycled materials?
- Space Derby is also a thing
- Do an Advancement Adventure - Ideas and Plans here.
- Here's a Chart showing common "topics" among the different Cub Scout Handbooks
- And here's why it's OK to do (most) Adventures in any other Handbook
- June 2022: if you liked the Adventures the BSA retired, you can still do them for fun
- For more advanced Scouting activities, check out Powderhorn Training.
Sports
- Bowling (at your local fun, clean, safe alley)
- Sporting events
- Not just major leagues (in Atlanta, Braves, Hawks, Dream, Falcons, Atlanta United), but minors (six Minor League Baseball clubs in or near the Atlanta Metro, minor league basketball in College Park, Atlanta Phoenix Women's Football, Atlanta Gladiators Hockey), schools, clubs, others (there are so many sports in Georgia)
- Cheer on your Scout teammates in the games they play on their teams!
- Range and target activities at District and Council Events Fun, Family, Friends and Ready/Aim/Fire!
- Go Golfing: Mini-golf, Driving Range, Putting Range, Par 3 course. Fun, Family, Friends and ... Fore!
- Disc games:
- Ultimate. More about Ultimate here.
- Disc Golf. Here's a list of courses. The Atlanta Area Council will highlight selected disc golf days as part of a Family Outdoor Adventures program.
- Make Up Your Game
- Other Sporting Games -- what's your favorite? What are your Scouts already doing? Do you want to connect with another Pack and do it together?
- Kickball (P.S.: fun for adults too)? Flag Football? Soccer? Basketball? Lacrosse?
- Baseball? Softball? T Ball? Whiffle Ball? Cricket? Hacky Sack?
- Running? Like the Peachtree Junior. And more.
- Tag? Obstacle Course? Jump Rope?
- Tennis? Table Tennis? Badminton?
- Pickleball? The Atlanta Area Council may highlight selected pickleball days as part of a Family Outdoor Adventures program.
- Squash? Racquetball? Handball? (Here's all three in Atlanta)
- Volleyball? Balloon Volleyball?
- Yoga? Aerobics? Gymnastics? Pilates? Tai Chi?
- Cornhole? Spikeball? Croquet? Horseshoes?
- Four Square? Trampoline?
- Fencing? Curling?
- Snow Sports:
- Sleds, Skis, Snowboards, Snowmen, tubing, play in the snow.
- Skating!
- Climbing Wall (bouldering for all Cub Scouts, plus rappel with belay for Webelos Scouts)
Games
- Chess, Checkers, Yahtzee, Uno, Other Games? Here's a list of 20 classic games.
- Appendix 4 to each Den Leader Guide is "Games" -- with 31 ideas -- and a copy of that is attached at the bottom of our main Cub Scout Adventure (meeting) page.
- Other game ideas are here.
- Even more games here. Another list here.
- Plenty of Game Ideas at this site.
- Video Game Day? Wii Tournament?
- Pokemon GO?
- Card Games:
- Go Fish! Crazy Eights!
- What's your Favorite? Here's a list of 25.
- Marbles? Billiards? Juggling?
- Mad Libs?
- Yo Yo
- Glow Stick Party
- Want to play Cub Scout Bingo? See this from our friends in the Three Fires Council in St. Charles Illinois (just west of the great city of Chicago).
- They have a template to make your own Bingo cards here.
- Make your own puzzles.
- Here's a video about 19 "no contact" games (10 minutes).
- And 7 Outside Social Distancing Games for Kids (in the link, scroll for a list).
- Here's a BSA piece on Initiative Games.
- Another Initiative Games page you might browse.
Arts & Crafts
- Pottery painting shops (some locations listed here)
- Art exhibits (here's a list of Art Museums)
- Sidewalk Chalk -- here's 101 Ideas for Sidewalk Chalk
- Rock Painting (it's a thing ... including around Atlanta)
- Tie Dye shirts!
- Lego Building:
- Maybe at the Legoland Discovery Center (Phipps Plaza, Buckhead), which has Scout programs
- Some Craft Articles and Ideas from Scouting Magazine
- Seasonal Art Projects:
- Pinewood Derby Cars need design and artwork!
- At Halloween time, pumpkin carving (Bears and up) and pumpkin decorating.
- Make a Winter Wreath?
- Appendix 3 to each Den Leader Guide is "Crafts" -- with many ideas, including using recycled materials -- and a copy of that is attached at the bottom of our main Cub Scout Adventure (meeting) page.
- More ideas about Cub Scout Crafts from Scouter Mom.
- Craft supplies from ScoutShop.
- See these Scouting Craft Ideas from Scouting Magazine.
- You can be sure that Pinterest will have boards about this -- here's one.
Flying Fun
- Rocket Launches (water rockets and model rockets)
- Rocket Clubs, like the Southern Area Rocketry Club.
- Model Airplane / Drone Clubs and Exhibitions
- Here's a list of Clubs and flying fields.
- Here's a flying location inside I-285.
- Here's a Best Places to Fly Drones list
- Paper Airplanes
- Here's some simple designs. Here's more.
- Found in the Motor Away Adventure too! (That link has more tips and videos.)
- Balsa Wood Airplanes
- Catapults (popsicle stick or full sized)
- Kites! Here's ideas about where to fly kites.
- Here's a Cub Scout angle and simple plans.
- There's a Fall Kite Flying Festival in Piedmont Park.
- It is Balloon! Here's some Hot Air Balloon and Air Shows in Georgia.
- Fun, Family, Friends and Flying!
Civic Ideas
- Visit community servants (fire, police, sheriff, EMT, Courthouse, etc.).
- Or ask them to visit you - many have Community Officers for this.
- Others have downtime when they are willing to visit with Scout Groups.
- Visit a Local Historic site (building, battlefield, cemetery, etc.)
- Police K-9 Dogs (contact local police or sheriff)
- Commemorate Graves (Memorial Day, Wreathes Across America in December and More)
- Veteran's Day Parade
- Here's some ideas about Service Projects to give back to the community.
- Scouts love a parade, and many parades can let you march.
Field Trips
- Local Museums, Science Centers, Planetariums
- There are so many around Atlanta covering science and nature topics.
- Also consider engaging that science teacher who wants to show you more!
- Local Nature Centers, Botanical Gardens, Butterfly Gardens: Fun, Family, Friends and Ferns!
- That neighbor of yours with a great garden!
- Educational and commercial facilities (like greenhouses)
- Many gardens and other outdoor destinations are found on this list
- Farmers Market or Grocery Store: Fun, Family, Friends and Farm to Table!
- Also Historic, Governmental, Art, Business and Religious destinations.
- TV, Radio, Newspaper, Other Media Offices/Production Studios
- Other Workplaces of Interest
- Baker, Candy Company, Restaurant?
- Where do your Scout Parents work?
Transportation Activities
- Train Museums?
- Southeastern Railway Museum (Duluth)
- Southern Museum of Civil War and Locomotive History (Kennesaw)
- Train Rides?
- Sam Short Line Train Ride (Cordele)
- Great Smoky Mountains Railroad
- Blue Ridge Scenic Railway
- North Georgia Live Steamers miniature outdoor railroad club (Conyers)
- Ride MARTA!
- Trainspotting?
- Airports? Especially Small Airports?
Specialty Activities
- Museum and Zoo and Navy Ship and Other Overnighters
- Some shown in this list of Distant Destinations.
- Festivals! State/County Fair, Renaissance Fair, Art Fairs, Other Local Events.
- A list is here (with links to more).
- For your local town, county or city, just internet search the city or town or county name – events they sponsor, if any, will appear somewhere on their site
- Fun, Family, Friends and Festivals!
- Parades
- Maybe the Westside Beltline Lantern Parade?
- How about Dragon Con on Labor Day weekend?
- Pumpkin Patches
- Corn Mazes
- Christmas Tree Farms
- Easter Egg Hunts
- Cave Exploration (Commercial Cave Tours)
Performance Ideas
- Talent Show: Kids and Adults
- Plenty of Skits and Songs at this site.
- Karaoke: Kid Karaoke plus Adult Karaoke?
- Dance Party or Dance Competition
- Comedy Competition: Scout Jokes or Dad Jokes or Mom Jokes?
- There are 4,300 jokes on this Scout Life page.
- And a Video of Boys' Life Jokes.
- Magic! (Just google "Cub Scout Magic". It's Magic!) Maybe a Magic Show?
- Theater! Puppets, Musicals, Drama, Broadway, School Plays, Medieval Times.
- Your Own Puppet Theater! Shadow Puppets too.
- Music! Outdoor concerts, school recitals.
- Music Mania:
- Harmonicas, Kazoos, Drums, More.
- Louder! Faster!
- Outdoor Movie Night where you are, or Drive In Movies
Pets & Animals
- Den Day at the Dog Park?
- Bring your Dog to the Dog Park with your Den!
- Or to your back yard.
- Visit an Animal Shelter?
- Many have events and volunteering opportunities.
- Dog Breeder?
- Pet Stores!
- Animal Farms and Petting Zoos
- Horseback Riding
Science
- So many Science Destinations Around Atlanta
- Fernbank Science Center (Druid Hills)
- Tellus Science Museum (Cartersville)
- More at this list.
- Science stuff from Scout Life Magazine
- Cub Scout Supernova Award Activities
- From the Atlanta Area Council:
- Here's a Peeps Slime Recipe.
- Make Homemade Bubbles.
- Make a Marshmallow Popper.
- You might find interesting activities here at Mystery Science.
- See this Science Buddies YouTube site.
- On Amazon Prime, see Xploration DIY Sci for many experiments.
- The BSA Stem Program has resources, like this set of videos, some of which might help give you ideas for science activities you can do.
- And see this from Boys' Life on Weird Science.
- Some other Science ideas are here from Boys Life Magazine.
Multi-Topic Sites
- Check out this Atlanta Parent piece titled "Best 250+ Family-Friendly Things to Do with Kids in Atlanta 2021". That article takes you to lists with:
- Local Attractions and Events, Museums, Farmers Markets and More.
- Great Playgrounds around Atlanta.
- Fun and Free Activities around town.
- Outdoor activities, from kid-friendly walks and races to places to go biking with kids to nature centers to mini golf to more nature and parks to nature walks and waterfalls and more.
- Here's a list of events and activities around Atlanta from 365 Atlanta Traveler:
- Maybe browse this Only In Your State site for destinations and ideas.
- 25 Ideas to do at home from ScoutLife.
- 5 Ideas from ScoutShop.
- More Ideas from the Bryan On Scouting Blog.
- Many Ideas from our Scouting Friends in the UK.
- Scoutshare has some helpful information - sort of a Pinterest setup
- A Giant List of things to do.
JOIN CUB SCOUTS!
With 250 Packs in Metro Atlanta, you will easily find a nearby Cub Scout Pack.