This adventure will introduce new Scouts to basic outdoor skills while helping more experienced Scouts improve and develop skills they learned in previous ranks.

• Reading weather instruments, including a basic understanding of barometers

• Tying two half hitches

• Improved camping skills (less dependent on parents/adult leaders)

• Cooking a simple meal

• A Scout is cheerful, clean.

Complete requirements 1–4. Requirements 5 and 6 are optional.

1. While working on your Bear badge, attend one of the following:

A. A daytime or overnight campout with your pack or family

B. An outdoor activity with your den or pack

C. Day camp

D. Resident camp

2. Make a list of items you should take along on the activity selected in requirement 1.

3. Make a list of equipment that the group should bring along in addition to each Scout’s personal gear for the activity selected in requirement 1.

4. Help set up a tent. Determine a good spot for the tent, and explain to your den leader why you picked it.

5. Demonstrate how to tie two half hitches and explain what the hitch is used for.

6. Learn how to read a thermometer and a barometer. Keep track of the temperature and barometric pressure readings and the actual weather at the same time every day for seven days.

These den meeting plans, when followed, will meet the requirements for the Bear Necessities adventure. The meeting plans allow for completing requirement 1A (participating in a pack overnighter). The den must not go camping on their own. Only pack overnighters or council-organized family camps are approved camping activities for Bear Scouts and their families.

Meeting 3 will take place at an outdoor camping location. In advance of the outing, the leader will need to make arrangements with the outing location and confirm the outing plan with families, including transportation and any additional items they need to bring. Make sure activity consent forms are distributed, signed, and collected.

This adventure includes optional activities for cooking that are not requirements for this adventure. However, these activities can count toward requirements in the Bear Picnic Basket adventure.

This adventure should help your Cub Scouts further their knowledge of camping and living in the outdoors. Last year, when they were Wolf Scouts, you or another leader probably did most of the work. As the Scouts get older, they should be taking on more of the responsibility for themselves. You may need to borrow camping and cooking equipment from a neighboring troop or pack.

At least one adult leader who is attending the pack overnighter must have completed Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO). It is encouraged, though not required, that someone in your den take the training if the den will be attending a council-organized family camp. The course provides excellent information about the proper methods for camping with Cub Scout–aged children and families.

Some chartered organizations do not allow camping as part of the Cub Scout program. Be sure to check with your pack leadership and chartered organization before preparing to use these den meeting plans.

Basic Adult Leader Outdoor Orientation (BALOO)

This one-and-a-half day course is designed as an introduction to the Cub Scout outdoor program for leaders interested in adding a camping component to their Pack activities. BALOO training consists of an online pre-requisite component in addition to an overnight hands on practical. BSA’s Cub Scout level camping policies will be taught along with the discovery of the necessary tools to help units carry our a successful camping experience. Completion of this course is mandatory for a MINIMUM OF ONE adult on a Pack overnighter.

This course should not be taught with IOLS. As part of a two-part blended learning format, the on-line modules are the first step to become BALOO trained. The on-line training modules contain introductory and basic information that will be built upon during the practical training that is completed during an in-person, council instructed course. The on-line component must be completed prior to the practical component and the course facilitator should check this before allowing enrollment into this part of the course. The in-person syllabus is facilitated by the council training committee and the syllabus must be followed to include the overnight portion of the training. Otherwise the training code will not be awarded.

Click here to view the Instructor Syllabus for Baloo Training