Boy Scouts of America

Scouting America logo
Feedback

Feedback

Please provide feedback on your experience of this adventure or activity
Report Quality Assurance
If there are errors or issues with this adventure/ activity, please go to the Report Quality Assurance Page.
Adventure/Activity Feedback Form
This feedback helps identify things den leaders like and opportunities for improvement.
Feedback Form
Cub Scout Adventures > 
Wolf >
 Let’s Camp Wolf > 
Make a Cub Scout Six Essential Kit
Back to: Let’s Camp Wolf
Print This Page
Wolf – 2nd Grade
Let’s Camp Wolf
Elective
Requirement 2

Make a Cub Scout Six Essential Kit

Wolf – 2nd Grade
Let’s Camp Wolf
Elective
Requirement 2

Make a Cub Scout Six Essential Kit

Snapshot of Activity

Cub Scouts create their own Cub Scout Six Essentials kit.

Indoor
3
3
2
If you want to know more about The Adventure Activity Key click here.

This activity is designed if the pack is providing the Cub Scouts with their Cub Scout Six Essentials.  You can modify this activity by not providing the Cub Scout Six Essentials, but by having Cub Scouts bring their six essentials and reviewing with them the purpose of each item. 

If providing trail food, make sure to check for food allergies or restrictions.  

  • Make a Cub Scout Six Essentials Kit signs found in Additional Resources 
  • Tape 
  • A day bag, one for each Cub Scout with their name written on it 
  • Cub Scout Six Essentials, one for each Cub Scout 
    • Filled water bottle  
    • First aid kit  
    • Whistle  
    • Flashlight  
    • Sun protection: hats, sunblock, and/or sunglasses  
    • Trail food  

Before the meeting: 

  1. Become familiar with the Cub Scout Six Essentials by watching this video “The Six Essentials.” 
  2. Review the Cub Scout Six Essentials in the front of the Wolf handbook. 
  3. Print one set of the Cub Scout Six Essentials Kit signs. 
  4. Set up six tables in your meeting space. Tape one kit sign to each table. 
  5. Each table will be a station that will have the appropriate Cub Scout Six Essential for each Cub Scout to take and place in their day bag as they learn about the Six Essentials at that table.  Then they move on to the next table to learn about the next six essentials and place it in their day bag until each of the Six Essentials has been covered.  
  6. Ask den chief and adults to help with each of the stations. 

During the meeting: 

  1. Tell Cub Scouts that they will be building their Cub Scout Six Essentials kit for an upcoming outing. 
  2. Gather the Cub Scouts into a circle and sit down and hand out the day bag for each Cub Scout 
  3. Start at the first table with the water bottles.  Tell the Cub Scouts that they must always carry water with you when you are going outside. Your body loses water all the time, and you must replace it. When it is hot outside, your body loses water by sweating, and when it is cold outside, your body loses water with every breath you take; when you can see your breath when it is cold outside, that is water your body has lost. When your body has lost too much water, your body will tell you in different ways. The first is that you will feel thirsty. If you don’t drink water, you may get a headache. If you continue to not listen to your body, you may end up getting a stomachache. When outside, it is best to get in the habit of drinking water before you start, continuously drinking small amounts throughout your activity, and drinking when you are finished. Do not drink a lot of water at a time. It is best to drink small amounts a lot of times than to drink a large amount all at once. How do you know if you’re drinking enough water? One way is by checking your urine (pee). Your urine should be clear and light. If it’s yellow, your body could use more water. If it’s dark yellow, your body needs more water. Plastic water bottles are the most popular way to carry water. These come in all shapes and sizes. When looking at plastic water bottles, you want to think about how you will carry the bottle and how much water it will hold. Another important part of a plastic water bottle is how you drink from it. Some have straws, some have a valve, and others have just an opening with a screw cap. Water bladders are carried in backpacks. These are useful as they make drinking water easy and include a place to carry your other Cub Scout essentials. It is best to keep only water in your water bottle or water bladder and make sure to wash it after each use. 
  4. The second table should be the first-aid kits.  Tell the Cub Scouts that there are different kinds of first-aid kits. The one you carry should be small and simple. Your first-aid kit should include things you know how to use and may need, based on the activity. Always check your first-aid kit before going out to make sure it has what you need. Your first-aid kit should have the following items:  
    • Personal medical items, for example, if you are allergic to bee stings, you may need to carry an EpiPen 
    • Pads to clean cuts before applying an adhesive bandage 
    • First-aid cream applied to a cut before putting on an adhesive bandage
    • Adhesive bandages only a few in two or three different sizes

    As you learn more about first aid, you will begin to carry more items in your kit.

  5. The next table should be the whistle.  Tell the Cub Scouts that a whistle is for emergencies if you get separated from your group. Since most whistles are small, you may want to tie a string to it and attach it to your belt or your backpack. If you get separated from your group, use the SAW method of Stay, Answer, and Whistle.  
  6. The next table should be the flashlight. Tell the Cub Scouts that a flashlight is one of the six essentials because like a first-aid kit and whistle, it is better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. There are a lot of options for a flashlight. When looking at different flashlights, remember that you must carry it. There are some you carry in your hands, some that you wear on your head, and even some that you wear around your neck. The next thing to consider about your flashlight is how it is powered. What type of batteries does it use? Do the batteries come with a flashlight? Is it easy to replace the batteries? When using your flashlight, remember to keep it pointed down and not at someone’s face. 
  7. The next table should be sun protection.  Tell the Cub Scouts that just like when they need water when it is hot or cold outside, you need sun protection in all types of weather. You can protect yourself from the sun by wearing the appropriate clothing and using sunblock. Sunblock and some clothes will indicate what sun protection factor, or SPF, will provide. The higher the SPF number, the more protection it will provide. The SPF number is not related to how long you can stay out in the sun. The effect the sun has on your skin can be different based on the time of year, time of day, and type of skin you have. A hat to provide good sun protection should cover not only your head, but also your ears and neck. If your hat doesn’t cover your ears or neck, make sure to apply sunblock to those areas. When using sunblock, always follow the directions on the container. Know if your sunblock is waterproof or sweatproof. If not, you will need to reapply if you get wet or sweat a lot. Most sunblock will wear off, and you will need to apply more if you are outside for a longer period. Check the expiration date on your sunblock bottle. 
  8. The next table should be trail food.  Tell the Cub Scouts that when they are outside and active, your body will need energy. Pack a snack that is easy to carry, is easy to eat when you are moving, and will stay fresh. Here are some ideas for trail food. GORP – Good Old Raisins and Peanuts was the first trail mix and was simply raisins and peanuts. Raisins provided sugar and peanuts provided protein, two important nutrients for energy. Trail mix is now much more than just raisins and peanuts. Dried fruits, chocolate candies, and other nuts are just some items you can find in trail mix. Dried meats like beef jerky and turkey jerky are another source of high-protein foods that make a good snack when outdoors. You can even find vegetarian jerky made from plant-based proteins. Granola can be simply rolled oats, nuts, and honey baked together. Like trail mix, granola can be made from different ingredients. You can find a variety of granola bars at your grocery store. When deciding on trail food, remember what the temperature will be like. If it is going to be warm outside, anything that has chocolate will melt, making it difficult to eat. If it is going to be 35 degrees or colder outside, you can consider packing cheese as your trail food. When planning what to bring for trail food, make sure to check with your den leader to see if anyone has a food allergy, so you can plan to avoid those foods. 

Additional Resources

Cub Scout Six Essentials Kit signs

Other Activities Options

You can choose other activities of your choice.

Wolf – 2nd Grade

Cub Scout Six Essentials Kim’s Game

Indoor
2
4
3

Play Kim’s game and learn the Cub Scout Six Essentials. 

See Details

Bray Barnes

Director, Global Security Innovative
Strategies

Bray Barnes is a recipient of the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award, Silver
Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Learning for Life Distinguished
Service Award. He received the Messengers of Peace Hero award from
the royal family of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and he’s a life member of
the 101st Airborne Association and Vietnam Veterans Association. Barnes
serves as a senior fellow for the Global Federation of Competitiveness
Councils, a nonpartisan network of corporate CEOs, university presidents, and
national laboratory directors. He has also served as a senior executive for the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, leading the first-responder program
and has two U.S. presidential appointments

David Alexander

Managing Member Calje

David Alexander is a Baden-Powell Fellow, Summit Bechtel Reserve philanthropist, and recipient of the Silver Buffalo and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the founder of Caljet, one of the largest independent motor fuels terminals in the U.S. He has served the Arizona Petroleum Marketers Association, Teen Lifeline, and American Heart Association. A triathlete who has completed hundreds of races, Alexander has also mentored the women’s triathlon team at Arizona State University.

Glenn Adams

President, CEO & Managing Director
Stonetex Oil Corp.

Glenn Adams is a recipient of the Silver Beaver, Silver Antelope, Silver Buffalo, and Distinguished Eagle Scout Award. He is the former president of the National Eagle Scout Association and established the Glenn A. and Melinda W. Adams National Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year Award. He has more than 40 years of experience in the oil, gas, and energy fields, including serving as a president, owner, and CEO. Adams has also received multiple service awards from the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers.