Let's Camp Lion Den Meeting Plan
Scouts learn the outdoor buddy system, discuss expected weather and suitable clothing before camp, pack the Cub Scout Six Essentials with an adult partner, and attend an approved council/district overnight or pack campout. This meeting prepares Scouts; the adventure is not complete until the qualifying overnight is attended.
- Supported requirements
- 1, 2, 3, 4
Adventure: Let’s Camp Lion
Rank: Lion (kindergarten)
Status: Elective
Selected activities: Buddy-system practice; weather and clothing discussion; Six Essentials packing practice; confirmed pack overnight campout
Suggested meeting duration: 60-minute pre-camp meeting plus the separately scheduled overnight campout
Estimated leader preparation: 1-3 hours for confirming the approved campout, trained leadership, site, registration, participant records, weather plan, and family communication; allow 15-30 minutes for cleanup and packing separately. Camp equipment, transportation, and event preparation are additional. Assumes up to six Scouts with adult partners.
About this adventure
Scouts learn the outdoor buddy system, discuss expected weather and suitable clothing before camp, pack the Cub Scout Six Essentials with an adult partner, and attend an approved council/district overnight or pack campout. This meeting prepares Scouts; the adventure is not complete until the qualifying overnight is attended. See the adventure page for approved plans and handouts..
Safety and respect
- Confirm current Cub Scout camping policy, trained leadership, site rules, participant health information, consent, and adult supervision before the event. Do not announce a campout as approved until prerequisites are met.
- Check the current forecast close to departure and follow the event’s weather plan. Clothing discussion at this meeting does not replace the required pre-camp weather conversation.
- Keep Six Essentials examples clean and safe. Adults check any first-aid supplies and food/allergy needs.
- Practice buddy rules in a visible, bounded area. Never separate Scouts from their adult partners during the meeting.
- Review the SAFE Checklist and Guide to Safe Scouting.
Meeting preparation
Overall preparation effort: High because the adventure requires an overnight event, trained leadership, registration or reservation, family coordination, records, equipment, and weather planning. The indoor preparation meeting is Low if supplies are already available, but this does not change the overall event effort.
- Confirm whether the selected event is a council/district overnight or an eligible pack campout. Verify the event’s current requirements with the council or pack.
- Confirm the required trained leader, site, registration, consent and health records, transportation, emergency plan, and accessible sleeping arrangements.
- Prepare one example set of Six Essentials for demonstration. Families should not purchase items until the leader confirms the event’s equipment list.
- Send families the parent handout, but keep any personal health records outside reusable materials.
Supplies
- Filled water bottle, small first-aid kit, whistle, flashlight, sun protection, and trail food for demonstration
- Weather and clothing picture prompts or actual clothing examples
- Buddy-system visual markers, if useful
- Event-specific forms and camping equipment handled through the approved event process
Pre and post meeting activities for scouts
Before
Attend with a Lion adult partner. The family should review the event details and bring no camping gear until the leader confirms the approved equipment list.
After
With an adult partner, check the actual forecast and choose suitable clothing before camp. Pack the Six Essentials at home. Attend the qualifying overnight with the pack or council/district. Tell the leader when all steps are complete; the orientation meeting alone does not fulfill the overnight requirement.
Completion checklist
- Requirement 1: Scout learned the outdoor buddy system.
- Requirement 2: Scout and adult partner discussed expected weather and suitable clothing before camp. Complete this close to the overnight using the actual forecast.
- Requirement 3: Scout packed the Six Essentials with an adult partner.
- Requirement 4: Scout attended a qualifying council/district overnight camp or pack campout. This remains incomplete until the event occurs.
Sample Agenda
| Time | Activity | Actionable leader notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0:00-0:05 | Welcome and opening | Seat Scouts with adult partners and explain this is camp preparation, not the overnight itself. |
| 0:05-0:15 | Buddy-system practice | Practice staying in sight and checking in with a partner in a visible room. Requirement 1. |
| 0:15-0:20 | Movement break | Stretch and reset the room. |
| 0:20-0:32 | Weather and clothing | Match clothing to sample weather pictures; repeat the check with the actual forecast before camp. Requirement 2 discussion. |
| 0:32-0:47 | Pack the Six Essentials | Identify each item and practice placing it in a small day bag. Repack at home with an adult partner. Requirement 3. |
| 0:47-0:55 | Campout readiness | Review confirmed event details, buddy expectations, and family questions. Do not collect sensitive records in the meeting. |
| 0:55-1:00 | Closing and follow-up | Distribute the handout and check which steps remain before and during the overnight. |
Leader notes and talking points
Welcome and opening (0:00-0:05)
- Set up: Place the Six Essentials examples on a table and keep forms private.
- Say: “We are practicing for camp. Our overnight is a separate event with its own safety steps.”
- Ask: “Who is your adult partner for camp?”
- Do: Verify the adult-partner assumption and introduce the event only if confirmed.
Buddy-system practice (0:05-0:15)
- Say: “A buddy stays with you where your adult can see you. Let’s practice checking that we are together.”
- Do: In the same room, ask pairs to walk a short visible loop and return together. No hiding or separation.
- Ask: “What do you do if you cannot see your buddy?”
- Check: Reinforce staying with the adult partner and telling an adult; do not stage a lost-child scenario.
Movement break (0:15-0:20)
- Do: Lead a few stretches and offer a water break.
- Say: “Let’s reset before we talk about clothes for camp.”
Weather and clothing (0:20-0:32)
- Set up: Use simple pictures or clothing examples for warm, cool, wet, and sunny conditions.
- Say: “We choose clothes for the weather we expect. An adult checks the forecast before we go.”
- Do: Let Scouts match a clothing example to a weather picture. Do not treat today’s example as the actual camp forecast.
- Ask: “What might help if the day is rainy or chilly?”
- Check: The adult partner and Scout discuss the actual expected weather and suitable clothing before the overnight.
Pack the Six Essentials (0:32-0:47)
- Say: “These six items help us be prepared outside: water, a small first-aid kit, a whistle, a flashlight, sun protection, and trail food.”
- Do: Name and show each item. Let Scouts place the examples in a bag, then repack their own essentials with an adult partner at home.
- Ask: “Which item helps you see when it is dark?”
- Safety: Adults manage first-aid supplies and food needs. Do not assume families own the examples.
Campout readiness (0:47-0:55)
- Do: Review only confirmed event details and the general buddy expectation. Direct private record questions to the event leader.
- Say: “Your family will get the final event list and weather plan before camp.”
- Ask privately: “Do you need an access or equipment conversation with the leader?”
- Check: Do not claim the overnight requirement complete before attendance.
Closing and follow-up (0:55-1:00)
- Do: Give families the short reminder. Collect demonstration items and close with a den cheer.
- Say: “Before camp, check the forecast together and pack the Six Essentials. We still need to attend the overnight.”
- Check: Keep requirements 2-4 open until each action happens.