Meeting plan

Lion / On a Roll

On a Roll Den Meeting Plan

Scouts learn about bicycle safety gear, learn bicycle safety rules, and ride using appropriate safety gear while following the rules. The official guide's accepted non-electric options include balance bikes, bikes with training wheels, tricycles, and adaptive bikes; electric and hybrid bikes are not permitted by the guide.

Supported requirements

3, 1, 2

Adventure: On a Roll
Rank: Lion (kindergarten)
Status: Elective
Selected activities: Adult-partner safety-gear check; bicycle-rules discussion; supervised ride on an approved route
Suggested meeting duration: 60 minutes
Estimated leader preparation: 1-2 hours to confirm a suitable route, permission, adult coverage, participant records, equipment and loaners, accessibility, and weather; allow 15 minutes for check-in and equipment cleanup separately. Assumes up to six Scouts with adult partners. Route and equipment logistics may increase effort.

About this adventure

Scouts learn about bicycle safety gear, learn bicycle safety rules, and ride using appropriate safety gear while following the rules. The guide’s accepted non-electric options include balance bikes, bikes with training wheels, tricycles, and adaptive bikes; electric and hybrid bikes are not permitted by the guide. See the adventure page for approved plans and handouts..

Safety and respect

• Review the current official On a Roll guide, SAFE Checklist, Guide to Safe Scouting, route rules, and bicycle-safety guidance before the meeting.
• Inspect each bike and correctly fitted helmet. Arrange suitable loaner or adaptive equipment before the event; do not allow a Scout to ride without required gear.
• Use only an approved, controlled route suitable for the participants. Maintain adult supervision and buddy procedures. Do not ride electric or hybrid bikes for this requirement.
• Check weather, participant health information, water, sun protection, and site access. Reschedule if the route is unsafe or inaccessible.
• Never make the ride a race. Provide a non-riding completion plan only if official guidance permits; otherwise do not claim ride completion without the required activity.

Meeting preparation

Overall preparation effort: High because route assessment, equipment inspection, loaner coordination, adult supervision, records, permission, and weather planning are required. The meeting is not low effort merely because the ride is short.

• Confirm route access, permission, start/finish locations, traffic controls, and a weather backup.
• Confirm each Scout’s suitable bike and helmet in advance. The guide permits balance bikes, training-wheel bikes, tricycles, and adaptive bikes; electric and hybrid bikes are not permitted.
• Complete required participant health-record and event checks through the approved process. Maintain required adult coverage and visibility.
• Tell families about clothing, water, sun protection, and the no-racing expectation. Do not assume families own suitable gear.
• If a safe, accessible route or required equipment cannot be confirmed, postpone the ride and leave requirement 3 incomplete.

Supplies

• Appropriate non-electric bikes, including accepted adaptive options as needed
• Correctly fitted helmets and other required safety gear
• Cub Scout Six Essentials and water as required by the official guide
• Route plan, first-aid kit, and approved participant records handled through the event process
• Cones or signs only if allowed and needed to mark a controlled route

Pre and post meeting activities for scouts

Before

Bring a Lion adult partner and the confirmed bike and helmet. Tell the leader privately about access needs or loaner requirements. Do not ride to the meeting unless the leader has confirmed that route and arrival plan.

After

No additional requirement remains if each Scout learned the gear and rules and completed the supervised ride. If the ride is canceled or a Scout could not participate, arrange an approved follow-up ride with the adult partner and notify the leader when complete.

Completion checklist

• Requirement 1: Scout learned about bicycle safety gear with an adult partner.
• Requirement 2: Scout learned bicycle safety rules.
• Requirement 3: Scout rode with required safety gear while following the rules. This remains incomplete if the ride did not occur.

Sample Agenda

Leader notes and talking points

Welcome and safety check (0:00-0:05)

• Set up: Have adult partners check in with the leader; keep bikes stopped until instructions are complete.
• Say: “We ride together, wear our safety gear, and follow the route rules. This is not a race.”
• Ask: “Are you with your adult partner?”
• Do: Make a go/no-go decision using current conditions and the approved route plan.

Gear check (0:05-0:15)

• Say: “Let’s check the gear that helps protect us before riding.”
• Do: Follow current official bicycle-safety guidance. Adult partners check helmet fit and condition and inspect other required gear.
• Ask: “What do you check before you ride?”
• Check: Each Scout participates with an adult partner. Do not ride if a required helmet or other essential gear is missing or unsuitable.

Bicycle rules (0:15-0:25)

• Set up: Use the confirmed route map and official activity guidance.
• Say: “We’ll practice the rules that keep our group predictable and safe.”
• Do: Explain only rules that apply to this route and are supported by the official guidance. Demonstrate stopping and staying with the group.
• Ask: “What do you do when the leader gives the stop signal?”
• Check: The Scout demonstrates understanding before the ride.

Bike and route check (0:25-0:30)

• Do: Check bike fit, tires, brakes, helmet, water, and buddy grouping using the approved event procedure.
• Say: “If something does not feel right, tell your adult partner and stop.”
• Ask: “Can you reach the controls comfortably?”
• Safety: Use adaptive equipment or a different approved bike type where needed; no electric or hybrid bikes.

Supervised ride (0:30-0:50)

• Do: Lead a controlled ride on the approved route. Keep adults actively supervising and the group together. Allow a comfortable pace and breaks as needed.
• Say: “Ride at a pace that feels safe and keep your adult partner in sight.”
• Ask: “Are we still together and on the planned route?”
• Check: Record actual participation. A canceled or shortened ride does not count as complete if the requirement has not been met.

Return and equipment check (0:50-0:55)

• Do: Count participants, secure bikes, offer water, and check for injuries or equipment concerns.
• Say: “We stop together and check in before putting gear away.”

Closing and completion check (0:55-1:00)

• Ask: “What safety rule helped us on our ride?”
• Do: Thank adult partners and close with a den cheer.
• Check: Leave the ride requirement open for any Scout who did not complete it.