Welcome to the
Pack 751 Hiking Club
Why did your son want to join Scouting? He wanted to do out-of-doors stuff - hike, camp, and explore nature. To that end, Pack 751 has started a “Hiking Club”. Beginning June 2011, the pack will hike monthly, year- round.
On his first hike, the Scout earns a “Miles Hiked” patch. After that, miles are tracked, and the Scout earns “segments” for each 10 miles that he hikes.
The Scout will also earn a hiking stick along the way. The stick will be awarded after the Scout reaches the 25-mile mark. Very soon, it will be the exception for a Scout not to have received his hiking stick, and by the time they finish Webelos most of the Scouts who start in the beginning ranks will have more than 100 miles! A determined Scout will likely cross-over to Boy Scouts with more than 200 miles!
We recommend that not only Scouts earn a hiking stick, but also their parents, guardians, and siblings. If they choose, the pack will record their miles hiked, too. However, until a younger boy becomes a Scout, miles hiked don’t count toward the Hiking Club. Also, any non-Scouts will be responsible for the costs of their awards. While the pack encourages families to hike as often as they can, recognition and mile-tracking will only include pack-sponsored hikes.
GETTING STARTED
Hiking Coordinator: We will need one of the parents to volunteer as the Pack “Hiking Coordinator”. This individual scheduling the hikes and tracking miles.
Hike lengths will typically range 3 – 7 miles. Tigers have no problem with 3 – 4 mile hikes. We just ensure that the parent-guardian brings plenty of water along, and a few snacks (for both of them).
On longer hikes we will typically eat lunch on the trail (practicing “Leave No Trace” at all times). Scouts will carry water bottles and may use day packs (or their parent-guardian acts as the beast of burden). On warmer weather hikes, a small water bottle is not enough for even the smallest Scout.
During winter, prior to departure, we will need to double-check the dress of the Scouts (particularly newer Scouts) to ensure they are properly prepared. If not, we will need to wait for them to go and pick up the forgotten, hat, gloves, mittens, coat, boots, etc.
On all hikes, an adult leader will be assigned to the “tail” position. No one is allowed behind this individual. The Pack hikes as a unit. We start together, break together, etc., with everyone following the same trail. We may allow an older Scout to “Lead”. We will usually work in map reading with them, where we have a route we want to take on the map. It’s up to the Scout to sort out to sort out the forks, etc., in the trail. However, they will have their parent-guardian with them also. We will also introduce the Scouts to geocaching, which involves using a GPS to locate hidden caches in the woods.
Benefits:
1) Very outdoor-oriented (Council surveys have indicated that one of the key items our Scouts want is more camping and outdoor activities).
2) Helps ready Scout for Boy Scouts. By their Webelos year, they are very comfortable in outdoor situations.
3) Recruitment. The hiking stick is a very positive incentive for new Scouts.
4) Increases participation in the Pack. Scouts look forward to earning their hiking stick, feathers, etc.
5) Miles transfer to Boy Scouts.
6) Easy to reinforce buddy system along trail, walks to outhouse, etc.
7) Numerous opportunities to draw in Scouting requirements and lessons.
Challenges to Running:
1) Need adult volunteer willing to track and schedule hikes.
2) Someone needs to make hiking sticks.
3) Need two-deep supervision (minimum) on all hikes.
4) Need to remain mindful of safety. Most common issue is hydration.
Contacts: Eric McIntosh, Pack 751 Cubmaster, eric@pack751.com
