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Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities

Criteria For Assessing Whether An Activity Is Age-Appropriate

These criteria are designed to assist unit leaders in determining what activities are age-appropriate.  Activities that do not appear on the chart should be reviewed using these criteria.

• The group-based activity matches the training and experience of participants.  The group has the ability to successfully complete the activity.
• The activity complies with the policies and procedures in the Guide to Safe Scouting, No. 34416C.
• The activity supports or is in harmony with Scouting values.
• The activity adds to the life experiences, knowledge, or abilities of participants
• The unit or group receives training appropriate to the activity.

In addition to the general criteria, the following program-specific criteria apply.

Cub Scouting

• The activity is parent/youth- or family-orientated.
• The activity is conducted with adult supervision.
• Cub Scouts are asked to do their best.
• The activity is discovery-based.

Boy Scouting

• Activities are led by youth and approved and supervised by adults.
• Activities are patrol- or troop-oriented.
• Activities meet standards and advancement requirements.
• Activities are experience-based.

Venturing/Varsity Scouting

• Activities are led by youth and supported by adults.
• Youth participants develop and plan activities and set and meet their own challenges.
• Activities are socially based with coed participation.

Why have these guidelines been developed?

1. To provide national consistency for what is offered for BSA youth programs and activities
2. To Match the degree of difficulty of activities to the age and rank of participants, thereby helping to avoid accidents and injuries
3. To help retain youth membership in BSA programs by offering activities with a progression of challenge, duration and intensity
4. To help strike a balance among parents, leader, and youth expectations
5. To provide some protection for unit leaders by establishing parameters for programs and activities

AGE-APPROPRIATE GUIDELINES FOR SCOUTING ACTIVITIES

Age- and rank-appropriate guidelines have been developed based on the mental, physical, emotional, and social maturity of Boy Scouts of America youth members.  These guidelines apply to Cub Scout packs, Boy Scout troops, Varsity Scout teams, and Venturing crews.
OUTDOOR SKILLS	Tiger Cubs (With Adult Partner)	Wolf/Bear Cub Scouts	Webelos Scouts	Boy Scouts	Older Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers
Camping - Day
Camping - Family
Camping - Resident
Camporees			Visit Only
Conservation Projects
Cooking Outdoors
Fire Building
Fishing
Fueled Devices
Hiking - Day
Hiking - Multiple Day
Horseback Riding
Hunting					Venturers Only
Map and Compass	Map Only
Mountain Bike Day Rides
Mountaineering/Scrambling/ Cross-Country Travel
Orienteering
Pioneering
Rope Bridges*
Survival Training
Winter Camping
* Check requirements for height restrictions.

SPORTS	Tiger Cubs (With Adult Partner)	Wolf/Bear Cub Scouts	Webelos Scouts	Boy Scouts	Older Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers
Field/Wide Games
Flag Football
Gymnastics
Ice Hockey
Ice Skating
Martial Arts—Defensive
Roller Blades/Skates
Scooters - Nonmotorized
Skateboarding
Skiing/Snowboarding
Sledding/Tubing
Soccer
Street Hockey

TOOLS	Tiger Cubs (With Adult Partner)	Wolf/Bear Cub Scouts	Webelos Scouts	Boy Scouts	Older Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers
Axes
Bow Saws
Hand Ax
Hand Tools
Pocketknife
Power Tools

TREKKING	Tiger Cubs (With Adult Partner)	Wolf/Bear Cub Scouts	Webelos Scouts	Boy Scouts	Older Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers
Backpacking - Overnight, Backcountry
Bike Treks - Day Ride
Bike Treks - Multiple Overnights
Horse Treks
Search and Rescue Missions
Search and Rescue Practice
Ski Touring - Multiple Days and Nights Carrying Gear

VEHICLES	Tiger Cubs (With Adult Partner)	Wolf/Bear Cub Scouts	Webelos Scouts	Boy Scouts	Older Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers
Driving Derbies
Go Carts (Commercial)
Motorized Off-Road Bikes
Snowmobiles

AIRCRAFT	Tiger Cubs (With Adult Partner)	Wolf/Bear Cub Scouts	Webelos Scouts	Boy Scouts	Older Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers
Commercial Flight Experience
Ground School
Hands-On Flying Experience
Orientation Flight

SHOOTING	Tiger Cubs (With Adult Partner)	Wolf/Bear Cub Scouts	Webelos Scouts	Boy Scouts	Older Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers
.22 Rifle
Archery—Field
Archery—Target, Action (Moving targets)	Council/District Outdoor Programs Only
BB Guns	Council/District Outdoor Programs Only
Catapults
Shotgun
Slingshots	Council/District Outdoor Programs Only

AQUATICS	Tiger Cubs (With Adult Partner)	Wolf/Bear Cub Scouts	Webelos Scouts	Boy Scouts	Older Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers
Canoeing—Flat Water	Council/District Outdoor Programs Only
Canoeing—Flowing Water
Kayaking—Flat Water			Council/District Outdoor Programs Only
Kayaking—Flowing Water
Motorboating—Adult Operated		Council/District Outdoor Programs Only
Motorboating—Youth Operated
Rafting—Flat Water	Council/District Outdoor Programs Only
Rafting—Flowing Water
Rowing—Flat Water
Rowing—Flowing Water
Sailboarding
Sailing—Adult Operated	Council/District Outdoor Programs Only
Sailing—Youth Operated
Discover Scuba Training
Scuba
Snorkeling (For swimmers only)
Surfing
Swimming
Tubing
Waterskiing

CLIMBING	Tiger Cubs (With Adult Partner)	Wolf/Bear Cub Scouts	Webelos Scouts	Boy Scouts	Older Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, and Venturers
Belaying
Bouldering
Caving (Other than simple novice activities)
Climbing—Commercial or Horizontal Wall
Climbing—Rock
Climbing—Vertical Wall or Tower
Initiative Games
Lead Climbing
Project COPE				A Few Low-Course and High-Course Activities
Rappelling
Snow and Ice Climbing

The BSA recognizes that youth in various parts of the country develop at different rates.  These guidelines are designed to demonstrate the mainstream of youth capabilities.  For instance, Cub Scouts may be involved in winter camping in Alaska, where cold-weather activities are part of the culture.  On the West Coast and Gulf Coast, surfing may be appropriate for Boy Scouts.  In the Northeast, youth begin playing street and ice hockey at an early age. 

Because of the varying development rates among youth, these activity guidelines are flexible and should not be perceived as requirements or rules.  They address the mainstream of youth abilities while allowing for exceptions for Scouting units and groups based on the consideration and judgment of unit, district, and council committees and boards.  Older Boy Scouts should be at least 13 years of age by January 1 of the year they participate.  All participation in activities must comply with federal, state and local regulations.

18-260
2002 Printing

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