Start a Hike Club!

Looking for an easy, fun way to get Scouts and families outdoors and engaged? Start a Hike Club—a simple, flexible activity that builds connection, adventure, and excitement with minimal planning.

Key Takeaways: Keep It Simple, Make It Fun

· Don’t overthink it. There’s no need for complicated schedules or formal structure. Pick a date, time, and location—and go!

· Be flexible. Weather and other circumstances happen. It’s okay to shorten, change, or reroute a hike as needed.

· Choose a destination with a payoff. A scenic overlook, waterfall, historical site, or wildlife area adds excitement and motivation.

· Include families. An adult partner is required on all hikes, and often the whole family joins in.

· Use it as a recruiting opportunity. Encourage Scouts to invite friends—Hike Club is a great introduction to Cub Scouting.

Purpose of the Hike Club

Hike Club is designed to get Scouts outdoors on a regular basis, helping them experience and connect with the serenity, beauty, and wonders of nature. Along the way, Scouts may:

· Observe wildlife and birds

· Learn about plants, geology, weather, and local history

· Explore new environments and develop confidence outdoors

Packs can hike year-round, in different seasons and times of day, and at a variety of locations—such as wildlife refuges, city parks, conservation land, town forests, and state parks.

As Scouts participate, they can accumulate hiking miles, earning recognition at certain milestones. Hike Club also supports advancement, with many opportunities to complete outdoor-related awards, belt loops, rank and badge requirements, and required Cub Scout adventures.

Best of all, the whole family is welcome.

No screens, no distractions—just Scouts, families, and a positive Pack community enjoying fresh air, peaceful surroundings, amazing scenery, wildlife, and shared experiences. On every hike, we see imaginations spark, curiosity grow, and a lifelong appreciation for the outdoors begin—often without Scouts even realizing it.

Sample Hike Club Description

Pack 4 Gaspee Plateau Hike Club

Each month, Pack 4 will host a family-friendly hike at a different local location. Families are invited to explore the outdoors together while spending quality time with fellow Scouts. Hikes are designed to be fun, flexible, and accessible for all ages.

Suggested Hike Club Incentives for Cub Scouts

· Scouts earn mileage credits by participating in Pack-sponsored hikes.

· Families who hike independently may submit a photo from their hike along with the mileage completed, and those miles will be added to the Scout’s total.

· Accumulated miles contribute toward Pack-level recognition and celebrations.

· To keep enthusiasm high, Packs may choose to offer additional incentives and rewards, outlined below.

	First Hike Recognition - Hike Club patch After completing their first Pack hike, Scouts receive a Hike Club patch. Packs are encouraged to design and create their own unique patch to build Pack pride.
	Mileage Milestones Scouts earn a 10-mile patch segment once they reach ten total miles. For every additional ten miles hiked, Scouts receive the corresponding segment. Packs again have the option to design custom segments that reflect their identity.
	25-Mile Award Upon reaching 25 miles, Scouts receive their very own hiking stick, a lasting symbol of their outdoor adventures. Units are encouraged to watch for seasonal sales and discounts at local outdoor retailers throughout the year, making this award both meaningful for Scouts and affordable for Packs.
	100-Mile Elite Recognition Scouts who hike 100 miles are inducted into a Pack-created Elite Hiking Club. Packs can name this group to honor a local outdoor champion or role model. Example: The Ken Weber Society, named for Ken Weber, a longtime editor and nature writer for the Providence Journal. Weber authored multiple hiking guides to Rhode Island’s trails and forests and was widely respected for his passion for the outdoors and his ability to inspire others to explore and appreciate nature.