Troop Meeting Activities
During troop meetings, Scouts engage in Scout skill challenges, team building opportunities, patrol games, and troop games.
Program Features Activities
There are 48 themed program features in the following categories: Outdoor, Sports, Health and Safety, Citizenship and Personal Development, STEM, and Arts and Hobbies, each with their own set of corresponding activities.
Other Troop Outings
For other fun troop activities, consult your district and council websites and the Senior Patrol Leader Handbook. Some of these activities may include the following:
- Day Hikes – reasonably short hikes (3 to 10 miles) in terrain without a lot of elevation gain or loss.
- Service Projects – projects that may be related to conservation, food collection, building shelter, or healthy living activities.
- Patrol Activities – A Scout patrol may hike or camp with other patrols in the unit or, with the permission of their Scoutmaster and parents or guardians, may hike or camp on their own with appropriate 2-deep adult leadership.
- Weekend overnights – Troops that plan and carry out outings once a month attract and retain Scouts at a much higher level than those that have fewer outings during the year.
District Camporees
Many Scouting districts offer one or more annual “camporees” open to all Scouts BSA troops in the district. They often include competitions intended for patrols or perhaps entire troops. Consult your local district website for upcoming camporees. Also, consider consulting the websites of nearby districts to see what they may be offering.
Council Activities
Many Scouting councils offer one or more activities open to all Scouts BSA troops in the council. They may be a council wide event similar to a camporee, or a service project, or a special event that doesn’t occur every year. Consult your local district website for upcoming camporees. Also, consider consulting websites of nearby councils to see what they may offer.
Scouts BSA Camps
Scouts BSA Summer Camps provide a variety of activities related to the advancement program, as well as a wide range of special outdoor opportunities and inter-troop fun. Follow the above link for information about some selected summer camps. Consult the websites of your local council and adjacent councils for information about your local summer camps and other nearby summer camps your troop might want to try. Read about some “cool camps” at ScoutingMagazine.org.
National Jamboree
The National Jamboree is the Boy Scouts of America’s flagship event. Held every four years, this ten day gathering for thousands of Scouts showcases everything that is great about Scouting.
JOTI
Jamboree-on-the-Internet, or JOTI, held annually the third full weekend in October, is an international Scouting event sponsored by the World Organization of the Scout Movement. Scouts from around the world gather online communicating with each other using Internet-enabled devices such as computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones.
JOTA
Jamboree-on-the-Air, or JOTA, is an international Scouting event sponsored by the World Organization of the Scout Movement. Scouts from around the world communicate with each other using amateur or “ham” radio.
NOAC
The National Order of the Arrow Conference (NOAC) is a major biannual event for members of Scouting’s national honor society.
World Jamboree
The World Scout Jamboree is a gathering of the World Organization of the Scout Movement in a celebration of cultural exchange, mutual understanding, peace, and friendship. Held approximately every four years, in a different country each time, this gathering of thousands of Scouts from all over the world showcases everything that is great about Scouting.