AGE APPROPRIATE GUIDELINES

FOR SCOUTING ACTIVITIES LION TIGER

Age- and rank-appropriate guidelines have been developed

based on many factors. When planning activities outside of LIONS TIGERS WOLF/BEAR WEBELOS ARROW OF SCOUTS BSA OLDER SCOUTS BSA,
program materials or handbooks, ask this question: (WITH ADULT (WITH ADULT SCOUTS Fourth Grade LIGHT SEA SCOUTS,
PARTNER)
TI
TIG
GER
PARTNER) Second and Third SCOUTS VENTURERS
Is the activity appropriate for the age and for Scouting? Kindergarten First Grade Fifth Grade
Grades “Older Scouts BSA” are age 13
Not every activity needs to be conducted. and have completed eighth grade
or 14 years old and up.
N

Outdoor Skills
Hunting Prohibited

Mountaineering/Scrambling/Cross-Country Travel √
Search and Rescue Missions √
Search and Rescue Practice √ √
Fueled Devices (Stoves and lanterns) √ √
Hiking—Multiple Day √ √
Mountain Boards √ √
Orienteering √ √
Wilderness Survival Training √ √
Fire Building √ √ √ √
Pioneering √ √ √ √
Cooking Outdoors √ √ √ √
Horseback Riding √ √ √ √ √
Map and Compass Map only √ √ √ √ √
Pioneering Towers (Check requirements for height restrictions.) Council/district events only √ √ √ √
Rope Bridges (Check requirements for height restrictions.) Council/district events only √ √ √ √
Conservation Projects √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Fishing √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Hiking—Day √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Tools (See SAFE Project Tool Use Guidelines: filestore.scouting.org/filestore/healthsafety/pdf/680-028.pdf)
Power Tools—Chain Saws, Log Splitters, Wood Chippers, Power Saws Adult use only
See
Power Tools SAFE Project Tool Use
Axes √ √
Bow Saws √ √ √ √
Cub Scouts must earn the knife safety Adventure
Pocketknife for their rank and must recertify each year. √ √
Hand Tools √ √ √ √ √ √
Trekking
Horse Treks √
Backpacking—Overnight, Backcountry √ √
Bike Treks—Multiple Overnights √ √
Ski Touring—Multiple Days and Nights Carrying Gear √ √
Range and Target Activities (Policy as of 9/01/2024. See Range and Target Activities Manual for program details. Activities outside program literature is prohibited.)
Council-sponsored events and
Pistols – NRA FIRST Steps Program Only day camps, short-term camps,
long-term camps
Council-sponsored events and
Specialty Programs – Cowboy Action day camps, short-term camps,
long-term camps

Specialty Programs – Airsoft √ √

Council-sponsored events and day camps,
Specialty Programs – Chalkball short-term camps, long-term camps

.22 Bolt Action Rifle √ √

Shotguns √ √
Muzzleloaders – Rifle and Shotgun Only √ √
Archery – Field Council-sponsored events and day camps, short-term camps, long-term camps √ √
Archery – Target, Action (moving targets) √ √
Pellet Rifle Council-sponsored long-term camps √ √
BB Guns Council-sponsored events and day camps, short-term camps, long-term camps √ √
Slingshots/Wrist Rockets Council-sponsored events and day camps, short-term camps, long-term camps √ √
Catapults/Trebuchets Projectiles must be soft and small (no larger than a tennis ball).

Camping (See Guide to Safe Scouting: www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss)

Camping as a
den or pack
at council’s
Camping as a den
designated
or pack
Unit-Coordinated Camping Camping as a pack at council’s designated locations at council’s
designated
location. May
camp with Scouts √ √
BSA troops at
locations
troop- or council-
sponsored
short-term camps

Council-Coordinated Camping √ √ √ √ √ √ √
AGE APPROPRIATE GUIDELINES
FOR SCOUTING ACTIVITIES LION TIGER

Age- and rank-appropriate guidelines have been developed

based on many factors. When planning activities outside of LIONS TIGERS WEBELOS ARROW OF
WOLF/BEAR SCOUTS BSA OLDER SCOUTS BSA,
program materials or handbooks, ask this question: (WITH ADULT (WITH ADULT
TI
TIG
GER SCOUTS Fourth Grade LIGHT SEA SCOUTS,
Is the activity appropriate for the age and for Scouting? PARTNER) PARTNER)
Second and Third SCOUTS VENTURERS
Kindergarten First Grade Fifth Grade
Grades “Older Scouts BSA” are age 13
Not every activity needs to be conducted. and have completed eighth
grade or 14 years old and up.

Vehicles
All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV) Approved council use only; no unit use

Personal Water Craft (PWC) Approved council use only; no unit use

BMX Biking √ √ √ √ √
Mountain Biking √ √ √ √ √
Bike—Day Trip √ √ √ √ √ √ √
COPE and Climbing
Caving (other than simple novice activities) √
Lead Climbing √
Snow and Ice Climbing √
Belaying √ √
Natural Rock Climbing/Top Rope Belayed √ √
Amusements—Aerial Adventure Parks √ √
Amusements—Canopy Tours √ √
Amusements—Zip Lines √ √
Rappelling √ √ √ √
COPE Age-appropriate initiative games √ √
Bouldering √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Climbing (age-appropriate man-made facility) √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Aquatics (See Safe Swim Defense, and Safety Afloat for restrictions based on skills, such as swimming ability, rather than age.)
Aerial Towed Activities (kitesurfing, parasails) Prohibited

Cliff Jumping, High Dives Prohibited

Triathlon: Swim Races in Open Water Sanctioned events

Paddle Sports: Youth Operated on Class III or Above Whitewater √

Paddle Sports: Whitewater With Professional Guide on Board √ √
Paddle Sports: Youth Operated on Class I or II Whitewater √ √
Motorboats: Youth Operated (check state regulations) √ √
Overnight Cruise on Live-Aboard Vessel √ √
Sailboats and Sailboards: Youth Operated √ √
Snorkeling in Open Water √ √
Scuba √ √
Surfing √ √
Towed Activities (waterskiing, knee boarding, floats) √ √
Tubing (floating in gently flowing water) √ √ √ √ √
Paddle Sports: Youth Operated on Calm or Gently Flowing Water Passengers only Paddle sports include canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, rafts, rowboats, SUP

Commercial Marine Transport (ferries, excursion ships) √ √ √ √ √ √ √

Day Rides on Large Private Craft With Trained Adult Operator √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Swimming √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Snorkeling in Confined Water √ √ √ √ √ √ √
Water Parks, Slides, and Floating Attractions Appropriate age varies by feature

680-685
08/24 Revision