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.

  Not Allowed
  Allowed with Restrictions
  Allowed

OUTDOOR SKILLS

TIGER CUBS
(with Adult Partner)
WOLF AND 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          
ioneering          
Rope Bridges*          
Survival Training          
Winter Camping          
* Check requirements for height restrictions.

SPORTS

TIGER CUBS
(with Adult Partner)
WOLF AND 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 AND 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 AND 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 AND BEAR
CUB SCOUTS
WEBELOS SCOUTS BOY SCOUTS OLDER BOY SCOUTS,
VARSITY SCOUTS,
AND VENTURERS
Driving Derbies          
Motorized Off-Road Bikes          
Snowmobiles          

AIRCRAFT

TIGER CUBS
(with Adult Partner)
WOLF AND 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 AND 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 Council/District Outdoor Programs Only Council/District Outdoor Programs Only    
BB Guns Council/District Outdoor Programs Only Council/District Outdoor Programs Only Council/District Outdoor Programs Only    
Catapults          
Shotgun          
Slingshots Council/District Outdoor Programs Only Council/District Outdoor Programs Only Council/District Outdoor Programs Only    

AQUATICS

TIGER CUBS
(with Adult Partner)
WOLF AND BEAR
CUB SCOUTS
WEBELOS SCOUTS BOY SCOUTS OLDER BOY SCOUTS,
VARSITY SCOUTS,
AND VENTURERS
Canoeing—Flat Water Council/District Outdoor Programs Only Council/District Outdoor Programs Only Council/District Outdoor Programs Only    
Canoeing—Flowing Water          
Kayaking—Flat Water Council/District Outdoor Programs Only Council/District Outdoor Programs Only Council/District Outdoor Programs Only    
Kayaking—Flowing Water          
Motorboating—Adult Operated   Council/District Outdoor Programs Only Council/District Outdoor Programs Only    
Motorboating—Youth Operated          
Rafting—Flat Water Council/District Outdoor Programs Only Council/District Outdoor Programs Only Council/District Outdoor Programs Only    
Rafting—Flowing Water          
Rowing—Flat Water Council/District Outdoor Programs Only Council/District Outdoor Programs Only Council/District Outdoor Programs Only    
Rowing—Flowing Water          
Sailboarding          
Sailing—Adult Operated Council/District Outdoor Programs Only Council/District Outdoor Programs Only 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 AND 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          
Boy Scouts of America