Cub Scout Pack 3291Prairie Village, Kansas

Resources

Practical stuff for pack families — packing lists, program links, and answers we find ourselves giving often. More guides (including rank-by-rank adventure explainers for parents) are on the way.

Family campout packing list

Cub Scout campouts are family campouts — a parent or guardian camps with their scout. This list covers a typical one- or two-night pack campout. Print it and check things off as you pack (your browser's Print button gives you a clean checklist copy).

Sleeping

  • Tent (with stakes & rainfly — set it up at home once first)
  • Sleeping bag for each camper
  • Sleeping pad or air mattress
  • Pillow
  • Extra blanket (spring/fall nights get cold)

Clothing (per person)

  • Class A uniform shirt for flag ceremonies
  • Layers: t-shirts, warm fleece or hoodie, jacket
  • Long pants + shorts (weather-dependent)
  • Rain jacket or poncho
  • Closed-toe shoes (two pairs — one will get wet)
  • Extra socks & underwear (then pack one more of each)
  • Warm hat or sun hat by season
  • Pajamas / sleep clothes

Eating & drinking

  • Refillable water bottle (labeled with your scout's first name)
  • Mess kit or plate, bowl, cup & utensils
  • Camp chair for each camper
  • Snacks in critter-proof containers

The small stuff that saves the trip

  • Flashlight or headlamp per person (+ spare batteries)
  • Sunscreen & bug spray
  • Personal medications (adults keep and give all meds)
  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, small towel
  • Wet wipes — trust us
  • Trash bag for wet/dirty clothes
  • Scout handbook
  • First-aid basics for your family (the pack brings a full kit)

Leave at home: electronics and games (campouts are for the outdoors), valuables, and anything your scout would cry about losing. Specific campouts may add items — watch for the event details.

Day-hike packing list

For pack hikes on local trails — an hour or three of walking with kid-sized legs. One small backpack per family usually does it (scouts love carrying their own, and that's worth encouraging).

Wear

  • Closed-toe shoes already broken in (sneakers are fine — this is Kansas, not Everest)
  • Weather layers: hat, jacket, or sun shirt by season
  • Socks that won't slide down (the #1 cause of tiny-hiker mutiny)

Carry

  • Water bottle per person — full when you leave the car
  • More snacks than seems reasonable
  • Sunscreen & bug spray
  • Small first-aid kit (bandages fix most morale problems)
  • Rain poncho if the sky looks opinionated

Fun to bring

  • Kid binoculars or a magnifying glass
  • A "collection bag" for treasures (rocks are heavy; you've been warned)
  • Scout handbook — some adventures can be signed off on the trail
  • Camera duty for a scout who likes a job

Leave No Trace, kid edition: take only pictures (and the treasures in your collection bag where allowed), leave only footprints, and pack out every wrapper — snack trash counts.

Handy links for pack families

New: rank guides for parents

What do Lions, Tigers, Wolves, Bears, Webelos, and Arrow of Light scouts actually do? Grade-by-grade guides, written for parents who never scouted.

Ranks by grade Still coming: Pinewood Derby tips. Have a request? Tell us.