LION
LIONS
(WITH ADULT
PARTNER)
Kindergarten
TIGER
TI
TI
G
G
ER
ER
TIGERS
(WITH ADULT
PARTNER)
First Grade
WOLF/BEAR
SCOUTS
Second and Third
Grades
WEBELOS
Fourth Grade
ARROW OF
LIGHT
SCOUTS
Fifth Grade
SCOUTS BSA
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
Power Tools
See
SAFE Project Tool Use
Axes
√ √
Bow Saws
√ √ √ √
Pocketknife
Cub Scouts must earn the knife safety Adventure
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.)
Pistols – NRA FIRST Steps Program Only
Council-sponsored events and
day camps, short-term camps,
long-term camps
Specialty Programs – Cowboy Action
Council-sponsored events and
day camps, short-term camps,
long-term camps
Specialty Programs – Airsoft
√ √
Specialty Programs – Chalkball
Council-sponsored events and day camps,
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).
OLDER SCOUTS BSA,
SEA SCOUTS,
VENTURERS
“Older Scouts BSA” are age 13
and have completed eighth grade
or 14 years old and up.
AGE APPROPRIATE GUIDELINES
FOR SCOUTING ACTIVITIES
Age- and rank-appropriate guidelines have been developed
based on many factors. When planning activities outside of
program materials or handbooks, ask this question:
Is the activity appropriate for the age and for Scouting?
Not every activity needs to be conducted.
Camping (See Guide to Safe Scouting: www.scouting.org/health-and-safety/gss)
Unit-Coordinated Camping
Camping as a pack at council’s designated locations
Camping as a den
or pack
at council’s
designated
locations
Camping as a
den or pack
at council’s
designated
location. May
camp with Scouts
BSA troops at
troop- or council-
sponsored
short-term camps
√ √
Council-Coordinated Camping
√ √ √ √ √ √ √
N
LION
LIONS
(WITH ADULT
PARTNER)
Kindergarten
TIGER
TI
TI
G
G
ER
ER
TIGERS
(WITH ADULT
PARTNER)
First Grade
WOLF/BEAR
SCOUTS
Second and Third
Grades
WEBELOS
Fourth Grade
ARROW OF
LIGHT
SCOUTS
Fifth Grade
SCOUTS BSA
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
OLDER SCOUTS BSA,
SEA SCOUTS,
VENTURERS
“Older Scouts BSA” are age 13
and have completed eighth
grade or 14 years old and up.
AGE APPROPRIATE GUIDELINES
FOR SCOUTING ACTIVITIES
Age- and rank-appropriate guidelines have been developed
based on many factors. When planning activities outside of
program materials or handbooks, ask this question:
Is the activity appropriate for the age and for Scouting?
Not every activity needs to be conducted.
680-685
08/24 Revision
