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Hiking Club

The Hiking Club gives each cub scout an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors, have fun, and instill respect for nature and our environment.

Additionally, scouts can work on skills and rank advancements, such as learning about wildlife, and using a map and compass.

Scouts will earn recognition based on miles hiked with their den, pack, or family. Hike any time and earn recognition!

Hiking Club Awards can be displayed with a leather cord hung from the cub scout uniform pocket or on a hiking stick (see “how to make a hiking stick” section).

1 mile hiked

green bead

5 miles hiked

UV reactive glow-in-the-dark bead

20 miles hiked

Glow-in-the-dark bear claw

50 miles hiked

woggle

HIKING CLUB RULES

A “hike” is defined as walking on a non-paved nature trail, such as is found in local Metroparks, State, or national park. (For example, walking 8 miles while visiting Cedar Point to ride roller coasters for the day doesn’t count.)
Miles can only be accrued when the scout is hiking.
The hike must be intentional. This means a planned hike with intent of being in nature to enjoy nature.
Miles can not be accrued walking from one place to the next which happens to involve being outside, such as walking across a field to get to a friends house.
As always, practice the principles of 🔗Leave No Trace Principles and 🔗Outdoor Code.
Plan your hike. Determine which trail you plan on hiking, and only hike on marked trails. Bring sufficient food and water, and dress appropriately for the duration of the hike.
Not required but strongly encouraged: Wear something that represents scouting. Rank hat, class B shirt, etc. Scouts should be proud to represent scouting and may even have the opportunity to encourage others to join scouting.
Carry a pack with the Cub Scout 6 Essentials. See our Recommended Gear page for more information on the 6 Essentials

REPORTING OF MILES

Reporting of miles is on the honor system (remember, a scout is TRUSTWORTHY) and must be reported to the Hike Master, who will record your miles hiked into Scoutbook and award the appropriate recognition level at the next pack meeting.

Use the Contact Us form on our FAQ|Ask page to report your miles and location of the hike.

HOW TO MAKE A HIKING STICK

credit: Sherry Smothermon-Short

Supplies:

1 1/8” x 4’ Dowel rod
20 mm compass
17’ of 550 paracord - 🔗https://amzn.to/3ItQgua
Rubber furniture leg tip (1 1/8” diameter)
Danish or tung oil
Wood glue
- *optional* safety/survival whistle

Tools and Equipment:

1/4 “ drill bit
20 mm Forstner drill bit
Sandpaper
*optional* wood burning tool

9 Steps to Construct a Hiking Stick:

1. Start by drilling a 20 mm hole in the top of the dowel rod. This is for the compass. Make sure the hole is deep enough for the compass to sit level with the top of the rod. Drill two holes for the handle. The first should be approximately 3″ from the top (where the compass will be), and the second should be approximately 9″ from the top.

2. Sand the dowel rod to remove any wax or varnish.

3. *optional step* Draw designs with a pencil (strongly encourage including their name and date somewhere on the stick). Suggestions for designs might include favorite characters or sports teams. The scout can also add measuring marks to the bottom of his/her stick. The scout should not draw between the two holes because anything there will be covered up by the paracord handle.

4. *optional step* Trace drawings with wood burning tool. Parents or den leaders should do this step. Using a wood burning tool, trace over the drawings the scout has done so that the designs are burned into the wood.

5. Using a clean rag, apply the Danish or Tung oil generously to the hiking stick. Keep rubbing the stick until the wood seems to stop absorbing the oil. Allow the stick to dry overnight, and apply another coat. Repeat until you've applied 3 or 4 coats. Make sure you've sealed the inside of the holes, the top and the bottom of the rod. Allow (at least) a full 48-72 hours after the final coat for full curing. The finish should not feel sticky or oily when fully cured.

6. Attach compass and rubber tip. Glue the compass into the recessed area on the top of the hiking stick. If needed, glue the rubber tip to the bottom.

7.1. Wrap paracord handle (option 1):

Watch and mimic the following YouTube video

7.2. Wrap paracord handle (option 2):

Insert one end of the paracord through the top hole. Pull through the hole leaving about 9″ – 12″ hanging free. This will be part of the wrist strap.
Insert the other end through the bottom hole, and pull tight.
Start wrapping the handle grip up toward the top hole. On the first wrap around the dowel, pass the cord you're wrapping between the paracord “line” and the dowel rod. This will keep the paracord from slipping.
The second wrap will go over the top of the paracord “line”. The third pass will go between the line and the dowel rod.
** Continue alternating between going over the top of the “line” and going between the “line” and the rod.
** Every couple of passes, push the cord down so that there are no gaps between the paracord wraps. Wrap the cord tight, and wrap as high/close to the top hole as possible
When you reach the top hole, insert the cord through it going in the same direction as the other part of the wrist strap. Tie a square knot to keep tension on the wrapped part of the handle.

8. *optional step* thread the paracord through the safety/survival whistle.

9. Trim the bottom of the paracord ends to the desired length: this will be the handle/wrist strap. Then secure the loose ends of the paracord together using a square knot or fusing the ends of the paracord together (parent or den leader step).

10. Test out your hiking stick!

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