Cub Scouts need indoor games? We’ve got you covered with super fun, easy-to-prep activities. Keep your scouts engaged and entertained without a fuss, using simple supplies and teamwork for guaranteed good times indoors!
Rainy days, chilly weather, or just a need for some indoor action? Keeping a den of energetic Cub Scouts entertained inside can feel like a challenge. It’s easy to think you need elaborate setups or tons of space, but that’s not the case! You can create loads of laughter and learning right in your living room or a community hall without breaking a sweat. We’ll explore simple, engaging games that require minimal supplies and maximum fun, perfect for any indoor scout adventure.
Get ready to transform any indoor space into a hub of excitement for your young scouts. We’ll walk through awesome game ideas that are not only fun but also encourage teamwork, problem-solving, and a bit of friendly competition. Let’s dive into how to make indoor scouting a breeze!
Why Indoor Games Are a Lifesaver for Cub Scouts
As a Cub Scout leader or parent, you know that keeping young boys (and girls in mixed dens!) engaged is key. Sometimes, the weather just doesn’t cooperate with our outdoor plans. That’s where a solid repertoire of indoor games becomes a superhero cape for your scouting meetings!
Indoor games are fantastic for several reasons:
- Weatherproof Fun: No more cancelled meetings due to rain, snow, or extreme heat.
- Skill Building: Many indoor games can subtly teach valuable skills like teamwork, communication, memory, and quick thinking.
- Bonding Time: They offer a great opportunity for scouts to connect and build friendships in a relaxed setting.
- Energy Release: Active indoor games can help scouts burn off pent-up energy constructively.
- Low Prep, High Impact: Most require common household items or very few specialized supplies.
The goal is to have fun while reinforcing the values of scouting. These games are designed to be inclusive and adaptable to different age groups within the Cub Scout program.
Top-Tier Games for Cub Scouts Indoors: Effortless Fun Guaranteed
Here are some of our favorite, tried-and-true games that are perfect for indoor Cub Scout meetings and activities. We’ve focused on simplicity, minimal setup, and maximum enjoyment.
1. The Human Knot
This classic icebreaker is fantastic for teamwork and problem-solving. It gets everyone interacting and literally untangling a problem together.
How to Play:
- Have scouts stand in a circle, shoulder to shoulder.
- Instruct them to reach their right hand across the circle and grab the hand of someone else.
- Then, have them reach their left hand across and grab the hand of a different person.
- Now, the fun begins! The group must work together to untangle themselves without letting go of hands.
- The goal is to form a single circle (or sometimes a double circle, depending on how tangled they get!) without breaking the chain.
Tips for Success:
- Encourage communication. Scouts should talk to each other about where they are and what they are trying to do.
- Remind them it’s okay if they get super tangled – that’s part of the challenge!
- If the knot becomes impossible, you can allow them to drop one hand briefly to reposition, but encourage them to restart with no hands down if possible.
2. Charades or Pictionary for Scouts
These drawing and acting games are brilliant for creativity and understanding concepts related to scouting, animals, or nature.
How to Play:
- Prepare a list of words or phrases related to scouting topics (e.g., camping, knot tying, compass, different animals, outdoor activities). You can find great ideas on the official Cub Scouts website.
- Divide the scouts into two or more teams.
- One scout from a team draws a word/phrase from a hat and must act it out (Charades) or draw it (Pictionary) for their team to guess within a time limit (e.g., 60-90 seconds).
- If the team guesses correctly, they earn a point.
- Teams alternate turns.
Tips for Success:
- For Pictionary: Provide large paper pads or a whiteboard and markers. Keep drawings simple and clear.
- For Charades: Use gestures and expressions, but no sounds or pointing to letters.
- Adapt the difficulty of words to the age of the scouts.
3. Indoor Obstacle Course
Turn your meeting space into an adventure zone with a simple indoor obstacle course. This is great for physical activity and friendly competition.
How to Set Up:
- Crawl-Through: Use chairs with blankets draped over them to create tunnels.
- Jump Over: Safely place pillows or cushions on the floor to jump over.
- Balance Beam: Use a line of tape on the floor, or a low, sturdy plank of wood (if safe and supervised) to walk across.
- Target Toss: Set up buckets or laundry baskets and have scouts toss beanbags, crumpled paper balls, or soft toys into them.
- Agility: Set up cones (or water bottles) to weave through.
- Finish Line: A designated spot where scouts cross after completing all challenges.
Tips for Success:
- Prioritize safety. Ensure all obstacles are stable and the pathways are clear of tripping hazards.
- Time each scout or team as they go through the course for a competitive element.
- Have scouts help design and build the course for an added activity!
4. Freeze Dance
A simple, high-energy game that requires almost no setup. Perfect for getting wiggles out!
How to Play:
- Play some fun, upbeat music.
- Scouts dance around the room.
- At random times, pause the music abruptly.
- Scouts must freeze in whatever position they are in.
- Anyone caught moving when the music stops is out (or does a silly dance, or has to do a few jumping jacks, depending on how you play!).
- The last scout dancing wins.
Tips for Success:
- Keep the music varied and fun.
- Vary the length of time the music plays to keep it unpredictable.
- This is a great game for younger scouts who need to expend a lot of energy.
5. Simon Says
This classic listening game is excellent for teaching attention and following instructions, a skill vital for scouts.
How to Play:
- One person is designated as “Simon.”
- Simon gives commands, but scouts only obey commands that start with “Simon says…”
- If Simon gives a command without saying “Simon says” first, and a scout performs the action, that scout is out.
- For example: “Simon says touch your nose” (Scouts touch their nose). “Jump up and down” (Scouts should NOT jump up and down).
- Continue until only one scout remains, or start a new round with a new Simon.
Tips for Success:
- Start with simple commands and gradually increase complexity.
- Encourage scouts to be good sports when they are out.
- This game can be adapted to scouting themes. For instance, “Simon says tie a shoelace knot!” or “Simon says point North!”
6. Scavenger Hunt (Indoor Edition)
A scavenger hunt can be adapted beautifully for indoor spaces, encouraging observation and teamwork.
How to Create:
- List Creation: Make a list of items that can be found within your indoor space. These can be specific objects (e.g., “a red crayon,” “a book with a blue cover”) or categories (e.g., “something soft,” “something that makes a noise”).
- Clues: For older scouts, you can use riddles or clues that lead them from one item to the next. For younger scouts, a simple checklist is perfect.
- Execution: Give teams the list or the first clue and have them race to find all the items.
Tips for Success:
- Scouting Theme: Incorporate scouting items like a neckerchief, a small compass (if available), a knot sample, or a picture of a scout sign.
- Safety First: Ensure all hunt areas are safe and that scouts are not climbing on unstable furniture.
- Teamwork Focus: Encourage scouts to work together to find items.
- You can find printable clue templates and ideas from many scouting resources, like this guide on Scoutlife.
7. Building Challenges
Engage scouts’ creativity and engineering skills with simple building challenges.
Ideas:
- Marshmallow and Toothpick Towers: Provide participants with a bag of marshmallows and a box of toothpicks. Challenge them to build the tallest free-standing tower in a set amount of time.
- Cardboard Box Creations: If you have access to clean cardboard boxes of various sizes, challenge scouts to build a fort, a robot, or a vehicle.
- Newspaper Structures: Give each team a stack of newspapers and masking tape. Their challenge? To build the strongest bridge or the tallest freestanding column.
Tips for Success:
- Set clear objectives and time limits.
- This is a great way to encourage engineering and design thinking.
- Have a judging session where scouts present their creations and explain their design choices.
8. Memory Games: I’m Going on a Picnic
This is a fantastic game for improving memory and learning new things about each other or scouting facts.
How to Play:
- The first scout says, “I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing an apple.”
- The second scout says, “I’m going on a picnic, and I’m bringing an apple, and…” (they add something new that starts with the next letter of the alphabet, or they can make up their own sequence).
- Each scout in the circle must repeat the growing list of items in order and add their own item.
- The game continues around the circle, with each scout having to remember and recite the entire list before adding their own item.
Or, for a scouting twist:
- The first scout says, “I’m going on a camping trip, and I’m bringing…” (e.g., a tent).
- The next scout repeats, “I’m going on a camping trip, and I’m bringing a tent, and…” (e.g., a sleeping bag).
- Continue adding items that are relevant to camping or scouting activities.
Tips for Success:
- Keep the list relatively short for younger scouts to avoid frustration.
- This game can also be played with pictures or objects that scouts have to identify and remember the placement of.
Game Play Considerations for Cub Scouts
When planning indoor games for Cub Scouts, a few key considerations can make all the difference in ensuring success and safety:
Safety First!
Always prioritize the safety of your scouts. Before starting any game, especially those involving movement or potential for mild physical contact:
- Clear the Space: Ensure the play area is free of furniture, sharp objects, or tripping hazards.
- Establish Rules: Clearly explain the rules and any safety guidelines before the game begins.
- Buddy System: For some games, encourage scouts to stay aware of their buddies.
- Supervision: Always maintain adequate adult supervision.
- Appropriate Activities: Choose games that are suitable for the age and physical abilities of your scouts.
Age Appropriateness
Cub Scouts span a range of ages (typically 6-10 years old). Games should be adaptable or chosen based on the average age of your den or pack:
- Tigers (1st Grade): Often enjoy simple games with clear rules, lots of repetition, and physical movement.
- Wolves (2nd Grade): Can handle slightly more complex rules and enjoy more strategic elements.
- Bears (3rd Grade): Are ready for more challenging puzzles, teamwork, and competitive games.
- Webelos (4th & 5th Grade): Can engage in more complex problem-solving, longer-term projects, and leadership roles within games.
Consider breaking older and younger scouts into separate groups for certain games if the age gap is significant.
Materials and Preparation
The beauty of these indoor games is their low material requirement. Most use common household items. Here’s a quick look at what you might need:
| Game | Potential Materials Needed | Preparation Time (Est.) |
|---|---|---|
| Human Knot | None (just scouts!) | 1 minute |
| Charades/Pictionary | Paper, pens/markers, timer, list of words | 5-10 minutes |
| Indoor Obstacle Course | Chairs, blankets, pillows, tape, beanbags/soft balls, buckets/baskets, cones/bottles | 10-20 minutes |
| Freeze Dance | Music player, fun music | 2 minutes |
| Simon Says | None (just a leader!) | 1 minute |
| Scavenger Hunt | Paper, pens/markers, scissors (for clues), list of items | 10-15 minutes |
| Building Challenges | Marshmallows, toothpicks, cardboard boxes, newspaper, masking tape | 5-10 minutes |
| Memory Games | None (or small objects for variation) | 1 minute |
Remember to scout ahead! It’s always a good idea to gather your materials a day or two before your meeting to avoid last-minute scrambling.
Encouraging Teamwork and Sportsmanship
Cub Scouting is all about character development. Use indoor games as opportunities to reinforce positive values:
- Praise Effort: Compliment scouts on their participation, focus, and good attitude, not just on winning.
- Promote Collaboration: In team games, encourage scouts to help each other and share ideas.
- Model Good Sportsmanship: Leaders should demonstrate gracious winning and losing, and encourage scouts to do the same. For example, after a game, a scout might say, “Good game!” to the opposing team.
- Address Conflicts: If disagreements arise, use them as teaching moments to discuss conflict resolution.
FAQ: Your Indoor Cub Scout Game Questions Answered
Here are some frequently asked questions about hosting indoor games for Cub Scouts:
Q1: What’s the best way to keep Cub Scouts engaged for a whole meeting indoors?
A: Mix high-energy games with quieter, more focused activities. Start with an icebreaker or active game to release energy, move into a skill-building game or craft, and end with something fun and collaborative. Variety is key!
Q2: Do I need a lot of space for these indoor games?
A: Not at all! Most of these games can be adapted for smaller spaces like a living room or a classroom. The obstacle course and freeze dance might need a bit more room, but even those can be modified to fit. Focus on creativity within your available space.
Q3: How can I make indoor games educational for Cub Scouts?
A: Incorporate scouting themes! For example, during Charades, use scouting terms. For scavenger hunts, look for items related to nature or outdoor living. Building challenges can teach basic engineering principles. Even simple games like “Simon Says” teach listening skills crucial for safety outdoors.
Q4: What if a scout is too shy to participate in active games?
A: Encourage them gently. You can often involve shy scouts in roles like scorekeeper, timer, or item-gatherer. Sometimes, simply
