The purpose of the Boy Scouts is to teach leadership skills, outdoor skills and other skills to young boys. The organization does different things, depending on the age range of the members. The events and activities often take place outside, which poses a problem during the winter months. Scout leaders may have trouble coming up with ideas and activities for the Scouts to enjoy when the weather is cold or icy. Fun winter activities for the Boy Scouts provide hours of enjoyment for any troop.
Many Boy Scout troops go on camping trips during the winter months because it’s a completely different experience from camping during the summer. Spend some time with the boys, teaching them how to choose a proper campsite for winter camping. You need level ground and a place free from overhanging trees and avalanche dangers. Show the boys how to build a camp kitchen in the snow. Use snow shovels to dig at least a foot into the snow and place all your food inside this area, which helps keep it cold. Use the snow to teach the Scouts about animal tracks. Remember that you need multiple layers of clothing, especially at night, to keep warm.
Winter sports are an easy way to add activities to winter Boy Scout meetings. Look for skiing areas that are only a short drive from your neighborhood. Ski areas typically offer other winter sports, including snowboarding and cross-country skiing. Resorts may even offer discounted lift tickets and other specials for organizations like the Boy Scouts. Try sledding or tobogganing in your own area. Show the boys how to use simple items from around the house, like trashcan lids, to sled down hills. Use unexpected outdoor activities as well, including dog sledding.
Host a seminar that teaches the boys how to stay safe during the winter months. Include instructions and supplies for making winter survival kits. The kits should include dehydrated or canned foods, thermal blankets, mirrors or some type of signaling device, a needle and thread and some basic first-aid items. Encourage each Boy Scout to build his own kit, for storing in his home or his parents' car. Teach the kids basic ideas for staying safe in the winter months, such as wearing layers of clothing and protecting their hands and feet. If the boys are older, focusing on hypothermia and other winter dangers is another option.
