The Chaska Pack 301 Hiking Club is a NEW OPPORTUNITY and is a GREAT way for scouts and their parents to explore local nature and wildlife. Scouts will learn more about Leave No Trace ethics, outdoors skills, our local environment, and get some exercise along the way.
How the Hiking Club Works
- Official Hiking Club hikes will be scheduled once per month, on the 3rd Saturday of every month. Hikes will generally be in the early morning to avoid heat illness. During winter months, times might change due to weather. All communication will be sent out ahead of time and updated on Scoutbook.
- Hikes will be at different local parks or different trails each month. Trails may be located up to 30 minutes away from Chaska, but we will try and stay local. We may go back to a favorite trail once in a while. Hikes may include: guided tour with a park ranger, a scavenger hunt, geocaching, night hike, or other fun activities.
- Hikes will be between 1-3 miles, occasionally longer, and will take 1-2 hours. All Cub Scout related hikes (Pack and den hikes) can count towards Scout’s miles and should be updated in Scoutbook by their Den Leader. Hiking club miles will be tracked for each Scout by the leader(s) present at the hiking event.
- Hikes are WEATHER PERMITTING. We will not hike in the pouring rain, lightning, or if the weather is too cold/hot. If a hiking event is cancelled, you will be notified as soon as possible.
- A parent must be present for each Scout. Siblings are welcome to join in on hikes as well.
- For each hike, We will ask for volunteers for someone to be at the front of the line (and therefore in charge of following trailer markers) and for someone to be at the end of the line, to ensure that all of our hiking party stays together. We will start, take a break, and end the hikes together as a group.
- Please feel free to suggest hiking times/dates/locations for consideration. We can switch the time or the day of the week once in a while to accomdate families that cannot make a weekend.
- During COVID-19 pandemic, we ask that all Scouts and families bring a face mask and practice good social distancing practices. Hand sanitizer will be available during all hiking events.
- If we have a large group of hikers, we will split into smaller hiking crews to minimize exposures during the current pandemic.
What Do I Need to Join the Hiking Club?
- Just your Scout and a parent are required at each hiking event!
- At a minimum, each Scout should carry the Cub Scout 6 essentials items in his/her backpack. The essential items are: sunscreen, whistle, water bottle, flashlight, first aid kit, and trail food. Participants should dress appropriately for the weather with comfortable, closed toe shoes.
- Electronic use is NOT allowed. Cell phones are allowed, but for emergency use only. No additional equipment is needed to join the hiking club.
Hiking Prizes
All Scouts participating in the Hiking Club are eligible to pick a prize out of our NEW prize box. Some prizes include: small toys, Stickers, Pokemon cards, etc.