Clarafication request for AOL campout requirement

[FireStone]

Under the old (pre-2024) requirements the language used was:

"As a patrol, make plans to participate in a troop’s campout or other outdoor activity. "

Now (since last year), the requirement reads:

"With your patrol or a Scouting America troop, participate in a campout."

The "or other outdoor activity" in the old requirement made this sound (to me) like most typical outdoor activities would count, and not necessarily require an overnight stay. 

Since that wording was removed, and now it just says "participate in a campout", that sort of sounds like the expectation is that the AOL requirement is that scouts spend a night in the woods. "Campout" isn't showing up and doing some outdoor stuff and then going home, at least in how I'd define it. 

Is there any clear guidance on this from Scouting America? Or how do you interpret this requirement under the 2024 terms? 

[TheScouterDude]

In the context of the full adventure requirements, the meaning of campout is intended to involve overnight tent camping with meal cooking:

Quote

Outdoor Adventurer 

Requirement 1 - Learn about the Scout Basic Essentials.
Requirement 2 - Determine what you will bring on an overnight campout — including a tent and sleeping bag/gear — and how you will carry your gear.
Requirement 3 - Review the four points of Scouting America’s SAFE Checklist and how you will apply them. on the campout.
Requirement 4 - Locate the campsite where you will be camping on a map.
Requirement 5 - With your patrol or a Scouting America troop, participate in a campout.
Requirement 6 - Upon arrival at the campout determine where to set up your campsite: kitchen, eating area, tents, and firepit.  Help the patrol set up the patrol gear before setting up your own tent.
Requirement 7 - Explain how to keep food safe and the kitchen area sanitary at the campsite.  Demonstrate your knowledge during the campout.
Requirement 8 - After your campout, discuss with your patrol what went well and what you would do differently next time.   Include how you followed the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace Principles for Kids.

It does not say anything about "in the woods," so a park, sports field, etc. would also be options. That said, Cub Scouts requirements are always under the "Do Your Best" standard.

 

Edited September 28 by TheScouterDude

[Eagle94-A1]

the pre 2024 requirement was a hold over from LDS period. LDS packs could not camp at all, so Webelos1 and 2s could not camp at all. And 11 year old Scouts could only camp 4 times a year, and not attend summer camp.

 

[Tron]

The new requirements require a campout; an overnight stay in a tent. 

[FireStone]

On 9/28/2025 at 7:39 AM, TheScouterDude said:

It does not say anything about "in the woods," so a park, sports field, etc. would also be options. That said, Cub Scouts requirements are always under the "Do Your Best" standard.

I'm struggling a bit with the "Do Your Best" part of this, too. On other things it's easy enough to say a Scout came to the Den Meetings, they worked on the requirements, if they came up short on 1 thing despite trying we could still say that they did their best. 

Not attending a campout is a little tougher to apply "Do Your Best" to if they don't show up at all. I have a large den and I'm hopeful they will all take advantage of the several camping opportunities we have planned the next few months, but realistically speaking i can imagine a couple of scouts maybe won't show up to any of them. I don't think I'd pass a Scout on AOL and award them the badge if they don't even come to a camping trip, or they don't go to a Troop meeting or any of the requirements that basically mean you have to physically be somewhere. I'm not asking for a lot, I don't think, just show up. If you go to a Troop meeting and have to leave after 10 minutes, I'm not super happy about that but it's much easier to sign off on that than a scout who never set foot in a Troop meeting. 

Is that excessively harsh? 

[Eagle94-A1]

1 hour ago, FireStone said:

I don't think I'd pass a Scout on AOL and award them the badge if they don't even come to a camping trip, or they don't go to a Troop meeting or any of the requirements that basically mean you have to physically be somewhere. I'm not asking for a lot, I don't think, just show up. If you go to a Troop meeting and have to leave after 10 minutes, I'm not super happy about that but it's much easier to sign off on that than a scout who never set foot in a Troop meeting. 

Is that excessively harsh? 

No. The entire purpose of those requirements to to better prepare the Cub, and more importantly IMHO the parents, about the differences between Cubs and Scouts. I have seen first hand multiple times what happens when Cub "earn" AOL without actually doing those parts of the AOL requirements; They quit.  Worst was the one den that didn't do any of the meetings or outdoor activity/camping, yet all members got AOL and "Crossed Over" to the troop. Troop gave them the custom neckers, slides, handbook, and never saw them again after the Cross Over ceremony.  

[MikeS72]

5 hours ago, FireStone said:

Is that excessively harsh? 

Not at all.

[DuctTape]

16 hours ago, FireStone said:

I'm struggling a bit with the "Do Your Best" part of this, too. On other things it's easy enough to say a Scout came to the Den Meetings, they worked on the requirements, if they came up short on 1 thing despite trying we could still say that they did their best. 

Not attending a campout is a little tougher to apply "Do Your Best" to if they don't show up at all. I have a large den and I'm hopeful they will all take advantage of the several camping opportunities we have planned the next few months, but realistically speaking i can imagine a couple of scouts maybe won't show up to any of them. I don't think I'd pass a Scout on AOL and award them the badge if they don't even come to a camping trip, or they don't go to a Troop meeting or any of the requirements that basically mean you have to physically be somewhere. I'm not asking for a lot, I don't think, just show up. If you go to a Troop meeting and have to leave after 10 minutes, I'm not super happy about that but it's much easier to sign off on that than a scout who never set foot in a Troop meeting. 

Is that excessively harsh? 

Not harsh at all. "Do your best" does not mean "did not do".

Edited September 30 by DuctTape

[AwakeEnergyScouter]

On 9/29/2025 at 11:58 AM, FireStone said:

Is that excessively harsh? 

Nope. Current AOL patrol advisor and Cubmaster here, good personal friends with last year's AOL patrol advisor who got the pleasure of flying by their seat of their pants when the program dropped so late.

Last year, when we had virtually no notice, the AOL patrol advisor hustled to get every AOL a camping experience even though they couldn't make it to the regular campouts due to scheduling conflicts. One late joiner camped out in another leader's back yard, but they camped. That was our idea of their best.

This year, we have several opportunities to cook with camping equipment scheduled (not just campouts) and three campout opportunities we're providing before crossover - not counting all the troops that are courting them by inviting them to campouts.

We divided and conquered at the first den meeting - I went over how the AOL year is different and what it's preparing them for with the Cubs, and the former AOL patrol advisor did the same thing for the parents. We would not accept not camping at all as anyone's best either, that would be doing them a rotten "favor".