Did you know plenty of Cub and Scout badges can be earned at home? As well as participating in activities at group meetings or during adventures, your young explorer can build skills and earn badges right from their living room, kitchen, or garden. Whether it’s a rainy weekend or the school holidays, there are many fun, rewarding ways to stay engaged with the programme at home.
Let’s look at some of the badges they could be working towards.
The importance of earning Cub and Scout badges at home
Working on badges at home is an excellent way for Cubs and Scouts to build confidence and independence in a space where they feel comfortable. It allows them to practise real-life skills, like cooking, cleaning, or learning a new hobby, in a hands-on, practical way.
Many of the at-home badges encourage children to take responsibility for their surroundings. From helping with everyday chores to starting a personal project, they’ll learn how small efforts can make a big difference, not just to their routine, but to their whole household.
It’s also a chance for families to get involved. Whether offering a helping hand, cheering them on, or joining in with the activity, badge work can be a brilliant way to spend time together and support their growth.
For Cubs and Scouts who might feel a little shy in group settings, working towards badges at home can help them build confidence and develop new interests at their own pace.
Most importantly, it’s a reminder that learning and adventure don’t stop when they leave a meeting; they can happen anywhere, even in your own living room!
7 Activity Badges Scouts Can Earn at Home
Below are seven badges that Cubs and Scouts can work on from home. Some can be done independently, while others might need a bit of help from an adult or leader to complete and submit.
1. Home Help Activity Badge (Cubs)
This might be a parent’s favourite. For the home help activity badge, Cubs will need to show that they can keep things clean and tidy around the house. From cooking to sorting the washing and more. Here’s how they could earn it:
- Plan, cook and serve a simple one-course meal.
- Wash up afterwards.
- Help sort out the washing. Load and unload the washing machine.
- Iron at least two items.
- Sew on a button.
- Help to clean and tidy a living room.
- Clean at least two items in your home.
Take sheets, pillow covers, and the duvet cover off a bed and help put clean ones on. Make your own bed for a week.
2. Artist Activity Badge (Cubs)
It’s time for Cubs to get creative with this one. Out of the following activities, Cubs must choose three to complete to earn their artist activity badge at home. Here’s what they can pick from:
Imagine an event, character or scene. Now draw it using a pencil, brush, pen or crayon.
- Design and make a greeting card.
- Make a poster advertising Scouting or a Cub Scout event.
- Design and make a decorated book cover.
- Draw or paint a picture of a still life or a landscape.
- Make a display of photographs on a subject that interests you.
- Make a video on a subject that interests you.
- Design and build a model.
- Visit an art gallery.
- Make a model out of clay.
3. Digital Citizen Staged Activity Badge (Cubs & Scouts)
We’re sure Cubs can complete this in a heartbeat. Kids are fantastic with technology nowadays, so this is one of the best Cub Scout badges to do at home. Here’s how they can earn their digital citizen staged activity badge:
- Show that you can:
- Turn on and log in to a computer
- Use a piece of software, for example, email or a game
- Name the main parts of a computer system
- Connect a peripheral (for example, a scanner or printer) to your computer and use it.
- Create a piece of digital media. It could be artwork, a photograph, music or animation.
- Use the Internet for research:
- Decide on an area of interest
- Find three websites with content that matches your area of interest
- collect relevant information by printing or saving it as files
Using your internet research, design a presentation and tell others about what you have found out. This could be an electronic or paper-based presentation.
4. Space Activity Badge (Scouts)
Now let’s see some of the Scout badges to do at home. With this one, Scouts will turn into astronomers, investigating the night sky and discovering its majesticness. Here’s what Scouts will need to do to earn the space activity badge at home:
- Show what you know about the night sky and why the pattern of stars changes, night by night, throughout the year.
- Learn the meaning of the terms celestial, equator, poles, circumpolar and zodiac.
- Build a model of the solar system using everyday materials found in the home, such as different-sized fruit or sports balls. (Use an outside area to scale the solar system.)
- Explain how the Moon affects the tides.
- Build a telescope from two cardboard tubes or two A4 pieces of black card and lenses. Compare what you can see through a telescope and what you can see with the naked eye.
- Observe three constellations on a clear night and record what you saw.
- Read a star map using a compass and a red light. Compare the differences between using a star map and a normal map.
- Learn how to identify a satellite. How do you tell it apart from an aeroplane, star, planet or meteor?
- Then complete these activities:
- Identify a satellite to observe
- Choose a clear night and use a clock and a compass to help you observe the satellite.
- Plan an evening with your Scout Group and teach others how to observe the satellite.
To pair with this, legendary astronaut Tim Peake has launched his very own badge in collaboration with Scouts! As a Scouts ambassador himself, he has created the UK Space Agency badge, to spark curiosity and build knowledge around STEM products for a whole new generation.
5. Hobbies Activity Badge (Cubs)
This one’s all about skill development. Just like at PGL, Scouts focuses on the development of children while having fun, whether that’s personal development, learning new skills or anything else. Scouts will need to take part in a hobby (for which they don’t already have an activity badge) for a period of time to develop their skills. There are two ways they can earn these hobby Scout badges at home:
- Option 1:
- Take up a hobby or interest for which you do not already have an activity badge.
- Keep a record of your hobby for at least four months.
- Option 2:
- Make a collection or study of objects for at least four months.
- You could collect books or magazines, films, cards, key rings, figurines or similar.
6. Chef Activity Badge (Scouts)
This one’s ideal for Scouts who enjoy getting hands-on in the kitchen. Cooking is not only a great life skill, but it also builds confidence, independence and responsibility, and can be a great way to help out at home. To earn the chef activity badge, Scouts will need to:
- Discuss the importance of food hygiene and safety when preparing and storing food.
- Explain what makes a balanced diet.
- Plan a menu for a three-course meal.
- Cook and serve at least one of the courses.
- Show how to store food properly and understand use-by/best-before dates.
- Talk about different cooking methods (e.g. grilling, boiling, baking, frying) and give examples of when each might be used.
This badge is a brilliant chance for Scouts to take charge of a meal — and maybe even impress the rest of their family!
7. Photographer Activity Badge (Scouts)
For Scouts who love capturing moments or exploring the world through a lens, the scouts photographer activity badge lets their creativity shine. Whether they’re using a phone or a camera, they’ll build technical and artistic skills by taking and presenting their own work. Here’s what they’ll need to do:
- Show that they know how to use a camera or smartphone camera, including how to frame and focus a shot.
- Take a series of at least 12 photos on a theme (for example, nature, portraits, or urban life).
- Edit the photos using software or a mobile app.
- Present their photos as a printed album, slideshow, or digital display.
- Discuss their favourite photo from the collection, explaining why they chose it and how they took it.
- Learn about the work of a well-known photographer and what makes their work stand out.
This badge is all about observation, storytelling and self-expression, all through the lens of a camera.
How do you earn badges from home?
Earning badges from home is easier than you might think, and it’s a great way to keep young minds active outside of regular meetings.
In most cases, Cubs and Scouts can complete badge activities independently or with a bit of support from a parent, carer, or sibling. Once they’ve finished the tasks, they’ll need to share their progress with their leader.
This might include:
- Photos or videos of them completing the activity
- Written notes or drawings
- A short chat to explain what they’ve done
- Finished projects or physical examples (like a model or piece of art)
Many Scout groups now use digital tools to keep things organised. One of the most popular is Online Scout Manager (OSM), a secure app that helps leaders and families track badge progress and upload evidence in one place.
Completing badges at home isn’t about perfection, it’s about effort, enthusiasm and giving things a go. And who knows? It might even spark a new hobby or interest that lasts a lifetime.
FAQS about earning Cub and Scout badges at home
Can Cubs and Scouts really earn badges outside of group meetings?
Yes! Many badges are designed to be flexible, so young people can work on them independently or with support from a parent, carer or guardian. As long as they meet the badge requirements, they can earn them at home.
Do badge activities need to be signed off by a leader?
Usually, yes. Each group may have their own way of checking progress, some might ask for photos, videos or a short chat about what your child did. It’s always best to check with your leader to see what they’d like to see.
What tools or platforms can help track badge progress?
Many groups use Online Scout Manager (OSM), which includes a badge tracker for parents and young people. You can also use your child’s badge book or print off requirements from the Scouts website.
Can siblings work on badges together?
Absolutely! Especially if they’re in the same section or working on staged badges. It can be a fun way to build teamwork and motivation.
Is there a deadline for completing badges at home?
There’s usually no strict deadline unless it’s tied to a staged award or specific group challenge. Cubs and Scouts can go at their own pace, the focus is on effort and learning, not speed.
Book your Cubs or Scouts adventure with PGL
Whether at home or in the great outdoors, adventure is everywhere – and that’s where PGL comes in!
Our Scout and Cub residential trips are designed to bring badge work to life through hands-on activities, team challenges, and unforgettable outdoor experiences. Whether your group is working towards Adventure Challenge, Teamwork or Outdoor Skills badges, a PGL trip offers the perfect setting to learn, grow and have a lot of fun along the way.
We also welcome other uniformed groups, including Girlguiding, youth clubs, and other uniformed services! All with residential trips that help young people make the most of every moment.
Ready to plan your next adventure? Get in touch with our friendly, experienced team today. We’d love to help you find the perfect trip!
