Bear Carnival

The Bear Carnival was formerly a required Adventure for the Bear rank. A few years ago it became an elective Adventure instead. Although it is no longer required, it is still a great and fun event. Also many Packs still have games that were created for the Bear Carnival from when it was required. Since it is no longer required you might want to recruit a local Scouts BSA Troop or two to create and staff some games as well. That means more time playing for the Cubs, it can also be a helpful recruitment tool for the Troop(s), so they will likely be eager to help!

Cheers:

Cheers are a great opportunity to inject the monthly theme into your Pack meetings. You can use the cheer to get everyone’s attention quickly, or to rile up the crowd. Whether you want to slow the crowd or get them going a cheer can do the trick! Here is an example for this theme:

Cubmaster: Ready to hibernate?

Scouts: No! Have more fun!

Possible Activities:

Games:

Ping Pong Toss is a classic carnival game. Arrange a few cups and fill them half way with water. Then toss a ping pong ball into a cup. When many of us leaders were kids this game had goldfish swimming in the cups of water. It can be fun to put a toy fish or frog in the cups.
A paper airplane toss is a quick and easy game. Cut various sized holes in poster board, and have a stack of printer paper. The Scouts can make their own paper airplanes and throw them through the holes. The smaller the hole the more points that you score.
Stilts are easy to make and the Cubs will have a lot of fun with them. Consider putting some matting down on the floor to help cushion any falls.
It doesn't get more simple than a guess the amount of candy jar. Use jelly beans, Skittles, or M&Ms, count them when you put them in the container so you know how many are there. Then leave out little slips of paper and something to write their names and guesses on. Have Scouts put the slips in the box. At the end of the evening give the candy to who ever had the closest guess.
These Plinko boards are easy to make. Used a large piece of plywood, then frame it and add a leg to the back for balance. Then on the plywood add some wood screws in offset rows.
Another look at the Plinko boards.
This Tic-Tac-Toe game can be played at least two ways. Make a Tic-Tac-Toe board by putting some lines of painter's tape on the floor. You can either use bean bags and try to toss your three and a row, or use air hockey pucks and try to connect the three by sliding them Shuffle Board style.
Blow Ball uses a table, strip of painter's tape, and a ping pong ball. Scouts surround the table and try to blow the ball off of the table on the other team's end of the table.
Can Toss is another classic carnival game. Save some cans from canned fruit, vegetables, or soup. Make sure they are cleaned before using them for the game. To add some extra fun wrap them with paper that you have added animal drawings to.
Have a Ben Bag Toss set up with different buckets. The further the bucket is, the more points you get for landing your bean bag in the bucket.
You can also use tennis balls instead of bean bags if they are easier to find.
Parachutes are always an instant hit. Put a ball in the parachute and have the Scouts toss it up and vatch it. After two or three times add another item. Keep repeating until they can no longer catch everything any more.
A Nerf shooting range is a lot of fun. These are made of PVC pipe and a ping pong ball is set on top of each pipe. Consider taping or gluing a string to each ping pong ball, then the other end of the string tied to the PVC pipe. Use Nerf guns ti try and shoot the balls off of the screen.
Toilet Paper Toss is always a hit with the Scouts. Attach an emergency/travel toilet seat and lid to a few buckets . Stand back and try to make baskets with rolls of toilet paper.

Photo Booth:

A simple backdrop, try using a disposable plastic tablecloth, and a few silly props and the Cubs will have a great time taking pictures with their Scout buddies!

Prizes:

Try giving a simple ticket out at each game. Then at the end of the carnival have the Cubs turn in their tickets for some candy.
Another easy prize is just to give each Cub a sticker when they complete a game. You may be surprised where they choose to stick them!