Trivia is one of the most fun ways to practice what the Scout rank requirements ask you to know by heart, like the Scout Law, the Outdoor Code, and your first three knots. But what actually makes a good Scout trivia question, and how do you turn it into a game your patrol will beg to play? In this article, I’ll share a flash card game a Scout leader sent in, show you how to run a troop trivia night, and give you over 100 questions (with answers!) sorted into rounds.
What are good Scout trivia questions? Good Scout trivia questions mix the stuff every Scout needs to know (the Scout Law, knots, ranks, and Leave No Trace) with fun facts from Scouting history, famous Eagle Scouts, and high adventure bases. Below you’ll find over 100 of them with answers, split into rounds, plus tiebreakers and “no wrong answer” questions to keep the whole troop laughing.
Meeting starts in five minutes? Scroll down to Round 1 and read the questions straight off your phone, patrol vs. patrol. You’re welcome! 😀
Don’t worry if some of these stump you at first! Right after I joined Scouting, I was asked to explain each point of the Scout Law, and I couldn’t. I knew the words but wasn’t living their message. Trivia won’t fix that second part on its own, but it’s a great way to get the words locked in, so your patrol can spend its time on the more fun part of figuring out what they mean.
Where This Game Came From
This idea came straight from a reader of my newsletter, the ScoutSmarts Scribe. I asked for games that fit into the few minutes before a meeting starts, and Neil S., a Scout leader, sent in a flash card game that’s perfect for exactly that. In his words, patrols “spend the time quizzing and being quizzed on Scouting: requirements, trivia, history, troop policies, camping, etc.”
The idea is simple. Each patrol builds its own deck of cards, with a question on the front and the answer on the back, and then the patrols take turns trying to stump each other. Because every patrol has to look up its answers and write them down first, everybody learns something before the game even starts.
It’s also a great job for your patrol leader or assistant patrol leader to own, and older Scouts can write cards for the newest members. Thanks so much for sending this in, Neil! 🙂
Why Trivia Makes Stuff Stick
Quizzing yourself helps you remember things far longer than rereading them, even though rereading feels more productive. Psychologists call this the testing effect. In one experiment described by Henry Roediger and Jeffrey Karpicke, students who read a passage and then took one practice test remembered 56% of it a week later, compared to 42% for students who just read it twice.
In other words, trivia night is secretly studying. (Don’t tell your patrol 😛 ) This lines up with something a Scout shared in a past survey, when I asked which life skill Scouting should spend more time on. Their answer was “knots, you do it once and then forget how.” A trivia round every few weeks is one of the easiest ways to do it more than once!
How To Run A Troop Trivia Night
You can play trivia a bunch of different ways, from a quick five-minute round before a meeting to a full-blown trivia night at a campout. All you need is someone to read the questions, a way to keep score, and a short piece of rope for the “show me” questions. Here are my favorite formats:
| Format | How It Works | Best For | Tip From An Eagle Scout |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flash Card Showdown | Each patrol builds a deck and quizzes the other patrols | The 5 minutes before a meeting | Write answers in your own words after you look them up |
| Trivia Night | A quizmaster reads each round; patrols write answers on paper | A full meeting or campfire program | Let patrols pick a silly team name |
| Lightning Round | One Scout answers as many as they can in 60 seconds | Friendly one-on-one competition | Use the True or False round for this |
| Show Me | Only questions that are answered by doing, like tying a knot | Skill practice | Keep a short rope with the deck |
| New Scout Challenge | Older Scouts quiz new Scouts on Round 1 and Round 2 | Getting crossovers ready for Scout rank | Give new Scouts double points |
A few house rules keep things fun. Give one point per correct answer, and let the quizmaster give half points for “close enough.” When a patrol misses a question, have a Scout who knows it explain the answer or show the skill before moving on. That’s the Teaching EDGE method in action, and being my troop’s Instructor was one of my favorite positions of all time, so I’m a big fan of anything that turns older Scouts into teachers! If you haven’t learned it yet, check out my guide to the Teaching EDGE method.
Scout Tip: If your troop keeps a patrol points competition going, trivia wins are an easy thing to add to it. Have the quizmaster rotate each month so everyone gets a turn running the show.
Round 1: The Warm-Up (Scout Ideals)
Let’s start easy! The Scout Oath, Scout Law, motto, and slogan are the very first things the Scout rank asks you to repeat from memory, and you’ll use them at every rank after that. These are the questions every Scout will be asked for the Scout rank, so they’re worth getting perfect. If your patrol misses a few, that just means you’ve found your first flash cards.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is the Scout motto? | Be Prepared |
| What is the Scout slogan? | Do a Good Turn Daily |
| How many points are in the Scout Law? | 12 (Scouting America’s official list) |
| Name all 12 points of the Scout Law, in order. | Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, Reverent |
| What is the sixth point of the Scout Law? | Kind |
| What is the last point of the Scout Law? | Reverent |
| Which point of the Scout Law comes right after Cheerful? | Thrifty |
| Which point of the Scout Law is about working to pay your own way and saving money? | Thrifty |
| Recite the Scout Oath. | On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight. |
| What do the three fingers of the Scout sign stand for? | The three parts of the Scout Oath (source) |
| Which hand do Scouts shake with? | The left hand |
| Recite the Outdoor Code. | As an American, I will do my best to be clean in my outdoor manners, be careful with fire, be considerate in the outdoors, and be conservation-minded. (Official wording) |
Want to go deeper than memorizing? My guides to the 12 Scout Law principles and the Outdoor Code explain what each of these actually means.
Round 2: Knot Your Average Round (Knots And Ropes)
Get your ropes ready, because some of these are “show me” questions! The Scout rank asks you to show a square knot, two half-hitches, and a taut-line hitch and explain how each one is used, and a few more knots come with Tenderfoot through First Class. For a show me question, the only right answer is the knot in your hands. No points for describing it, no matter how good your explanation is!
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Which three knots do you show for the Scout rank? | Square knot, two half-hitches, and taut-line hitch (Scout rank requirement 4a) |
| What’s another name for the square knot? | Reef knot |
| Which knot makes an adjustable loop, like for a tent line? | Taut-line hitch |
| Which knot ties a rope around a post or tree? | Two half-hitches |
| Which knot makes a fixed loop that won’t slip, and can be used in a rescue? | Bowline |
| Which knot joins two ropes, even ones of different thickness? | Sheet bend |
| Which knot do you use to start and end most lashings? | Clove hitch |
| Which knot is used for dragging a log? | Timber hitch |
| What do “whipping” and “fusing” a rope do? | They keep the end of the rope from unraveling |
| What kind of knot is tied in the rope around the World Crest emblem? | A square knot, also called a reef knot (source) |
| Show me: tie a square knot. | (Tie it!) |
| Show me: tie a bowline. | (Tie it! Bonus point if you can do it with your eyes closed.) |
Stumped? My guide to the required Scouting knots, with practical uses has a video for every one of these.
Round 3: Into The Wild (Outdoors And Leave No Trace)
This round is all about being a good camper. Leave No Trace is a set of seven principles from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics that Scouts use to leave campsites and trails better than they found them, and you’ll need to list them for the Scout rank. It’s also the round where you’ll find out who actually paid attention at the last campout! If your patrol aces this one, you’re ready for just about any trip.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How many principles of Leave No Trace are there? | 7 |
| Name all seven principles of Leave No Trace. | Plan Ahead and Prepare; Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces; Dispose of Waste Properly; Leave What You Find; Minimize Campfire Impacts; Respect Wildlife; Be Considerate of Others |
| “Pack it in, pack it out” goes with which Leave No Trace principle? | Dispose of Waste Properly |
| “Take photos, not souvenirs” goes with which principle? | Leave What You Find |
| According to Leave No Trace, what should you use instead of a campfire when you can? | A stove |
| What’s the difference between the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace? | The Outdoor Code is a Scout’s promise about how to act outdoors; Leave No Trace is seven specific principles for leaving less impact |
| What is the buddy system? | Always pairing up so nobody is ever alone, and keeping track of your buddy |
| What does earning the Totin’ Chip let you do? | Carry and use woods tools like a pocketknife, ax, and saw |
| What does earning the Firem’n Chit let you do? | Carry matches and build campfires (Scouting America) |
| Show me: how do you hand a pocketknife to someone? | Close the blade first, then hand it over |
| Name three of the Scout Basic Essentials you should bring on an outing. | Any three of: pocketknife, first aid kit, extra clothing, rain gear, water bottle, flashlight, trail food, matches and fire starters, sun protection, map and compass (Scout Life’s checklist) |
| What number do you call for an emergency in the United States? | 911 |
For more on these, see my guides to Scouting’s Leave No Trace principles and the Totin’ Chip.
Round 4: Ranks, Badges, And Blue Cards
Now for the advancement round! Most of these answers come straight from Scouting America’s Guide to Advancement, the official rulebook for how ranks and merit badges work. This one’s a little tougher, so give yourself a big pat on the back if your patrol gets more than half. Knowing how advancement works is one of the best ways to move through the ranks faster.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Name the seven Scouts BSA ranks, in order. | Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life, Eagle |
| Which rank’s badge is shaped like a heart? | Life |
| Which ranks can you work on at the same time? | Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class (but you earn them in order) |
| What are the four steps of advancement? | The Scout learns, is tested, is reviewed, and is recognized |
| What is a “blue card”? | The Application for Merit Badge, the record of your merit badge work |
| Who do you talk to before starting a merit badge? | Your Scoutmaster, or the leader they’ve assigned |
| What is a “partial”? | A merit badge where you’ve finished some, but not all, of the requirements |
| Can you meet one-on-one with a merit badge counselor? | No. This is because of the two-deep rule. Another adult, like a parent or guardian, must be there too. |
| How many merit badges do you need for Eagle? | 21 |
| Which Eagle-required merit badge was discontinued in 2026? | Citizenship in Society (official notice) |
| What is the highest rank in Cub Scouts? | Arrow of Light |
Looking for your next badge? Check out my guide to every merit badge, explained and ranked, or brush up on the newest one with my Artificial Intelligence merit badge guide.
Round 5: History Mystery
Time to travel back more than 100 years! This round is where the history buffs in your troop get to shine. Every Scout today is part of a story that started with a small group of kids camping on an island in England.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who founded the Scouting movement? | Robert Baden-Powell |
| What nickname did Baden-Powell’s friends call him? | B-P (source) |
| Where was the first experimental Scout camp held, and when? | Brownsea Island, England, in 1907 |
| What book did Baden-Powell publish in 1908? | Scouting for Boys |
| Which American businessman was helped through the London fog by the “Unknown Scout”? | William D. Boyce, in 1909 |
| In what year was the Boy Scouts of America founded? | 1910 |
| Who was the first Eagle Scout, and in what year? | Arthur Eldred, in 1912 (source) |
| Who was the first Chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts of America? | James E. West |
| Where was the Order of the Arrow founded, and when? | At Treasure Island Scout Reservation, a summer camp, in 1915 (source) |
| The first Wood Badge beads came from a necklace owned by whom? | Dinizulu, a Zulu chief (The Scouts’ Wood Badge history) |
| In 2010, four old-time merit badges came back for one year only. Name one. | Carpentry, Pathfinding, Signaling, or Tracking (Scouting magazine) |
| What is the organization called today? | Scouting America, since February 8, 2025 (official announcement) |
Love these? My brief history and timeline of Scouting has plenty more you can turn into cards.
Round 6: Famous Scouts And Big Adventures
This round is full of astronauts, movie directors, and some of the coolest places you can go as a Scout. Scouting America runs four national high adventure bases, and each one is built around a different kind of trip, from backpacking in the mountains to sailing in the Keys. Who knows, maybe one day your name will end up on a list like this!
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Which Eagle Scout was the first person to walk on the Moon? | Neil Armstrong (list of Eagle Scouts) |
| Which famous movie director of Jaws and E.T. is an Eagle Scout? | Steven Spielberg |
| Which Eagle Scout commanded the Apollo 13 mission? | Jim Lovell |
| Which U.S. President is the only one to have earned Eagle Scout? | Gerald Ford |
| Which Eagle Scout hosted the TV show Dirty Jobs? | Mike Rowe |
| In which state is Philmont Scout Ranch? | New Mexico |
| Who donated the land that became Philmont? | Waite Phillips, an oil businessman, in 1938 (source) |
| What is the name of Philmont’s most famous rock landmark? | The Tooth of Time |
| Which high adventure base is in the Florida Keys? | Sea Base |
| Which high adventure base is known for canoe trips in the northwoods of Minnesota? | Northern Tier |
| In which state is the Summit Bechtel Reserve, home of the National Jamboree? | West Virginia (source) |
| Which country will host the 2027 World Scout Jamboree? | Poland (source) |
When I was a Scout, my dad and I went canoeing from Minnesota into the Canadian wilderness with my Scoutmaster and a few friends, and that trip still holds a very special place in my heart. If a big trip is on your list, my Philmont guide is a great place to start dreaming. 🙂
Round 7: True Or False Lightning Round
This one’s perfect for a Lightning Round. Read each statement fast, and the first patrol to shout “true!” or “false!” gets the point. Speed counts, but a wrong answer costs you a point, so no wild guessing!
| Statement | Answer |
|---|---|
| The very first Scout camp was held on an island. | True (Brownsea Island) |
| The Order of the Arrow was founded at a National Jamboree. | False (it was founded at a summer camp) |
| You need at least 100 hours of work for an Eagle Scout service project. | False (there’s no minimum number of hours, per the Guide to Advancement) |
| Neil Armstrong was an Eagle Scout. | True |
| Girls have been able to join Scouts BSA since 1910. | False (since 2019) |
| Baden-Powell and his wife Olave had the same birthday. | True, February 22 (source) |
| The fleur-de-lis on the Scout badge is based on the north point of a compass. | True |
| The Scout handshake uses the right hand. | False (it’s the left hand) |
| Scouts could earn a Computers merit badge back in 1967. | True (Scouting magazine’s merit badge calendar) |
| Philmont Scout Ranch is in Colorado. | False (it’s in New Mexico) |
| The 2019 World Scout Jamboree was held in West Virginia. | True |
| Scout rank is the first rank in Scouts BSA. | True |
Tiebreakers: Closest Number Wins
Tied at the end of the night? Each patrol writes down a number, and whoever gets closest wins. These work well as tiebreakers because nobody can get them exactly right from memory, so it comes down to good guessing. Nobody is expected to know these exactly, which is what makes them fun! The Philmont and Baden-Powell numbers come from Wikipedia’s articles on Philmont and Baden-Powell, and the Jamboree number from its article on the Summit.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How tall is Philmont’s Tooth of Time, in feet? | 9,003 feet |
| About how many acres is Philmont Scout Ranch? | About 140,000 acres |
| How many days did Baden-Powell defend the town of Mafeking during the siege? | 217 days |
| How many people came to the first National Jamboree at the Summit, in 2013? | Over 56,000 participants and guests |
| In what year did Baden-Powell die? | 1941 |
Just For Fun: No Wrong Answers
These last ones don’t have right answers, and that’s the whole point. Questions like these get quieter Scouts talking and tell you a lot about your patrol, which makes them great icebreakers for a new school year. Give a point for the answer that makes the most people laugh, or just go around the circle. They’re great for new Scouts, since nobody can get them wrong.
- Would you rather hike 10 miles in the rain or 10 miles uphill in the sun?
- What’s the best campout food ever invented? (Defend your answer.)
- If your patrol had a mascot that wasn’t an animal, what would it be?
- Would you rather be the best knot-tyer in the troop or the best camp cook?
- Which merit badge sounds the weirdest to you, and why?
- If you could go to any high adventure base tomorrow, which one would you pick?
- What’s the funniest thing that’s ever happened at one of your campouts?
- What item would you bring on a campout that’s definitely not on the packing list?
Bonus Round: Your Troop
These are my favorite cards, because no website in the world can give you the answers! Troop-specific questions turn a generic quiz into your troop’s quiz, and they’re a great way for new Scouts to learn the history of the troop they just joined.
- What’s our troop number, and who is our chartered organization?
- What’s our patrol’s name and patrol yell?
- Where was our troop’s last campout?
- How many Eagle Scouts has our troop had?
- Who is our senior patrol leader right now?
- What’s our troop’s favorite campout meal?
How To Build Your Own Flash Card Deck
Once your patrol has played a few rounds, it’s time to make a deck of your own. All you need is a pack of index cards, a couple of markers, and a rubber band or small box to keep them together. Some patrols like to color-code by round, which makes it easy to pull a quick “knots only” game.
The most important rule is to write every answer in your own words, after you’ve looked it up. Looking up the answer and writing it down is the first round of practice, and it’s also how you catch the answers you thought you knew but didn’t. If your patrol isn’t sure about one, check your Scouts BSA Handbook or ask your Scoutmaster before it goes in the deck.
| Step | What To Do | Tip From An Eagle Scout |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Pick your rounds | Choose 4 to 6 categories from the rounds above | Color-code each one |
| 2. Write the question | One question per card, on the front | Keep it short enough to read aloud |
| 3. Write the answer | On the back, in your own words | For long ones like the Oath, just write “Recite it!” |
| 4. Add show me cards | Cards like “Tie a bowline” | Keep a short rope with the deck |
| 5. Add troop cards | Use the Bonus Round questions | These are always the crowd favorites |
| 6. Retire easy cards | Pull cards everyone gets right every time | Swap in new ones each month |
Pro tip: Have the PLC pick a new “round of the month,” and ask every patrol to add five cards to it. By the end of the year, your troop will have a huge deck!
Conclusion
A few minutes of trivia before each meeting and a deck your patrol built itself are all it takes to keep what you learned sharp long after you’ve been signed off. Toss in a little friendly trash talk (the Scout Law kind, of course), and it’ll quickly become the part of the meeting everyone shows up early for. Just remember that memorizing the words is only the first step. Knowledge without action is useless, so once your patrol knows the Scout Law by heart, go find a way to live one point of it this week!
Great work making it all the way to the end! And here’s one last question for the road. Q: What’s a knot’s favorite part of trivia night? A: The tie-breaker! 🪢
If you’re looking for more ways to make your meetings awesome, these might help:
- The Best Troop Meeting Activities: 7 Fun Ideas For Scouts And Patrols
- 7 Fun Scout Meeting Ideas To Engage And Strengthen Your Troop
- Clean BSA Scout Jokes: The 17 Funniest Jokes To Tell Your Troop
- Patrol Leaders’ Council (PLC) Meetings: Agenda, FAQ, And Tips
- My Epic eBook: The 7 Secrets for Scouting Success 📖 (discount included!)
Now grab your patrol and get quizzing. Until next time, best of luck on your Scouting journey! 😀