Cub Scout Advancement

The Cub Scout Program has two basic features, Rank Advancement, and the Academics and Sports Program.

Cub Scouts joining as First Grade boys enter the Tiger Cub Program. Tiger Cubs, complete Achievements to earn the Tiger Cub Badge, and complete Electives to receive Tiger Track Beads to wear from a belt emblem. A new Tiger Cub Handbook was issued in the summer of 2001.

Boys graduating from Tiger Cub Dens, or joining Cub Scouts in the Second Grade or above, earn the Bobcat Badge. After earning the Bobcat Badge, they proceed to work on advancement specific to their age level. As part of these requirements, they must learn the Cub Scout Promise, the Law of the Pack, and the Cub Scout Motto.

In the Second Grade, Cub Scouts work toward the Wolf Badge, then toward a Gold Arrow Point and one or more Silver Arrow Points The requirements for these badges are found in the Wolf Cub Scout Book.

In the Third Grade, Cub Scouts work toward the Bear Badge, then they, too, work toward earning a Gold Arrow Point and Silver Arrow Points. The requirements for these badges are found in the Bear Cub Scout Book.

The Webelos Program is a two year program for Fourth and Fifth Grade Boys. In both years, they work toward earning Webelos Activity Pins in twenty different areas, arranged in five groups. Fourth Grade Boys work toward the Webelos Badge. After earning the Webelos Badge. Fifth Graders, after earning the Webelos Badge, earn the Arrow of Light. In addition to the two rank badges, after earning the Webelos Badge, boys work toward the Compass Point Emblem and Metal Compass Points as they earn additional Activity Pins.

New Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Cub Scout Books have been issued in 2003.

The content of the current books have been updated for relevance to today's youth, appropriateness of content, ease of use, and perceived challenge to the reader. BSA has maintained many of the elements in the books that have proven successful in the past, and have eliminated topics that have become dated and do not challenge today's Cub Scouts and their families. Some specific revisions are as follows:

Integrated Character Connections (that draw on Cub Scouting's 12 Core Values) directly into selected requirements in each book.
Infused age-appropriate outdoor program activities into both the requirements and the electives in each book.
Enhanced the advancement and elective trails to create a progressively more challenging pathway that logically prepares boys for the next rank in Cub Scouting and prepares Webelos Scouts for Boy Scouting.
Reformatted and enhanced the Webelos handbook; particularly, the Webelos badge and Arrow of Light Award requirements.

In order to assist parents and leaders with the transition from the current handbooks to the new handbooks, BSA has created the following implementation plan.

The enhanced Wolf Bear and Webelos handbooks were released to the field in July.
The enhancements to the requirements in these books will NOT affect the advancement trails of boys who are using the current books. They are to continue using their current books until they have completed all requirements in these books (or have advanced to the next grade and started on a new rank.).
Based on availability, Cub Scouting youth members may use EITHER the old handbooks or the new handbooks. As boys enter the program or advance in rank by the dates indicated below, they will be required to use the new books.
- Boys who become Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts after August 1, 2004, will be required to use the new book for the corresponding rank.
- Boys who become Webelos Scouts after August 1, 2005, will be required to use the new Webelos Scout Handbook.

The new Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and Arrow of Light rank requirements, and the new requirements for the Webelos Activity Pins (along with the old ones in each case) are posted on this site. Use the links below to see the new requirements. There are links on those pages to the pages that show the old requirements, and what changed.

Wolf Badge,

Wolf Arrow Points

Bear Badge,

Bear Arrow Points.

Webelos Badge.

Arrow of Light.

Webelos Activity Pins

PHYSICAL SKILLS GROUP

MENTAL SKILLS GROUP

COMMUNITY GROUP

TECHNOLOGY GROUP

OUTDOOR GROUP

As a Cub Scout or Webelos Scout, you can also earn the Cub Scout World Conservation Award, and a Leave No Trace Awareness patch.

Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts can also earn a series of Religious Emblems awarded by a number of religious organizations. The age and rank requirements vary. In addition, they may earn a series of Cub Scout Academics and Sports Belt Loops and Pins

Cub Scouts may also earn a number of other Special Awards and Emblems, which are also available to Boy Scouts.