On the advancement trail, a Cub Scout progresses from rank to rank, learning new skills as he goes. Each of the ranks and awards in Cub Scouting has its own requirements. As you advance through the ranks, the requirements get more challenging, to match the new skills and abilities you learn as you get older.
Bobcat
No matter what age or grade a boy joins Cub Scouting, he must earn his Bobcat badge before he can advance to the rank of Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, or Webelos. A boy must complete the Bobcat requirements, which include:
- Learn and say the Cub Scout motto, the Scout Oath, and the Scout Law and tell what they mean;
- Show the Cub Scout sign, salute, and handshake and tell what they mean; and
- Show that you understand and believe that it is important to be honest and trustworthy.
Tiger Cub
To begin his path to the Tiger Cub rank, the Tiger Cub (1st Grade) must learn the Scout Oath, the Cub Scout sign, and the Cub Scout salute.
As a boy finishes each part of the six Tiger Cub adventures, he earns a belt loop to display his progress. When the boy has earned six belt loops for core adventures and one loop for an elective adventure, he can receive his Tiger Cub badge. The Tiger Cub badge is given to the boy's adult partner at a pack meeting. Then, during a grand ceremony, the adult gives the badge to the boy.
After earning the Tiger badge, a Tiger Cub Scout can work on elective adventures until he finishes first grade.
Click
here for details of these requirements.
Wolf
The Wolf rank is for boys who have finished first grade. To earn the Wolf badge, a boy must pass 7 adventures. When the boy has earned six belt loops for core adventures and one loop
for an elective adventure, he can receive his Wolf Cub badge. The Wolf
Cub badge is given to the boy's adult partner at a pack meeting. Then,
during a grand ceremony, the adult gives the badge to the boy.
After he has earned the Wolf badge, a Wolf Cub Scout can work on the 13 Wolf elective adventures until he finishes second grade.
Click
here for details of these requirements.
Bear
The Bear rank is for boys who have finished second grade. To earn the Bear badge, a boy must pass 7 adventures. When the boy has earned six
belt loops for core adventures and one loop
for an elective adventure, he can receive his Bear Cub badge. The Bear
Cub badge is given to the boy's adult partner at a pack meeting. Then,
during a grand ceremony, the adult gives the badge to the boy.
After he has earned the Bear badge, a Bear Cub Scout can work on the
13 Bear elective adventures until he finishes third grade.
Click
here for details of these requirements.
Webelos
Webelos dens are for boys who have completed third grade (or reached age 10). The Webelos den program is different from the Cub Scout den program. Everything in the Webelos Scout program is more challenging than what younger boys in the pack do. Webelos Scouts get to work on the 23 Webelos adventures. Instead of belt loops, they earn pins to display on their "colors" (shown at left):
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Required for
Webelos Rank
- Cast Iron Chef
- Duty to God and You
- First Responder
- Stronger, Faster, Higher
- Webelos Walkabout
- (elective)
- (elective)
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Elective Adventures
- Adventures in Science
- Aquanaut
- Art Explosion
- Aware and Care
- Build It
- Build My Own Hero
- Castaway
- Earth Rocks!
- Engineer
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- Fix It
- Game Design
- Into the Wild
- Looking Back, Looking Forward
- Maestro!
- Moviemaking
- Project Family
- Sportsman
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Webelos Scouts work on requirements during their weekly den meetings. Once a boy learns a skill, he practices it at den meetings and at home on his own. His family helps him at home. Webelos Scouts bring the projects they do at home to the den meetings to show others, and to have the Webelos den leader approve their projects.
When a boy has done the requirements for an activity badge, the Webelos den leader or activity badge counselor, rather than a parent, approves most of the activity badges. It takes seven activity badges, to earn the Webelos badge.
Click here for details of these requirements.
Arrow of Light
The highest rank in Cub Scouting is the Arrow of Light Award. Earning this rank prepares a Webelos Scout to become a Boy Scout. After earning the Webelos badge (above), they must earn seven more activity badges, including Building a Better World, Camper, Duty to God in Action, Scouting Adventure and three of the elective badges above.
Click here for details of these requirements.
This award is the only Cub Scout badge that can be worn on the Boy Scout uniform when a boy graduates into a troop. Adult leaders who earned the Arrow of Light Award when they were Cub Scouts may also show their achievement by wearing a special square knot on their adult uniform.