The Bobcat badge is the first badge any scout will earn.
This badge must be earned before working on any other badge requirements.

To earn the Bobcat badge the boy must complete these eight tracks of Akela:

 

1. LEARN AND SAY THE CUB SCOUT PROMISE

    

    

   "I ____(name)____ promise to do my best
   To do my duty to God and my country,
   To help other people, and
   To obey the Law of the Pack."

   ... AND COMPLETE THE HONESTY CHARACTER CONNECTION.

    

    

   1. Know: Discuss these questions with your family. What is a promise? What does it mean to "keep your word?" What does honesty mean? What does it mean to "do your best?"
   2. Commit: Discuss these questions with your family. Why is a promise important? Why is it important for people to trust you when you give your word? When might it be difficult to keep your word? List examples.
   3. Practice: Discuss with family members why it is important to be trustworthy and honest and how can you do your best to be honest when you are doing the activities in Cub Scouting.

    

    

2. SAY THE LAW OF THE PACK. TELL WHAT IT MEANS.

    

    

   "The Cub Scout follows Akela.
   The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
   The pack helps the Cub Scout Grow.
   The Cub Scout gives goodwill. "

    

    

3. TELL WHAT "WEBELOS" MEANS.

    

    

   "WE'll BE LOyal Scouts"

    

    

4. SHOW THE CUB SCOUT SIGN.

    

    

5. SHOW THE CUB SCOUT HANDSHAKE.

    

    

6. SAY THE CUB SCOUT MOTTO. A MOTTO IS A RULE.

    

    

   The MOTTO is: "DO YOUR BEST. "

    

    

7. GIVE THE CUB SCOUT SALUTE.

    

    

8. With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the parent's guide, "How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse".

 

Starting the path to the Tiger Cub Rank, a scout first earns the Bobcat badge - this is the first step for all Cub Scouts.

But, a Tiger Cub will really earn his Tiger Cub Totem first because its requirements are very simple and it gives him something tangible to receive at the first pack meeting, even if he did not complete all the Bobcat requirements. The Tiger Cub Totem requirements are:

 

 

 

• Learn the Cub Scout Motto
• Learn the Cub Scout Sign
• Learn the Cub Scout Salute

The Tiger Cub badge is presented to boys who have completed all 15 parts of the five separate achievements - five Family activities, five Den activities, and five Go See It outings. Once a boy, or all the boys in a den, earn their Tiger Cub badge, it should be presented to the scout's adult partner at a pack meeting, who then presents it to the boy.

The den activities and Go See It events should be completed with the entire den. Attendance at den events is important - for both the scout and adult partner. Of course, if a scout has a conflict with a den event, he can perform that activity with his adult partner at some other time.

If a Cub Scout has completed the first grade (or is 8 years old) and has earned the Bobcat Badge, he may start earning the Wolf rank. He receives a Wolf Scout handbook, Wolf neckerchief, and Wolf neckerchief slide when beginning the Wolf portion of the boy scout trail. This part of the boy scout trail is intended to take one school year, preparing the scout to begin earning his Bear rank after he completes second grade.

 

Your Wolf den will have opportunities to participate in Pack meetings. Prepare your scouts by having them ready to perform a couple of

 

Skits and lead the pack in some Games. By having a Wolf favorite ready, your scouts will look good, have fun, and increase their confidence through leading the pack.

If a Cub Scout has completed the second grade (or is 9 years old) and has earned the Bobcat Badge, he may start earning the Bear rank. He receives a Bear Scout handbook and Bear neckerchief, but continues to use the Wolf neckerchief slide when beginning the Bear portion of the boy scout trail. This part of the boy scout trail is intended to take one school year, preparing the scout to begin earning his Webelos rank after he completes third grade.

 

Your Bear den will have opportunities to participate in Pack meetings. Prepare your scouts by having them ready to perform a couple of

 

Bear Scout Skits and lead the pack in some Games. By having a Bear favorite ready, your scouts will look good, have fun, and increase their confidence through leading the pack.

Webelos is a 20 month program for 4th and 5th grade boys to prepare to join a Boy Scout troop while learning outdoors skills and participating in 20 different activity badges. A well-run group of Webelos is a gradual change from being an 'adult-run' den to being a 'boy-run' patrol ready to fit right into an adventurous scouting troop. This migration requires the parents and den leaders to give the scouts more and more control, decision-making power, and responsibility as they progress in skills, abilities, and maturity. A good program also provides the scouts with many opportunities to grow in the Webelos Virtues.

The Arrow of Light

 

The highest award in Cub Scouts is earned by Webelos that have been active participants in their den and are ready to join a Boy Scout troop. Many of the requirements for the Arrow of Light are intended to familiarize the scout with a local troop and hopefully show him that crossing over into a troop is the next step to take in scouting. A scout that earns his Arrow of Light patch has also completed nearly all the requirements to earn the Scout badge in the troop so he has already begun his Boy Scout trail.