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Cub Scout
"Advancement Trail"
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 Cub Scout Promise, and the Law of the Pack 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 (age 7) must learn the Cub Scout promise, the
Cub Scout sign, and the Cub Scout salute. When he has
learned these, he gets his Tiger Cub emblem, which is a
tiger paw with four strings for beads. He wears the emblem
on his right pocket.
As a boy finishes each part of the five
Tiger Cub achievements, he earns an orange bead (for Den
activities), a white bead (for family activities), or a
black bead (for "Go See Its"). When the boy has earned five
beads of each color, 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.
Wolf
The Wolf rank is for boys who have
finished first grade (or who are 8 years old). To earn the
Wolf badge, a boy must pass 12 achievements. His parent or
guardian approves each achievement by signing his book. When
the boy has met all requirements, the Wolf badge is
presented to his parent or guardian at the next Pack
Meeting. During an impressive ceremony, the parent or
guardian then presents the badge to the boy.
After he has earned the Wolf badge, a Wolf
Cub Scout can work on the 23 Wolf electives until he
finishes second grade (or turns 9 years old). He can choose
from more than 100 elective projects that may show him new
hobbies and teach him skills that will be useful during his
Boy Scout years. When he completes 10 elective projects, he
earns a Gold Arrow Point to wear under the Wolf badge. For
each 10 elective projects after that, he earns a Silver
Arrow Point.
Bear
The Bear rank is for boys who have
finished second grade (or are 9 years old). There are 24
Bear achievements in four groups. A boy must complete 12 of
the achievements to be a Bear Cub Scout. These requirements
are harder and more challenging than those for the Wolf
badge. When a boy has earned his Bear badge, he may work on
electives to earn Arrow Points to wear under his Bear badge.
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 20 Webelos activity badges:
- Physical skills
- Aquanaut
- Athlete
- Fitness
- Sportsman
- Community
- Citizen
- Communicator
- Family Member
- Readyman
- Outdoor Activity
- Forester
- Geologist
- Naturalist
- Outdoorsman
- Mental Skills
- Artist
- Scholar
- Showman
- Traveler
- Technology
- Craftsman
- Engineer
- Handyman
- Scientist
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 three activity badges, including
Fitness and Citizen, to earn the Webelos badge.
Besides earning activity badges, Webelos
Scouts can earn the compass points emblem. This emblem is
awarded after a Webelos Scout has earned seven activity
badges. For each four activity badges a Webelos Scout earns
after that, he receives a compass point — east, west, north,
and south.
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. Webelos Scouts who have earned
the Arrow of Light Award have also completed all
requirements for the Boy Scout badge.
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 young may also show their
achievement by wearing a special square knot on their adult
uniform.
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