The Advancement Program

Recognition is important to young boys. The Cub Scout advancement plan provides fun for the boys, gives them a sense of personal achievement as they earn badges, and strengthens family understanding as adult family members work with boys on advancement projects. Cub Scout advancement is not a competition among boys. The Cub Scout advancement program is also designed to encourage the natural interests of a boy in a natural way. The ranks in Cub Scouting each with its own requirements, are progressively more challenging, matching the increased skills and abilities of a boy as he grows older.

Generally speaking, a boy should advance one rank per year. The Den Leader will help guide the boys and their families to reach their goals. The Cub Scout's advancement progress depends on his own motivation for learning new skills; on the encouragement and help he gets from his family, and on his need for recognition. However, parents should be encouraged not to rush their boys through the required achievements for each rank. Normally, it should take a boy about six months to complete the requirements for the Wolf and Bear ranks. He may not begin working on the requirements for the next rank until he reaches the age or grade requirements.

Bobcat

The Bobcat rank is for all boys who join Cub Scouting. In achieving Bobcat boys learn the basic tenants of Cub Scouting such as the Cub Scout Motto, Salute, Scout Oath & Scout Law, etc.

Tiger Cub

The Tiger Cub program is for first grade (or age 7) boys and their adult partners. There are seven adventures he must complete. The Tiger Cub, working with his adult partner, completes 6 required adventures plus 1 elective adventure from a choice of 13 electives to earn the Tiger Cub Badge. These requirements consist of an exciting series of indoor and outdoor activities just right for a boy in the first grade.

Wolf

The Wolf program is for boys who have completed first grade (or are age 8). To earn the Wolf badge, a boy must complete 6 required adventures plus 1 elective adventure involving simple physical and mental skills.

Bear

The Bear rank is for boys who have completed second grade (or are age 9). To earn the Bear badge, a boy must complete 6 required adventures plus 1 elective adventure. These requirements are somewhat more difficult and challenging than those for Wolf rank.

Webelos

This program is for boys who have completed third grade (or are age 10). A boy may begin working on the Webelos badge as soon as he joins a Webelos den. This is the first step in his transition from Cub Scouts to a Boy Scout troop. As he completes the requirements found in the Webelos Scout Book, he will work on activity badges, attend meetings led by adults, and become familiar with the Boy Scout requirements--all leading to the Arrow of Light Award.

Advancement and recognition are based on earning the Webelos badge and activity badges. After the Webelos badge, the Scout can continue working toward the Arrow of Light Award, Cub Scouting’s highest award.

Webelos Activity Badge Requirements

Cub Scouts Academic and Sports Program

(EFFECTIVE June 1, 2015, the Cub Scout Academic and Sports program has been retired. However, according to BSA, "packs and dens may award the devices until the supply is exhausted.")

The Cub Scout Academics and Sports program complements the scouting program by providing opportunities for scouts to improve scholarship, develop sportsmanship, and explore new games while collecting Cub Scout belt loops and pins. The emphasis of the program is to try new things and to put forth a best effort, not of achieving proficiency or winning. This program is one method of addressing the third aim of Scouting: the development of physical, mental and emotional fitness. Fitness includes the body (well-tuned and healthy), the mind (able to think and solve problems), and the emotions (self-control, courage, and self-respect).

Cub Scouts of all ages from Tiger Cubs to Webelos can participate in the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program and earn a belt loop or pin for each activity. Activities can be done individually, in the Den, or as a Pack. ( Archery and BB-Gun Shooting can only be earned through a certified instructor, not at a den or pack level. ) A scout participating on school teams or other organized teams may use those activities to fulfill requirements of this scouting program.

Activities are divided into two categories: Academics and Sports. Each category has many skills and activities from which Scouts may choose. The Cub Scout belt loop and pin program encourages a boy to do his best while learning skills and promoting good sportsmanship.

There are currently 28 sports activity areas: Archery, BB Gun Shooting, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Bicycling, Bowling, Fishing, Flag Football, Fitness, Golf, Gymnastics, Hiking, Hockey, Horseback Riding, Ice Skating, Kickball, Marbles, Roller Skating, Skateboarding, Snow Ski and Board Sports, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Ultimate, Volleyball

And, 25 academics activity areas: Art, Astronomy, Chess, Citizenship, Collecting, Communicating, Computers, Disabilities Awareness, Family Travel, Geography, Geology, Good Manners, Heritages, Language & Culture, Map & Compass, Mathematics, Music, Nutrition, Pet Care, Photography, Reading and Writing, Science, Video Games, Weather, Wildlife Conservation

A variety of recognition items are available for the scouts participating in this program.

• • Belt loops are awarded to scouts completing the three belt loop requirements in an academic subject or sport. Academic belt loops are gold, and Sports belt loops are silver, except for the Archery and BB-gun Shooting belt loops, which are brass colored. Belt loops are worn on the Cub Scout belt.

  • Pins are awarded to scouts that continue participating in an academics or sports area and meet the specific requirements for each pin. Pins typically require completion of the corresponding belt loop requirements plus 5 or 6 more challenging requirements.

Information on the academic and sports program was obtained from:

http://www.boyscouttrail.com/cub-scouts/acad-sports.asp#pins