Optional Awards

Open to all Scouts.

Attend Cub Scout day camp or Cub Scout resident camp AND another physical activity.

Open to all Scouts.

When Scouts are having a great time they naturally want to invite friends who are not involved to join. To recognize those Cub Scouts who recruit a friend to join the pack, there is the recruiter strip. This patch is worn on the bottom left pocket of the uniform. When a Cub Scout invites friends to join the pack, once one of those friends has joined, they earn the patch.

Open to all Scouts.

Most of the major religious bodies in the United States have programs to recognize Cub Scouts who demonstrate faith, observe their creeds or principles, and give service.  

The Religious Emblem, typically a medal, are not Scouting awards; however, they may be worn on the upper left pocket of the Cub Scout uniform.  

Open to Bear and Webelos Scouts. 

Demonstrate to a Cub Scout leader five levels of pocket knife safety; pack or individual may purchase awards at a Scout shop.

Open to Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts. 

Scouts must have participated in either a den or pack conservation project and have completed certain requirements can earn the World Conservation Award. The purpose of the award is to encourage all youth members to think globally and act locally to preserve and improve our environment.

REQUIRED for Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos ranks. 

Cub Scouts complete the requirement by visiting netsmartz.org/scouting and completing the age-appropriate activities.

 If a Cub Scout’s family does not have access to the internet, the Cyber Chip requirement for rank advancement can by waived by the parent or guardian.

Open to Tigers and higher.

Tigers to Webelos Scouts can earn awards for learning the safety rules and participating in three different disciplines of shooting sports: archery, BB gun, and slingshot. Shooting sports can only be conducted on a district or council level such as council-organized family camps, Cub Scout resident camp, or Cub Scout day camps. 

These activities require BSA trained adult leaders who have learned the specific rules and regulations around shooting sports with Cub Scout–aged children. Individual dens or packs may not conduct shooting sports activities even if they have an adult leader in their den or pack that has the appropriate training.

Lions are not eligible to earn Cub Scout Shooting Sports Award.

Open to Wolves, Bears, Webelos, and Arrow Of Light Scouts.

The Boy Scouts of America developed the STEM Nova Awards program to excite and expand a sense of wonder in our Scouts. By working with an adult counselor or mentor, the various modules allow them to explore the basic principles of STEM and discover how fun and fascinating STEM can be. The Supernova awards are offered for those who enjoy a super challenge. Discover how the STEM Nova Awards program helps youth be “Prepared. For Life.”   Visit this BSA page for more information.