Ranks

Tiger

Tiger Cubs is for boys who are entering the first grade (or are 7 years old) and their adult partners. Tiger Cubs introduces boys and their adult partners to the excitement of Cub Scouting as they live the Tiger Cub motto together: Search, Discover, Share. Tiger Cubs is designed to build stronger families through involvement in a simple, low-cost program that is flexible and fun for boys and adults.

To begin his path to the Tiger Cub Rank, a boy must do the following to earn the Tiger Cub Totem:

1. Learn the Tiger Cub Motto: Search, Discover, Share
2. Learn the Cub Scout Sign
3. Learn the Cub Scout Salute

Once he earns the Totem, to earn the Tiger Cub rank the Tiger Cub Scout must complete a Family Activity, a Den Activity, and a "Go See It" Activity in each of five Achievement Areas:

1. Making My Family Special
2. Where I Live
3. Keeping Myself Healthy and Safe
4. How I Tell It
5. Let's Go Outdoors

Remember, there are NO performance requirements for a boy. Simply participating and doing one's best in an activity constitutes completion.

After completing the fifteen Achievements, the Tiger Cub is awarded the Tiger Cub Patch. The patch is affixed to the reverse side of the Tiger Cub Totem until he advances to the Bobcat Rank and begins working on his Wolf Rank. At that point the Tiger Cub and Bobcat Rank patches are sewn on the Blue Cub Scout Uniform shirt.

Also, after completing the achievements, the Tiger Cub can be awarded Tiger Track Beads, which are YELLOW disks attached to the Totem. One bead is awarded for each group of TEN Electives the Tiger Cub completes. A boy can work on both Achievements and electives concurrently, but he can't receive Tiger Track beads until he has earned the Tiger Cub Badge.

Additional information:

• See http://usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/tiger.asp for more information about the Tiger Cub rank and requirements.
• See http://usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/tiger-electives.asp for more information about Tiger Cub Electives.

Bobcat

The Bobcat rank is the first rank every boy must earn when entering the Cub Scout program after the Tiger Cub program because it contains the basic information all Cub Scouts must know.

To earn the Bobcat rank, the Cub Scout must:

1. Learn and say the CUB SCOUT PROMISE and complete the Honesty Character Connection.
2. Say the LAW OF THE PACK. Tell what it means.
3. Tell what WEBELOS means
4. Show the CUB SCOUT SIGN. Tell what it means.
5. Show the CUB SCOUT HANDSHAKE. Tell what it means.
6. Say the CUB SCOUT MOTTO. A motto is a guiding principle.
7. Give the CUB SCOUT SALUTE. Tell what it means.
8. With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the booklet, How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse.

Additional information:

• See http://usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/bobcat.asp for more information about the Bobcat rank and requirements.

Wolf

The boys in second grade (or are 8 years old) are called Wolf Cub Scouts. The Wolf rank achievements expand on principles learned during the Tiger Cub program. As with all advancement levels, the boy must earn the Bobcat rank prior to earning the Wolf badge. To earn the Wolf rank, the Cub Scout must complete 58 tasks out of a possible 74 tasks offered in twelve achievement areas:

After earning his Wolf Badge, a Wolf Cub may begin earning Arrow Points in the Electives section of his book. While work on the "Arrow Point Trail" may begin at any time, he cannot receive Arrow Points until after earning the Wolf Badge. For the FIRST 10 arrow points completed in the "Electives" section of his book, the Wolf Cub earns his GOLD ARROW POINT. For EACH 10 arrow points completed (AFTER HE EARNS THE GOLD ARROW POINT) the Wolf Cub earns a SILVER ARROW POINT. He may earn any number of SILVER ARROW POINTS, but he may only earn ONE GOLD ARROW POINT for the first 10 elective points that he completes.

Additional information:

• See http://usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/wolf.asp for more information about the Wolf rank and requirements.
• See http://usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/wolfarrow.asp for more information about Wolf electives (Arrow Point Trail).

Bear

Intended for boys entering the third grade (or who are 9 years old), the Bear rank achievements continue to build upon skill learned in previous ranks. As with all advancement levels, the boy must earn the Bobcat rank prior to earning the Bear badge.. To earn the Bear badge, a Cub Scout must complete 12 achievements out of a possible 24 that are offered in the book. The achievements are grouped in 4 major areas, GOD, COUNTRY, FAMILY, and SELF. Within each group, a required number of achievements must be completed, as indicated below. Also, any achievements that they do NOT use to earn the Bear badge may be used to earn Arrow Points.

Additional information:

• See http://usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/bear.asp for more information about the Bear rank and requirements.
• See http://usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/beararrow.asp for more information about Bear electives (Arrow Point Trail).

Webelos

When a boy completes third grade (or reaches age 10), he is eligible to enter a Webelos den and begin a new phase of Cub Scouting: his uniform will change, he will face different advancement requirements, and he will have new experiences with camping. The Webelos den program, which spans two years, is different from the Wolf and Bear Cub Scout den programs. Instead of being based on a monthly theme, the Webelos den program is based on one of twenty Webelos activity badges. The activity badge areas, hobby and career fields ranging from science to sports, are sorted into five discipline-related groups:

First Year:

During his first year in a Webelos den, the boy focuses on earning the Webelos Badge. As with all advancement levels, the boy must earn the Bobcat rank prior to earning the Webelos badge.

To earn the Webelos badge, a Cub Scout must complete EIGHT requirements:

1. Have an adult member of your family read and sign the Webelos Scout Parent Guide.
2. Be an active member of your Webelos den for 3 months (Active means having good attendance, paying den dues, working on den projects).
3. Know and explain the meaning of the Webelos badge.
4. Point out the three special parts of the Webelos Scout uniform. Tell when to wear the uniform and when not to wear it.
5. Earn the Fitness and Citizen activity badges and one other activity badge from a different activity badge group.
6. Plan and lead a flag ceremony in your den that includes the U.S. flag.
7. Show that you know and understand the requirements to be a Boy Scout.
8. Complete faith requirements.

After earning the Webelos badge, the Webelos Scout may receive compass points for earning additional activity badges. The compass points emblem is presented to the boy who has four activity badges in addition to those required for the Webelos badge (for a total of seven). A metal compass point, to be pinned to the emblem, is awarded for each additional four activity badges that the boy earns.

During his second year in a Webelos den, the Webelos Scout focuses on earning the Arrow of Light Award. The Arrow of Light Award is the highest award a boy can earn as a Cub Scout. This recognition is the only Cub Scout badge authorized to be worn on the Boy Scout uniform when a boy graduates into a troop. Webelos Scouts who have earned the Arrow of Light Award have also completed all requirements for the Boy Scout badge. This helps ensure a seamless transition to a Boy Scout Troop.

To earn the Arrow of Light Award, a Webelos Scout must complete the following SEVEN requirements:

1. Be active in your Webelos den for at least six months since completing the fourth grade (or for at least six months since becoming 10 years old), and earn the Webelos badge.
2. Show your knowledge of the requirements to become a Boy Scout.
3. Earn five more activity badges in addition to the three you already earned for the Webelos badge. These must include:
   • Fitness (already earned for the Webelos badge)
   • Citizen (already earned for the Webelos badge)
   • Readyman
   • Outdoorsman
   • At least one from the Mental Skills Group
   • At least one from the Technology Group
   • Two more of your choice.
4. With your Webelos den, visit at least one Boy Scout troop meeting and one Boy Scout-oriented outdoor activity.
5. Participate in a Webelos overnight campout or day hike.
6. After you have completed all five of the above requirements, and after a talk with your Webelos den leader, arrange to visit, with your parent or guardian, a meeting of a Boy Scout troop you think you might like to join. Have a conference with the Scoutmaster.
7. Complete the Honesty Character Connection (Know, Commit, Practice)

Additional information:

• See http://usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/webelos.asp for more information about the Webelos rank and requirements.
• See http://usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/arrowoflight.asp for more information about the Arrow of Light Award and requirements.
• See http://usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/webelos.asp#COMPASSPOINTS for more information about compass points.