Cub Scout Advancements
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The Boy Scouts of America has replaced portions of the Cub Scout Advancement Program as of June 1, 2015.
The prior program ended on May 31, 2015.
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Note: in the descriptions below, we have listed the programs by Grade Level. Some units, especially those chartered by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Church (LDS), use age levels instead of grades. LDS units do not utilize the Tiger program, and start with 8 year olds working toward the Wolf badge. Then 9 year olds work toward the Bear badge, and 10 year olds work toward the Webelos and Arrow of Light badges.
Boys in the first through third grades (6-9 year olds) are referred to as "Cub Scouts". Boys in the fourth and fifth grades (9 and 10 year olds) are called "Webelos Scouts". "Webelos" is an Acronym which stands for WE'll BE LOyal Scouts
(WE-BE-LO-S), and is not a "plural" word form. It is an adjective, and should always include the "S".
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New Program:
The New Cub Scout Program, which began on June 1, 2015, still features Rank Advancement, which is now based on a series of "Core" (Required), and "Elective" (Optional) "Adventures". The Sports and Academics program has been discontinued, with some features from that program merged into the various "Adventures".
The first badge all Cub Scouts earn, regardless of age, is the Bobcat Badge. After earning the Bobcat Badge, they proceed to work on advancement specific to their grade or age level. As part of these requirements, they will still learn the the Cub Scout Motto, Salute, Handshake, and Sign. The Cub Scout Promise and the Law of the Pack have been retired, and replaced with the Scout Oath and the Scout Law.
• In the First Grade, Cub Scouts work toward earning the Tiger badge. The requirements are found in the Tiger Handbook. The Tiger Track Emblem and beads are no longer used.
• In the Second Grade, Cub Scouts work toward the Wolf Badge. The requirements are found in the Wolf Handbook. The Gold and Silver Arrow Points are no longer used.
• In the Third Grade, Cub Scouts work toward the Bear Badge. The requirements are found in the Bear Handbook. Again, the Gold and Silver Arrow Points are no longer used.
• The Webelos Program is a two year program for Fourth and Fifth Grade Boys. Fourth Grade Boys work toward the Webelos Badge, while Fifth Graders work toward the Arrow of Light badge. The requirements for both are found in the Webelos Handbook. Both grades select from a common group of Elective Adventures. The Webelos Activity Badges and the Compass Point Emblem are no longer used, and the Webelos Badge is no longer a prerequisite for the Arrow of Light.
Completely new versions of the Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Handbooks and companion Den Leader Guides were issued in May, 2015, to be used after the June 1, 2015 starting date. The Handbooks are available in English with Perfect or Coil bindings, and in Spanish, while the Guides are looseleaf. Each of the English version Handbooks and the Guides are also available as Kindle Books, from
Amazon.com. Since the requirements have been completely rewritten, we have not provided any web pages showing the changes. For the Tiger, Wolf, and Bear levels, Scouts that complete an "Adventure" will receive a recognition, in the form of a metal "belt loop". The recognitions for those working toward the Webelos and/or Arrow of Light badges will be in the form of pins.