Updated: July 18, 2007

What is Cub Scouting?

It's a year-round program designed for boys who are in the 1st grade through 5th grade (or age 7 - 10).

The Purpose of Cub Scouting

Since 1930, the Boy Scouts of America has helped younger boys through Cub Scouting. Parents, leaders, and organizations work together to achieve the purposes of Cub Scouting. Currently, Cub Scouting is the largest of the BSA's three membership divisions (the others are Boy Scouting and Venturing).

The Ten Purposes of Cub Scouting are:

1. Character Development

2. Spiritual Growth

3. Good Citizenship

4. Sportsmanship and Fitness

5. Family Understanding

6. Respectful Relationships

7. Personal Achievement

8. Friendly Service

9. Fun and Adventure

10. Preparation for Boy Scouts

Membership

Cub Scouting members join a Cub Scout Pack and are assigned to a den, usually a group of six to eight boys, all in the same grade at school. Dens usually meet weekly.  Once a month, all of the dens and family members gather for a Pack Meeting under the direction of a Cubmaster and Pack Committee. The committee includes parents of boys in the pack and members of the chartered organization.

Volunteer Leadership

Thousands of volunteer leaders, both men and women, serve as everything from Unit Leaders to Pack Committee Chairperson, Committee Members, Den Leaders, and Assistant Den Leaders.  A Cub Scout Pack belongs to an organization with interests similar to those of the BSA. This organization, which might be a church, school, community organization, or group of interested citizens, is chartered by the local BSA council to use the Scouting program. This chartered organization provides a suitable meeting place, adult leadership, supervision, and opportunities for a healthy Scouting life for the boys under its care. Each organization appoints one of its members as a chartered organization representative.

Who Pays For It?

Groups responsible for supporting Cub Scouting are the boys and their parents, the Pack, the chartered organization, and the community. The boy is encouraged to pay his own way by contributing dues each week. Packs also obtain income by working on approved money-earning projects. The community, including parents, supports Cub Scouting through the United Way, Friends of Scouting enrollment, bequests, and special contributions to the BSA local council. This financial support provides leadership training, outdoor programs, council service centers and other facilities, and professional service for units.

Advancement Plan

Recognition is important to young boys. The Cub Scouting 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.

Bobcat rank is for all boys who join Cub Scouting.

Tiger program is for 1st grade (or age 7) boys and their adult partners. There are five Tiger Cub achievement areas. The Tiger Cub, working with his adult partner, completes 15 requirements within these areas to earn the Tiger Cub rank. These requirements consist of an exciting series of indoor and outdoor activities just right for a boy in the 1st grade.

Wolf program is for 2nd grade (or age 8) boys. To earn the Wolf rank, a boy must pass 12 achievements involving simple physical and mental skills.

Bear program is for 3rd grade (or age 9) boys. There are 24 Bear achievements in four categories. The Cub Scout must complete 12 of these to earn the Bear rank. These requirements are somewhat more difficult and challenging than those for Wolf rank.

Webelos program is a 2 year program for 4th and 5th grade (or age 10 - 11) boys. A boy may begin working on the Webelos rank as soon as he joins a Webelos den. This is the first step in his transition from the Webelos den to the Boy Scout troop. As he completes the requirements found in the Webelos Handbook, he will work on activity badges, attend meetings led by adults, and become familiar with the Boy Scout requirements — all leading towards the Arrow of Light Award (the highest award in Cub Scouting).

Activities

Cub Scouting means "doing". Everything in Cub Scouting is designed to have the boys doing things. Activities are used to achieve the aims of Scouting — citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness.  Many of the activities happen right in the den and pack. The most important are the weekly den meetings and the monthly pack meetings.

Cub Scout Academics and Sports

The Cub Scout Academics and Sports program provides the opportunity for boys to learn new techniques, increase scholarship skills, develop sportsmanship, and have fun. Participation in the program allows boys to be recognized for physical fitness and talent-building activities.

Camping

Age-appropriate camping programs are packed with theme-oriented action that brings Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts into the great out-of-doors. Day camping comes to the boy in his own area; resident camping is a four-day to weeklong experience in which Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts camp within a developed theme of adventure and excitement. Cub Scout pack families enjoy camping in local council camps and other council-approved campsites. Camping programs combine fun and excitement with doing one's best, getting along with others, and developing an appreciation for ecology and the world of the outdoors.

Publications

Volunteers are informed of national news and events through Scouting magazine (circulation 900,000). Boys may subscribe to Boys' Life magazine (circulation 1.3 million). Both are published by the Boy Scouts of America. Also available are a number of youth and leader publications, including the Tiger Cub Handbook, Wolf Handbook, Bear Handbook, Webelos Handbook, Cub Scout Leader Book, Cub Scout Program Helps, and Webelos Leader Guide.

Cub Scouting Ideals

Apart from the fun and excitement of Cub Scout activities, the Cub Scout Promise, the Law of the Pack, the Tiger Cub motto, and the Cub Scout sign, handshake, motto, and salute all teach good citizenship and contribute to a boy's sense of belonging.

Cub Scout Promise

I, (name), promise to do my best, To do my duty to God and my country, To help other people, and To obey the Law of the Pack.

Cub Scout Motto

Do Your Best.

Tiger Cub Motto

Search, Discover, Share.

Law of the Pack

The Cub Scout follows Akela. The Cub Scout helps the Pack go. The Pack helps the Cub Scout grow. The Cub Scout gives goodwill.

Colors

The Cub Scout colors are blue and gold. They have special meaning, which will help boys see beyond the fun of Cub Scouting to its ultimate goals.  The blue stands for truth and spirituality, steadfast loyalty, and the sky above. The gold stands for warm sunlight, good cheer, and happiness.

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