Scout Ranks & Advancement
On the advancement trail, a Cub Scout progresses towards a badge of rank based on their grade. They need not have earned the previous rank in order to earn the next. Each of the ranks in Cub Scouting has its own requirements that are age appropriate, so earning a rank below a Cub Scout’s current grade is not permitted. As a Cub Scout advances through the ranks, the requirements get more challenging, to match the new skills and abilities they have learned. Any boy/girl who is 6 years old, or in the first grade, may join Cub Scouts. The ranks are as follows:
LION - KINDERGARTEN
The Lion Cub program has exciting indoor and outdoor activities specifically designed for kindergarten age youth and their adult partner. Adult partners (guardians) are there to support and guide throughout the experience. At the conclusion of their kindergarten year, the Lion Cub will transition to Tiger Cubs where they'll earn the Bobcat badge and continue through Cub Scouting.
The Lion rank is earned by completing five adventures as described below. Although participation with an adult partner is required for all Lion awards, recognition items are for the Scouts only.
Complete the five required adventures:
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Lion’s Honor (Learn the Scout’s Oath, Law, Motto and Handshake)
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Animal Kingdom (What to do in an emergency, learn about first responders, energy saving projects)
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Fun on the Run! (Field Day!, learn about exercise and healthy eating)
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King of the Jungle (Learn what it means to be a good citizen and leader, participate in a flag ceremony)
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Mountain Lion (Learn the six essentials for outdoor adventures, learn outdoor safety, go on a hike)
Outside of the requirements, Lion Scouts can also complete any number of seven elective adventures of their den’s or family’s choosing.
Google any of the adventures for more specifics.
BOBCAT
This is the first rank achieved by all new Cub Scouts. All Cub Scouts are required to earn this rank prior to receiving their age-appropriate rank, regardless of where they start in the Cub Scout program. A youth must complete the Bobcat requirements, which include:
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Learn and say the Scout Oath, with help if needed
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2. Learn and say the Scout Law, with help if needed
3. Show the Cub Scout sign. Tell what it means
4. Show the Cub Scout handshake. Tell what it means.
TIGER
- 1st Grade
Boys/Girls who have reached 6 years old or are entering the first grade boys get their introduction to Cub Scouting in this adult-child program. Activities at this rank require that a parent or guardian participate alongside the Tiger Scout at each event.
The Tiger rank is earned by completing seven adventures as described below. Although participation with an adult partner is required for all Tiger awards, recognition items are for the Scouts only.
Complete each of the six required adventures:
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Games Tigers Play (Make up new games with your den, play team building games, learn about and play a sport or meet an athlete)
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My Tiger Jungle (Go on a hike, ID plants and animals, study what really is living in a foot by 1 foot area outside, build and hang a birdhouse, plant a tree or garden)
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Team Tiger (Learn about teams and being a part of one, sports, family, your den, they are all teams and you play an important role)
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Tiger Bites (Learn about healthy choices, making healthy meals, hygiene for meal prep and make have a potluck healthy feast)
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Tiger Circles: Duty to God (Talk with your den or family about what Duty to God means in your life, do an act of kindness)
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Tigers in the Wild (Outdoors preparation, 6 essentials, planning an outing, going for an outing, ID plants and trees and participate in a campfire program)
Outside of the requirements, Tiger Scouts can also complete any number of seven elective adventures of their den’s or family’s choosing.
Google any of the adventures for more specifics.
WOLF - 2nd Grade
Boys/Girls entering the second grade. The Wolf rank is earned by completing seven adventures as described below.
Complete each of the six required adventures:
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Call of the Wild (Attend a campout or resident/day camp, Recite the outdoor code, learn Leave No Trace principles, knot tying)
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Council Fire (Duty to Country) (Participate in a Flag Ceremony, learn to care for and fold a flag, talk with a Veteran or Emergency Responder about their service, participate in an event honoring Veterans like a parade)
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Duty to God Footsteps (Talk with your den or family about what Duty to God means in your life, do an act of kindness, read about groups that came to America to pursue religious freedom)
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Howling at the Moon (Learn to and show how to communicate in two or more ways, design and perform an original skit, prepare and lead a campfire program for the Den or Pack)
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Paws on the Path (Prepare for and go on a hike, ID plants and animals or signs thereof, put into practice the Leave No Trace principles and the Outdoor Code, discuss and practice the buddy system)
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Running With the Pack (Field day, design and participate in a multitude of field activities with your Den)
In addition to the six required adventures, complete at least one elective adventure of your den’s or family’s choosing.
Google any of the adventures for more specifics.
BEAR - 3rd Grade
Boys/Girls entering the third grade. The Bear rank is earned by completing seven adventures as described below.
Complete each of the six required adventures:
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Baloo the Builder (build projects out of wood, play and execute with the proper tools, learn what tools are best to use and how to apply a finish to your project)
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Bear Claws (Learn about knife safety, how to use a pocket knife, start a whittling project and earn your whittling chip)
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Bear Necessities (Learn how to pick a great tent spot and pitch your tent, plan and pack for your camping outing, attend a campout, learn to tie two half hitches, learn how to track temperature and use a barometer)
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Fellowship and Duty to God (Discuss your faith, what ever that maybe, with someone you admire, find a way to be helpful and perform that task for at least two weeks)
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Fur, Feathers, and Ferns (Take a hike and ID at least six plants and animals, visit a nature center or zoo, learn about extinct animals, look up close through a magnifier at plants and see what you can discover)
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Paws for Action (Duty to Country) (Learn about the flag, learn about two famous Americans who were scouts, make a list of emergency contacts and discuss how and when to use them, speak with a Sheriff or other officer about their work, participate in a community service project)
In addition to the six required adventures, complete at least one elective adventure of your den’s or family’s choosing.
Google any of the adventures for more specifics.
WEBELOS & AOL - 4th & 5th Grade
Webelos (pronounced WEE-buh-lows) stands for "WE'll BE LOyal Scouts". Fourth and fifth grade Scouts work toward the Webelos badge and ultimately the Arrow of Light, which is the highest award given in Cub Scouts. The Webelos rank is usually earned during the fourth grade year, and the Arrow of Light is typically earned during their graduation ceremony in their fifth grade year. The Arrow of Light is an honorable award that prepares the Cub Scout for the journey into Boy Scouts. This award is one of two Cub Scout awards that can transfer to the Boy Scout Uniform and the adult uniform.
The Webelos rank is earned by completing six adventures as described below. Scouts who are in Cub Scouts in fourth grade must complete the Webelos rank before working towards their Arrow of Light.
Be an active member of your Webelos den for three months.
Complete each of the five required adventures:
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Cast Iron Chef (Plan, budget, shop, prepare a meal; show how to properly prepare, light and put out a campfire or cooking fire)
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Duty to God and You (Talk with your den or family about what Duty to God means in your life, choose one way that makes you feel closer to your faith and practice that)
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First Responder (Learn and show you know what to do in hurry cases of first aid such as heavy bleeding or heart problems, lean and show how to handle many types of typical first aid such as nosebleeds, cuts, tick or bug bites and more; create and practice an emergency home plan; put together a first aid kit; visit with an EMT or health care professional)
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Stronger, Faster, Higher (create and exercise plan and follow it for 30 days, record your results; try a new sport; learn and explain the importance of warm up and cool down during exercise)
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Webelos Walkabout (plan and participate in a 3 mile hike; prepare and bring a first aid kit; ID and describe any poisonous plants and animals you may find on your hike and how to handle that; plan and prepare a nutritious meal or snack for the hike)
In addition to the five required adventures, complete at least one elective adventure of your den’s or family’s choosing.
Google any of the adventures for more specifics.
The Arrow of Light rank is earned by completing five adventures as described below.
Be an active member of your Webelos den for at least six months since completing the fourth grade or for at least six months since becoming 10 years old.
Complete each of the four required adventures:
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Building a Better World
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Complete Requirements 1-6.
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Explain the history of the United States flag. Show how to properly display the flag in public, and help lead a flag ceremony.
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Learn about and describe your rights and duties as a citizen, and explain what it means to be loyal to your country.
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Discuss in your Webelos den the term “rule of law,” and talk about how it applies to you in your everyday life.
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Meet with a government or community leader, and learn about his or her role in your community. Discuss with the leader an important issue facing your community.
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Show that you are an active leader by planning an activity for your den without your den leader’s help. Ask your den leader for approval first.
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Do at least one of these:
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Learn about Scouting in another part of the world. With the help of your parent, guardian, or den leader, pick one country where Scouting exists, and research its Scouting program.
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Set up an exhibit at a pack meeting to share information about the World Friendship Fund.
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Under the supervision of your parent, guardian, or den leader, connect with a Scout in another country during an event such as Jamboree on the Air or Jamboree on the Internet or by other means
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Learn about energy use in your community and in other parts of the world.
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Identify one energy problem in your community, and find out what has caused it.
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Duty to God in Action
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Complete Requirements 1 and 2 plus at least two others of your choice.
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Discuss with your parent, guardian, den leader, or other caring adult what it means to do your duty to God. Tell how you do your duty to God in your daily life.
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Under the direction of your parent, guardian, or religious or spiritual leader, do an act of service for someone in your family, neighborhood, or community. Talk about your service with your family. Tell your family how it related to doing your duty to God.
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Earn the religious emblem of your faith that is appropriate for your age, if you have not done so already.
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With your parent, guardian, or religious or spiritual leader, discuss and make a plan to do two things you think will help you better do your duty to God. Do these things for a month.
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Discuss with your family how the Scout Oath and Scout Law relate to your beliefs about duty to God.
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For at least a month, pray or reverently meditate each day as taught by your family or faith community.
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Outdoor Adventurer
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Complete Option A or Option B.Option A:
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With the help of your den leader or family, plan and participate in a campout.
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On arrival at the campout, with your den and den leader or family, determine where to set up your tent. Demonstrate knowledge of what makes a good tent site and what makes a bad one. Set up your tent without help from an adult.
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Once your tents are set up, discuss with your den or family what actions you should take in the case of the following extreme weather events:
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Severe rainstorm causing flooding
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Severe thunderstorm with lightning or tornadoes
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Fire, earthquake, or other disaster that will require evacuation. Discuss what you have done to minimize as much danger as possible.
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Show how to tie a bowline. Explain when this knot should be used and why. Teach it to another Scout who is not a Webelos Scout.
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Recite the Outdoor Code and the Leave No Trace Principles for Kids from memory. Talk about how you can demonstrate them while you are working on your Arrow of Light. After one outing, list the things you did to follow the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace.
Option B:
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With the help of your den leader or family, plan and participate in an outdoor activity.
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Discuss with your den or family what actions you should take in the case of the following extreme weather events:
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Severe rainstorm causing flooding
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Severe thunderstorm with lightning or tornadoes
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Fire, earthquake, or other disaster that will require evacuation. Discuss what you have done to minimize as much danger as possible.
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Show how to tie a bowline. Explain when this knot should be used and why. Teach it to another Scout who is not a Webelos Scout.
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Recite the Outdoor Code and the Leave No Trace Principles for Kids from memory. Talk about how you can demonstrate them while you are working on your Arrow of Light. After one outing, list the things you did to follow the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace.
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Scouting Adventure
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Complete the following Requirements.
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Prepare yourself to join a troop by completing at least a-c below:
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Repeat from memory the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan. In your own words, explain their meanings to your den leader, parent, or guardian.
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Explain what Scout spirit is. Describe for your den leader, parent, or guardian some ways you have shown Scout spirit by conducting yourself according to the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan.
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Give the Scout sign, salute, and handshake. Explain when to use each.
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Describe the First Class Scout badge, and tell what each part stands for. Explain the significance of the First Class Scout badge.
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Repeat from memory the Pledge of Allegiance. In your own words, explain its meaning
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Visit a Scouts BSA troop meeting with your parent or guardian and, if possible, with your den members and leaders. After the meeting, do the following:
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Describe how the Scouts in the troop provide its leadership.
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Describe the four steps of Scouts BSA advancement.
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Describe ranks in Scouting and how they are earned.
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Describe what merit badges are and how they are earned.
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Practice the patrol method in your den for one month by doing the following:
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Explain the patrol method. Describe the types of patrols that might be part of a Scouts BSA troop.
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Hold an election to choose the patrol leader.
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Develop a patrol name and emblem (if your den does not already have one), as well as a patrol flag and yell. Explain how a patrol name, emblem, flag, and yell create patrol spirit.
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As a patrol, make plans to participate in a Scouts BSA troop’s campout or other outdoor activity.
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With your Webelos den leader, parent, or guardian, participate in a Scouts BSA troop’s campout or other outdoor activity. Use the patrol method while on the outing.
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Do the following:
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Show how to tie a square knot, two half hitches, and a taut-line hitch. Explain how each knot is used.
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Show the proper care of a rope by learning how to whip and fuse the ends of different kinds of rope.
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Demonstrate your knowledge of the pocketknife safety rules and the pocketknife pledge. If you have not already done so, earn your Whittling Chip card.
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In addition to the four required adventures, complete at least one elective adventure of your den’s or family’s choosing.
Google any of the adventures for more specifics.