ADVANCMENT & AWARDS

Spring TX

ADVANCEMENT

Cub Scout activities are centered around earning badges that are specific to each school grade level.  This badge represents a rank.  Advancement refers to the progress a Cub Scout makes toward their badge of rank.  As a Cub Scout advances through the ranks, the requirements get more challenging, to match the new skills and abilities they have learned.  All of the activities for each rank are in the Cub Scout handbooks.

Cub Scouts have the opportunity to earn both required and elective recognition devices as they work toward their ranks and can also earn recognition for additional elective adventures they choose to complete beyond those required for their rank

Bobcat

Cub Scouts in 1st – 5th grade must earn their Bobcat badge before they can advance to the rank of Tiger, Wolf, Bear, or Webelos Scout. Requirements include:

Learn and say the Cub Scout motto, the Scout Oath, and the Scout Law and tell what they mean;
Show the Cub Scout sign, salute, and handshake and tell what they mean; and
With your parent or guardian complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide.

REQUIRED ADVENTURES FOR CUB SCOUT BADGES OF RANK
REQUIRED ADVANTURE FOR CUB SCOUT BADGE OF RANK
Placement of rank badges, awards, adventure (belt) loops and Webelos pins.
Placement of rank badges, awards, adventure

Cub Scout advancement and award badges must be attached directly to the uniform.

Cub Scout advancement and award badges Placement

Tigers through Bears adventure loops are worn on the Cub Scout’s belt.

Webelos pins are worn on an item called Webelos Colors on the right sleeve

Webelos pins are worn on an item called Webelos Colors on the right sleeve of the tan uniform shirt or they may be placed on the Webelos hat.

AWARD

There are several awards Cub Scouts can earn beyond their badge of rank. They can be earned individually or as Den.

OTHER YOUTH AWARDS

Awards Cub Scouts Earn as Individuals

Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award

Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts may earn the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award by meeting the following requirements and activities. The Cub Scout will receive the pocket flap award, which is to be worn on the right pocket flap of the uniform shirt.

Cub Scout Shooting Sports Award

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.

Cub Scout World Conservation Award

Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts who 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.

Interpreter Strip

Above are just some of the languages available.

Scouting is a worldwide organization and encourages youth and adults to share their culture and heritage with others. The interpreter strip informs others that you can communicate in a foreign language, American sign language, or Morse code. Youth and adults may wear this strip if they show their knowledge of a foreign language or the sign language for the hearing impaired by:

• Carrying on a five-minute conversation in this language

• Translating a two-minute speech or address

• Writing a letter in the language (does not apply for sign language)

• Translating 200 words from the written word

Interpreter Strip

Today, Scouts in dozens of countries are working for peace by solving conflicts in their schools, building links between divided communities, teaching their peers about health and wellness, and repairing environmental damage. To recognize their efforts—and to inspire more young men and women to help Scouting create a better world—the World Scout Committee has launched the Messengers of Peace initiative.

To participate all Cub Scouts have to do is go online and register the Messengers of Peace related community service projects they undertake. Doing so adds pins to a global Messengers of Peace map, which Scouts from around the world can click on to learn how their fellow Scouts are making a difference.

National Summer Time Pack Award

The pack can qualify for the National Summertime Pack Award certificate by planning and conducting three pack activities—one each in June, July, and August (or during other school vacations if your pack is in a year-round school).

Cub Scouts who participate in all three pack events are eligible to receive the National Summertime Pack Award pin, which they can wear on the right pocket flap of their uniform. This is an individual recognition for children, not adults. 

Lions are not eligible.

Recruiter Strip

There is no application for this recognition. Recruiter strips can be purchased at your local Scout Shop or on-line at ScoutShop.org

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.

Religious Emblems

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.  

Pictured at left is a Religious Knot, for youth, worn centered above the left pocket of the uniform to represent that a religious emblem has been earn.

Service Stars

There is no application for this recognition. Service Stars can be purchased at your local Scout Shop or on-line at ScoutShop.org

Service stars are a great way to encourage and recognize Cub Scouts for staying in Scouting. After being in the pack for one year, a Cub Scout is eligible to wear the one-year service star. There are stars for each year following. Service stars continue throughout the various programs and adult volunteer service. Special recognition pins are available for benchmark periods such as each five and 10 years.

Whittling Chip

Beginning at the Bear rank (third grade), Cub Scouts may earn the Whittling Chip. This is a required training for Scouts in order to use and carry a pocketknife during Scouting activities. The Scout must demonstrate to their adult leader the safe way to use a knife as a tool. In addition to a pocket card, a patch may also be presented but is not to be worn on the uniform.