Cub scouts is designed for youth in Kindergarten all the way through 5th grade. Each scout will be assigned a den and will work towards rank based on their current year grade level.
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Scouting program
Scouting is a year-round program uniquely designed to meet the needs of young people and their families. The program offers fun and challenging activities that promote character development and physical fitness. Family involvement is an essential part of the program, and parents are encouraged to play an active role in making the most of the short time they have to impact the lives of their children.
Scouting is designed to be experienced outdoors. Hiking, camping, mountain biking, skateboarding, BMX, mountain climbing, kayaking, whitewater rafting–these are just some of a Scout’s outdoor experiences.
The Scouting program is delivered through local civic, faith-based, and educational institutions called chartered organizations, which operate Scouting units to deliver the programs to their youth members, as well as the community at large. Together, these organizations are run by almost one million adult volunteers dedicated to helping youth learn and grow.
Text in above section © 2015 Boy Scouts of America. All Rights Reserved.
Start your adventure today!
Join the over two million families and see how Scouting will make a difference in your child’s life. Come out to our next pack meeting and see for yourself the fun adventures we have in store.
Cub Scouts are broken into a small group called a pack. Each pack has dedicated leaders and volunteers who are tasked with teaching Cub Scouts both fun and valuable lessons that will help them progress in the program and in life. But what makes Cub Scouts truly unique is the opportunity it gives the entire family to be involved in each child’s development. From volunteering with the pack to leading activities at home, parents can take full advantage of the extra time they’ll have participating in their Cub Scout’s life.
Text in above section © 2015 Boy Scouts of America. All Rights Reserved.
Cub Scout Ranks
Lion
As a Lion, your kindergartner will make friends, laugh loud, gain confidence, discover nature, and most of all…have fun! They’ll experience the Scouting concepts of character development, leadership, citizenship, and personal fitness through engaging and exciting adventures!! Your kindergartener will have a blast exploring the world around them in ways that fuel their imagination and creativity. Together, you’ll take their first steps down the path to success. Adventure awaits.
Lion is a family-oriented program. A youth and their parent or caring adult partner join Scouting together. A group of six to eight youth and their adult partners meet together in a group called a den. Dens will meet approximately twice per month. They have fun participating in den meetings and outings while making memories together. Join today!
Text in Lions section © 2015 Boy Scouts of America. All Rights Reserved.
Bobcat
All Cub Scouts start out at this rank. The first rank that EVERY cub scout earns when entering the Cub Scouting Program is the Bobcat rank (regardless of if they are tigers, wolves, bears, or webelos). These requirements are meant to demonstrate that the scout is making a commitment to participating in the scouting program. With only 6 simple requirements, it’s one of the easiest ranks in Cub Scouts to complete.
- Learn and say the Scout Oath
- Learn and say the Scout Law
- Show the CUB SCOUT SIGN. Tell what it means.
- Show the CUB SCOUT HANDSHAKE. Tell what it means.
- Say the CUB SCOUT MOTTO. Tell what it means.
- Give the CUB SCOUT SALUTE. Tell what it means.
Tiger
A 7 year old or youth in the first grade joins Cub Scouting with their parent or adult guardian. This is unique relative to other ranks in Cub Scouting. Tigers and their adult partners are just that, partners. They attend meetings together, go on adventures like field trips together, and complete requirements together.
For most youth this is their first real taste of the scouting adventure, and joining with their adult partner makes this entry rank even more fun. There are tons of fun things to do with your Akela (adult partner) – hiking, camping, archery, bb guns, and so much more, if you can dream it, the tigers will have a fun adventure to do it!
Wolf
A youth who is 8 years old or is in the second grade is a Wolf, and their adventures are all about building a solid skill set, getting them ready for more outdoor adventures, and more advanced skills. Wolves, are more involved in the ceremonies, and putting on skits and songs is an integral component of their program.
Bear
A youth who is 9 years old or is in the third grade is a Bear, and their adventures get more and more advanced. Now they have the opportunity to earn the Whittling Chip which demonstrates the trust the adult leaders have for the scout and allows them to carry a pocket knife. They also learn a lot more about outdoor survival, tying knots, and head out on many more awesome adventures.
Webelos
A youth who is 10 years old or is in the fourth grade is a Webelos. Webelos stands for “We be loyal scouts”, and the adventures at this level are all designed to get them ready to start their boy scout career. There are more outdoor adventures to go on, as well as more independant camping in preparation for their future career in scouting.
Arrow of Light
A youth who is in the fourth grade who has completed the requirements Webelos Scout, and has been around for about 6 months, or joins Cub Scouting in the fifth grade, they get to work on the highest award in Cub Scouting – The Arrow of Light. These are the most advanced and most exciting of adventures, and most Arrow of Light scouts help lead and teach many of the younger cubs as they prepare for their crossing over into boy scouts.
Adventures
Cub scouts is all about having fun, making new friends, and learning new skills. Cub scouts go on all sorts of awesome adventures, and learn new skills along the way. Below is just a brief sample of some things that cub scouts do during their adventures, as they earn their rank, as well as earning awards for their adventure accomplishments.
Text below taken from the cubstouts.org webpage
Adventure Awards
Cub Scouts have the opportunity to earn both required and elective recognition devices as they work toward their ranks. They also can earn recognition for additional elective adventures they choose to complete beyond those required for their rank. Tiger, Wolf, and Bear Scouts earn adventure loops to be worn on their belt, and Webelos Scouts earn pins they can wear on their Webelos colors or Webelos cap.
Adventure loops and pins are a great way to help fulfill the aims of Scouting—build character, develop citizenship, and encourage mental and physical fitness. Through a variety of subjects, you can stretch your mind and abilities by exploring the wonders of science, learning about the world, and expanding skills in new area.
This is a chance to try something new, do your best, and earn recognition all at the same time.
Camping
Camping takes you on exciting adventures into the natural world. You’ll learn to live with others in the out-of-doors. You’ll learn to be a good citizen of the outdoors.
Camping is fun, and it’s good for your mind, body, and spirit. It helps you learn to rely on yourself—on your own skills and knowledge. When you go camping as a Cub Scout, you get skills you will learn and use more, later, as a Boy Scout.
Cub Scout camping has day camps, resident camps, Webelos den overnight campouts, family camps, and pack overnighters.
Excursions and field trips provide some of the most exciting parts of Scouting. Cub Scouts enjoy many outdoor experiences as they participate in the variety of activities that can be held outside, such as field trips, hikes, nature and conservation experiences, and outdoor games.
Den Outings
Kids enjoy visiting museums, business establishments, parks, and other attractions. Here are some of the many adventures dens go on:
- How Things Are Made – Visit manufacturing plants such as aircraft, automotive, appliance, or electronic firms; chemical, paper, plastic, paint, furniture, or toy plants; and handicrafts or other small-craft industries.
- How Your City Runs – Visit power, water, and sewage plants; a gas company; police and fire stations; city hall; municipal buildings; the county jail; a telephone company; the post office; the Red Cross; hospitals; newspaper plants; and radio, television, and weather stations.
- How Your City Is Fed – Visit truck and dairy farms, flour mills, and bakeries; food processing, canning, or bottling plants; stockyards and meat or poultry packing houses; a fish hatchery; beverage, candy, and ice-cream companies; markets; and food distributors.
- Learn About Your Heritage – Visit art galleries, museums, and memorials; celebrated old homes, monuments, and other historic sites; places of worship; civic centers; important local buildings; summer theaters and band concerts; and local historical celebrations.
When these field trips are coordinated with the required and elective adventures, they can help bring learning to life by allowing Scouts to experience firsthand the things they have been learning about. Most adventures will include opportunities for a den outing that may fulfill part of an advancement requirement.
A well-planned den outing will benefit everyone involved, providing an opportunity for Scouts and adults to acquire new interests and knowledge; develop a deeper understanding of and respect for other people; reinforce their attitudes of good citizenship, such as courtesy and kindness; and have fun.
Hikes
A hike is a journey on foot, usually with a purpose, a route, and a destination. Cub Scout dens will have several opportunities for taking hikes related to adventure requirements.
Here are some suggestions for different types of hikes:
- Homes Hike – Look for spider webs, nests, holes, and other homes in nature. Make a list.
- Stop, Look, and Listen Hike – Hike for a specified length of time or for a certain number of steps. Then stop and write down all that you see and hear. Make several stops.
- Puddle Hike – Hike in a gentle rain or just after a rain, wearing appropriate rain gear. See how animals and insects take cover from the weather.
- Penny Hike – Flip a coin to see which direction you will go. Flip the coin at each intersection or fork in the road or trail.
- Color Hike – Look for objects of preselected colors. Make a list.
- Historical Hike – Hike to an historical spot. Know the history before going on the hike.
- City Hike – Look for scraps of nature between cracks in the sidewalk. Look at the buildings for various architectural details—carvings, cornices, etc. A vacant lot can provide a lot of interest; even one overturned rock can reveal surprises.
Sports and Games
Outdoor games and sports provide opportunities for teaching Scouts skills of good sportsmanship, including following rules, taking turns and sharing, getting along with others, and fair play. They provide the opportunity for every Cub Scout to learn the basic skills of a sport, game, or competition while learning good sportsmanship and habits of personal fitness in an environment where participation and doing one’s best are more important than winning.
Service Projects
Doing service projects together is one way that Cub Scouts keep their promise “to help other people.” While a Scout should do their best to help other people every day, a group service project is a bigger way to help people. While you’re giving service, you’re learning to work together with others to do something that’s good for your community.
Service projects may help the natural world, the community, or the chartered organization.
Text in Adventure section © 2015 Boy Scouts of America. All Rights Reserved.
Time Commitments
Although the cub scout program is structured so that the scouts are able to interact with each other during their regular weekly meetings, we know that at times other commitments get in the way of always being “there”.
Pack 720 has a year round program, that is designed to grow the scout through their current rank and earn their next rank by the end of the program year and graduation ceremony in May. Each month there is one parents and leaders meeting during one of the Monday’s at 6:30. There is also the pack meeting at the end of the month that is a culmination of all the work and adventures the individual scouts did with their dens that month. The remainder of the Mondays in the month, the dens will meet (a den is a group of 7-8 youth of all the same rank) to work on their adventures and progress to their next rank. In addition to the weekly den meetings, dens plan outings and field trips that are a lot of fun and everyone is encouraged to participate and join in.
If scouts are unable to attend the regular den meetings, they can follow along with the den’s monthly program with their Akela (anyone who acts as a leader to the scout, weather it’s the cub master, den leader, or a caring parent, relative, or guardian). Once they show they have completed the requirements, the Akela can have the den leader sign off on the work, and the scouts are able to maintain their progress even while not necessarily meeting with the den on a regular basis.
The pack meeting at the end of the month is very important for the scouts, as this is where they are given their awards, and show off all the cool adventures they did with their den, plus it’s a lot of fun with skits, games, and lots of new things to learn. At a minimum, scouts should try to attend the regular pack meetings once a month.
Cub Scout Pack 720 