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What Is Cub Scouting?

In 1930 the Boy Scouts of America launched a home- and neighborhood-centered program for boys 9 to 11 years of age. A key element of the program is an emphasis on caring, nurturing relationships between boys and their parents, adult leaders, and friends. Currently, Cub Scouting is the largest of the BSA's three membership divisions. (The others are Boy Scouting and Venturing.)

A Recipe For Fun

Cub Scouting was first organized in 1930 when the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) realized that not every boy in the United States was experiencing the fun of Scouting. For years, boys too young to join the Scouting movement- younger brothers, neighbors, and friends - had been tagging along on campouts, service projects, and other fun-filled activities with older Scouts but not reaping the full benefits of being Boy Scouts.

To accomodate this younger generation of motivated boys, the BSA created Cub Scouting. An exciting an dadventurous program coupled with skills and values development for younger boys, Cub Scouting became an instant hit.

Today, Cub Scouting provides more than two million boys from all backgrounds with heathy doses of constructive fun and an underlying emphasis on traditional values and service.

Cub Scouting enrollment is open year-round, so you can join any time.However, spring and the start of school are the most popular times to sign up.

Instilling Values

Today's world is complicated. Work, school, family, religion, sports, adn extracurricular activities pull parents and children in several different directions. As a parent, you want your son to grow up to be a self-reliant, dependable, and caring individual.

Cub Scouting achieves these outcomes by combining fun with educational activities and lifelong values. It also helps parents strengthen character, develop good citizenship, and enhance both mental and physical fitness in young boys.

Additionally, Cub Scouting provides boys with positive peer groups and tools to shape their future.

In Cub Scouting, boys learn ideals like honesty, bravery, thrift and respect. These values help boys make constructive decisions throughout their lifetimes and give them the confidence they need to grow and develop.

Cub Scouting for Today's Family

The purpose of the Boy Scouts of America as incorporated on February 9, 1910, and chartered by Congress in Jun 1916, is to provide for buys and young adults an effective educational program designed to build desirale qualities of character; to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship; and to develop personal fitness. Through chartered organizations, Cub Scouting provides a year-round, home centered program that had helped to strengthen families since 1930.

In Cub Scouting, boys, families, leaders, and chartered organizations work together to achieve the following objectives.

Cub Scouting has nine purposes:

1. Positively influence character development and encourage spiritual growth
2. Help boys develop habits and attitudes of good citizenship
3. Encourage good sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind and body
4. Improve understanding within the family
5. Strengthen boys' ability to get along with other boys and respect other people
6. Foster a sense of personal achievement by helping boys develop new interests and skills
7. Show how to be helpful and do one's best
8. Provide fun and exciting new things to do
9. Prepare boys to become Boy Scouts

Programs:

Tigers
Tiger Cubs BSA is a simple and fun program for first-grade boys and their families. The Tiger Cub program introduces boys and their adult partners to the excitement of Cub Scouting as they "Search, Discover, and Share" together.

Bobcat
Bobcat rank is the first rank for boys in second through fifth grades who join Cub Scouting. The Bobcat badge teaches new Cub Scouts the Law of the Pack, Cub Scout Promise, Cub Scout Handshake and much more that prepares them to be good Scouts.

Wolf
The Wolf program is for boys who have completed first grade (or are age 8). To earn the Wolf badge, a boy must pass twelve achievements involving simple physical and mental skills.

Bear
The Bear rank is for boys who have completed second grade (or are age 9). There are twenty-four Bear achievements in four different categories. The Cub Scout must complete twelve of these to earn the Bear badge. These requirements are somewhat more difficult and challenging than those for Wolf rank.

Webelos
This program is for boys who have completed third grade (or are age 10). A boy may begin working on the Webelos badge 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 Scout Book, he will work on activity badges, attend meetings led by adults, and become familiar with the Boy Scout requirements - all leading to the Arrow of Light Award.