HANDBOOK
FOR CUB SCOUT ADVANCEMENT
IN THE LAST FRONTIER COUNCIL
I. INTRODUCTION.
Your Last Frontier Council Advancement and Recognition
Committee has prepared this handbook as a general guide
for use by Cub Scout Leaders in guiding the advancement
of Cub Scouts and in guiding the advancement programs of
their units. This guide is a general guide only. Unit
leaders are urged to use the resources referred to in
Section V of this handbook, which discusses the Cub Scout
Advancement Program in much more detail.
The Advancement Program is as important in Cub Scouts as
in Boy Scouts. Regardless of age, recognition is
important to young boys. The Cub Scout Advancement
Program gives Cubs the priceless opportunity to earn
recognition for positive accomplishments. The Cub Scouts
thus learn the invaluable lesson that positive
accomplishments will be recognized. The Cub Scout
Advancement Plan also 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 achievement projects.
The Advancement Committee hopes that this handbook will
provide useful orientation in the Cub Scout Advancement
Program, particularly as it functions in the Last
Frontier Council. (This Handbook focuses on the
advancement in Cub Scouts. The Tiger Cub program has no
formal advancement program.)
II.. THE CUB SCOUT ADVANCEMENT TRAIL.
For all boys who join Cub Scouting, the first rank is
Bobcat (regardless of age). The rest of the Cub Scout
ranks are based on age and grade level. The Wolf rank is
for boys who are in second grade (or are 8 years old).
Bear is for those who are in third grade (or are 9 years
old). The Webelos Badge is for Webelos Scouts who have
completed the third grade or are 1O years old, and the
Arrow of Light Award is for Webelos Scouts who are in the
fifth grade.
As mentioned above, except for Bobcat, the first rank,
all Cub Scouting ranks are based on age and grade level.
A boy who enters Cub Scouting after completing second
grade first earns the Bobcat, and then he begins work on
the appropriate rank for his grade (or age). Thus, he may
not "go back" and work on advancements for
younger boys.
A. Bobcat
The very first rank that EVERY boy MUST earn when
entering the Cub Scouting Program is the Bobcat. To earn
the Bobcat rank the new Cub Scout must do the following:
1. Learn and say the 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."
2. Say the LAW OF THE PACK. Tell what it means.
"The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The pack helps the Cub Scout Grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill."
3. Tell what WEBELOS means "WE'll BE Loyal
Scouts"
4. Show the CUB SCOUT SIGN. Tell what it means.
5. Show the CUB SCOUT HANDSHAKE. Tell what it means.
6. Say the CUB SCOUT MOTTO. A motto is a rule.
"Do Your Best"
7. Give the CUB SCOUT SALUTE. Tell what it means.
8. With your parent or guardian, complete the
exercises in the booklet, Protect Your
Childrenfrom Child Abuse.
How to
The above items are the basic information that ALL
Cub Scouts must learn, which is why EVERY boy who
enters into Cub Scouting MUST earn the Bobcat Badge.
B. Wolf
To earn the Wolf rank, a Cub must pass 12 achievements
involving simple physical and mental skills. His parent
must approve each achievement by signing his book. The
Den Leader keeps a record of his progress on the Cub
Scout Den Advancement Chart and gives him recognition at
a Den meeting for passing each milestone.
Cub Leaders should understand the difference of
achievements on one hand, and arrow points on the other
hand. After a Cub has earned the Wolf Badge, he is
encouraged to work on the 22 Wolf electives until he
completes second grade (or turns 9 years old). More than
100 elective projects are aimed at kindling his interest
in new hobby fields, as well as teaching him skills that
will be useful during his Boy Scout years.
When a Cub completes ten elective projects, he earns a
Gold Arrow Point to wear under the Wolf Badge. For each
additional ten elective projects completed, the Cub earns
a Silver Arrow Point.
It is important to note that the Cub may work on the
"Arrow Point Trail" at any time. However, he
cannot receive Arrow Points until after he has earned the
Wolf Badge.
C. Bear
To earn the Bear Badge, a Cub Scout must complete 12
achievements out of a possible 24 that are offered in the
book. The achievements are grouped in four major areas:
God, Country, Family and Self. Within each group, a
required number of achievements must be completed. Any
achievements the Cub does not use to earn the Bear Badge
may be used to earn Arrow Points. You will find that the
Bear requirements are somewhat more difficult and
challenging than the requirements for the Wolf Badge. As
with the activities which lead to the Wolf Badge, the
achievements for the Bear Badge are primarily done at
home and are signed off by an adult family member after
the boy has completed each one. The book is then shown to
the Den Leader who records the boy's progress and also
signs the boy's book.
D. Webelos
The Webelos rank is for boys who have completed third
grade (or are 10 years old). A boy may begin working on
the Webelos Badge as soon as he joins a Webelos Den. This
is the first step in his all-important 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 lead by adults,
and become familiar with the Boy Scout Requirements - all
leading to the Arrow of Light Award.
As he is earning the Webelos Badge and the Arrow of Light
Award, a Webelos Scout is required to earn eight of the
20 available activity badges. Certain activity badges are
required for earning the Webelos Badge and the Arrow of
Light Award, while others may be selected by the boy. The
20 activity badge areas are hobby and career fields
ranging from science tosports. Most badge requirements
are passed by the Webelos Den Leader or activity badge
counselors.
Any activity badge may be earned by any boy during any
month. But most Webelos Den Leaders have found that it is
best to have all Den members working on the same badge at
the same time, since more resources and qualified help
are available in this way.
E. Arrow of Light
The next step on the Webelos trail to becoming a Boy
Scout is the
Arrow of Light Award, which is the highest award a boy
can earn as a Cub
Scout. This is the only Cub Scout Badge authorized to be
worn on the Boy Scout uniform when the boy graduates into
a Boy Scout Troop.
After the Webelos has earned the Webelos Badge, he should
be urged to complete the Arrow of Light Award
requirements, as set forth in the Webelos Scout Book.
These give him a chance to practice some Scout skills
that he has already learned, earn more activity badges,
and really find out what a Boy Scout is. The formal
requirements of the Arrow of Light Award can be found in
the Webelos Book.
F. Recognition in Pack Activities.
In Cub Scouting, recognition of advancement is almost as
important as advancement itself. Advancement ceremonies
at pack meetings and at the Blue and Gold Banquet are an
essential means of communicating to a Cub Scout the
importance of his work and of his commitment to Cub
Scouting. If the ceremonies are colorful and realistic,
and recognize a real achievement for a boy, they can be
satisfying and memorable for every member of the pack.
Not only do advancement ceremonies provide an opportunity
for recognition, they serve as an incentive for the boys
who are not advancing.
A discussion of advancement and recognition appears in
Chapter 8 of the Cub Scout Leader Book.
G. Other recognition
Religious Emblems. Cub Scouts
of all faiths and denominations can earn religious awards
and recognition of their religious faith. These emblems
are not Scouting awards as such. They are conferred on a
Cub by his religious leader. Each faith has its own
requirements for earning its emblem. Most of these awards
consist of bar pins and pendants, and are worn on the
uniform above the left pocket on formal occasions. In
addition, the religious emblem square knot may be worn on
the uniform over the left pocket by youth or adults who
earned any of the religious awards.
Cub Scout World Conservation Award.
Recognition in the form of the Cub Scout World
Conservation Award may be earned by each Cub Scout one
time while he is a Cub Scout. The requirements for this
award vary based on whether it is earned by a Wolf, a
Bear or a Webelos Scout. These requirements are discussed
in more detail in the Wolf and Bear Cub Scout Books and
in the Webelos Scout Book.
III. CUB ADVANCEMENT RECORDS AND COMMUNICATION
WITH THE SCOUT OFFICE.
Record keeping is an essential part of the Cub Scout
Advancement Plan. The Cub Scout's book is the first place
that all progress is recorded. For instance, when a boy
has learned and fulfilled the requirements for Bobcat,
his parent approves his work and signs his book. He is
then eligible to receive his Bobcat Badge at a Pack
ceremony. Completion of the requirements for Wolf and
Bear is also recorded in the boy's Wolf Book or in his
Bear Book. The Committee strongly recommends that each
Pack maintain an individual Cub Scout record on the form
which can be found at the end of this handbook, as well
as an advancement record on the form which is also at the
end of this handbook. These forms can be obtained at the
Council office and can be copied out of the Cub Scout
Leader Book, a very helpful three ring binder publication
which is also available for purchase at the Council
Office.
In addition to the individual Cub's Advancement Record,
three reports are essential to the implementation by a
Pack of the Cub Scout Advancement Program:
1. The Den Advancement Report.
This form is filled out by Cub Scout and Webelos Den
Leaders at the end of the third Den meeting each month.
It is turned in at the Pack Leaders' meeting (or at the
Den Leader-Den Leader Coach meeting) so that badges can
be obtained and presented at the next Pack meeting.
Information for this report is taken from the Individual
Cub Scout Record, on which advancement information has
been recorded at each Den meeting.
2. The Pack Advancement Report.
This form is filled out each month by the Cub Master or
by a designated Pack Committee member. Information for
this report is taken from the Den Advancement Reports
that are turned in at each Pack Leaders' meeting. This
report lists badges and awards for the entire Pack. This
report is also very important because a copy of it goes
to the Scout Service Center. A copy of this report should
go to the Scout Service Center at least a week before the
Pack meeting, so badges can be purchased. In some
districts (such as the Black Beaver District), the Pack
Advancement Report is commonly given to the District
Executive so that he can turn the report in at the Scout
Service Center in Oklahoma City.
3. The Pack Record Book. The
Pack Record Book is the Pack's most complete record. One
of the important things it includes is the achievement
and elective record of each Cub Scout, and the Activity
Badge, Webelos Badge, Compass Point, Arrow of Light Award
and Graduation Record of each Webelos Scout. Information
from the Pack Advancement Report is transferred to the
Pack Record Book each month.
Although not officially endorsed by BSA National or by
the Last Frontier Council, the PackMaster 2000 software
package can be very helpful in organizing and maintaining
Pack advancement records. For more information about
PackMaster 2000, see www.troopmaster.com
IV. INFORMATION RESOURCES.
This handbook touches on the high points of the Cub Scout
Advancement Program, which is one of the most important
features of Cub Scouting. More detailed information is
available from numerous sources, including the following:
1. http://www.usscouts.org/advance/cubscout/index.html
2. http://www.scouting.org/factsheets/02-502.html
3. Cub Scout Leader Book
published by Boy Scouts of America,
publication no. 33221 (available for purchase at the
Scout Service Center).
V. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
This Handbook draws heavily upon the Cub
Scout Leader Book and the
information available at the usscouts web site
cited above.
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