Cub Scout Ranks
For those who are new to Scouting as well as those who need a quick refresher, the different levels of the Cub Scout experience are:
- Bobcats – All new Cub Scouts, regardless of when they join the program, must first earn the rank of Bobcat. They must learn and be able to repeat by memory, the eight fundamentals of Cub Scouting including The Oath and Law.
- Lion – Kindergarten Cub Scouts.
- Tiger – First Grade Cub Scouts.
- Wolf – Second Grade Cub Scouts.
- Bear – Third Grade Cub Scouts.
- Webelos – Fourth Grade Cub Scouts.
- Arrow of Light – Fifth Grade Cub Scouts. The highest rank a Cub Scout can achieve. A high level of dedication is required to fulfill the requirements for this honor.
There are Scout Handbooks for each rank (Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Bear and Webelos/ Arrow of Light). The handbooks contain information about the various achievements and activities for each rank. Each Cub Scout should have his own handbook. Each parent is expected to familiarize themselves with the handbook. Please review the first section in each Cub Scout rank’s handbook that deals with Youth Protection.
Cub Scouting Awards
During your child’s tenure as a scout, they will have many opportunities to earn various recognitions, in addition to Rank Advancements. Please keep in mind that earning achievements is not a contest. It is an opportunity for a scout to experience many levels of personal growth. Cub Scouting, as you know, should be “FUN” but with a purpose. Awards are designed to be both fun and educational.
Most importantly, we teach our children to set a goal and work towards achieving the goal: rewards are then attained for completing the goal. This in itself, teaches them about life. As we all know, in life, there are no “gimmie’s” – we must work hard to succeed. Completing a goal also means making your child responsible for carefully preparing all required documentation.
Cub Scouting provides countless ways for a child to earn recognition. Although there are various reasons for joining scouting, your child’s first goal should be to earn rank. Once they have done so, work with them to explore what types of scouting activities interest them most. Have your child set achievement goals based on those interests and encourage them to explore some that may be new to them. Work with your child to teach them how to develop an achievable plan towards success.
Once a plan has been put in place, help them when necessary to complete each step. Have fun doing it with them. Celebrate each milestone and encourage them to challenge themselves to DO THEIR BEST. You will see self-confidence building as they learn and achieve more.
When your child has completed all of the steps and requirements to achieve their goal, make them responsible for completing all of the required documentation and alert their Den Leader. Help them to do this when necessary. Each recognition’s requirement is different, so work with them to understand fully what validation is needed.
Once your child has achieved their goal, you will see how proud they are of themselves. They have put a lot of effort into their accomplishment and that makes achieving it special. Make sure to attend the Pack Meetings so that you can be a part of every success. You will quickly see your child growing into a responsible hard working citizen with a high level of values and self-confidence.