Awards CT

The Advancement Trail

On the advancement trail, a Cub Scout progresses from rank to rank, learning new skills as he goes. Each of the ranks and awards in Cub Scouting has its own requirements. As you advance through the ranks, the requirements get more challenging, to match the new skills and abilities you learn as you get older.

Bobcat No matter what age or grade a boy joins Cub Scouting, he must earn his Bobcat badge before he can advance to the rank of Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, or Webelos. A boy must complete the Bobcat requirements, which include: –Learn and say the Cub Scout motto, the Cub Scout Promise, and the Law of the Pack and tell what they mean; –Show the Cub Scout sign, salute, and handshake and tell what they mean; and –Show that you understand and believe that it is important to be honest and trustworthy. Any Grade

Tiger Cub To begin his path to the Tiger Cub rank, the Tiger Cub (age 7) must learn the Cub Scout promise, the Cub Scout sign, and the Cub Scout salute. When he has learned these, he gets his Tiger Cub emblem, which is a tiger paw with four strings for beads. He wears the emblem on his right pocket. As a boy finishes each part of the five Tiger Cub achievements, he earns an orange bead (for den activities), a white bead (for family activities), or a black bead (for "Go See Its"). When the boy has earned five beads of each color, he can receive his Tiger Cub badge. The Tiger Cub badge is given to the boy's adult partner at a pack meeting. Then the adult gives the badge to the boy. 1 st Grade

Wolf The Wolf rank is for boys who have finished first grade (or who are 8 years old). To earn the Wolf badge, a boy must pass 12 achievements. His parent or guardian approves each achievement by signing his book. When the boy has met all requirements, the Wolf badge is presented to his parent or guardian at the next pack meeting. The parent or guardian then presents the badge to the boy. After he has earned the Wolf badge, a Wolf Cub Scout can work on the 23 Wolf electives until he finishes second grade (or turns 9 years old). He can choose from more than 100 elective projects that may show him new hobbies and teach him skills that will be useful during his Boy Scout years. When he completes 10 elective projects, he earns a Gold Arrow Point to wear under the Wolf badge. For each 10 elective projects after that, he earns a Silver Arrow Point. 2 nd Grade

Bear The Bear rank is for boys who have finished second grade (or are 9 years old). There are 24 Bear achievements in four groups. A boy must complete 12 of the achievements to be a Bear Cub Scout. These requirements are harder and more challenging than those for the Wolf badge. When a boy has earned his Bear badge, he may work on electives to earn Arrow Points to wear under his Bear badge. 3 rd Grade

Webelos Webelos dens are for boys who have completed third grade (or reached age 10). The Webelos den program is different from the Cub Scout den program. Everything in the Webelos Scout program is more challenging than what younger boys in the pack do. Webelos Scouts get to work on the 20 Webelos activity badges: Physical Skills Aquanaut Athlete Fitness Sportsman Mental Skills Artist Scholar Showman Traveler Community Citizen Communicator Family Member Readyman Technology Craftsman Engineer Handyman Scientist Outdoor Activity Forester Geologist Naturalist Outdoorsman Webelos Scouts work on requirements during their weekly den meetings. Once a boy learns a skill, he practices it at den meetings and at home on his own. His family helps him at home. Webelos Scouts bring the projects they do at home to the den meetings to show others, and to have the Webelos den leader approve their projects. When a boy has completed the requirements for an activity badge, the Webelos den leader or activity badge counselor, rather than a parent, approves most of the activity badges. It takes three activity badges, including Fitness and Citizen, to earn the Webelos badge. Besides earning activity badges, Webelos Scouts can earn the compass points emblem. This emblem is awarded after a Webelos Scout has earned seven activity badges. For each four activity badges a Webelos Scout earns after that, he receives a compass point—east, west, north, and south. 4 th Grade

Arrow of Light The highest rank in Cub Scouting is the Arrow of Light Award. Earning this rank prepares a Webelos Scout to become a Boy Scout. Webelos Scouts who have earned the Arrow of Light Award have also completed all requirements for the Boy Scout badge. This award is the only Cub Scout badge that can be worn on the Boy Scout uniform when a boy graduates into a troop. Adult leaders who earned the Arrow of Light Award when they were young may also show their achievement by wearing a special square knot on their adult uniform. 5 th Grade

As more people use parks and recreation facilities, LEAVE NO TRACE® guidelines become even more important for outdoor visitors. Leave No Trace is a plan that helps people to be more concerned about their environment and to help them protect it for future generations. Leave No Trace applies in a backyard or local park (frontcountry) as much as it does in the wilderness (backcountry). We should practice Leave No Trace in our attitude and actions--wherever we go. Understanding nature strengthens our respect toward the environment. One person with thoughtless behavior or one shortcut on a trail can spoil the outdoor experience for others. Help protect the environment by remembering that while you are there, you are a visitor. When you visit the outdoors, take special care of the area. Leave everything just as you find it. Hiking and camping without a trace are signs of a considerate outdoorsman who cares for the environment. Travel lightly on the land.

Watch for hazards and follow all the rules of the park or outdoor facility. Remember proper clothing, sunscreen, hats, first aid kits, and plenty of drinking water. Use the buddy system. Make sure you carry your family's name, phone number, and address. Stay on marked trails whenever possible. Short-cutting trails causes the soil to wear away or to be packed, which eventually kills trees and other vegetation. Trampled wildflowers and vegetation take years to recover. Stick to trails! Managing your pet will keep people, dogs, livestock, and wildlife from feeling threatened. Make sure your pet is on a leash or controlled at all times. Do not let your pet approach or chase wildlife. When animals are chased or disturbed, they change eating patterns and use more energy that may result in poor health or death. Take care of your pet's waste. Take a small shovel or scoop and a pick-up bag to pick up your pet's waste— wherever it's left. Place the waste bags in a trash can for disposal.

When visiting any outdoor area, try to leave it the same as you find it. The less impact we each make, the longer we will enjoy what we have. Even picking flowers denies others the opportunity to see them and reduces seeds, which means fewer plants next year. Use established restrooms. Graffiti and vandalism have no place anywhere, and they spoil the experience for others. Leave your mark by doing an approved conservation project. Expect to meet other visitors. Be courteous and make room for others. Control your speed when biking or running. Pass with care and let others know before you pass. Avoid disturbing others by making noise or playing loud music. Respect "No Trespassing" signs. If property boundaries are unclear, do not enter the area. Make sure all trash is put in a bag or trash receptacle. Trash is unsightly and ruins everyone's outdoor experience. Your trash can kill wildlife. Even materials, such as orange peels, apple cores and food scraps, take years to break down and may attract unwanted pests that could become a problem.

Discuss with your leader or parent/guardian the importance of the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines. On three separate outings, practice the frontcountry guidelines of Leave No Trace. Boys in a Tiger Cub den complete the activities for Achievement 5, Let's Go Outdoors; boys in a Wolf den complete Requirement 7, Your Living World; boys in a Bear den complete Requirement 12, Family Outdoor Adventures; boys in a Webelos den earn the Outdoorsman activity badge. Participate in a Leave No Trace-related service project. Promise to practice the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines by signing the Cub Scout Leave No Trace Pledge. Draw a poster to illustrate the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines and display it at a pack meeting. Discuss with your den's Cub Scouts or your pack's leaders the importance of the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines. On three separate outings demonstrate and practice the frontcountry guidelines of Leave No Trace. Participate in presenting a den, pack, district, or council awareness session on Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines. Participate in a Leave No Trace-related service project. Commit yourself to the Leave No Trace frontcountry guidelines by signing the Cub Scout Leave No Trace Pledge. Assist at least three boys in earning Cub Scouting's Leave No Trace Awareness Award.

Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award

Tiger Cubs, Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts have the opportunity to earn the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award. Boys may earn the award in each of the program years as long as the requirements are completed each year. The first time the award is earned, the boy will receive the pocket flap award, which is to be worn on the right pocket flap of the uniform shirt. Each successive time the award is earned, a wolf track pin may be added to the flap. Leaders should encourage boys t o build on skills and experiences from previous years when working on the award for a successive year.

Requirements All Ranks Attend Cub Scout day camp or Cub Scout/Webelos Scout resident camp. Rank-Specific Tiger Cubs –Complete one requirement in Achievement 5, "Let's Go Outdoors" (Tiger Cub Handbook) and complete three of the outdoor activities listed. Wolf Cub Scouts –Assemble the "Six Essentials for Going Outdoors" (Wolf Handbook, Elective 23b) and discuss their purpose, and complete four of the outdoor activities listed. Bear Cub Scouts –Earn the Cub Scout Leave No Trace Award (Bear Handbook, Elective 25h) and compete five of the outdoor activities listed. Webelos Scouts –Earn the Outdoorsman Activity Badge (Webelos Handbook) and complete six of the outdoor activities listed.

Outdoor Activities With your den, pack, or family: 1.Participate in a nature hike in your local area. This can be on an organized, marked trail, or just a hike to observe nature in your area. 2.Participate in an outdoor activity such as a picnic or park fun day. 3.Explain the buddy system and tell what to do if lost. Explain the importance of cooperation. 4.Attend a pack overnighter. Be responsible by being prepared for the event. 5.Complete an outdoor service project in your community. 6.Complete a nature/conservation project in your area. This project should involve improving, beautifying, or supporting natural habitats. Discuss how this project helped you to respect nature. 7.Earn the Summertime Pack Award. 8.Participate in a nature observation activity. Describe or illustrate and display your observations at a den or pack meeting. 9.Participate in an outdoor aquatic activity. This can be an organized swim meet or just a den or pack swim. 10.Participate in an outdoor campfire program. Perform in a skit, sing a song, or take part in a ceremony. 11.Participate in an outdoor sporting event. 12.Participate in an outdoor Scout's Own or other worship service. 13.Explore a local city, county, state, or national park. Discuss with your den how a good citizen obeys the park rules.

The Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program

The Academics and Sports program gives Cub Scouts extra activities to do. In Academics subjects and Sports, Cub Scouts learn new skills, become better scholars, learn sportsmanship, and have fun. You can get to know a sport or an academic subject that's new to you, maybe astronomy, chess, computers, or science; or golf, gymnastics, ice skating, or tennis, to name a few of the subjects and sports that are in the program. This is a chance to try something new and to do your best without worrying about winning or losing. Cub Scouts earn awards for learning teamwork and skills, getting physically fit, finding and building new talents, and doing your best. These things are more important than winning.

Academics and Sports Subjects Cub Scout Academics Art Astronomy Chess Citizenship Collecting Communicating Computers Geography Geology Heritages Language and Culture Map and Compass Mathematics Music Science Weather Wildlife Conservation Cub Scout Sports Badminton Baseball Basketball Bicycling Bowling Fishing Flag Football Golf Gymnastics Ice Skating Marbles Physical Fitness Roller Skating Soccer Snow Ski and Board Sports Softball Swimming Table Tennis Tennis Ultimate Volleyball

Academics and Sports Belt Loops You earn a belt loop to wear with your uniform when you complete three specific requirements for each Academics or Sports activity. You can take part in three ways: (1) by yourself or with your family, (2) in your den or pack, or (3) in school. Academics and Sports Letter and Pins Once you have earned the belt loop, you can stop. But if you want to do more with the activity, you may complete extra requirements to earn a pin. A good place to display Academics and Sports pins is on the Academics and Sports letter. You can wear the letter on a sweater or a jacket, or display or frame it. The letter does not go on the Cub Scout uniform.

The BSA Family Award The BSA Family Award program includes a series of activities designed to help strengthen all families--whether two-parent, single-parent, or nontraditional. This program was designed to help families accomplish worthy goals while building and strengthening relationships among family members. All family members are encouraged to participate and may earn the award. The BSA Family Activity Book (available at your local council service center) provides all the requirements as well as step-by-step instructions for earning the BSA Family Award. To earn the award, a family must complete 10 activities within a 12-month period. The family chooses one activity in two topics in each of the following categories: 1.Learning Through Fun and Adventure 2.Strengthening Family Relationships 3.Developing Personal Strengths 4.Teaching Responsibility 5.Handling Difficult Situations When a family has completed these requirements, they are eligible to receive an award certificate, patches for uniform wear, and/or pins for non-uniform wear.

National Summertime Award A pack can earn the National Summertime Pack Award by doing three pack activities when school is out for the summer—one activity each in June, July, and August. Pack members who take part in all three events are eligible for the National Summertime Pack Award pin, to wear on the right pocket flap of their uniform.

Interpreter's Strips A Scout wearing the interpreter strip must be able to carry on a conversation in a foreign language or in sign language, write a letter in the foreign language (not required for signing), and translate orally and in writing from one language to another.

Recruiter Strip Award This Award is meant for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts may earn the Recruiter Strip by recruiting other boys to join Scouts. The strip is worn centered directly below the right pocket on the uniform. Usually, a Recruiter Strip is awarded to a Cub Scout or Boy Scout the first time he recruits a friend, relative, classmate, or other acquaintance to join his unit. Normally, one strip can be awarded to a boy while a Cub Scout and another while he is a Boy Scout if he recruits at both levels.

Donor Awareness Patch For a number of years, BSA has offered to Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts the Donor Awareness Patch shown above. It is worn on the right pocket of the uniform as a temporary insignia. Usually, a Donor Awareness Patch is awarded to a Cub Scout or Boy Scout the first time he is successful in getting an adult family member, friend, relative, or other acquaintance to agree to become an organ donor, and to fill out and carry an Organ Donor Card. Typically, a unit will award only ONE patch to a boy while a member of that unit.

A Scout is reverent. He is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties and respects the convictions of others in matters of custom and religion. To encourage members to grow stronger in their faith, religious groups have developed the religious emblems programs. The Boy Scouts of America has approved of these programs and allows the emblems to be worn on the official uniform. The various religious groups administer the programs.

Whittling Chip Award

Bear scouts and Webelos scouts may earn the privilege of carrying a pocketknife to Cub Scout functions. The objective of this award is to make scouts aware that: A Cub Scout knife is an important tool. You can do many things with its blades. The cutting blade is the one you will use most of the time. With it you can make shavings and chips and carve all kinds of things. You must be very careful when you whittle or carve. Take good care of your knife. Always remember that a knife is a tool, not a toy. Use it with care so that you don't hurt yourself or ruin what you are carving. The requirements to earn the Whittling Chip card and patch are: Complete Bear Achievement 19, Shavings and Chips Demonstrate knowledge and skill in the use of a pocketknife. –Close the blade with the palm of your hand. –Never use a knife on something that will dull or break it. –Be careful that you do not cut yourself or any person nearby. –Never use a knife to strip the bark from a tree. –Do not carve your initials into anything that does not belong to you. Take the Pocketknife Pledge: –I will treat my pocketknife with the respect due a useful tool. –I will always close my pocketknife and put it away when not in use. –I will not use my pocketknife when it might injure someone near me. –I promise never to throw my pocketknife for any reason. –I will use my pocketknife in a safe manner at all times.

Whittling Chip Award The scout must sign and carry the Whittling Chip card whenever he has his pocketknife. It is expected that an adult leader should ask a scout to see his card, and if it can not be produced, to confiscate his knife until the event is over or return it to his parent. The patch is considered a 'temporary' patch and should only be displayed on the uniform centered on the right pocket in a temporary patch holder hung from the pocket button. It does not get permanently sewn on the uniform.

Cub Scout World Conservation Award Webelos Scouts can earn the Cub Scout World Conservation Award by earning the Forester, Naturalist, and Outdoorsman activity badges and taking part in a den or pack conservation project.

Sources hoac-bsa.org

Notes Some awards are only earned through the Council through a nomination and voting process Not all awards and patches are consistently available