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Why Join Scouting?
In 1930, the Boy Scouts of America created a new opportunity called
Cub Scouting for boys younger than Boy Scout age. A year-round,
home-centered program used by chartered organizations, Cub Scouting
emphasizes involvement between boys and their parents, adult leaders,
and friends. In the multidimensional plan of the Boy Scouts of
America, Cub Scouting is where it all begins.
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Cub Scouting has the following purposes:
* Influences a boy's character development and spiritual growth.
* Develop habits and attitudes of good citizenship.
* Encourage sportsmanship and pride. Grow strong in mind and body.
* Improve understanding within the family.
* Strengthen a boy's ability to get along with others.
* Foster personal achievement. Develop new interests and skills.
* Provide fun and exciting new things to do.
* Show a boy how to be helpful and do his best.
* Prepare him to be a Boy Scout.
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Tiger Cub Scouting is a one-year Scouting program for a
first-grade boy and an adult family member. The boy and adult register together
and work and play together, selecting projects from a broad range of suggested
activities. The adult can be a parent, an uncle, a grandmother, or even
an adult brother or sister.
 Each Tiger Cub Scout den
is made up of four to eight Tiger Cub Boy-adult teams. There is no rigid
structure in the Tiger Cub den. Tiger Cub members take turns planning
and hosting den gatherings.
Tiger Cub Scout dens meet twice a month and are urged to
attend pack meetings. Tiger Cub Scout dens are part of a Cub Scout Pack and
a Tiger Cub Scout Coordinator helps the Tiger Cub Scout dens plan and run the Tiger
Den gatherings.
 
Cub Scouting is for parents, leaders, and organizations
to use with boys in second through fifth grade (or 8, 9, and 10 years
of age) for the purpose of:
- Influencing the development of character and
encouraging spiritual growth.
- Developing habits and attitudes of good citizenship.
- Encouraging good sportsmanship and pride in growing
strong in mind and body.
- Improving understanding within the family.
- Strengthening the ability to get along with other
boys and respect other people.
- Fostering a sense of personal achievement by
developing new interests and skills.
- Showing how to be helpful and to do one's best.
- Preparing them to become Boy Scouts.
Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts have a plan of advancement
for each boy that emphasizes learning by doing. The boy works on requirements
based on his school grade or age. Tiger Cubs are recognized for participation
in activities, but do not have a formal advancement plan.
Bobcat When a boy becomes a Cub Scout, his parent teaches him
his Bobcat requirements: learning the Cub Scout Promise, Law of the
Pack, handshake, salute, sign, and motto.
Wolf If a Cub Scout has completed the first grade (or is 8 years
old) he may begin working on his Wolf achievements.
Bear When a Cub Scout has completed the second grade (or is 9
years old) he begins working on his Bear achievements.
Webelos After completing the third grade, a Cub Scout graduates
with ceremony into a Webelos den. This is a special den for boys in
the fourth or fifth grade (or who are 10 years old). The Webelos Scout
program is more challenging to the older boy-in fact, he's now called
a Webelos Scout and wears a different uniform signifying his new status.
Activities
at den meetings, a Cub Scout starts an activity. Perhaps
it is a project or a stunt for the next pack meeting. During the week,
with his parents' help, he finishes the project or perfects the stunt.
If it happens to be something required for his Wolf or Bear advancement,
his parent signs his Cub Scout book. In this way, Cub Scouting helps
to strengthen family ties.
Pack meetings, attended by boys and their families, give parents
a chance to see their sons in action. Most pack meetings are divided
into two parts. The first is informal boys and parents may view exhibits
or participate in gathering-time activities. The second half has a formal
opening, followed by den skits, songs, games, or stunts related to a
monthly theme, and the awarding of badges earned by the boys since the
last pack meeting.
Outdoor Program Adventure some outdoor programs are encouraged
for Cub Scouts. These include den Program field trips, picnics, outings,
day camping, and resident camping. Because Cub Scouting is home-centered,
family camping is also emphasized. Webelos Scouts are encouraged to
go on overnight experiences and to conduct occasional joint outdoor
activities with a Boy Scout troop. Cub Scout day camps are conducted
by most BSA local councils, and many also provide resident camping experiences
for Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts.
Competitive Activities and Sports Team sports and other competitive
events occur within the pack and on an interpack level. Among the activities
that have become favorites are Cub Scout shows, pet shows, safe bicycle
riding projects, pinewood derbies (miniature car racing on tracks),
rocket derbies, regattas, kite-flying contests, Cub Scout field days,
and Cubmobile racing. Cub Scouts are encouraged to be physically fit
through the Cub Scout Sports program, which offers twenty-one different
sports.
Webelos Scouting is a family- and home-centered program that develops ethical decision-making
skills for fourth and fifth grade (or 10-year old) boys. Webelos scouts
participate in more advanced activities that begin to prepare them to become
Boy Scouts
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