The Cub Scout program will be updated for the 2024-25 program year beginning on June 1, 2024. Over the past several years the National Cub Scouting Committee has identified four areas to improve the Cub Scout program to ensure that it is fun, simple, and easy. The four areas of improvement are the Bobcat badge, Cub Scout Adventures, Webelos, and Cub Scout Awards.
The Lion Cub Rank is designed with indoor and outdoor activities for kindergarten-age children and their guardians. It serves as the entry point into the world of Cub Scouting. As the kindergarten year comes to an end, the young Lion Cub will embark on the next phase of their Cub Scouting journey. They will transition to Tiger Cubs, where they will have the opportunity to earn the Bobcat badge and continue their engaging exploration of Cub Scouting activities.
The Tiger Rank marks the beginning of a Cub Scout’s exploration of the natural world and community. Tigers, accompanied by adult partners, engage in hands-on activities that promote curiosity, teamwork, and creativity. The Tiger Rank is designed for youth who are in first grade or age seven.
The Wolf Rank focuses on building essential life skills and self-reliance. Scouts work on tasks that help them become more self-sufficient and gain a sense of accomplishment. The rank is designed for those who have finished first grade or are eight years old. Achieving the Wolf badge requires a Cub Scout to successfully accomplish six mandatory adventures and choose two elective adventure to complete.
As Cub Scouts progress to the Bear Rank, they delve deeper into areas of personal interest and gain a broader perspective on the world around them. This rank encourages creativity and exploration. The Bear Rank is for kids who have completed the second grade or are nine years old.
The Arrow of Light is for 5th graders and is now a standalone rank. It represents a significant step toward becoming a member of Scouts BSA. This rank prepares Scouts for the transition to a more challenging and independent scouting experience. The Arrow of Light stands as the sole Cub Scout badge permissible to be worn on the Scout’s BSA uniform.
One of the big changes is to the structure of Adventures. In order to earn the rank badge, each level of Cub Scouts will now require SIX required and TWO elective adventures. The Bobcat badge will no longer exist separately, but the elements of Bobcat will be incorporated as the intended first adventure each level does each year.
Many of the most common electives will now be available at ALL levels with age-appropriate requirements. This allows for multi-level den and Pack level advancements that all can work on at the same time!
Below are some resources to use for your pack to work in adventures to your unit program!
Some Cub Scouts and leaders are familiar with the National Summertime Pack Award, World Conservation Award, Range/Target Sports, and STEM awards — they are being reimagined as Adventures. This will bring these great programs to the forefront and give leaders, parents, and Cubs the chance to learn more about them. Click on each button below to read more about the specific updates.
Bobcat will no longer be a badge that is earned once when a Cub Scout joins. It will become a required Adventure for each rank and earned each year. The requirements for the Bobcat Adventure are different for each grade to make them age-appropriate.
Webelos and Arrow of Light will be separated. Webelos becomes the 4th-grade program in Cub Scouting. Arrow of Light becomes a stand-alone badge of rank for 5th graders and will no longer be associated with Webelos. Arrow of Light will be the program that prepares Cub Scouts to join Scouts BSA.
