Advancement

Recognition is important to everyone. The advancement plan provides fun for the Scouts, gives them a sense of personal achievement as they earn badges, and strengthens family understanding as adult family members and their den leader work with them on advancement projects.


The Cub Scout program is centered primarily in the den, the home, and the neighborhood, but often takes place in the outdoors. It leads to advancement through seven ranks, which—except for the Bobcat rank—are grade or age-based. Cub Scout dens are named for the rank, other than Bobcat and Arrow of Light, that the members are working to achieve. Cub Scouts are eligible to earn ranks as follows:

  • Bobcat. Earned first by all Cub Scouts except Lions, no matter when they join.

  • Lion. For youth who are kindergarten age.

  • Tiger. For youth who have completed kindergarten or are 7 years old.

  • Wolf. For youth who have completed first grade or are 8 years old.

  • Bear. For youth who have completed second grade or are 9 years old.

  • Webelos. For youth who have completed third grade or are 10 years old.

  • Arrow of Light. For youth who have completed fourth grade.


The following is a summary of how your child advances through the Cub Scout ranks. For more information, see the Guide to Advancement at scouting.org.

Bobcat

Except for Lions, all youth begin with the Bobcat rank regardless of their age when they join Cub Scouting. It involves learning about the values, signs, and symbols of the Boy Scouts of America and Cub Scouting. While working on Bobcat, a Cub Scout may work on the age- or grade appropriate rank, but must finish Bobcat before any other rank is awarded.

Bobcat Rank Requirements

1. Learn and say the Scout Oath, with help if needed.

2. Learn and say the Scout Law, with help if needed.

3. Show the Cub Scout sign. Tell what it means.

4. Show the Cub Scout handshake. Tell what it means.

5. Say the Cub Scout motto. Tell what it means.

6. Show the Cub Scout salute. Tell what it means.

7. With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide—Bobcat Requirements

Lion

Youth who are kindergarten age and a parent, guardian, or other caring adult approved by the parent or guardian in accordance with BSA policy may join the Lion program. Unlike other Cub Scouts, these youth do not begin with the Bobcat rank. Like other Cub Scouts, however, they earn the Lion rank by completing adventures.

Lion Rank Requirements

1. Complete the five required adventures:

(a) Lion's Honor

(b) Animal Kingdom

(c) Fun on the Run!

(d) King of the Jungle

(e) Mountain Lion

2. With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet entitled How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide

Outside of the requirements, Lion Scouts can also complete any number of seven elective adventures of their den's or family's choosing.

Click here for the Lion Guide and Parent Orientation Video.

Tiger

Tiger Rank Requirements

1. Complete each of the six required adventures:

(a) Games Tigers Play

(b) My Tiger Jungle

(c) Team Tiger

(d) Tiger Bites

(e) Tiger Circles: Duty to God

(f) Tigers in the Wild

2. In addition to the six required adventures, complete at least one elective adventure of your den's or family's choosing.

3. With your parent, guardian, or other caring adult, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide.

4. Earn the Cyber Chip award for your age. (The Cyber Chip portion of this requirement may be waived by your parent or guardian if you do not have access to the internet.) OR Earn the Protect Yourself Rules Preview Adventure for Tiger.

(a) Cyber Chip Award

(b) Protect Yourself Rules Preview Adventure

Wolf

Wolf Rank Requirements

1. Complete each of the six required Adventures with your den or family:

(a) Call of the Wild

(b) Council Fire

(c) Duty to God Footsteps

(d) Howling at the Moon

(e) Paws on the Path

(f) Running With the Pack

2. In addition to the six required adventures, complete at least one elective adventure of your den's or family's choosing.

3. With your parent, guardian, or other caring adult, complete the exercises in the pamphlet entitled How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide

4. Earn the Cyber Chip award for your age. (The Cyber Chip portion of this requirement may be waived by your parent or guardian if you do not have access to the internet.) OR Earn the Protect Yourself Rules Preview Adventure for Wolf.

(a) Cyber Chip Award

(b) Protect Yourself Rules Preview Adventure

Bear

Bear Rank Requirements

1. Complete each of the six required adventures:

(a) Baloo the Builder

(b) Bear Claws

(c) Bear Necessities

(d) Fellowship and Duty to God

(e) Fur, Feathers, and Ferns

(f) Paws for Action (Duty to Country)

2. In addition to the six required adventures, complete at least one elective adventure of your den's or family's choosing.

3. With your parent, guardian, or other caring adult, complete the exercises in the pamphlet entitled How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide

4. Earn the Cyber Chip award for your age. (The Cyber Chip portion of this requirement may be waived by your parent or guardian if you do not have access to the internet.) OR Earn the Protect Yourself Rules Preview Adventure for Bear.

(a) Cyber Chip Award

(b) Protect Yourself Rules Preview Adventure for Bear


Webelos

Cub Scouts in fourth and fifth grades work toward the Webelos (pronounced "wee-buh-lohs" as the singular as well as the plural). "Webelos" originally was an acronym for the previous (now discontinued) hierarchy Wolf > Bear > Lion > Scout with vowels added. It is now a backronym for "WE'll BE LOyal Scouts. The rank symbol is the fleur de lis, the official Boy Scouts of America (BSA) emblem, and not an ear of corn.

For the Webelos rank, Scouts must have completed the third grade (or be 10 years old) and must be an active member of the Webelos den for three months.

Webelos Rank Requirements

1. Be an active member of your Webelos den for three months.

2. Complete each of the five required adventures:

(a) Cast Iron Chef

(b) Duty to God and You

(c) First Responder

(d) Stronger, Faster, Higher

(e) Webelos Walkabout

3. In addition to the five required adventures, complete at least one elective adventure of your den's or family's choosing.

4. With your parent, guardian, or other caring adult, complete the exercises in the pamphlet entitled How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide

5. Earn the Cyber Chip award for your age. (The Cyber Chip portion of this requirement may be waived by your parent or guardian if you do not have access to the internet.) OR Earn the Protect Yourself Rules Preview Adventure for Webelos.

(a) Cyber Chip Award

(b) Protect Yourself Rules Preview Adventure

Arrow of Light

For the Arrow of Light rank, Scouts must be active in the Webelos den for at least six months since completing the fourth grade (or since becoming 10 years old). Arrow of Light is Cub Scouting’s final rank before joining Scouts BSA. Much of the experience gives a youth the chance to practice skills in preparation for becoming a Scout in Scouts BSA. All youth who are in Webelos dens and are in the fifth grade shall work on Arrow of Light requirements. They can earn the Arrow of Light rank without earning the Webelos rank.

Arrow of Light Requirements

1. Be an active member of your Webelos den for at least six months since completing the fourth grade or for at least six months since becoming 10 years old.

2. Complete each of the four required adventures:

(a) Building a Better World

(b) Duty to God in Action

(c) Outdoor Adventurer

(d) Scouting Adventure

3. In addition to the four required adventures, complete at least one elective adventure of your den's or family's choosing.

4. With your parent, guardian, or other caring adult, complete the exercises in the pamphlet entitled How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide

5. Earn the Cyber Chip award for your age. (The Cyber Chip portion of this requirement may be waived by your parent or guardian if you do not have access to the internet.) OR Earn the Protect Yourself Rules for Arrow of Light.

(a) Cyber Chip Award

(b) Protect Yourself Rules for Arrow of Light