Regardless of a boy's age, the Bobcat Badge the first step in a boy's progression after registering as a Cub Scout. Among other requirements, the Bobcat must learn the the Cub Scout Handshake, the the Cub Scout Salute, and how to give the the Cub Scout Sign. Along this trail the Cub Scout learns the Cub Scout Promise, the Law of the Pack, and the Cub Scout Motto. These are the three most important things a boy must learn because they will help him through all of the trails of Scouting. Once you finish an activity requirement you can have Akela sign your book showing that you have successfully completed the activity. You can have several Akela's that will help you with your activities and sign your book including your parents, your Den leader, and other adult caretakers.

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The Cub Scout adventure begins with Tiger Cubs, a program of exciting indoor and outdoor activities just right for a boy who is in first grade and/or is seven years old. The basic element of Tiger Cubs is the boy-adult team. The adult may be a parent, grandparent, adult brother or sister, aunt or uncle or even a neighbor. The Tiger Cub program introduces boys and their adult partners to the excitement of Cub Scouting as they “Search, Discover and Share” together. The Tiger Cub program is conducted on two levels. First, the Tiger Cub and his adult partner conduct activities at home for the whole family to enjoy. Second, the Tiger Cub and adult partner meet twice a month with their den. Each den meeting is hosted by a Tiger Cub/adult partner team, teams will rotate hosting duties. To earn the Tiger Cub Rank the Tiger Cub Scout must complete a Family Activity, a Den Activity, and a "Go See It" Activity in each of five Achievement Areas:

1. Making My Family Special
2. Where I Live
3. Keeping Myself Healthy and Safe
4. How I Tell It
5. Let's Go Outdoors

After completing the fifteen Achievements required for the Tiger Cub Rank Badge, the Tiger Cub can be awarded Tiger Track Beads for Electives. One bead is awarded for each group of TEN Electives the Tiger Cub completes. A boy can work on both Achievements and Electives concurrently, but he can't receive Tiger Track beads until he has earned the Tiger Cub Badge. Boys remain in the Tiger Cub program until they finish first grade. Then, they graduate into a Cub Scout den, and may participate in Cub Scout summer activities, including Day Camp.

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Next, Cub Scouts work toward the Wolf Badge, then toward a Gold Arrow Point and one or more Silver Arrow Points. The Wolf Badge is earned by boys who have completed first grade, or who are eight years old. The requirements for these badges are found in the Wolf Cub Scout Book and Online. To earn your Wolf Rank you must complete 49 tasks out of the 62 offered in your book. The tasks are grouped into 12 achievement categories. Many of the activities in your Wolf book can be completed at home with your family or during your Den meetings.

You can begin earning Arrow Points from the electives section as soon as you get your Wolf book. These will be "banked" until you earn your Wolf Rank. Once you become an official Wolf you will be awarded all Arrow Points you have earned.It's also important to note here that any extra rank achievements that you earned over and above what was required for your Wolf Rank may be counted as an Arrow Point elective. For the first 10 Arrow Point electives you complete, you will be awarded a Gold Arrow Point. Each additional 10 Arrow Point electives completed will earn you a Silver Arrow Point. There is no limit to the number of Silver Arrow Points you can earn while a Wolf.

(Note that these achievements are primarily done at home and signed off by an adult family member after the boy has completed each one. The book is then shown to the Den Leader who records the progress and also signs the boy's book.)

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The Bear Badge can be earned by boys who have completed second grade, or who are nine years old. To earn the Bear Badge, a Cub Scout must complete 12 achievements out of a possible 24 that are offered in the book. The achievements are grouped in 4 major areas, GOD, COUNTRY, FAMILY, and SELF. Within each group, a required number of achievements must be completed. After earning the Bear badge, a special collection of age-appropriate Bear Electives are also available to allow Bear Cub's to earn Arrow Points. As a Bear-aged boy progresses, he too can earn the Immediate Recognition patch and beads. One of the Bear achievements involves earning the Whittling Chip wallet card. Earning this card shows that a Bear has learned the fundamentals of knife safety. (Note that these achievements are primarily done at home and signed off by an adult family member after the boy has completed each one. The book is then shown to the Den Leader who records the progress and also signs the boy's book.)

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The Webelos Badge is for boys who have completed third grade, or who are ten years old. The Webelos rank is the first step in a boy's transition towards a Boy Scout troop. After earning the Webelos badge, the Webelos Scout may recieve the Compass Points emblem and gold 'devices' to pin on it as an incentive to complete additional Activity Badges. These are age-appropriate projects for older Cub Scouts. Activity badges are sorted into five discipline-related groups. They are the Community Group, the Mental Skills Group, the Outdoor Group, the Physical Skills Group, and the Technology Group. During this period, the Webelos Scout should become more familiar with the Boy Scout requirements. Completion of the Forester, Outdoorsman, and Naturalist Activities Badges, and completion of a special consevation project allows a Webelos Scout to join the Wolves and Bears in earning the World Conservation Award as well.

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After a boy has completed the fourth grade and earned the Webelos badge, the next step on the Webelos trail to becoming a Boy Scout is earning the Arrow of Light Award. This is the highest award a Cub Scout can earn, and is the only Cub Scout badge that can be worn on the Boy Scout Uniform. As a boy works on the Arrow of Light, he gets a chance to practice some Scout skills that he has already learned, earn more Activity Badges, and REALLY learn what a Boy Scout is. Because this award is so special, a special ceremony is performed by the Pack! Finally, a boy is ready to become a Boy Scout! This has been a long road filled with fun and learning.

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There are many additional awards scouts can earn for extra activities in addition to the traditional scouting awards and rank advancements. Some recognition can be earned by any rank scout while others are only available to specific ranks. These awards can be used to recognize extra effort by a scout in an area of interest. Some awards are presented through the Boy Scouts of America while others are from different organizations. A few of these awards are listed below:

• World Conservation Award
• Leave No Trace Awareness Patch.
• Religious Emblems
• Outdoor Activity Award
• Physical Fitness Award
• Emergency Preparedness Award

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Cub Scouts of all ages from Tiger Cubs to Webelos can participate in the Cub Scout Academics and Sports Program and earn a belt loop or pin for each activity. Activities can be done individually, in the Den, or as a Pack. ( Archery and BB-Gun Shooting can only be earned through a certified instructor, not at a den or pack level. ) A scout participating on school teams or other organized teams may use those activities to fulfill requirements of this scouting program.

Cub Scouts of all ages from Tiger Cubs to Webelos can participate in the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program and earn a belt loop or pin for each activity. Activities can be done individually, in the Den, or as a Pack. ( Archery and BB-Gun Shooting can only be earned through a certified instructor, not at a den or pack level. ) A scout participating on school teams or other organized teams may use those activities to fulfill requirements of this scouting program.

Activities are divided into two categories: Academics and Sports. Each category has many skills and activities from which Scouts may choose. The Cub Scout belt loop and pin program encourages a boy to do his best while learning skills and promoting good sportsmanship.

There are currently 23 Sports Program activity areas: Archery, BB Gun Shooting, Badminton, Baseball, Basketball, Bicycling, Bowling, Fishing, Flag Football, Fitness, Golf, Gymnastics, Ice Skating, Marbles, Roller Skating, Snow Ski and Board Sports, Soccer, Softball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Tennis, Ultimate, Volleyball

And, 17 Academics Program activity areas: Art, Astronomy, Chess, Citizenship, Collecting, Communicating, Computers, Geography, Geology, Heritages, Language & Culture, Map & Compass, Mathematics, Music, Science, Weather, Wildlife Conservation

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