Cub Scout Advancement Guide
Pack 78 Cub Scout Advancement Guide
Cub Scouting is a grade-based program filled with hands-on activities called Adventures. Each year builds on the last while helping Scouts grow in character, citizenship, leadership, personal fitness, outdoor skills, safety, and family involvement.
To earn the badge of rank for their grade, a Cub Scout completes six required Adventures and at least two elective Adventures. Adventures may generally be completed in any order, although the grade-specific Bobcat Adventure is designed to be completed near the beginning of the year.
A Scout does not need to have earned an earlier Cub Scout rank before working on the rank for their current grade. The goal is participation, growth, and doing their best—not racing through a checklist.
Lion — Kindergarten
Lion is a fun and welcoming introduction to Cub Scouting. Lions participate with a parent or other caring adult while learning how a den works, exploring the outdoors, staying active, practicing personal safety, helping others, and talking about family values.
Required Adventures: Bobcat, Fun on the Run, Lion’s Roar, Lion’s Pride, King of the Jungle, and Mountain Lion—plus at least two Lion elective Adventures.
What parents should know: Lion activities are short, active, and designed for families to do together. Your participation is an important part of every Lion Adventure.
Tiger — 1st Grade
Tiger Scouts continue exploring Cub Scouting with an adult partner. They learn teamwork, healthy habits, outdoor basics, personal safety, citizenship, and family values through games, projects, walks, and other shared experiences.
Required Adventures: Bobcat, Tiger Bites, Tiger’s Roar, Tiger Circles, Team Tiger, and Tigers in the Wild—plus at least two Tiger elective Adventures.
What parents should know: Like Lions, Tigers complete their Adventures with a parent or other caring adult. Families are encouraged to participate, help with activities, and celebrate progress throughout the year.
View official Tiger Adventures
Wolf — 2nd Grade
Wolf Scouts begin doing more with their den while still receiving family support. Their Adventures introduce hiking skills, fitness, citizenship, personal safety, family and reverence, and the values and traditions of Scouting.
Required Adventures: Bobcat, Running With the Pack, Safety in Numbers, Footsteps, Council Fire, and Paws on the Path—plus at least two Wolf elective Adventures.
What parents should know: Wolf Scouts become more independent, but several requirements still involve conversations or activities at home. Check Scoutbook Plus regularly and help your Scout finish any family portions.
Bear — 3rd Grade
Bear Scouts take on more challenging activities and greater responsibility. They strengthen outdoor and fitness skills, practice personal safety, learn how to serve their community, and explore character, leadership, family, and reverence.
Required Adventures: Bobcat, Bear Strong, Standing Tall, Bear Habitat, Paws for Action, and Fellowship—plus at least two Bear elective Adventures.
What parents should know: Bear Adventures often include projects, outings, service, and skills that take more than one meeting. Encourage your Scout to attend regularly and complete assigned family activities at home.
Webelos — 4th Grade
Webelos is the fourth-grade Cub Scout program. Webelos Scouts practice greater independence and begin preparing for the patrol-based experience they will encounter in Scouts BSA. Adventures place additional emphasis on fitness, first-aid awareness, community, outdoor skills, responsibility, and family values.
Required Adventures: Bobcat, Stronger, Faster, Higher, My Safety, My Family, My Community, and Webelos Walkabout—plus at least two Webelos elective Adventures.
What parents should know: Webelos and Arrow of Light are now separate programs. Fourth-grade Scouts work only on Webelos Adventures and begin Arrow of Light after completing fourth grade.
View official Webelos Adventures
Arrow of Light — 5th Grade
Arrow of Light is the final Cub Scout rank and is designed specifically to prepare fifth-grade Scouts to join a Scouts BSA troop. Scouts learn about the patrol method, visit a troop, practice Scouts BSA traditions, camp, develop fitness, learn first aid, explore citizenship, and discuss duty to God with their families.
Required Adventures: Bobcat, Personal Fitness, First Aid, Duty to God, Citizenship, and Outdoor Adventurer—plus at least two Arrow of Light elective Adventures.
What parents should know: Arrow of Light Scouts should visit troops early in the program year and choose the troop that feels right for them. The Arrow of Light badge is the highest rank in Cub Scouting, but joining Scouts BSA begins a new advancement journey.
View official Arrow of Light Adventures
The Bobcat Adventure and Personal Safety
Bobcat is no longer a separate badge earned only once. It is now a required, age-appropriate Adventure completed at every Cub Scout rank. It introduces or reinforces the Scout Oath and Law, den relationships, Scouting traditions, character, and leadership.
Each rank also includes a required personal-safety Adventure. Families must complete the age-appropriate activities identified in the current handbook, including the exercises in How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide when required. These conversations are intended to be completed with a parent or legal guardian.
Helping Your Cub Scout Succeed
- Attend den meetings, pack activities, outings, and campouts whenever possible.
- Ask your den leader which Adventures are being completed as a group.
- Complete family and at-home requirements promptly.
- Review advancement in Scoutbook Plus and report missing work to the den leader.
- Encourage your Scout to do their best and enjoy the experience.
Important: This page is a family-friendly overview, not a replacement for the current Cub Scout handbook or official Adventure requirements. Requirements should be completed exactly as published by Scouting America.