The following information provided from the BSA fact sheet.
The Purposes of Cub Scouting
Since 1930, the Boy Scouts of America has helped younger boys through Cub Scouting.
It is a year-round family program designed for kids who are in the first grade through
fifth grade (or 7, 8, 9, and 10 years of age). Parents, leaders, and organizations
work together to achieve the purposes of Cub Scouting. Currently, Cub Scouting is
the largest of the BSA's three membership divisions. In early 2018 Cub Scouts officially switched to include all genders.
The 10 purposes of Cub Scouting are:
Character Development
Spiritual Growth
Good Citizenship
Sportsmanship and Fitness
Family Understanding
Respectful Relationships
Personal Achievement
Friendly Service
Fun and Adventure
Preparation for Boy Scouts
Membership
Cub Scouting members join a Cub Scout pack and are assigned to a den, usually a
neighborhood group of six to eight kids. Tiger Cubs (first-graders), Wolf Cub Scouts
(second-graders), Bear Cub Scouts (third-graders), and Webelos Scouts (fourth- and
fifth-graders) meet weekly or based on the den leader and parent calendaring.
Once a month, all of the dens and family members gather for a pack meeting under the
direction of a Cubmaster and pack committee. The committee includes parents of scouts in the
pack and members of the chartered organization.
Volunteer Leadership
Thousands of volunteer leaders, both men and women, are involved in the Cub Scout program.
They serve in a variety of positions, as everything from unit leaders to pack committee
chairmen, committee members, den leaders, and chartered organization representatives.
Like other phases of the Scouting program, a Cub Scout pack belongs to an organization
with interests similar to those of the BSA. This organization, which might be a church,
school, community organization, or group of interested citizens, is chartered by the local
BSA council to use the Scouting program. This chartered organization provides a
suitable meeting place, adult leadership, supervision, and opportunities for a healthy
Scouting life for the boys under its care. Each organization appoints one of its
members as a chartered organization representative. The organization, through the
pack committee, is responsible for providing leadership, the meeting place, and
support materials for pack activities.
Who Pays For It?
Groups responsible for supporting Cub Scouting are the boys and their parents, the pack,
the chartered organization, and the community. The boy is encouraged to pay his own way by
contributing dues each week. Packs also obtain income by working on approved
money-earning projects. The community, including parents, supports Cub Scouting
through the United Way, Friends of Scouting enrollment, bequests, and special
contributions to the BSA local council. This financial support provides leadership
training, outdoor programs, council service centers and other facilities, and
professional service for units.
Advancement Plan
Recognition is important to young kids. The Cub Scouting advancement plan provides
fun for the kids, gives them a sense of personal achievement as they earn badges, and
strengthens family understanding as adult family members work with boys on advancement
projects.
Tiger Cub: The Tiger Cub program is for first-grade (or age 7) kids and their
adult partners. There are five Tiger Cub achievement areas. The Tiger Cubs, working
with thier adult partners, complete 15 requirements within these areas to earn the Tiger Cub
badge. These requirements consist of an exciting series of indoor and outdoor
activities just right for a kid in the first grade.
Bobcat: The Bobcat rank is for all kids who join Cub Scouting.
Wolf: The Wolf program is for kids who have completed first grade (or are age
8). To earn the Wolf badge, a child must pass 12 achievements involving simple physical
and mental skills.
Bear: The Bear rank is for kids who have completed second grade (or are age
9). There are 24 Bear achievements in four categories. The Cub Scout must complete
12 of these to earn the Bear badge. These requirements are somewhat more difficult
and challenging than those for Wolf rank.
Webelos: This program is for kids who have completed third grade (or are age
10). A scout may begin working on the Webelos badge as soon as they join a Webelos den.
This is the first step in his transition from the Webelos den to the Scout troop.
As they complete the requirements found in the Webelos Handbook, they will work
on activity badges, attend meetings led by adults, and become familiar with the Scout
Troop requirements - all leading to the Arrow of Light Award.
Activities
Cub Scouting means "doing". Everything in Cub Scouting is designed to have the kids doing things. Activities are used to achieve the aims of Scouting - citizenship
training, character development, and personal fitness.
Many of the activities happen right in the den and pack. The most important are the
weekly den meetings and the monthly pack meetings.
Camping
Age-appropriate camping programs are packed with theme-oriented action that brings
Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts into the great out-of-doors. Day camping
comes to the scout in neighborhoods across the country; resident camping is at least a
three-day experience in which Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts camp within a developed theme
of adventure and excitement. "Cub Scout Worlds" are used by many councils to carry
the world of imagination into reality with actual theme structures of castles,
forts, ships, etc. Cub Scout pack families enjoy camping in local council camps
and other council-approved campsites. Camping programs combine fun and
excitement with doing one's best, getting along with others, and developing an
appreciation for ecology and the world of the outdoors.
Publications
Volunteers are informed of national news and events through Scouting magazine.
Scouts may subscribe to Boys' Life magazine. Both are published by the BSA. Also available are a number of youth and leader publications, including
the Tiger Cub Handbook, Wolf Handbook, Bear Handbook, Webelos Handbook, Cub Scout
Leader Book, Cub Scout Leader How-to Book, Cub Scout Program Helps, and Webelos
Leader Guide.
Character Development
Since its origin, the Scouting program has been an educational experience concerned with
values. In 1910, the first activities for Scouts were designed to build character,
physical fitness, practical skills, and service. These elements were part of the
original Cub Scout program and continue to be part of Cub Scouting today.
Character can be defined as the collection of core values possessed by an individual
that leads to moral commitment and action. Core values are the basis of good character
development. In helping boys develop character, Cub Scouting promotes the following
12 core values.
Cub Scouting's 12 Core Values
Citizenship
Compassion
Cooperation
Courage
Faith
Health and fitness
Honesty
Perseverance
Positive attitude
Resourcefulness
Respect
Responsibility
Character is "values in action."
Cub Scouting Ideals
Apart from the fun and excitement of Cub Scout activities, the Cub Scout Promise, the
Law of the Pack, the Tiger Cub motto, and the Cub Scout sign, handshake, motto, and salute
all teach good citizenship and contribute to a kids sense of belonging.
Cub Scout Promise
I, (name), promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people, and
To obey the Law of the Pack.
Cub Scout Motto
Do Your Best.
Colors
The Cub Scouting colors are blue and gold. They have special meaning, which will help
boys see beyond the fun of Cub Scouting to its ultimate goals.
The blue stands for truth and spirituality, steadfast loyalty, and the sky above.
The gold stands for warm sunlight, good cheer, and happiness.