Cub Scout Advancement

On the advancement trail, a Cub Scout progresses from rank to rank, learning new skills as he goes. Each of the ranks and awards in Cub Scouting has its own requirements. As you advance through the ranks, the requirements get more challenging, to match the new skills and abilities you learn as you get older.

In our continuing effort to help our leaders deliver a quality Cub Scouting program, and to ensure that our program materials remain current and age appropriate, we have enhanced the content of the current Cub Scout handbooks. These books have been updated for relevance to today’s youth, appropriateness of content, ease of use, and perceived challenge to the reader.

We have maintained many of the current elements in these books that have proven successful during the past. We have eliminated topics that have become dated and do not challenge today’s Cub Scouts and their families. Some specific revisions are as follows:

• Integrated Character Connections (that draw on Cub Scouting’s 12 Core Values) directly into selected requirements in each book.
• Infused age-appropriate outdoor program activities into both the requirements and electives in each book.
• Enhanced the advancement and elective trails to create a progressively more challenging pathway that logically prepares boys for the next rank in Cub Scouting and prepares Webelos Scouts for Boy Scouting.
• Reformatted and enhanced the Webelos handbook, particularly the Webelos badge and Arrow of Light Award requirements.

• The enhancements to the requirements in the new books will not affect the advancement trail of boys who are using the previous edition. They are to continue using their existing books until they have completed all requirements in those books.
• Based on availability, Cub Scouting youth members may use either the current handbook or the new handbook. As boys enter the program or advance in rank by the dates indicated below, they are required to use the new books.
  • Boys who become Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts after August 1, 2004, will be required to use the new book for the corresponding rank.
  • Boys who become Webelos Scouts after August 1, 2005, will be required to use the new Webelos Scout Handbook.

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