This for the 2024 program year Cub Scout updates. This is a preview and is not official information yet. This new program takes effect on June 1, 2024. See more details about the overall program updates here.
The Bear badge for Cub Scouts is a journey for third graders, taking them deeper into the scouting adventure. This program is crafted for 9-year-olds, offering a variety of activities that are both educational and immensely enjoyable. Through Core and Elective Adventures, Bear Cub Scouts explore outdoor skills, personal fitness, citizenship, and personal safety. Each activity is designed to help Cubs develop new skills, learn valuable life lessons, and have a ton of fun along the way.
In the Core Adventures, Bears engage in new challenges that teach them about character and leadership with the Bobcat adventure. They learn about nature in Bear Habitat, discover how to stay healthy and strong in Bear Strong, and understand the importance of being active in their community through Paws for Action. Safety lessons come through in Standing Tall, while Fellowship focuses on family bonds and respect for others. These core experiences build a strong foundation for the Cubs, emphasizing growth and personal development.
The Elective Adventures offer Cubs a chance to dive into specific interests, from STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) with adventures like Baloo the Builder and Super Science, to outdoor activities such as A Bear Goes Fishing and Bears Afloat. New additions like Bears on Bikes and Top Chef Tech introduce Cubs to cycling and the science behind cooking. Whether they’re laughing with Roaring Laughter, swimming in Salmon Run, or practicing knife safety in Whittling, there’s an adventure for every Bear to enjoy.
Overall, the Bear badge program is about expanding horizons, strengthening friendships, and building confidence. As Bear Cubs complete their adventures, they earn badges that reflect their achievements and prepare them for bigger challenges. This program not only encourages Cubs to explore new activities but also teaches them the value of teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. It’s a crucial step in their Cub Scouting journey, setting the stage for even more exciting
Bear Cub Scout Requirements
- Complete each of the 6 Bear required adventures:
- Bobcat
- Bear Habitat
- Bear Strong
- Fellowship
- Paws for Action
- Standing Tall
- In addition to the 6 required adventures listed previously, complete at least 2 Bear elective adventures of your den’s or family’s choosing.
Bear Cub Scout Required Adventures
Bear Habitat Adventure Requirements
- Prepare for a 1-mile walk by gathering the Cub Scout Six Essentials and weather appropriate clothing and shoes.
- “Know Before You Go” Identify the location of your walk on a map and confirm your 1-mile route.
- “Choose the Right Path” Learn about the path and surrounding area you will be walking on.
- “Trash your Trash” Develop a plan for what you will do with your personal trash or trash you find along the trail.
- “Leave What You Find” Take pictures along your walk or bring a sketch book to draw 5 things that you want to remember on your walk.
- “Be Careful with Fire” Determine the fire danger rating along your path.
- “Respect Wildlife” From a safe distance, identify as you look up, down, and around you, 6 signs of any mammals, birds, insects, reptiles.
- “Be Kind to Other Visitors” Identify what you need to do as a den to be kind to others on the path.
- Go on your 1-mile walk while practicing your Leave No Trace Principles for Kids.
Bear Strong Adventure Requirements
- Sample food from 3 of the following: protein, vegetable, fruit, dairy, and/or grain.
- Be active for 30 minutes with your den or at least 1 other person that includes both stretching and moving.
- Be active for 15 minutes doing personal exercises that include cardio, muscular strength, and flexibility.
- Do a relaxing activity for 10 minutes.
- Review your BSA Annual Health and Medical record with your parent or guardian. Discuss your ability to participate in den and pack activities.
Fellowship Adventure Requirements
- With your parent or legal guardian talk about your family’s faith traditions. Identify three holidays or celebrations that are part of your family’s faith traditions. Make a craft, work of art, or a food item that is part of your favorite family’s faith tradition holiday or celebration.
- With your family, attend a religious service OR other gathering that shows how your family expresses reverence .
- Carry out an act of kindness.
- With your parent or legal guardian identify a religion or faith that is different from your own. Determine two things that it has in common with your family’s beliefs.
Paws for Action Adventure Requirements
- Familiarize yourself with the flag of the United States of America including the history, demonstrating how to raise and lower the flag, how to properly fold and display, and the United States etiquette.
- Identify 3 symbols that represent the United States. Pick your favorite and make a model, work of art, or other craft that depicts the symbol.
- Learn about the mission of any non-profit. Find out how they fund their activities and how volunteers are used to help.
- Participate in a service project.
Standing Tall Adventure Requirements
- With permission from your parent or legal guardian, watch the Protect Yourself Rules video for the Bear rank.
- Complete the Personal Space Bubble worksheet that is part of the Protect Yourself Rules resources.
- With your parent or legal guardian, set up a family policy for digital devices.
- Identify common personal safety gear for your head, eyes, mouth, hands, and feet. List how each of these items protect you. Demonstrate the proper use of personal safety gear for an activity.
Bear Cub Scout Elective Adventures
A Bear Goes Fishing Adventure Requirements
- Learn about three types of fish in your area.
- Learn about your local fishing regulations with your den leader or an adult.
- List three of the regulations you learned about, and one reason each regulation exists.
- Become familiar with the safe use of the fishing equipment you will be using on your outing.
- Learn the way to attach the hook, lure, or fly to the line.
- Go on a fishing adventure, and for 30 minutes or more, put into practice the things you learned about fish and fishing equipment.
Balancing Bears Adventure Requirements
- Make trail mix using trail mix math.
- Identify an animal that has a pattern to their physical appearance. Investigate how the animal uses their pattern.
- Find examples of bilateral symmetry in nature.
- Find examples of radial symmetry in nature.
Baloo the Builder Adventure Requirements
- Learn about some basic tools and the proper use of each tool. Learn about and understand the need for safety when you work with tools.
- Practice using four of the tools you learned about in requirement 1.
- Choose a project to build.
- Determine the tools and materials needed to build your project in requirement 3.
- Build your project.
Bears Afloat Adventure Requirements
- Before attempting requirements 6 and 7 for this Adventure, you must pass the BSA swimmer test.
- Pick a paddle craft for which to complete all requirements: canoe, kayak, or stand-up paddleboard (SUP).
- With your den or an adult, discuss the role of qualified adult supervision at a paddle craft activity.
- Explain the safety rules to follow when safely using a paddle craft.
- Discover how to tell if a life jacket is the correct size and approved for your paddle craft activity. Demonstrate how to wear it .
- Explore how your paddle craft responds as you move your paddle through the water from different places.
- Have 30 minutes, or more, of canoe, kayak, or SUP paddle time.
Bears on Bikes Adventure Requirements
- Show how to properly wear a bicycle helmet.
- Decide what you should wear when riding a bike.
- Demonstrate proper hand signals.
- Demonstrate how to adjust saddle height.
- Demonstrate how to operate brakes.
- Learn how to use a pump to inflate your tires. Discuss why riding with low-pressure or flat tires is unsafe and can cause damage to your bike.
- With your family, den, or pack, follow the buddy system and go on a 30-minute bike ride.
Champions for Nature Adventure Requirements
- Discover natural resources.
- Discover what happens to the wastewater in your community.
- Investigate soil.
- Investigate air pollution.
- Participate in a conservation project.
Chef Tech Adventure Requirements
- Pick a kitchen appliance that uses technology to complete the following requirements.
- With an adult, review the safety guidelines in the owner’s manual.
- Download a cooking app or search online to find a recipe that uses the appliance selected in requirement 1.
- With adult supervision, follow the selected recipe and make the recipe.
- Think of a way technology can improve the appliance used to make your recipe.
Critter Care Adventure Requirements
- Identify an animal that would be good pet for your family.
- Choose two animals that are allowed as pets in your community. Compare and contrast why these pets may be a good choice for you.
- Based on your choice in requirement 1, investigate how to properly care for your chosen animal.
- Discover three ways a pet can help people.
Forensics Adventure Requirements
- Explore the term “forensics” and how it is used to help solve crimes.
- Analyze your fingerprints.
- Make a shoe imprint.
- Do an analysis of four different substances: salt, sugar, baking soda and cornstarch.
- Learn about chromatography and how it is used in solving crimes.
- Find out how officers collect evidence.
Let’s Camp Adventure Requirements
- Review the buddy system and how it works in the outdoors.
- Pack your Cub Scout Six Essentials for the campout.
- In addition to your 6 Cub Scout Essentials, show the personal items you need for your campout.
- Help set up a tent. Determine a good spot for the tent. Explain why you picked the spot.
- Attend a Council or District Cub Scout overnight camp or attend a campout with your Pack.
Marble Madness Adventure Requirements
- Make a marble bag.
- Learn five words that are used when talking about marbles.
- Play three different marble games.
- Build a marble racetrack with at least wo lanes.
- Build a marble maze.
Race Time Adventure Requirements
- With an adult, build either a Pinewood Derby car or a Raingutter Regatta boat.
- Learn the rules of the race for the vehicle chosen in requirement 1.
- Identify how you could increase the speed of your chosen vehicle.
- Before the race, discuss with your den how you will demonstrate good sportsmanship during the race.
- Participate in a Pinewood Derby or a Raingutter Regatta.
Roaring Laugher Adventure Requirements
- Think about what makes you laugh. Discuss these with your den or family.
- Practice reading tongue twisters.
- Play charades with your den or family.
- Have a “Funniest Joke Contest” with your den or family.
- Practice “Run-Ons” with your den or family.
Salmon Run Adventure Requirements
- With your den or an adult, identify the attributes of qualified adult supervision at a swimming activity.
- Learn the three swimming ability groups for the Boy Scouts of America and water depths appropriate for each.
- Go swimming with your den, pack, or family for 30 minutes using the buddy system.
- Demonstrate the use the buddy system, buddy checks, and ability groups with your den or an adult.
- Attempt the BSA beginner swim test
- Demonstrate both a reach and throw rescue.
Summertime Fun Adventure Requirements
- Anytime during May through August participate in a total of 3 Cub Scout activities.
Super Science Adventure Requirements
- Conduct static electricity investigation.
- Conduct the sink-or-float investigation.
- Conduct the color-morphing investigation.
- Conduct the color-layering investigation.
Whittling Adventure Requirements
- Read, understand, and promise to abide by the “Cub Scout Knife Safety Rules.”
- Demonstrate the knife safety circle.
- Demonstrate that you know how to care for and use your pocketknife safely.
- Make two carvings with a pocketknife.
Archery, BB Guns, and Slingshot Adventures
Shooting sports adventures can only be completed at district and council events.
Resources for Leaders and Parents
