Cub Scouting is for children in kindergarten through fifth grades. Youth who are older than 10, or who have completed the fifth grade, can no longer join Cub Scouting, but are eligible to join the Boy Scouting.

Express your interest to the pack leaders—the Cubmaster, chartered organization representative, or members of the unit committee. They can help you understand the process and guide you on areas where the pack needs support. All packs welcome parent help.

Citizenship is not required of youth or adults to become members of the Boy Scouts of America.

Cub Scouting is a program of the Boy Scouts of America—so in that sense, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts are both members of the same organization. However, they are entirely different programs: Cub Scouting is a family-oriented program designed specifically to address the needs of younger children.

Cub Scouts meet in their dens frequently – sometimes weekly, bi-weekly or another schedule that best fits the group – and a pack meeting is held for all Cub Scouts and their families once a month. Beyond that, it depends on the den and pack: a den may hold a special activity, such as a service project or visit to a local museum in place of one of the weekly meetings or in addition to the weekly meetings. Likewise, a pack may conduct a special event such as a campout as an additional event, or as a substitute for its monthly pack meeting.

Cub Scouting is open to parents at all times. Den meetings are intended to be an activity for the individual Scouts, and your den leader will be working hard to keep the Cub Scouts focused. If you would like to be present at a den meeting, ask the den leader in advance so that the leader can plan a way for you to observe or participate. Parents must accompany children in our Lion and Tiger dens.

At minimum, each Scout will need a uniform and a handbook. Each year, a new handbook, cap, and neckerchief will be needed, but other uniform parts remain the same for at least the first three years. When entering a Webelos den, a new uniform may be needed if the parents in the den opt for the khaki-and-olive uniform.
Additional supplies and equipment may be needed for certain activities such as camping trips or field days. What equipment is needed, as well as whether it will be provided by the unit, will vary from pack to pack. Den and pack leaders should provide parents with information about any supplies that will be required at the beginning of each program year.

Our uniforms, literature, and other Scouting merchandise is available at your local council, Scout Shops, and other licensed distributors. Visit www.scoutstuff.org to find a list of distributors in your area. If there aren’t any suppliers near you, you can order directly from the Supply Division at www.scoutstuff.org

No. In the Cub Scout program, all Scouts in a den work toward the same badge. If a child joins Cub Scouting as a 9-year-old, they must earn the Bobcat badge (all Scouts in Cub Scouting earn this badge), and then begin working on the Bear badge with fellow Cub Scouts. Tiger or Wolf badges are not required. Since those badges are for younger children, the requirements for those badges are not consistent with an older child’s level of ability, so “going back” to pick up those badges is not permitted.

No. In the Cub Scout program, all Scouts in a den work toward a badge that is geared to their level of development. If the Wolf badge is completed before the end of the program year, a Scout may work on elective adventures, but they may not begin working on the requirements for the Bear badge. Work on the Bear badge will begin the next program year, when graduating into a Bear den.

Cub Scouts are not eligible to earn these awards, which are part of the Boy Scout program. All of the awards that Cub Scouts may earn are listed in their handbooks or can be found on the BSA website.

Boy Scouting is available to youth who have earned the Arrow of Light and are at least ten years old—so a Webelos Scout who has earned the Arrow of Light is eligible to join a troop immediately (provided they are at least ten years old).
However, many packs coordinate with a local Boy Scout troop to facilitate the transition from Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting. In these instances, it is better for the Scout, the Scout’s family, and both units if all Webelos Scouts make the transition together, in a coordinated fashion, rather than having each Scout leave the pack as soon as they are eligible.