The mission of the Boy Scouts of America…
to prepare young people to make ethical and moral choices over their lifetimes by instilling in them the values of the Scout Promise, Law, and Motto.

Scout Oath

On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the Scout Law; to help other people at all times; to keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

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 development should extend into every aspect of a boy’s life. Character development should also extend into every aspect of Cub Scouting. Cub Scout leaders should strive to use the 12 points of the Scout Law throughout all elements of the program—service projects, ceremonies, games, skits, songs, crafts, and all the other activities enjoyed at den and pack meetings

The Scout Law

A Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent.

A Scout is TRUSTWORTHY A Scout tells the truth and keeps his promises. People can depend on him. A Scout is LOYAL A Scout is true to his family, friends, Scout leaders, school, and country. A Scout is HELPFUL A Scout volunteers to help others without expecting a reward. A Scout is FRIENDLY A Scout is a friend to everyone, even people who are very different from him. A Scout is COURTEOUS A Scout is polite to everyone and always uses good manners. A Scout is KIND A Scout treats others as he wants to be treated. He never harms or kills any living thing without good reason. A Scout is OBEDIENT A Scout follows the rules of his family, school, and pack. He obeys the laws of his community and country. A Scout is CHEERFUL A Scout looks for the bright side of life. He cheerfully does tasks that come his way. He tries to make others happy. A Scout is THRIFTY A Scout works to pay his way. He uses time, property, and natural resources wisely. A Scout is BRAVE A Scout can face danger even if he is afraid. He stands for what is right even if others laugh at him. A Scout is CLEAN A Scout keeps his body and mind fit. He helps keep his home and community clean. A Scout is REVERENT A Scout is reverent toward God. He is faithful in his religious duties. He respects the beliefs of others.

Character can be defined as the collection of core values by an individual that leads to moral commitment and action.

Character development should challenge Cub Scouts to experience core values
in six general areas: God, world, country, community, family, and self.

Character is “values in action.”

Most Cub Scouts celebrate Scouting Anniversary Week in February with a “birthday party” called the blue and gold banquet. In nearly all packs, the blue and gold banquet is the highlight of the year. It brings families together for an evening of fun and cheer. It’s often the pack meeting for February.

The purpose of the blue and gold banquet is to celebrate the pack’s anniversary, thank pack leaders and other adults who have helped the pack, and inspire the leaders, Scouts, and parents. Packs often like to invite former members and other Scouting or community leaders to take part in their blue and gold banquet.

The banquet can be like a regular pack meeting, with songs, skits, stunts, and awards. Or it can be something different and a little more special. Your pack may decide to bring in an entertainer such as a magician or a storyteller. Or you could have a video or slide show of what the pack did over the past year.

A good banquet needs lots of planning. Most packs begin to plan at least two months ahead of time.

Camping takes you on exciting adventures into the natural world. You’ll learn to live with others in the out-of-doors. You’ll learn to be a good citizen of the outdoors.

Camping is fun, and it’s good for your mind, body, and spirit. It helps you learn to rely on yourself—on your own skills and knowledge. When you go camping as a Cub Scout, you get skills you will learn and use more, later, as a Boy Scout.

Cub Scout camping has day camps, resident camps, Webelos den overnight campouts, family camps, and pack overnighters.

Day Camps

Day camp lasts for one day to five days. It’s for Tigers, Wolves, Bears, and Webelos Scouts. Day camps are held during the day or early evening. Campers do not stay overnight.

Resident Camps

At resident camps, Cub Scouts camp overnight. Every year, the resident camp has a different theme and different adventures. Examples of themes are Sea Adventure, Space Adventure, Athletes, Knights, Circus Big Top, American Indian Heritage, Folklore, and the World Around Us.

Webelos Den Overnight Campouts

Webelos dens go on overnight campouts. Each Webelos Scout camps with his parent or guardian. The campers learn the basics of Boy Scout camping, under the direction of the Webelos den leader. Sometimes, leaders from a Boy Scout troop may join you.

Webelos dens also have joint overnight campouts with a Boy Scout troop. Each Webelos Scout has a parent or guardian with him on these joint campouts, too.

Council-Organized Family Camps

Family camps are overnight camps for more than one Cub Scout pack. You may hear these events called “parent-pal weekends” or “adventure weekends.” Each Cub Scout camps with a parent or guardian.

Pack Overnighters

Packs on their own can hold overnight campouts for the families in the pack. Cub Scouts’ brothers and sisters can go on these pack overnighters. In most cases, each Scout will camp with a parent or guardian. Every young camper is responsible to a specific adult.

Racing in a Cub Scout derby is great fun. You’ll get to design your racing vehicle, work with a parent to build it, and see it perform on race day. Win or lose, you’ll take pride in having done your best. When you race in a Cub Scout derby, you learn craft skills, the rules of fair play, and good sportsmanship—things you will remember all your life.

Types of Derbies

The main types of derbies are the pinewood derby, raingutter regatta, space derby, and Cubmobile derby.

Pinewood Derby

The pinewood derby is one of the most popular and successful family activities in Cub Scouting. Pinewood derby cars are small wooden models that Cub Scouts make with help from their families. Then they race the cars in competition. The cars are powered by gravity and run down a track. Most packs have a pinewood derby every year. It can be run indoors or outdoors. Every boy can design and build his own “grand prix” car to enter in the race.

Raingutter Regatta

In the raingutter regatta, boats race down a narrow channel. There are two versions. The wind-powered version uses sailboat designs, and the boats are blown down the channel. The propeller-powered version uses motorboats driven by propeller.

Space Derby

Another popular family-son project is the space derby. It’s like the pinewood derby except the models are miniature rockets. The rockets “fly” along a heavy line that hangs in the air. They’re driven by propellers powered by rubber bands.

Cubmobile Derby

Each den works together to build a “Cubmobile,” a pint-sized racing vehicle. Each den has one racer, and each Cub Scout in the den races in the car once. Usually, a ramp helps start the cars, and they roll downhill to the finish line. The race is held on a smooth street that slopes downhill.

Competition and Prizes

Each family that competes in a Cub Scout derby follows a set of simple, easy rules. The winners get prizes, and every boy is recognized for taking part. Always remember that in Cub Scouting, it’s more important to “Do Your Best” than to come in first. The big thing about a derby isn’t the competition or the prizes. It’s the fun you and your family will have.

xcursions and field trips provide some of the most exciting parts of Scouting. Cub Scouts enjoy many outdoor experiences as they participate in the variety of activities that can be held outside, such as field trips, hikes, nature and conservation experiences, and outdoor games.

Den Outings

Boys and girls enjoy visiting museums, business establishments, parks, and other attractions. Here are some suggestions:

• How Things Are Made – Visit manufacturing plants such as aircraft, automotive, appliance, or electronic firms; chemical, paper, plastic, paint, furniture, or toy plants; and handicrafts or other small-craft industries.
• How Your City Runs – Visit power, water, and sewage plants; a gas company; police and fire stations; city hall; municipal buildings; the county jail; a telephone company; the post office; the Red Cross; hospitals; newspaper plants; and radio, television, and weather stations.
• How Your City Is Fed – Visit truck and dairy farms, flour mills, and bakeries; food processing, canning, or bottling plants; stockyards and meat or poultry packing houses; a fish hatchery; beverage, candy, and ice-cream companies; markets; and food distributors.
• Learn About Your Heritage – Visit art galleries, museums, and memorials; celebrated old homes, monuments, and other historic sites; places of worship; civic centers; important local buildings; summer theaters and band concerts; and local historical celebrations.

When these field trips are coordinated with the required and elective adventures, they can help bring learning to life by allowing boys and girls to experience firsthand the things they have been learning about. Most adventures will include opportunities for a den outing that may fulfill part of an advancement requirement.

A well-planned den outing will benefit everyone involved, providing an opportunity for boys, girls, and adults to acquire new interests and knowledge; develop a deeper understanding of and respect for other people; reinforce their attitudes of good citizenship, such as courtesy and kindness; and have fun.

Hikes

A hike is a journey on foot, usually with a purpose, a route, and a destination. Cub Scout dens will have several opportunities for taking hikes related to adventure requirements.

Here are some suggestions for different types of hikes:

• Homes Hike – Look for spider webs, nests, holes, and other homes in nature. Make a list.
• Stop, Look, and Listen Hike – Hike for a specified length of time or for a certain number of steps. Then stop and write down all that you see and hear. Make several stops.
• Puddle Hike – Hike in a gentle rain or just after a rain, with boys and girls wearing appropriate rain gear. See how animals and insects take cover from the weather.
• Penny Hike – Flip a coin to see which direction you will go. Flip the coin at each intersection or fork in the road or trail.
• Color Hike – Look for objects of preselected colors. Make a list.
• Historical Hike – Hike to an historical spot. Know the history before going on the hike.
• City Hike – Look for scraps of nature between cracks in the sidewalk. Look at the buildings for various architectural details—carvings, cornices, etc. A vacant lot can provide a lot of interest; even one overturned rock can reveal surprises.

Games and Sports

Outdoor games and sports provide opportunities for teaching boys and girls skills of good sportsmanship, including following rules, taking turns and sharing, getting along with others, and fair play. They provide the opportunity for every Cub Scout to learn the basic skills of a sport, game, or competition while learning good sportsmanship and habits of personal fitness in an environment where participation and doing one’s best are more important than winning.

Doing service projects together is one way that Cub Scouts keep their promise “to help other people.” While a Scout should do his best to help other people every day, a group service project is a bigger way to help people. While you’re giving service, you’re learning to work together with others to do something that’s good for your community.

Service projects may help the natural world, the community, or the chartered organization. Here are some service activities Cub Scouts can do.

1. Helping the natural world
   • Pick up litter around your neighborhood.
   • Clean up trash by a stream.
   • Plant seedlings or flowers.
   • Recycle glass, paper, aluminum, or plastic.
   • Make bird feeders.
2. Helping the community
   • Give a flag ceremony for a school.
   • Collect food for food banks.
   • Make cards for a care center.
   • Clean up a church parking lot.
   • Shovel snow or rake leaves for seniors.
   • Hand out voting reminders.
   • Hand out emergency procedure brochures.
   • Recycle family newspapers.
3. Helping the chartered organization
   • Do a cleanup project.
   • Plant and care for trees.
   • Conduct a flag ceremony.
   • Help set up for a special event.
   • Hand out programs or bulletins at a meeting of the organization.

These are only a few ideas for service projects. Can you think of others? Share your ideas with the members and leaders of your den.

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. For more information on advancement, visit CubScouts.org.

More information about The Advancement Trail

Cub Scouts have the opportunity to earn both required and elective recognition devices as they work toward their ranks. They also can earn recognition for additional elective adventures they choose to complete beyond those required for their rank. Tiger, Wolf, and Bear Scouts earn adventure loops to be worn on their belt, and Webelos Scouts earn pins they can wear on their Webelos colors or Webelos cap.

Adventure loops and pins are a great way to help fulfill the aims of Scouting—build character, develop citizenship, and encourage mental and physical fitness. Through a variety of subjects, you can stretch your mind and abilities by exploring the wonders of science, learning about the world, and expanding skills in new area.

This is a chance to try something new, do your best, and earn recognition all at the same time. For more information about the adventure loops and pins, see CubScouts.org.

More information about Cub Scouting Adventures

Besides the advancement awards and the adventure loops and pins, Cub Scouts may earn other individual awards.

More information about Other Awards You Can Earn

Just as Cub Scouts can earn individual awards for themselves, they can also work together to earn awards for their whole den or their pack. Getting together to work on these awards is a great way to practice teamwork and to show every Cub Scout how important he is as a member of his den or pack.

More information about Other Awards for Your Den and Pack