Bear Handbook Cover

Bear Badge

Bear Core Adventures


Requirements were REVISED effective December 1, 2016.

New text is in bold GREEN underlined Serif text like this sentence.
Deleted portions are struck through RED italic text like this sentence.

To see the requirements, without the changes highlighted, Click here.

For the previous requirements, Click here.


The "Grin and Bear It" Adventure has been changed to an Elective Adventure,
and has been replaced by the "Baloo the Builder" Adventure, which is now a Required Adventure.

 The "Paws for Action" Adventure has been renamed the "Paws for Action (Duty to Country)" Adventure.


There are 6 Core (Required) Adventures in the Bear program:

  1. Bear Claws
  2. Bear Necessities
  3. Fellowship and Duty to God
  4. Fur, Feathers, and Ferns
  5. Grin and Bear It Baloo the Builder
  6. Paws for Action (Duty to Country)
Bear Claws Adventure Loop

Bear Adventure: Bear Claws

Complete the following requirements.

  1. Learn about three common designs of pocketknives.
  2. Learn knife safety and earn your Whittling Chip.*
  3. Using a pocketknife, carve two items.
    Do one of the following:
    1. Using a pocketknife, carve two items.
    2. With a pocket knife, safely perform each of these tasks:
      1. Demonstrate how to cut a piece of rope, twine or fishing line;
      2. Open a sealed box without damaging the contents;
      3. Open a can with a can opener tool on a pocket knife;
      4. Remove and replace the screws on an object with the screw driver tool on a pocket knife;
      5. Open a letter

*One of the items carved for requirement 3 may be used to fulfill Whittling Chip requirement 3.

Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Bear Necessities Adventure Loop

Bear Adventure: Bear Necessities

Complete Requirements 1 - 4. Requirements 5 and 6 are optional.

  1. While working on your Bear badge, camp overnight with your pack. If your chartered organization does not permit Cub Scout camping, you may substitute a family campout or a daylong outdoor activity with your den or pack. attend one of the following:
    1. A daytime or overnight campout with your pack or family
    2. An outdoor activity with your den or pack
    3. Day camp
    4. Resident camp
  2. Attend a campfire show, and participate by performing a song or skit with your den.
    3. Make a list of items you should take along on your campout the activity selected in Requirement 1.
  3. 4. Make a list of equipment that the group should bring along in addition to each Scout's personal gear for the activity selected in Requirement 1.
  4. 5. With your den, plan a cooked lunch or dinner that is nutritious and balanced. Make a shopping list, and help shop for the food. On a campout or at another outdoor event, help cook the meal and help clean up afterward.
    6. Help your leader or another adult cook a different meal from the one you helped prepare for requirement 5. Cook this meal outdoors.
    7. Help set up a tent. Pick Determine a good spot for the tent, and explain to your den leader why you picked it.
  5. 8. Demonstrate how to tie two half hitches and explain what the hitch is used for.
  6. 9. Learn how to read a thermometer and a barometer. Keep track of the temperature and barometric pressure readings and the actual weather at the same time every day for seven days.

Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Fellowship and Duty to God Adventure Loop

Bear Adventure: Fellowship and Duty to God

Do either requirement 1 OR requirement 2.
Complete the following requirements.

  1. Earn the religious emblem of your faith.
    Discuss with your parent, guardian, den leader, or other caring adult what it means to do your duty to God. Tell how you do your duty to God in your daily life.
  2. Complete 2a and at least two of requirements 2b-2d at least one of the following:.
    1. . Identify a person whose faith you admire, and discuss this person with your family.
    2. a. Working with a parent or guardian, spiritual advisor, or religious leader With a family member, provide service to help a place of worship or spiritual community, school, community organization, or chartered organization that puts into practice your ideals of duty to God and strengthens your fellowship with others.
      b. Identify a person whose faith and duty to God you admire, and discuss this person with your family.
      c. Make a list of things you can do to practice your duty to God as you are taught in your home or place of worship or spiritual community. Select two of the items, and practice them for two weeks.
      d. Attend a religious service, den or pack meeting worship service, or time of family reflection and discussion about your family's beliefs.
  3. Complete at least one of the following:
    1. Earn the religious emblem of your faith that is appropriate for your age, if you have not already done so
    2. Make a list of things you can do to practice your duty to God as you are taught in your home or place of worship or spiritual community. Select two of the items and practice them for two weeks

Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Fur, Feathers, and Ferns Adventure Loop

Bear Adventure: Fur, Feathers, and Ferns

Complete Requirement 1 and three others.

  1. While hiking or walking for one mile, identify six signs that any mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, or plants are living nearby near the place where you choose to hike or walk.
  2. Name one animal that has become extinct in the last 100 years and one animal that is currently endangered Explain what caused their declines.
    3. Visit one of the following: zoo, wildlife refuge, nature center, aviary, game preserve, local conservation area, wildlife rescue group, or fish hatchery. Describe what you learned during your visit.
  3. Observe wildlife from a distance. Describe what you saw.
  4. Name one animal that has become extinct in the last 100 years and one animal that is currently endangered. Explain what caused their declines.
  5. Use a magnifying glass to examine plants more closely. Describe what you saw through the magnifying glass that you could not see without it.
  6. Learn about composting and how vegetable waste can be turned into fertilizer for plants.
  7. Plant a vegetable or herb garden.

Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Grin and Bear It Adventure Loop

Bear Required Adventure: Grin and Bear It

  1. Play a challenge game or initiative game with the members of your den. Take part in a reflection after the game.
  2. Working with the members of your den, organize a Cub Scout carnival and lead it at a special event.
  3. Help younger Cub Scouts take part in one of the events at the Cub Scout carnival.
  4. After the Cub Scout carnival, discuss with the members of your den and your den leader what went well, what could be done better, and how everyone worked together to make the event a success.
  5. Make and present an award to one of the adults who helped you organize the activities at the Cub Scout carnival.
Baloo the Builder Adventure Loop

Bear Required Adventure: Baloo the Builder

Complete all of the following requirements.

  1. Discover which hand tools are the best ones to have in your tool box. Learn the rules for using these tools safely. Practice with at least four of these tools before beginning a project.
  2. Select, plan, and define the materials for the project you will complete in requirement 3.
  3. Assemble your materials, and build one useful project and one fun project using wood.
  4. Apply a finish to one of your projects.

Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Paws for Action Adventure Loop

Bear Adventure: Paws for Action (Duty to Country)

Complete Requirement 1 and three others.

  1. Learn about our nation’s flag. Display it at home for one month. Say the Pledge of Allegiance and learn its meaning.
  2. 1. Do at least one of the following:
    1. Find out about two famous Americans. Share what you learned.
    2. Find out where places of historical interest are located in or near your community, town, or city. Go and visit one of them with your family or den.
      c. Learn about our flag. Display it at home for one month. Say the Pledge of Allegiance and learn its meaning.
  3. 2. Do the following:
    1. With your school or den, visit Visit a local sheriff's office, or police station, or fire department OR talk with a fire safety officer or law enforcement officer visiting your school or den. Find out what skills the officers use to do their jobs. During the visit, take turns with your den members asking Ask questions that will help you learn how to stay safe.
    2. Make a list of emergency numbers and discuss with your family where the list should be kept. Show your family that you know how to call for help in an emergency. Talk with your family about people who could help you if a parent is not available.
      During or after your visit with a law enforcement officer, do at least two of the following:
      1. Practice one way police gather evidence by taking fingerprints, taking a shoe print, or taking tire track casts.
      2. Make a list of emergency numbers to post in your home, and keep a copy with you in your backpack or wallet.
      3. With your family, develop a plan to follow in case of an emergency, and practice the plan at least three times. Your family can determine the emergency, or you can develop several plans.
      4. Discuss with your parent or another adult you trust any worries you have about your safety or a friend's safety.
      5. If you have younger brothers and sisters, make sure they know how to call for help in an emergency.
    3. With your family, develop a plan to follow in case of an emergency, and practice the plan at least three times. Your family can determine the emergency, or you can develop several plans.
  4. 3. Do at least one of the following:
    1. Learn about the energy your family uses and how you can help your family decrease its energy use.
      b. Do a cleanup project that benefits your community.
    2. Participate in a patriotic community parade or other civic event that honors our country.

Workbook for use with these requirements: PDF Format DOCX Format

Sources: Cub Scout Bear Handbook (#33451 - SKU 620136)
and CUB SCOUT ADVANCEMENT MODIFICATIONS


Page updated on: September 12, 2022



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