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		Cub Scout 
		Advancement 
		Requirements Changes
		Effective September 1, 2018 
		
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		General Information
		The Guide to Advancement - 2017 and 
		the current Cub Scout Handbooks are the official Boy Scouts 
		of America sources on Cub Scout advancement procedures. 
		New editions of the Cub Scout Handbooks and a new Lion Cub Scout Kit, 
		including a Den Leader Guide were issued in September, 2018 in conjunction with the introduction of Family Scouting for Cub 
		Scouts (with separate Dens for Boys and Girls), the upcoming 
		introduction of Family Scouting for Scouts BSA, and the change of the 
		Lion Cub Scout program from a pilot program to a permanent program. The new 
		Handbook editions also 
		incorporated the advancement changes which were first published on-line 
		in November, 2016, then released in print form as an addendum to each 
		Cub Scout Handbook in December, 2016.  
		The requirements for Lion Cub Scouts are in the Lion Den Leader 
		Guide.  The requirements for Tiger, Wolf, and Bear Cub Scouts are 
		in the Tiger, Wolf, and Bear Handbooks. Webelos and Arrow of Light 
		requirements are in the Webelos Handbook. Bobcat requirements appear in 
		each of the handbooks. 
		We have reviewed each of the Handbooks and the Den Leader Guide to 
		determine what changed in the advancement requirements. Our review was strictly confined to the text of the requirements for 
		advancement. We did not review the rest of the text in the handbooks to 
		compare them with the previous editions. 
		We found no changes to the requirements for 
		Lion Cub Scouts from those used during the 2016-2018 pilot (test) period, 
		and no changes to the requirements for the Bobcat Badge. The changes we found are listed below, 
		and represent changes from the text in the addendums not from the body 
		of the previous editions. 
		
  
	
	 We have used the following coding to identify the changes:
		New text is in bold GREEN underlined 
		Serif text like this sentence. 
		Deleted portions are struck through RED italic text like 
		this sentence. 
		 
		Tiger Cub Scouts
		
			
			Requirement 1 was modified as follows: 
			
				- Complete each of the six required adventures.
				with your den or family, (Specific requirements 
				for these adventures can be found in this (the) 
				addendum.)
 
			 
			
			
				
				The title and requirement 1 were modified as follows: 
				
					My Tiger Jungle (Backyard 
					Jungle in the Handbook) 
					
						- With your parent, guardian, or other caring adult
						(referred to in the handbook as "your 
						adult partner"), go for a walk outside, and pick 
						out two or more sights or sounds of "nature" around you. 
						Discuss with your partner or den
 
					 
				 
			 
			
			No changes were found. 
		 
		 
		Wolf Cub Scouts
		
			
			The introduction line was deleted, and requirements 
			1 and 2 were modified as follows: 
			
				Rank advancement is awarded when each Scout 
				has done the following: 
				
					- Complete each of the six required Adventures.
					with your den or family, (Specific requirements 
					for these adventures can be found in this
					(the) addendum.)
 
					- In addition to the six required adventures listed
					above previously, 
					complete at least one elective 
					Adventure of your den's or family's choosing.
 
				 
			 
						
			No changes were found. 
				
					
					Requirement 5 was modified as follows: 
					
						- Paint
						Draw or paint a picture two different 
						ways: Paint Draw 
						or paint it once the way you usually would paint 
						it and then again by using a blindfold. Discuss with your 
						den the ways the process was different.
 
					 
					
					Requirement 1 was modified as follows: 
					
					- Wash your hands while singing the "germ song." "Happy Birthday" song. 
 
					 
					
					Requirement 4A was modified as follows: 
					
					- As a den or family, honor a serviceman or servicewoman service member 
						by sending a care package along with a note thanking them 
						for their service.
 
  
					 
				 
		 
		 
		Bear Cub Scouts
		
			
			The introduction line was deleted, and requirements 
			1 and 2 were modified as follows: 
			
				Rank advancement is awarded when each Scout has done the following, 
				
					- Complete each of the six required Adventures. (Specific requirements for these adventures can be found in this
		(the) addendum.)
 
					- In addition to the six required adventures listed above previously, complete 
			at least one elective Adventure of your 
			den's or family's choosing.
 
				 
			 
			
			
			
				The title was modified as follows: 
				
				Baloo the Builder
				(formerly an elective adventure)  
			 
			
			
			
				Requirement 2A was modified as follows: 
				
				- Make a poster or a PowerPoint presentation about your pet or a pet you would like to 
					own have. Share the poster or presentation with your den, pack, or family. 
 
  
			
				The title was modified as follows: 
				
				Grin and Bear it
				(formerly a required adventure)  
			 
		 
		 
		Webelos Cub Scouts
		
			
			The introduction line was deleted, and requirements 
			2, 3, and 5 were modified as follows: 
			
				Rank advancement is awarded when each Scout has done the following, 
				
					- Complete each of the five required Adventures. (Specific requirements for these adventures can be found in this
		(the) addendum.)
 
					- In addition to the five required adventures listed above, complete 
			at least one elective Adventure 
			of your den's or family's choosing (for a total of at least six adventures). 
 
			(See the list that follows the Arrow of Light requirements.) 
			- Earn the Cyber Chip award 
			for your age. (The Cyber Chip portion of this requirement may be waived 
			by your parent or guardian if you do not have access to the internet.)
 
				 
			 
			
			
			
				Requirement 3 was modified as follows: 
				
				- Discuss with your family, family’s faith leader, or other 
					trusted caring adult how planning and participating in a service of 
					worship or reflection helps you live your duty to God.
   
			
			The introduction line was deleted, the name of the 
			"Outdoorsman" adventure was changed to "Outdoor Adventurer", and requirement 
			2 was modified as follows: 
			
				Rank advancement is awarded when each Scout has done the following, 
				
					- Complete each of the four required Adventures, (Specific requirements 
			for these adventures can be found in this (the) 
			addendum.)
			
 
				 
			 
			
			
			
				The name of the adventure was changed from 
				"Outdoorsman" to "Outdoor Adventurer", and a change was made to 
				Option A, requirement 3 which was modified as follows: 
				- Option A
				- Once your tents are set up, discuss with your den 
				and den leader or 
						family what actions you should take in the case of the following 
						extreme weather events which could require you to evacuate:
						
    
			
				Requirements 1, 1C, 2, 2B, 2C, 3A, 3D, AND 4 were modified as follows: 
				
				- Prepare yourself to become a Boy Scout join a troop by completing at 
					least a-c below:
				
					- Give the Boy Scout sign, salute, and handshake. Explain 
						when to use each.
 
				 
				 
				- Visit a Boy Scout troop meeting with your parent or guardian 
					and, if possible, with your den members and leaders. After the meeting, do the following:
					
					- Describe the four steps of Boy Scout advancement.
 
						- Describe ranks in Boy Scouting and how they are earned.
 
				 
				 
				- 
				
					- Explain the patrol method. Describe the types of patrols 
						that might be part of a Boy Scout troop. 
 
					- As a patrol, make plans to participate in a Boy Scout 
						troop’s campout or other outdoor activity.
 
				 
				 
				- With your Webelos den leader, parent, or guardian, participate 
					in a Boy Scout troop’s campout or other outdoor activity. Use 
					the patrol method while on the outing.
 
				 
			 
			
The name of the "Sportsman" adventure was changed to "Sports" 
			 
 
 Misc. Items
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	 The Pocketknife Pledge and Knife Safety Rules were modified as shown. 
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			Knife Safety Rules
			
				- A knife is a tool, not a toy
 
				- Know how to sharpen a knife. 
				A sharp knife is safer than a dull knife because it is less likely 
				to slip and cut you.
 
				- Keep the blade clean and dry.
 
				- Never carry an open pocketknife
 
				- When you are not using your knife, close it using the palm of 
				your hand and put it away.
 
				- When you are using the cutting blade, do not try to make big 
				shavings or chips. Cut slowly and steadily Easy does it.
 
				- Make a safety circle. Before you pick up your knife to use it, 
				stretch your arm out and turn in a circle. 
 
				If you cannot touch anyone or anything else, it is safe to use your 
				knife.  
				While using your knife, be sure to watch in case someone walks toward 
				you and gets too close. 
				If that happens, put your knife away until it is safe to continue. 
				- Always cut away from you, never toward you.
 
				- Never hand a knife to someone else blade first. 
 
				Learn and use the "eye contact" method of handing a knife to someone 
				else. 
				Do not release the knife until the other person makes eye contact 
				with you  
				and acknowledges he is receiving the knife. 
				- Never use a knife on something that will dull or break it.
 
				- Never throw a knife for any reason.
 
				- Always think before you cut.
 
			 
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	The Pocketknife Pledge:
			In return for the privilege of carrying a pocketknife to designated Cub Scout functions, I agree to the following: 
			
				-  I understand the reason for safety rules.
 
				- I will treat my pocketknife with the respect due a useful tool.
 
				- I will always close my pocketknife and put it away when I am 
				not using it not in use.
 
				- I will not use my pocketknife when it might injure someone near 
				me. 
 
				- I promise never to throw my pocketknife for any reason. 
 
				- I will use my pocketknife in a safe manner at all times.
				
 
			 
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	Primary Sources:
	Lion Den Leader Guide (#39003 - SKU 644816), 
	Cub Scout Tiger Handbook (#325523 - SKU 646427) 
	Cub Scout Wolf Handbook (#34752 - SKU 646428),
	Cub Scout Bear Handbook (#34753 - SKU 646429),
	Cub Scout Webelos Handbook (#34754 - SKU 646430) 
	 
	
 
	
 
Page updated on:
January 18, 2019 
 
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