Bear Rank

Bobcat Badge

The Bobcat Badge

The Bobcat Badge is the first advancement any new scout will work toward, regardless of rank, and must be achieved prior to receiving any other advancements. For more information on the Bobcat Badge click here.

Bear Book

Achievements

To earn the Bear badge, a boy must complete 12 of the 24 specified achievements listed below. He can select the ones he wants to do from four different groups: God, Country, Family, and Self. The Progress Towards Ranks badge is available as an incentive during the Bear program to encourage a Cub on his achievement work. Details regarding the completion of the achievements and associated electives can be found in the BSA Bear Cub Scout Book.

When a boy finishs an achievement, he will need to have an adult member of his family sign and date his book. He will then take the book to the next den meeting and his den leader will record it on the Cub Scout (Den) Advancement Chart and initial his book. When he has done 12 Bear achievements, he becomes a Bear Cub Scout. A boy may count any extra achievement requirements he earns as arrow point credits.

* GOD (Do ONE of the following)

  • 1. Ways We Worship
  • 2. Emblems of Faith
  • 3. * COUNTRY (Do THREE of the following)
  • 4. What Makes America Special?
  • 5. Tall Tales
  • 6. Sharing Your World With Wildlife
  • 7. Take Care of Your Planet
  • 8. Law Enforcement is a Big Job

* FAMILY (Do FOUR of the following)

  • 9. The Past is Exciting and Important
  • 10. What’s Cooking?
  • 11. Family Fun
  • 12. Be ready!
  • 13. Family Outdoor Adventure
  • 14. Saving Well, Spending Well

* SELF (Do FOUR of the following)

  • 15. Ride Right
  • 16. Games, Games, Games!
  • 17. Building Muscles
  • 18. Information Please
  • 19. Jot it Down
  • 20. Shavings and Chips
  • 21. Sawdust and Nails
  • 22. Build a Model
  • 23. Tying it All Up
  • 24. Sports, Sports, Sports
  • 25. Be a Leader

Progress Towards Ranks Emblem

Progress Towards Ranks

If your son did not earn his Progress Towards Rank emblem in the previous year (Wolves), when he completes his first three of the 12 Achievements, he will be awarded his Progress Towards Ranks Emblem and his first of four red beads at the following Pack Meeting.

The PTR Emblem should be worn on the right pocket of the Class A Uniform.

For every Additional three Achievements completed, he will earn one more red bead to wear on his PTR Emblem.

Bear Badge

Bear Badge

After completing all Achievements your son will receive his fourth and final red bead, and his Bear Badge.

The Bear Badge is worn on the left pocket of the Class A Uniform. Click here to download the Uniform Inspection Sheet for full Details on where to place advancements (PDF, 88KB).

Whittling Chip

Whittling Chip Card and Patch

The Official Whittling Chip wallet card can be earned by Bear Cub Scouts by mastering the “Knife Safety Rules” below. The object is to teach a boy that:


“A Cub Scout knife is an important tool. You can do many things with its blades. The cutting blade is the one you will use most of the time. With it you can make shavings and chips and carve all kinds of things.
You must be very careful when you whittle or carve. Take good care of your knife. Always remember that a knife is a tool, not a toy. Use it with care so that you don’t hurt yourself or ruin what you are carving.”

Knives Are Not Toys

  • Close the blade with the palm of your hand.
  • Never use a knife on something that will dull or break it.
  • Be careful that you do not cut yourself or any person nearby.
  • Never use a knife to strip the bark from a tree .
  • Do not carve your initials into anything that does not belong to you.

POCKETKNIFE PLEDGE

  • 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’m not using it.
  • 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.

The Arrow Point Trail

During your son’s year in the Bear Den he may continue his journey on the Arrow Point Trail like he did the previous year in Wolves. In the back of your Bear handbook, you will find the Arrow Point Trail, a collection of Elective requirements broken down into the following categories:

Arrow Points

  1. Space
  2. Weather
  3. Radio
  4. Electricity
  5. Boats
  6. Aircraft
  7. Things That Go
  8. Cub Scout Band
  9. Art
  10. Masks
  11. Photography
  12. Nature Crafts
  13. Magic
  14. Landscaping
  15. Water and Soil Conservation
  16. Farm Animals
  17. Repairs
  18. Backyard Gym
  19. Swimming
  20. Sports
  21. Sales
  22. Collecting Things
  23. Maps
  24. American Indian Life
  25. Let’s Go Camping

These Electives are optional, and are not required to earn the Bear Badge, but are a good way for your son to learn new things, build new skills, and be rewarded at the same time.

Elective work can be done at home with Akela anytime during the year, and some activities may be done in the den meetings and activities as well, however, awards earned along the Arrow Point Trail cannot be given to the scout until his Bear Badge has been presented

Your son will receive one Gold Arrow Point for his first ten completed Electives, and one silver arrow point for every other ten electives completed thereafter. For example, if your son completes 73 electives, at the end of the year, he will receive 1 Gold Arrow Point and 6 Silver Arrow Points.

Arrow Points are worn on the left pocket of the Class A uniform below the Bear Badge. Click here to download the Uniform Inspection Sheet for full Details on where to place advancements (PDF, 88KB).

For more information on available Electives, see your Bear Handbook

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