If you are a boy in first grade through fifth grade—or you're 7 to 10 years old—then Cub Scouting is for you. It's for your family, too. This is the first and the biggest of the three Scouting programs (Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, and Venturing) from the Boy Scouts of America.

Cub Scouts Belong to Pack and Den 

Every Cub Scout is a member of a Cub Scout pack. A pack is a large group of boys.

The pack is divided into smaller groups called dens. Each den has about six to eight boys. All of the Cub Scouts in a den are about the same age and live in the same neighborhood.

The Cub Scout pack belongs to a church, a school, or some other group of people in your community or neighborhood. This group makes sure your pack has good adult leaders, a place to meet, and exciting things to do. The group gets help from the Boy Scouts of America, which is part of Scouting around the world.

Cub Scouts Do Things and Go Places 

Cub Scouting means "doing." You have lots to do as a Cub Scout—crafts, games, sports, songs, stories, and puzzles, to name a few things. Much of the fun happens right in the den and pack. The den usually meets every week, and the pack meets once a month all year long. At den meetings and pack meetings, Cub Scouts do different things for fun and learning.

Cub Scouts also go to events like the annual blue and gold banquet, field contests, and derbies such as the pinewood derby. They go on field trips. They go camping and have other kinds of outdoor adventures. They take part in community events. Cub Scouts do all sorts of exciting stuff! Whatever it is that you enjoy, you'll have a chance to do it in Cub Scouting.

Cub Scouts Earn Awards

While you're having fun, you'll also be earning badges and awards. You'll work on projects with your parents or other adults in your family, and all of you will feel good about the things you accomplish. When you have earned a badge, you and an adult member of your family take part in a ceremony. The badge is given to the adult, and he or she then gives it to you in front of the whole pack. This is a way of saying "thank you" to your family for their help in earning your award. 

The most popular awards for Cub Scouts are the advancement awards. Boys do requirements to advance and earn their badges of rank: Tiger Cub, Bobcat, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and the Arrow of Light Award. The Arrow of Light is the highest award in Cub Scouting. Webelos Scouts also earn activity badges.

The Cub Scout Academics and Sports program is popular, too. Cub Scouts get to learn about favorite subjects such as art, math, science, and citizenship. Or they play individual and team sports such as archery, gymnastics, skating, or soccer. You don't need to be a star athlete to play Cub Scout Sports. You're a winner when you do your best.

Cub Scouts can earn many other awards and medals too, sometimes by themselves and sometimes as members of their pack. They can earn or help their pack earn Quality Unit awards, religious emblems, the Emergency Preparedness Award, the Outdoor Activity Award, or the World Conservation Award.

When you earn an award in Cub Scouting, you learn new skills. You also get to use your new skills and your new knowledge in projects and demonstrations. You show what you know. People get to see what you've learned as a Cub Scout.

Cub Scouting Has a Purpose

There is a reason for everything boys do in Cub Scouting. Apart from the fun and excitement, the aim of Cub Scouting is to help boys grow into good citizens who are strong in character and personally fit. This is why we say that Cub Scouting is fun with a purpose.

Since its beginning, the Cub Scout program has been a fun andeducational experience concerned with values. Besides providing a positiveplace where boys can enjoy safe, wholesome activities, Cub Scouting focuses onbuilding character, improving physical fitness, teaching practical skills, anddeveloping a spirit of community service.

As a worldwide brotherhood, Scouting is unique. It is based onthe principles of loving and serving God, of human dignity and the rights ofindividuals, and of recognizing the obligation of members to develop and usetheir potential. It is a movement dedicated to bringing out the best in people.Cub Scouting doesn't emphasize winning as an end result, but rather the farmore demanding task of doing one's best.

When Scouting can help nurture courage and kindness and allowboys to play, to laugh, to develop their imaginations, and to express theirfeelings, then we will have helped them grow. We want boys to become useful andstable individuals who are aware of their own potential. Helping a boy to learnthe value of his own worth is the greatest gift we can give him.

Cub Scouting Is Fun

Boys join Cub Scouting because they want to have fun. For boys,however, fun means a lot more than just having a good time. "Fun" isa boy's code word for the satisfaction he gets from meeting challenges, havingfriends, feeling good about himself, and feeling he is important to otherpeople. While the boys are having fun and doing things they like to do, theyalso learn new things, discover and master new skills, gain self-confidence,and develop strong friendships.

Cub Scouting Has Ideals

Cub Scouting has ideals of spiritual and character growth,citizenship training, and personal fitness. The Cub Scout Promise is a pledgeof duty to God and family. The Law of the Pack is a simple formula for good CubScouting and good citizenship. The Cub Scout motto, "Do Your Best,"is a code of excellence. The Tiger Cub motto, "Search, Discover,Share," encourages personal growth and fitness. Symbols, such as the CubScout sign, Cub Scout salute, and the Living Circle, help boys feel a part of adistinct group and add to the appeal of belonging to a widely respectedorganization.

Cub Scouting Strengthens Families

The family is an important influence on our nation's youth.There are many different types of family structures in today's world. Scoutingis a support to all types of families as well as to organizations to whichfamilies belong. We believe in involving families in the training of youth, andwe are sensitive to the needs of present-day families. Cub Scouting providesopportunities for family members to work and play together, to have funtogether, and to get to know each other a little better.

Cub Scouting Helps Boys Develop Interests and Skills

In Cub Scouting, boys participate in a broad array ofactivities. Cub Scouts develop ability and dexterity, and they learn to usetools and to follow directions. Recognition and awards encourage them to learnabout a variety of subjects, such as conservation, safety, physical fitness,community awareness, academic subjects, sports, and religious activities. Theseinterests might become a hobby or even a career later in life.

Cub Scouting Provides Adventure

Cub Scouting helps fulfill a boy's desire for adventure andallows him to use his vivid imagination while taking part in skits, games,field trips, service projects, outdoor activities, and more. The use of amonthly theme lets a boy play the role of an astronaut, clown, explorer, scientist,or other exciting character. Boys find adventure in exploring the outdoors,learning about nature, and gaining a greater appreciation for our beautifulworld.

Cub Scouting Has an Advancement Plan

The advancement plan recognizes a boy's efforts and achievements.It provides fun for the boys, teaches them to do their best, and helpsstrengthen understanding as family members work with boys on advancementrequirements. Badges are awarded to recognize advancement, and boys like toreceive and wear these badges. The real benefit comes from the worthwhilethings the boy learns while he is earning the badges, as his self-confidenceand self-esteem grow.

Cub Scouting Creates Fellowship

Boys like to be accepted as part of a group. In Cub Scouting,boys belong to a small group called a den where they take part in interestingand meaningful activities with their friends. The Cub Scout den and pack arepositive places where boys can feel emotionally secure and find support. Eachboy gains status and recognition and has a sense of belonging to this group.

Cub Scouting Promotes Diversity

In Cub Scouting, boys may learn to interact in a group that mayinclude boys of various ethnicities, income levels, religions, and levels ofphysical ability. By having fun together and working as a group toward commongoals, Cub Scouts learn the importance of not only getting along, but also ofworking side by side with other boys of different races, classes, religions,cultures, etc.

Cub Scouting Teaches Duty to God and Country

The BSA believes that no member can grow into the best kind ofcitizen without recognizing an obligation to God, and encourages both youth andadult leaders to be faithful in their religious duties. The Scouting movementhas long been known for service to others. Scouting believes that patriotismplays a significant role in preparing our nation's youth to become useful andparticipating citizens. A Cub Scout learns his duty to God, country, others,and self.

Cub Scouting Provides a Year-Round Program

Cub Scouting has no specific "season"—it's ayear-round program. While spring and summer pack activities are informal andthere are many activities that Cub Scouts do outdoors, there's still plenty offun to be had in the fall and winter: the pinewood derby, blue and goldbanquet, skits, stunts, craft projects, and indoor games help to round out anentire year of fun and activities.

Cub Scouting Is a Positive Place

With all the negative influences in today's society, Scoutingprovides your son with a positive peer group who can encourage him in all theright ways. Carefully selected leaders provide good role models and a groupsetting where values are taught and help to reinforce positive qualities ofcharacter.