About Scouting
Cub Scouts
Cub Scouting is a family-focused program that helps girls and boys in kindergarten through fifth grade grow into confident, responsible, and community-minded individuals. Through engaging adventures and activities, Cub Scouting develops skills in leadership, teamwork, and outdoor appreciation while emphasizing the core values of character, citizenship, and fitness.
Visit scouting.org/programs/cub-scouts for more information.
Scouting America
Cub Scouting is part of Scouting America, one of the nation’s largest youth development organizations. Founded in 1910 as the Boy Scouts of America, the organization has served over 130 million youth and adults throughout its history. In February 2025, the organization officially rebranded to “Scouting America” to better reflect its commitment to serving all youth. The organization operates through local councils and is supported by dedicated volunteers who make the program possible in communities across the country.
Visit scouting.org for more information.
Den and Pack Structure
Children are organized into specific groups called dens, based on their grade. Dens meet to do Cub Scouts’ age-appropriate adventure activities with others in their den. All of the dens (K–5th grade) make up the larger Pack.
LionKindergarten
Tiger1st grade
Wolf2nd grade
Bear3rd grade
Webelos4th grade
Arrow of Light5th grade
How Advancement Works
To earn each badge of rank, Cub Scouts complete six required Cub Scout Adventures and two elective Cub Scout Adventures.
- The six required Cub Scout Adventures for each rank are based on the aims and focus areas of Scouting America: Character & Leadership, Outdoors, Personal Fitness, Citizenship, Personal Safety, and Family & Reverence.
- There are at least sixteen elective adventures to choose from at each rank. Common electives across ranks include Fishing, Swimming, Cycling, and STEM.
See Adventure Requirements at scouting.org/programs/cub-scouts/adventures.
Scouting Safely
Scouting America prioritizes the safety of youth, volunteers, and employees. Safety is taught and reinforced at every opportunity, and everyone in the program shares responsibility for keeping it that way.
Full detail is in the Guide to Safe Scouting and the wider Scouting Safely resources, along with the Youth Protection Guide (PDF).
Scout Ethics
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.
A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.
Do Your Best.
As an American, I will do my best to: be clean in my outdoor manners, be careful with fire, be considerate in the outdoors, and be conservation-minded.
Scouting America publishes a New Family Information Guide (PDF) that covers how dens, ranks, and adventures fit together.