How old (or young) can a boy be to join Cub Scouting?
Cub Scouting is for boys and girls kindergarten through fifth grades, or 5 to 10 years of age. Children who are older than 10, or who have completed the fifth grade, can no longer join Cub Scouting, but they may be eligible to join the Boy Scouting or Venturing program depending on their age and grade level

How can I become an adult volunteer in Cub Scouting?
Express your interest to the pack leaders—the committee chair, Cubmaster, chartered organization representative, or members of the unit committee. While there’s no guarantee that a specific role or position will be available—and there may be a selection process among several candidates even if the position is currently vacant—there is usually some way in which you can contribute. Most units are glad for any offer of help. There are many single-instance volunteer opportunities such as popcorn chair or pinewood derby chair

Must I be a U.S. citizen to join Cub Scouting?
Citizenship is not required of youth or adult members. If you live outside the United States and are not a U.S. citizen, it may be more beneficial to join the Scouting association in your own nation. The World Organization of the Scout Movement provides contact information for all national Scouting organizations on its website at www.scout.org.

Applications
BSA_YouthApplication 

Are Cub Scouts the same as Boy Scouts?
No. Cub Scouting is a program of the Boy Scouts of America—so in that sense, Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts are both members of the same organization. However, they are entirely different programs: Cub Scouting is a family-oriented program designed specifically to address the needs of younger children.

How often do Cub Scouts meet?
Cub Scouts meet in their dens twice per month, and a pack meeting is held for all Cub Scouts and their families once a month September – June.

Beyond that, a den may hold a special activity, such as a service project or visit to a local museum, in place of one of the bi-monthly meetings or in addition to the bi-monthly meetings. Likewise, a pack may conduct a special event such as a blue and gold banquet as an additional event, rather than a substitute for its monthly pack meeting.

May parents attend den meetings?
Cub Scout den meetings are intended to be an activity for the individual scouts. However, parental involvement is encouraged, and all meetings should be open to your participation.

For Tigers, Wolves & Bears parent presence is required at den meetings.

What supplies and equipment are needed to participate in Cub Scouting?
At a minimum, each scout in Cub Scouting will need a uniform and a handbook. Each year, the handbook changes, as does the cap and neckerchief, but other uniform parts remain the same for at least the first three years. When a scout enters a Webelos den, they may need to obtain a new uniform if the parents in the den opt for the khaki-and-olive uniform. Additional supplies and equipment may be needed for certain activities such as camping trips or field days. Den and pack leaders should provide parents with information about any supplies that will be required at the beginning of each program year.

Where can I purchase BSA literature, uniforms, and other program materials?
Our uniforms, literature and other Scouting merchandise is available at your local council, Scout Shops, and other licensed distributors. Visit the Supply Group website at www.scoutstuff.org to find a list of distributors in your area. If there aren’t any suppliers near you, you can order directly from the Supply Group by telephone or online.

How can I save money on the cost of uniforms and equipment?
The Cub Scout pack may provide assistance to families. Pack 815 operates a uniform exchange or uniform bank —so parents should reach out to a pack leader for information on items available.

If a child joins a Bear den, may he go back and earn the Tiger Cub and Wolf badges?
No. In the Cub Scout program, all scouts in a den work toward the same badge. If a child joins Cub Scouting as a 9-year-old or in the third grade, they must earn the Bobcat badge (all scouts in Cub Scouting earn this badge), and then they will begin working on the Bear badge with fellow Cub Scouts. They are not required to have earned the Tiger Cub or Wolf badges. Since those badges are for younger scouts (first grade or age 7 and second grade or age 8), the requirements for those badges are below a third grade or 9-year-old’s current level of ability, so “going back” to pick up those badges is not permitted.

If a scout completes the Wolf badge early, may he begin working on the Bear badge?
No. In the Cub Scout program, all scouts in a den work toward a badge that is geared to their level of development. If the Wolf badge is completed before the end of the program year, a scout may work on electives to earn Arrow Points, or Academic and Sports belt loops and pins, Nova awards, or the religious emblem of their faith. They may not begin working on the requirements for the Bear badge. Work on the Bear badge will begin the next program year when he graduates into a Bear Den.

May Cub Scouts earn badges such as the 50-Miler Award or Mile Swim BSA?
No, Cub Scouts are not eligible to earn these awards, which are part of the Boy Scout program. All of the awards that Cub Scouts may earn are listed in their handbooks and on this website.

When a Cub Scout earns the Arrow of Light, may he immediately join a Boy Scout troop?
Boy Scouting is available to boys who have earned the Arrow of Light and are at least 10 years old. So a Webelos Scout who has earned the Arrow of Light is eligible to join a troop immediately (provided he is at least 10 years old). A boy can join a Boy Scout troop if he is 11 years old whether he has earned the Arrow of Light or not. However, many packs coordinate with a local Boy Scout troop to facilitate the transition from Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting. In these instances, it is better for the boy, his family, and both units if all Webelos Scouts make the transition together, in a coordinated fashion, rather than having each boy leave the pack as soon as he is eligible.

How does a Cub Scout earn a Nova award?
A Cub Scout, with his counselor, acquires the Cub Scout Nova Awards Guidebook. The Cub Scout decides which Nova award he wishes to work on. He will then work with his counselor to understand the procedure and begin completing the requirements. Once he has completed his first Nova award he will be presented the Nova patch for Cub Scouts.

For each Nova award, he completes after that he will be presented a “pi” pin to put on the Nova patch. If he chooses to work toward the Supernova award, he will need a Supernova mentor. You can contact your local council for a list of mentors in your area, or someone who is qualified can register through the council to become a Supernova mentor. This information can be found at www.scouting.org/stem.aspx.