It’s official!  The Cub Scout program will be updated for the 2024-25 program year.  Over the past several years, the National Cub Scouting Committee has identified four areas to improve the Cub Scout program to ensure that it is fun, simple, and easy. These updates are based on feedback from over 23,000 parents and Cub Scout leaders through various surveys and data.  Listening to and identify the key opportunities to improve the program the National Cub Scout committee is excited to finally reveal these improvements.  Over the past year these improvements have been socialized to thousands of individuals with overwhelming support.

Check back here often to see the latest information.  

Note:  All information on this page is subject to change prior to the implementation date.  All program changes will begin June 1, 2024.

Cub Scout Program Updates Webinar – May 29, 2024

Cub Scout Program Update Webinar
May 29, 2024
Speaker: Lisa Wylie

Slide deck with speaker notes
Videos referenced and FAQ are below.

Arrow of Light Changes for Scouts BSA
What Scouts BSA Troops need to know to help transition Arrow of Light Scouts to the Troop.

Cub Scout updates for Scouts BSA video
What Scouts BSA Troops need to know about the changes to Cub Scouts.

FAQ

Your questions answered.  These questions and answers came from the webinar held on May 29, 2024 with Lisa Wylie. 

No, leaders have endless flexibility.  The requirements are simpler and prescribe less so that leaders can interpret and choose the option to fulfill it that makes the most sense.  For each of the requirements in the book, there is a QR code in the book (or you can visit the den resources pages) that provides multiple options for fulfilling that requirement.  Each is categorized by indoor/outdoor, activity level, prep level, and number of supplies required.  Leaders can tweak the activities based on their dens.

To clarify, the “6 and 2” are the number of adventures (loops/pins) required in order for a Cub Scout to earn rank advancement.  There are 6 required adventures and 2 electives that can be earned to finish the rank badge.  Beyond that, there are a large number of electives that can be earned, so no, there are just as many (or more) that can be earned.

Most likely, yes.  At Cub Scout resident or day camp, the director will most likely provide a list of the adventure requirements fulfilled during that session.

At council and district events/camps only.  Packs may not work on these adventures on their own outside of these events.

Yes!  You will notice there are elective adventures for Range and Target activities across all of the levels.  Remember, these activity may only be done at council and district events.

No.  For the 6-8 months that an AOL scout is in that program, they will not wear a neckerchief.  When they crossover to a Troop in January – March, they will most likely receive a neckerchief specific to their new Troop.

No.  Many Packs have traditionally crossed over their 5th graders in the January through March timeframe.  Packs can continue to do what they have always done if that is preferred.  The reasoning behind crossing over in February (often associated with a Blue & Gold banquet in February) is that it gives the AOLs time to acclimate to their new Troop before summer camp.  Scouts that go to summer camp their first year in Scouts BSA are shown to stay with the program.  When an AOL joins the Troop in June, they are less likely to go to summer camp.

No.  This change took effect this past year — Cub Scout family Pack dens can be mixed gender EXCEPT for Arrow of Light.  Since currently Troops and patrols are single-gender, having AOL dens this way mimics the Troop structure.  We know that many boy and girl Troops co-exist together, but they are still separate and patrols are still single gender.  In the AOL year, as part of Bobcat, AOL Scouts form their own patrol, and being single-gender eases them into the patrol method in Scouts BSA.

When to hold a Pinewood derby is completely up to a Pack. Traditionally these are held in January, but we in Michigan know that waiting until late February or March is better weather-wise (January is usually laced with snow-days which could postpone such an event).  There are plenty of elective adventures for AOL Scouts, so you do not have to rely on the Race On adventure, or consider having a Raingutter Regatta in the early fall (when it is still warm) — it is a great fall event.

Saturday, June 1.  We know Packs are still finishing their years, so den leaders will be able to access both sets of requirements until August — leaders will just need to choose which set they are using when entering in the advancements and awards.

BSA Resources

The BSA’s official page with updates as they occur!  Check this page often for the latest posts.

Slides (with speaker notes) from recent Cub Scout Updates Webinar.  Highlights the updates to the program.

Fridays at 2pm CT (3pm ET) you can watch LIVE the latest edition of Cub Chat Live.  Ask your questions and get the answers you need.

FAQ Pages

Cub Scout handbooks 2024

Order your new handbooks now
or visit your local Scout Shop

Adventures

One of the big changes is to the structure of Adventures.  In order to earn the rank badge, each level of Cub Scouts will now require SIX required and TWO elective adventures.  The Bobcat badge will no longer exist separately, but the elements of Bobcat will be incorporated as the intended first adventure each level does each year. 

Many of the most common electives will now be available at ALL levels with age-appropriate requirements.  This allows for multi-level den and Pack level advancements that all can work on at the same time!

Required electives for each level.  Notice the consistency in topics across each row of the following chart.

A preview of the Required Adventures is in the Required Adventures PDF.  NOTE: This information was taken from a recent Cub Scout Conference presentation and is subject to change.

What to most people think of when they think of Cub Scout?  Fishing, Pinewood Derby, Bicycling, Swimming, Camping and Conservation!  Before adventures for each of these either did not exist or were only at one of the Cub levels.  Now they are across the board!  Yes, Pinewood Derby is now an Adventure Loop/Pin!  More Info

Want to preview the list of electives?  View the image to get a high level overview (current electives, new electives, and camp-only electives are all shaded differently).  

Want more detail?  See the Elective Adventures presentation recently provided by the BSA.

Awards

Some Cub Scouts and leaders are familiar with the National Summertime Pack Award, World Conservation Award, Range/Target Sports, and STEM awards — they are being reimagined as Adventures.  This will bring these great programs to the forefront and give leaders, parents, and Cubs the chance to learn more about them.

Webelos / Arrow of Light

Historically, 4th and 5th graders were both considered part of the Webelos program, a two-year program to prepare Cub Scouts for Scouts BSA.  Both levels (Webelos and Arrow of Light) worked on the same elective adventures with the same handbook.  With the update of the Cub Scout program, Webelos and Arrow of Light will each be distinct programs with their own separate adventures and separate handbooks. 

The Arrow of Light (AOL) year will focus on preparation for Scouts BSA — this will be the year that Cubs transition to the tan uniform.  There will be no neckerchief for this level, and the handbook will contain AOL adventures AND requirements for the Scout rank of Scouts BSA.  

While Webelos dens can be co-ed, Arrow of Light dens need to be single-gender to best prepare the Scouts for their Scouts BSA Troops.

Note for 4th graders in 2023-2024:  Since the electives will be separated between Webelos and Arrow of Light, it is recommended that Webelos work on Aquanaut, Art Explosion, Aware and Care, Build It!, Earth Rocks!, and Modular Design.  Current Webelos should NOT start working on Arrow of Light requirements once the Webelos badge is earned.   READ MORE

Leader and Parent Support

While not available yet, an extremely comprehensive set of online resources will be available to support the new adventures.  Each adventure will be detailed and various options will be provided for the leader/parent to choose from.  Options will provide tips, timing, material requirements and more, making meeting planning easier.

The Lions and Tigers books are being reimagined into an age-appropriate reading level that are engaging for those Cubs.  Both will be similar to the workbook-style that the current Lions have.

The Lions badge will now be diamond shape.

Stay tuned to this page for the latest updates!