CUB SCOUT CHANGES AHEAD

 New Tiger Cubs recruited in the fall will be among the last to learn the Cub Scout Promise and the Law of the Pack. They will be the last to wear the original Tiger Cub rank patch and the Tiger Cub immediate recognition totem. They are a special group that can earn awards that no other Cub Scouts will have the opportunity to earn ever again.

 This program year will be the final opportunity for Cub Scouts to earn belt loops and pins in the Academics and Sports program. Take advantage by helping the boys to learn new things while earning those belt loops and pins. Remind parents and guardians that those recognition items soon will become collectibles.

 This will be the last program year for Arrow Points. Challenge Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts to earn as many as possible.

 Webelos activity badges, the Webelos compass emblem, and compass points are likewise being retired. Fourth-grade Webelos Scouts can be challenged to earn as many activity badges as they can this year. If they become discouraged that their program is changing mid-stream, remind them that they will be the only Webelos Scouts able to experience both programs and earn both activity badges and the new Adventure pins.

 During this final year of usage, help Cub Scouts of all ages to “internalize” the deeper meaning of the Cub Scout Promise and Law of the Pack and realize that they can fulfill these ideals in everyday life. In-corporate reflection in your den ceremonies, such as asking each Cub Scout for an example of how he helped other people during the past week. You might want to concentrate on a specific phrase of the Cub Scout Promise or Law of the Pack in the pack meeting’s opening and closing ceremonies.

So while much is changing, much is not. Cub Scouting will still be family-focused. “Do your best” will always be part of the Cub Scout program; nothing is going to replace that challenge. There will continue to be an outdoor program, the traditional ranks, and even more fun than before. There will be many new belt loops to earn in the future and new adventures to explore.