Advancement & Awards

Advancement Trail

On the advancement trail, a Cub Scout progresses from rank to rank, learning new skills as he goes. Each of the ranks and awards in Cub Scouting has its own requirements. As you advance through the ranks, the requirements get more challenging, to match the new skills and abilities you learn as you get older.

Cub Scouting Elective Adventures

Cub Scouts can earn recognition for additional elective adventures they choose to complete beyond those required for their rank. Tiger, Wolf, and Bear Scouts earn adventure loops to be worn on their belt, and Webelos Scouts earn pins they can wear on their Webelos colors or Webelos cap.

Adventure loops and pins are a great way to help fulfill the aims of Scouting—build character, develop citizenship, and encourage mental and physical fitness. Through a variety of subjects, you can stretch your mind and abilities by exploring the wonders of science, learning about the world, and expanding skills in new area. This is a chance to try something new, do your best, and earn recognition all at the same time.

Cyber Chip

Boy Scouts of America partners with NetSmartz Workshop to help educate Scouts about being safer online and assist them in promoting community awareness of Internet safety issues. Scouts who earn the Cyber Chip will be able to practice safer online behaviors and advise others on issues such as cyberbullying and scams.

Internet Scout Patch

The program focuses on fostering a dialog between parent/mentor and Scout that will help prepare Scouts to be aware and alert when using the Internet. This is a difficult and challenging program. It will require both the mentor and the participants to work hard. But, it will be worth it! As we continue to become more dependent on the Internet in our daily lives, it is critically important that we develop an understanding of its dangers and how to be prepared, aware, and alert to avoid trouble.

Boys’ Life Say Yes to Reading

Write a one-page report titled “The Best Book I Read This Year” and enter it in the Boys’ Life “Say Yes to Reading!” contest. Winners will receive a gift certificate good for any product in the Boy Scouts official retail catalog. Everyone who enters will get a free patch that can be worn as a temporary insignia on the Boy Scout uniform shirt, on the right pocket.

SCOUTStrong Presidential Active Lifestyle Award

This challenge is open to everyone associated with BSA, including Scouts, parents, volunteers, and alumni. To earn the SCOUTStrong PALA Challenge Award, you are required to meet a daily activity goal of 30 minutes a day for adults and 60 minutes a day for kids under 18 for at least five days a week, for six out of eight weeks. Stick with the program and you’ll earn an award in less than two months!

NOVA Award

The NOVA Award program consists of individual activity elements in various STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) topics structured for either Cub Scouts or Boy Scouts/Venturers. These topics are designed to encourage participation and to increase interest in STEM by making it relevant and fun.

Messengers of Peace

Launched in September 2011, Messengers of Peace is a global initiative designed to inspire millions of young men and women in more than 220 countries and territories to work toward peace. Using state-of-the-art social media, the initiative lets Scouts from around the world share what they’ve done and inspire fellow Scouts to undertake similar efforts in their own communities. The initiative is inspired by the World Scout Committee, administered by the World Scout Bureau, and driven by youth volunteers worldwide.

National Summertime Award Pins

A pack can qualify for the National Summertime Pack Award by planning and conducting three pack activities – one each in June, July, and August. Individual scouts that participate in all three pack events can receive the National Summertime Pack Award pin.

Outdoor Activity Award

Tiger Cubs, Wolf and Bear Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts may earn the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award. This award recognizes the Scout for taking part in outdoor recreation and conservation projects. In many cases, you can earn this award while doing other Scouting activities.

World Conservation Award

Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts may earn the Cub Scout World Conservation Award. This award provides an opportunity for individual scouts to “think globally” and “act locally” to preserve and improve our environment. This program is designed to make youth members aware that all nations are closely related through natural resources and that we are interdependent with our world environment.

Outdoor Ethics Awareness Award

Guided by the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace, millions of Scouts have enhanced their awareness of the natural world around them, minimizing impact to the land. For Scouts who have a deep interest in the outdoors, nature, and the environment, Scouting’s outdoor ethics will give you an ever-deeper appreciation of the richness of the land and how we fit into it. If you are prepared to venture down the path of really becoming aware of your surroundings, of building the skills that will allow you to leave no trace on the land, then the Outdoor Ethics Awareness and Action Awards are for you. Click here for details.

Leave No Trace Awareness Award

Leave No Trace is a plan that helps people take better care of the environment and protect it for future generations. Cub Scouts and their leaders may earn the Leave No Trace Awareness Award. Click here for more information.

Conservation Good Turn Award

An opportunity for Scout units to join with conservation or environmental organizations (federal, state, local, or private) to carry out a conservation Good Turn in their home communities. Working together in the local community, the unit and the agency plan the details and establish the date, time and location for carrying out the project. Conservation projects should involve the entire unit – scouts, leaders, and family members. Cub Scouts and Webelos Scouts participating in the Conservation Good Turn can also meet some advancement requirements.

Whittling Chip

The Whittling Chip certifies that a Cub Scout has earned the right to carry a pocketknife to designated Cub Scout functions by completing requirements for the Whittling Chip card during a Whittling Chip Course. Cub Scouts are encouraged to learn safety rules and the proper use of a pocketknife.

Emergency Preparedness Award

“Emergency preparedness” means being ready for all kinds of emergencies. It means you’re ready and able to help in times of trouble to save lives and property and to help a community or even a nation get back to normal after a disaster happens. To encourage Scouts of all ages to be prepared for emergencies, the BSA has approved an Emergency Preparedness Award program for members of all ages.

BSA Family Award

The BSA Family Award program includes a series of activities designed to help strengthen all families–whether two-parent, single-parent, or nontraditional. This program was designed to help families accomplish worthy goals while building and strengthening relationships among family members. All family members are encouraged to participate and may earn the award.

Religious Emblems

To encourage members to grow stronger in their faith, many religious groups have programs for young people to earn a religious emblem. The Boy Scouts of America approves of these programs and allows the religious emblems to be worn on the official uniform.

Recruiter Strip

Scout can earn the recruiter strip by getting a friend, relative, classmate, or other acquaintance to join the Pack.

Interpreter Strips

Youth and Adult members (Cub and Webelos Scouts, Boy and Varsity Scouts, Venturers, and Sea Scouts, plus Scouters in all programs) may wear this strip if they show their knowledge of a foreign language or the sign language for the hearing impaired.

International Spirit Award

The International Spirit Award is a temporary emblem that is awarded to registered Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, Varsity Scouts, Venturers, and Scouters who have completed the necessary requirements, have gained a greater knowledge of international Scouting, and have a greater appreciation and awareness of different cultures and countries.

Cub Scout Leader Recognition Awards

Recognition awards are available to Cub Scout leaders who complete training, tenure, and performance requirements. These awards are presented by the local council. All of the awards require the completion of Fast Start Training, Basic Leader Training for the position, Youth Protection training, and participation in roundtables or a pow wow or University of Scouting. Some require additional supplemental training. One or two years of registered service in the appropriate position is a requirement for each award, and tenure used for one award may not be used for another.

International Scouter’s Award

The International Scouter’s Award encourages Scouters to broaden their involvement in Scouting through participation in world Scouting activities and recognizes Scouters for their contributions to world Scouting.

Trained Leader Emblem

A Scout leader is entitled to wear the Trained leader emblem when he or she has completed the required training courses for the position.

National Den Award

The National Den Award recognizes dens that conduct a quality, year-round program. Service projects, Cub Scout Academics and Sports, field trips, character development, and Cub Scout camping are areas that are emphasized. Dens earn the award as a team, not as individual den members. The recognition is a ribbon for the den flag or den doodle.

National Summertime Den Award

A pack can qualify for the National Summertime Pack Award certificate and streamer by planning and conducting three pack activities-one each in June, July, and August.

Dens with an average attendance of at least half their members at the three summer pack events will be eligible for a colorful den participation ribbon for the den flag or den doodle.

National Summertime Pack Award

A pack can qualify for the National Summertime Pack Award certificate and streamer by planning and conducting three pack activities one each in June, July, and August.

Scouting’s Journey to Excellence

Scouting’s Journey to Excellence is the BSA’s new council performance recognition program designed to encourage and reward success and measure the performance of our units, districts, and councils. It is replacing the Centennial Quality Awards Program as a means of encouraging excellence in providing a quality program at all levels of the BSA.

Veteran Unit Emblem

This emblem is a gold embroidered bar worn by boys and adult leaders of packs that have been chartered 25 years or longer. It is worn directly below the council patch, above and touching the pack numeral.

William T. Hornaday Unit Award

The Hornaday Awards program encourages learning about natural resources, conservation, and the environment. Respecting the outdoors is an important part of Scouting. Scouts learn to understand and take care of natural resources and to protect the environment. A Cub Scout pack may earn this award by doing a big, special conservation project. More than half of the pack’s members must take part. This award is granted through the Conservation Service of the BSA National Council. Packs must apply for the award through their local council.