Pack 112 Parent Handbook

Advancement

Ranks
Boys can join Cub Scouts at any age between 6 (1st grade) and 11 (5th grade). All boys above Tiger must obtain the Bobcat Rank before working on their grade level rank. Boys are addressed by the rank they are currently working towards (i.e., 8 year old/3d graders are Bears until that years graduation, regardless of when they earn their rank). Completing the requirements for rank is not necessary to advance with the den (although encouraged). However, once the graduation ceremony is completed in Spring, a Scout cannot earn his rank retroactively.

Rank badges are awarded in a special ceremony at the Blue and Gold Ceremony in February and at the Graduation Ceremony in May. Rank badges are not awarded at any other time of the year. Parents are asked to join their boys for the presentation of the rank badge.

The Handbook, the Trail, and Akela
Each level of Scouting has its own Handbook. This Handbook is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL for your Scout, as it spells out the requirements ("tracks") for advancement, also called the Scout's "trail." At the beginning of the handbook is a more detailed Parent's Guide.

Most requirements are completed with the Den, but some can be completed at home. For Tigers, Wolves and Bears, the parent signs off on the achievements that are done at home. For Webelos the Den Leader signs off on all achievements. The Webelos Scout is still expected to work on some achievements at home but he must "show what he knows" to the Leader before s/he will sign off on the achievement.

The important thing to remember is that in order to complete each requirement, the Scout must do his best to complete each track. Do not sign off on a track if you know that your son did not do his best. In Cub Scouting, boys are judged against their own standard, not against other boys. If a boy has a disability or other reason why he cannot accomplish an achievement, exceptions can be made - but it should be brought to the leaders' attention as soon as possible.