Bear Cubs

Bears is the program for boys in the third grade.

A bear is big and strong and loud! If you have a third grader at home you'll know what that really means! Bears are out for fun and for adventure and it shows in the way the walk, the way they talk, and they way the move.

The Bear Scout program takes advantage of that growing strength and channels it in productive directions. The requirements for the Bear Badge are now broken down into 4 important topics: God, Country, Family, and Self. As bears grow they are beginning to recognize there is more to life than just themselves, and the Cub Scout Bear program encourages growth and discovery in new (and positive!) directions.

One optional requirement for Bears, under the God Achievement, is to earn the Emblems of Faith program. This is where you can learn more about these programs. Other requirements talk about what makes America so special, or what is cooking at home.

By far the biggest category of Bear requirements is under "Self". Whether it's physical fitness, or mental alertness, there is a lot to learn and do along the Bear trail!

After these boys have earned their Bear Badge, just like the Wolves, they have the opportunity to work on, and follow, the Arrow Point trail. But here's something new and exciting: any achievements accomplished under the Bear Badge requirements, that were not used to earn the Bear Badge, can be counted as electives! So for example, under the Self category, the Build a Model requirement, Bears are required to complete 3 out of 7 requirements. If they do say 5 out of those 7 requirements instead, the extra 2 can count towards electives! So all-in-all there are perhaps a hundred elective that a boy can complete and apply to arrow points.

At this level family is still so important. BSA recognizes that and just like the Wolves, it is the parent (Akela) who initials the Bear book and approves the completion of the requirements and the electives. Of course many of these will be accomplished in the den, with the Den Leader, but it is still important for a parent to talk to the Bear scout and approve accomplishments. Sure there are four categories of achievements, but family is still the most important!