The Tiger Cub Program

In Scouting, advancement is the process by which a member meets certain requirements and earns recognition. Boys in Cub Scouting work on advancement with their families. The Tiger Cub advancement program is a blend of activities boys do in their home and activities they do in a den setting with their adult partner. This is unique to Tiger Cubs.

A Tiger Cub may earn the Tiger Cub rank. This rank is for those boys who are in first grade or are 7 years old. All the Cub Scout ranks (Tiger Cub, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos) are tailored for a grade and the corresponding age level. (A Tiger Cub must earn the Tiger Cub badge first and then the Bobcat Badge before all other ranks.

To advance, Tiger Cubs work on achievements and electives, which are described in the Tiger Cub handbook. As a boy completes these, you, his adult partner, sign in this handbook where it says "Akela's OK." Akela means "good leader" and is an important part of Cub Scouting. Akela can be a den leader, a teacher, or other important adult. As your boy's adult partner, you are Akela.

As boys advance, they receive recognition items to mark their progress. These items will be given to them during a simple ceremony at a pack or den meeting. It is important for boys to be recognized for the good work they do. The Tiger Cub recognition items are the Tiger Cub belt totem and totem beads, the Tiger Cub badge, and Tiger Track beads. (Although participation with an adult partner is required for all Tiger Cub awards, adult partners don't earn these awards. Recognition items are for boys only.)

The Tiger Cub Trail

The Tiger Cub badge is for boys who have completed all 15 parts of the five achievements, that is, five family activities, five den activities, and five 'Go See It' outings. During an impressive ceremony, the Tiger Cub badge is presented to the adult partner at a pack meeting, who in turn presents the badge to the boy. The badge is affixed to the Tiger Cub belt totem in the recessed area.

Click for Tiger Cub Totem Requirements

While your boy is working on advancement, you can help. Besides signing his handbook as Akela once he has done his best, let your den leader know of any completed parts of achievements at your next den meeting. The den leader will keep a record of your boy's individual progress on the Tiger Cub Den Advancement Chart. In addition, your boy, with your help, will keep track of his own advancement on the Tiger Trail chart found on page 152 of his handbook. This encourages him and helps him see his progress toward the Tiger Cub rank.

The advancement requirements are written in such a way as to give you room to customize activities for your boy and your den. There are no performance requirements for Tiger Cubs. Boys should never be "tested" or placed in a position where they will not be successful. Simply participating in the activities and doing his best constitutes completion.

The den activities and 'Go See It' outings are intended to be completed with the den. If a Tiger Cub is unable to participate in an activity because of illness or a conflict, however, you may work with him to complete these requirements. For your boy to receive the full benefit of the program, it is important for you, his adult partner, to make every effort to attend meetings regularly.

At the end of the school year, he will graduate into a Wolf Cub Scout den. Later, he will be in a Bear den, and then he'll become a Webelos Scout.

The following requirement items are prefaced with the letters "F", "D", or "G". These denote:

F = A "FAMILY" oriented requirement
D = A "DEN" oriented requirement
G = A "GO SEE IT" oriented requirement (i.e.field trip)

Making My Family Special

1. F - Think of one chore you can do with your adult partner. Complete it together
2. D - Make a family scrapbook
3. G - Go to a library, historical society, museum, old farm, or historical building, or visit an older person in your community. Discover how family life was the same and how it was different many years ago.

Where I Live

1. F - Look at a map of your community with your adult partner.
2. D - Practice the Pledge of Allegiance with your den, and participate in a den or pack flag ceremony.
3. G - Visit a police station or fire station. Ask someone who works there how he or she helps people in your community.

Keeping Myself Healthy and Safe

1. Fa - With your family, plan a fire drill and then practice it in your home.
2. Fb - With your adult partner, plan what to do if you become lost or separated from your family in a strange place.
3. D - Make a food guide pyramid.
4. G - Learn the rules of a game or sport. Then go watch an amateur or professional game or sporting event.

How I Tell It

1. F - At a family meal, have each family member take turns telling the others one thing that happened to him or her that day. Remember to practice being a good listener while you wait for your turn to talk.
2. D - Play "Tell It Like It Isn't."
3. G - Visit a television station, radio station, or newspaper office. Find out how people there communicate to others.

Let's Go Outdoors

1. F - Go outside and watch the weather.
2. D - With a crayon or colored pencil and a piece of paper, make a leaf rubbing.
3. G - Take a hike with your den.

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Please consult your Cub Scout Tiger Cub Handbook for the specific requirements for each Achievement

The Tiger Cub Totem

To begin his path towards the Tiger Cub rank, a boy must do three things.

They are:

1. Learn the TIGER CUB MOTTO
(The motto is: "SEARCH, DISCOVER, SHARE ")

2. Learn the CUB SCOUT SIGN
Make this sign with your right hand. Hold your arm up straight. Do not bend your elbow.

When you say the Cub Scout Promise or the Law of the Pack, give the Cub Scout sign. This is the sign of Cub Scouts all over the world.

3. Learn the CUB SCOUT SALUTE
Salute with your right hand. If you are wearing your Cub Scout cap, place your two fingers on the brim. If you do not have a cap, place your two fingers over your eyebrow.

When he has done these, he is awarded the Tiger Cub belt totem at a pack meeting. This is a plastic recognition device that he wears on his belt. The front side of the totem is emblazoned with a tiger paw print, and the reverse includes a recessed space for your Tiger to mount his Tiger Cub badge when he earns it. The lower end of the totem includes space for four strands for totem beads. A boy earns totem beads by working on the five Tiger Cub achievements.

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Please consult your Cub Scout Tiger Cub Handbook for the specific requirements for each Achievement

The Tiger Cub Totem Beads

There are five achievements in Tiger Cubs:

1. Making My Family Special
2. Where I Live
3. Keeping Myself Healthy and Safe
4. How I Tell It
5. Let's Go Outdoors

Each achievement has three parts: a family activity, a den activity, and a Go See It outing.

A boy receives totem beads as he completes each part:

• He earns a white bead for each required 'family activity' he completes.
• He earns an orange bead for each required 'den activity' he completes.
• He earns a black bead for each required 'Go See It' he completes.
• These beads go on the first three strands of the Tiger Cub belt totem.
• (The fourth strand is for Tiger Track beads which signify completed electives.)

A boy can earn only one bead for each of the 15 achievements, regardless of how many times he may repeat an achievement.

As each bead is awarded and added to a boy's belt totem, he should be recognized with a simple ceremony at a den meeting. When a boy has earned all 15 beads, he is eligible to receive his Tiger Cub badge, signifying that he has earned the Tiger Cub rank.

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Please consult your Cub Scout Tiger Cub Handbook for the specific requirements for each Achievement

Electives and Tiger Track Beads

After your boy has earned the Tiger Cub badge, he can earn Tiger Track beads - by completing elective activities in this handbook. Tiger Cubs strives to provide an opportunity for your boy to learn and grow while having fun along with you. The wide variety of electives allows your Tiger Cub to choose additional activities and receive recognition for his participation. The electives help broaden a boy's horizons and fulfill the Tiger Cub motto of Search, Discover, Share. Electives provide advancement opportunities and recognition for your boy until he is eligible to begin working on the Wolf rank.

A boy shouldn't feel, however, that he must do all of the electives. Some may not appeal to him, and some he may want to do more than once. if a boy completes an elective activity twice, it may be counted as two electives. But at the same time, try to avoid much repetition, as variety will keep Tiger Cubs more interesting for your boy.

As with the achievements, you, the adult partner, approve your boy's completion of electives by signing the handbook in the space provided for "Akela's OK." Then let your den leader know about completed electives. The den leader will fill in the Tiger Cub Den Advancement Report, found in the Cub Scout Leader Book, to show Tiger Track beads earned and give the report to the pack committee at the monthly pack leaders' meeting. In addition, your boy, with your help, will keep track of his own elective advancement on the Tiger Track Trail found on page 154 of his handbook.

Here's how earning Tiger Track beads works: A boy earns one Tiger Track bead for every 10 electives he completes. The Tiger Track bead is presented to you, the adult partner, at a pack meeting, and you in turn present it to your boy. The Tiger Track beads are suspended from one the the lace strands on the Tiger Cub Totem.

A boy may work concurrently on both achievement and elective projects; however, he can't receive Tiger Track beads until he has earned the Tiger Cub badge.

The Tiger Cub Handbook documents all of the Tiger Cub Electives with ideas and tips for the Tiger Cub and his Adult partner. The following list enumerates the 50 Tiger Cub electives by elective number and name.

1. 1. How Do You Celebrate?
2. 2. Making Decorations
3. 3. Fun and Games
4. 4. Display a Picture
5. 5. Family Mobile
6. 6. Song Time
7. 7. Play Along
8. 8. Your Religious Leaders
9. 9. A New Friend
10. 10. Helping Hands
11. 11. Helping the Needy
12. 12. A Friendly Greeting
13. 13. Making Change
14. 14. Reading Fun
15. 15. Our Colorful World
16. 16. Collecting and Other Hobbies
17. 17. Make a Model
18. 18. Sew a Button
19. 19. Magic Fun
20. 20. Get the Word Out
21. 21. The Show Must Go On
22. 22. Picnic Fun
23. 23. What Kind of Milk?
24. 24. Help in the Kitchen
25. 25. Snack Time
26. 26. Phone Manners
27. 27. Emergency!
28. 28. Smoke Detectors
29. 29. Safety in the Sun
30. 30. Plant a Seed
31. 31. Learn About Animals
32. 32. Feed the Birds
33. 33. Cleanup Treasure Hunt
34. 34. Conservation
35. 35. Fun Outdoors
36. 36. See a Performance
37. 37. Take a Bicycle Ride
38. 38. Bicycle Repair
39. 39. Go to Work
40. 40. Fun in the Water
41. 41. Transportation
42. 42. Fun at the Zoo
43. 43. Pet Care
44. 44. Dairy Products
45. 45. Fresh Baking
46. 46. Healthy Teeth and Gums
47. 47. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
48. 48. Go for a Ride
49. 49. Your Government
50. 50. Banking

Please consult your Cub Scout Tiger Cub Handbook for the specific requirements for each Achievement and suggestions for electives.