The Life Cycle of Scouts
(It’s a Journey…)
Contact: Arthur Hsu
281.648.2755
Objectives
• Understand the Mission of the BSA Program
• Understand the Aims and Methods of Scouting
• Understand Cub Scout Purposes and Values
• Understand the Cub Scout and Boy Scout “Life Cycles” including:
–
–
–
–
Major Milestones/Skills
Religious Aspects
Leadership Aspects
Adult Training/Roles
• Understand Your Role in this Life Cycle
Page 2
BSA Mission Statement
The mission of the Boy Scouts of America is to
prepare young people to make ethical choices over
their lifetime by instilling in them the values of the
Scout Oath and Law.
Page 3
Scout Oath and Law
Cub Scout
Boy Scout
Cub Scout Promise
I, [your name], promise to do my best
To do my duty to God and my country,
To help other people, and
To obey the Law of the Pack.
Scout Oath/Promise
On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.
The Law of the Pack
The Cub Scout follows Akela.
The Cub Scout helps the pack go.
The pack helps the Cub Scout grow.
The Cub Scout gives goodwill.
Scout Law
A Scout is:
Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly,
Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful,
Thrifty, Brave, Clean, and Reverent
Page 4
Boy Scout Aims
Growth in moral strength and character
• What the boy is himself; his personal qualities, his values, his outlook.
Participating citizenship
• The boy’s relationship to others. He comes to learn obligations to
other people, to the society he lives in, and to the government that
presides over that society.
Development in physical, mental, and emotional fitness
• Fitness includes the body (well-tuned and healthy), the mind (able to
think and solve problems), and the emotions (self-control, courage,
and self-respect).
Page 5
Boy Scout Methods
Uniform
•Commitment
to aimsidentity
Ideas
•Oath – Law Motto Slogan
Patrols
•Peer groupselected
representatio
n-activities
Outdoors
•All outdoor
programs
Adult
Association
•Image-role
modelexample
Personal
Growth
•Good Turnservice
projectsreligious
emblems
Advancement
•Self-relianceability to help
otherschallenge
Leadership
Development
•Leadership
skills and
practicecitizenship
Page 6

Growth in moral strength and character

Participating citizenship
Development in physical, mental, and emotional fitness
Cub Scout Purposes & Values
Cub Scouting’s 12 Core Values
Purposes of Cub Scouting
Citizenship
Compassion
Character
Cooperation
Development
Courage
Good
Faith
Citizenship
Sportsmanship
&
Fitness
Spiritual
Growth
Respectful
Advancement 
Ideas
Personal
Achievement

Honesty
Perseverance
Positive Attitude
Friendly
Service
Relationships
Family
Understanding
Health & Fitness
Patrols
Resourcefulness
Respect
Fun &
Adventure

Outdoors

Responsibility
Adult Association
 Personal Growth

Leadership Development

Uniform
Page 7

Growth in moral strength and character
Participating citizenship

Development in physical, mental, and emotional fitness
Cub Scout Life Cycle
Grade
1st Grade/Tiger
Year
Rank
Tiger Badge
Objectives/
Skills
Family, Den, and Go
See Its
Chores, Family
Scrapbook,
Community History
Community Map,
Pledge of
Allegiance, Police
and Fire Station
visit
Fire Drill, What to
do if Separated,
Food Pyramid
Communicating
Weather, Leaves,
and Hiking
Leadership/
Organization
Adult
Training
Advancement 
2nd Grade/ Wolf
Year
3rd Grade/ Bear Year
4th Grade/ Webelos I
Year
5th Grade/ Webelos
II Year
Bobcat Badge
Wolf Badge
Bear Badge
Webelos Badge
Arrow of Light (AOL)
Introduction to Cub
Scouts including:
Cub Scout Promise
Law of the Pack
Sign & Handshake
Motto & Salute
Webelos Meaning
How to Protect Your
Children from Child
Abuse
Physical Fitness/
Health
Flag traditions
Emergency contacts
& Community
Safe Tool Use
Cooking & Eating
Conservation
God & Me
Making Good
Choices
Home and Street
Safety
World Conservation
Award
God & Family/
Parvuli Dei
Country/ Citizenship,
Wildlife,
Conservation, Law
Enforcement
Cooking, Emergency
Readiness, Handling
money
Safe Cycling
Fitness
Communication
Whittling Chip
Understand Webelos
Badge & Uniform
Fitness
Citizenship
Understand
requirements to be a
Boy Scout
Complete Faithrelated requirements
Demonstrate
knowledge of Boy
Scout requirements
Readyman
Outdoorsman
Participate in Boy
Scout Troop meeting
and outdoor activity
Join a Troop
Adult Tiger Den
Leader & Parents/
Dens
Den Leaders plan all
activities/objectives
Adult Cub Scout Den
Leader/ Dens
Den Leaders plan all
activities/objectives
Adult Cub Scout Den
Leader/ Dens
Den Leaders plan all
activities/objectives
in consultation with
Scouts
Adult Webelos Den
Leader/ Patrols
Patrol Leaders work
with Scouts to plan
activities/objectives
Adult Webelos Den
Leader/ Patrols
Patrol Leaders begin
working with Scouts
to transition to Boy
Scouts
YPT
New Leader
Essentials
Tiger Den Leader
Cub Scout Den
Leader
Basic Adult Leader
Outdoor Orientation
(BALOO)
Ideas

Patrols

Outdoors

Adult Association
Webelos Den Leader
Outdoor Webelos
Leader Skills (OWLS)
 Personal Growth

Leadership Development

Uniform
Page 8

Growth in moral strength and character

Participating citizenship
Development in physical, mental, and emotional fitness
Boy Scout Life Cycle
AOL/6th Grade to 7th or 8th Grade (Scout Skills)
1st Class to 18th Birthday (Leadership/Service)
Rank
Scouter
Tenderfoot
Second Class
First Class
Star
Life
Eagle
Objectives/
Skills
Introduction to
Boy Scouts
including:
Boy Scout Oath,
Law, Motto,
Slogan &
Outdoor Code
Sign &
Handshake
How to Protect
Your Children
from Child
Abuse
SMC
BSA values &
Patrol Method
Introduction to
Scout/
Camping / First
Aid skills
Buddy System
& safe hiking
Improve
physical fitness
Identify
poisonous
plants
SMC & BOR
Map & Compass
5 Troop/Patrol
activities
Totin’ Chip
Firem’n Chit
Open fire cooking
Identify wild
animals
First Aid &Hurry
Cases
Safe Swim, Reachin Water Rescue
DARE
SMC & BOR
Orienteering
5 Troop/Patrol
activities
Serve as Patrol
Grubmaster
Meet Civic Leader
Identify Native Plants
Lashings
Pass BSA Swim Test
Line Water Rescue
First Aid w/
Bandages, transport,
& heart attack signs
Leave No Trace
SMC & BOR
4 months as 1st
Class Scout
4 months in
Position of
Responsibility
6 Merit Badges
(4 Eagle)
Service
Projects (6
hours)
SMC & BOR
6 months as
Star Scout
6 months in
Position of
Responsibility
5 Merit Badges
(3 Eagle)
Service
Projects (6
hours)
SMC & BOR
6 months as
Life Scout
6 months in
Position of
Responsibility
10 Merit
Badges (5
Eagle)
Eagle Scout
Service Project
SMC &
Eagle BOR
SMC – Scout
Master
Conference
BOR – Board of
Review
Leadership/
Organization
Patrol Leader Conference (PLC) w/ Scoutmaster, Senior Patrol Leader, Patrol Leaders, & Troop Leaders meet regularly
to plan upcoming activities/objectives
Troop meets weekly to work on activities/objectives
Patrols meet monthly and work on Patrol activities/objectives
Troop Committee & Adult Leaders enable activities/ decisions
Leadership
Positions/
Training
Patrol Leader (PL), Assistant Patrol
Leader (APL), Patrol Quartermaster
Eagle Rq’d
Merit Badges
Camping, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications,
Environmental Science, Family Life, First Aid, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Emergency Preparedness or Life
Saving, and Cycling or Hiking or Swimming.
Adult
Training
Advancement 
Senior Patrol Leader (SPL), Assistant Senior Patrol Leader (ASPL), Troop Guide,
OA Representative, Den Chief, Scribe, Librarian, Historian, Quartermaster,
Chaplain Aide, Instructor, LNT Instructor
BSA Life Guard, National Youth Leadership Training (NYLT), God & Church/Ad
Altare Dei, Camp Staff (Fall, Winter, Summer, NYLT)
Scout Master/Assistant Scout Master: YPT, New Leader Essentials, SM/ASM Leader Specific, Introduction to Outdoor Leader Skills (IOLS)
Troop Essentials: Safe Swim, Safe Afloat, Red Cross CPR/First Aid, Climb-on Safety, Wilderness First Aid
Ideas

Patrols

Outdoors

Adult Association
 Personal Growth

Leadership Development

Uniform
Page 9

Growth in moral strength and character
Participating citizenship

Development in physical, mental, and emotional fitness
Your Role in This Life Cycle/Journey
Adult/Parent leadership
and involvement should
adjust to enable more
Scout decision-making
and empowerment.
Adults/Parents should
enable Scouts to perform
activities well.
In Cub Scouts, Parents serve as
Cub Master, Pack Committee
Chair, Den/Patrol Leaders and
Pack Committee members
Adults/Parents should get
the appropriate training
for their position (Because
all Scouts deserve
“Trained” Leaders)
Invest enough time and
practice for Scouts to
learn and perform well
(e.g., flag ceremonies,
scout skills)
Utilize additional training
opportunities like the District
Round Tables and Scouter
Success Seminar
Seek additional roles and
training opportunities to help
your unit, district, and council:
In Boy Scouts, Parents serve as
Scout Master, Troop
Committee Chair, Assistant
Scout Masters, Troop
Committee members, and
Merit Badge Counselors
Utilize EDGE training
philosophy:
• Educate/Explain
• Demonstrate
• Guide
• Empower/Enable
Parent involvement is critical
throughout to enable Scouts to
stay focused on this journey.
•Range Master, Wood Badge,
Powderhorn, Unit
Commissioner, National Camp
School, etc.
Additional ideas for Parent
involvement can be found at
www.scoutparents.org
Remember: It’s a journey for your Scouts. It’s also a journey for YOU.
Advancement 
Ideas

Patrols

Outdoors

Adult Association
 Personal Growth

Leadership Development

Uniform
Page 10
Appendix
Scout Motto, Slogan, and Outdoor Code
Cub Scout Motto
Do Your Best.
Boy Scout Motto
Be Prepared
Boy Scout Slogan
Do a Good Turn Daily
Outdoor Code
As an American,
I will do my best to:
Be clean in my outdoor manners,
Be careful with fire,
Be considerate in the outdoors,
And
Be conservation-minded.
Page 12
Cub Scout Core Values and the Scout Law
Cub Scouting’s 12 Core Values
12 Points of the Scout Law
Citizenship
Trustworthy
Compassion
Loyal
Cooperation
Helpful
Courage
Friendly
Faith
Courteous
Health & Fitness
Kind
Honesty
Obedient
Perseverance
Cheerful
Positive Attitude
Thrifty
Resourcefulness
Brave
Respect
Clean
Responsibility
Reverent
Page 13