How Cub Scouts Learn
Cub Scout Adventures
Adventures are the projects, games, skills, and outings that make up Cub Scouting. Each grade gets its own mix, and completing them is how a Cub earns their rank.
Do it. Earn it. Build a rank.
Every rank follows the same simple shape: complete six required Adventures and any two electives. Scouts can keep going with more electives after that. The Bobcat Adventure comes first at every rank — it covers getting to know the den, plus a family safety conversation.
Do Adventures
Hike a trail. Practice first aid. Build something. Cook, play, explore, help, and solve problems. Adventures turn requirements into things Cubs actually do.
Earn loops or pins
Lion through Bear receive Adventure loops for the belt. Webelos and Arrow of Light receive Adventure pins worn on Adventure Colors.
Earn the rank
6 required + 2 elective
Complete the six required Adventures and any two electives for the grade, and your Cub earns that year’s rank badge.
What does an Adventure actually look like?
Examples vary by grade, but Adventures across the Cub Scout program cover things like these.
Explore Outside
Hikes, wildlife, camping, and learning how to be prepared outdoors.
Build & Create
Woodworking, engineering, crafts, and hands-on problem solving.
Stay Safe
First aid, personal safety, and knowing what to do when something goes wrong.
Move & Play
Fitness challenges, games, biking, swimming, and other active skills.
Help & Lead
Citizenship, community, teamwork, and age-appropriate leadership.
Try Something New
Fishing, cooking, technology, nature, paddling, and special activities.
A few Adventures — archery, BB guns, and slingshot — are special electives that can only be earned at approved events run by qualified instructors.
Different grade. New Adventures.
Adventure requirements change with each grade. A Lion’s activities are designed for Kindergarten; an Arrow of Light Scout gets a more independent fifth-grade program. The challenge grows with them.
Rank follows the grade your child is in, and a Cub does not need the previous rank to earn the next one — so joining partway through the program is completely normal.
Official Adventure lists on the Scouting America site (each opens in a new tab):
Where do all those loops and pins go?
Uniforms change as Cubs grow, and so does where they display their Adventure awards.
A lot of this happens on an ordinary weeknight.
Pack meetings turn requirements into things kids actually do — with outings, camps, and occasional family activities filling in the rest.