Bear Trail

The Bear Trail

The Bobcat Trail

No matter what age or grade a child joins Cub Scouting, they must earn their Bobcat badge before they can advance to the rank of Tiger, Wolf, Bear, or Webelos. A Scout must complete the Bobcat requirements. Go here Bobcat Badge for complete requirements.

There are 6 Core (Required) Adventures in the Bear program:

  1. Bear Claws

  2. Bear Necessities

  3. Fellowship and Duty to God

  4. Fur, Feathers, and Ferns

  5. Grin and Bear It

  6. Paws for Action

Bear Adventure: Bear Claws

    1. Learn about three common designs of pocketknives.

    2. Learn knife safety and earn your Whittling Chip.

    3. Using a pocketknife, carve two items.

Bear Adventure: Bear Necessities

    1. While working on your Bear badge, camp overnight with your pack. If your chartered organization does not permit Cub Scout camping, you may substitute a family campout or a daylong outdoor activity with your den or pack.

    2. Attend a campfire show, and participate by performing a song or skit with your den.

    3. Make a list of items you should take along on your campout.

    4. Make a list of equipment that the group should bring along in addition to each Scout's personal gear.

    5. With your den, plan a cooked lunch or dinner that is nutritious and balanced. Make a shopping list, and help shop for the food. On a campout or at another outdoor event, help cook the meal and help clean up afterward.

    6. Help your leader or another adult cook a different meal from the one you helped prepare for requirement 5. Cook this meal outdoors.

    7. Help set up a tent. Pick a good spot for the tent, and explain to your den leader why you picked it.

    8. Demonstrate how to tie two half hitches. Explain what the name means and what the hitch is used for.

    9. Learn how to read a thermometer and a barometer. Keep track of the temperature and barometric pressure readings and the actual weather at the same time every day for seven days.

Bear Adventure: Fellowship and Duty to God

Do either requirement 1 OR requirement 2.

    1. Earn the religious emblem of your faith.

    2. Complete 2a and at least two of requirements 2b–2d.

        1. Working with a parent or guardian, spiritual advisor, or religious leader, provide service to help a place of worship or spiritual community, school, community organization, or chartered organization that puts into practice your ideals of duty to God and strengthens your fellowship with others.

        2. Name some people in history who have shown great faith in God as they worked to make our world a better place. Discuss with an adult one or more of the characteristics of a person you admire, and make a plan to develop one of the selected characteristics in yourself. Share your plan with your family, and carry it out for two weeks.

        3. Make a list of things you can do to practice your duty to God as you are taught in your home or place of worship or spiritual community. Select two of the items, and practice them for two weeks.

        4. Attend a religious service, den or pack meeting worship service, or time of family reflection and discussion about your family's beliefs.

Bear Adventure: Fur, Feathers, and Ferns

    1. While hiking or walking for one mile, identify six signs that any animals, birds, insects, reptiles, or plants are living nearby the place where you choose to hike.

    2. Name one animal that has become extinct in the last 100 years. Tell why the animal became extinct. Name one animal that is on the endangered species list. Visit a government website to learn about endangered species in your area.

    3. Visit one of the following: zoo, wildlife refuge, nature center, aviary, game preserve, local conservation area, wildlife rescue group, or fish hatchery. Describe what you learned during your visit.

    4. Observe wildlife from a distance. Describe what you saw.

    5. Use a magnifying glass to examine plants more closely. Describe what you saw through the magnifying glass that you could not see without it.

    6. Learn about composting and how vegetable waste can be turned into fertilizer for plants.

    7. Plant a vegetable or herb garden.

Bear Adventure: Grin and Bear It

    1. Play a challenge game or initiative game with the members of your den. Take part in a reflection after the game.

    2. Working with the members of your den, organize a Cub Scout carnival and lead it at your pack meeting.

    3. Help younger Cub Scouts take part in one of the events at the Cub Scout carnival.

    4. After the Cub Scout carnival, discuss with the members of your den and your den leader what went well, what could be done better, and how everyone worked together to make the event a success.

    5. Make and present an award to one of the adults who helped you organize the activities at the Cub Scout carnival.

Bear Adventure: Paws for Action

    1. Do the following:

        1. Find out about two famous Americans. Share what you learned.

        2. Find out where places of historical interest are located in or near your community, town, or city. Go and visit one of them with your family or den.

        3. Learn about our flag. Display it at home for one month. Say the Pledge of Allegiance and learn its meaning.

    2. Do the following:

        1. Visit a local sheriff's office or police station, or talk with a law enforcement officer visiting your den. During the visit, take turns with your den members asking questions that will help you learn how to stay safe.

        2. During or after your visit with a law enforcement officer, do at least two of the following:

            1. Practice one way police gather evidence by taking fingerprints, taking a shoe print, or taking tire track casts.

            2. Make a list of emergency numbers to post in your home, and keep a copy with you in your backpack or wallet.

            3. With your family, develop a plan to follow in case of an emergency, and practice the plan at least three times. Your family can determine the emergency, or you can develop several plans.

            4. Discuss with your parent or another adult you trust any worries you have about your safety or a friend's safety.

            5. If you have younger brothers and sisters, make sure they know how to call for help in an emergency.

    1. Do the following:

        1. Learn about the energy your family uses and how you can help your family decrease its energy use.

        2. Do a cleanup project that benefits your community.