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Wolf    |    Background    |    Achievements    |    Electives    |    Awards    |    Webelos

Bear Rank

The Bear rank is for boys who have finished second grade (or are 9 years old). There are 24 Bear achievements in four groups: God, Country, Family, and Self. A boy must complete 12 of the achievements to be a Bear Cub Scout. These requirements are harder and more challenging than those for the Wolf badge. When a boy has earned his Bear badge, he may work on electives to earn Arrow Points to wear under his Bear badge.

If the Cub Scout has not previously earned the Bobcat Badge, it must be earned first.

Achievements

A Bear Cub must complete 12 of the 24 possible achievements. Any achievements not used to earn the Bear Rank Badge can be used to earn Arrow Points. With each group (God, Country, Family, and Self), a required number of achievements must be completed.
GOD - Do one of the following:
1. Ways We Worship
a. Complete the Character Connection for Faith.
Know - Name some people in history who have shown great faith. Discuss with an adult how faith has been important at a particular point in his or her life.
Commit - Discuss with an adult how having faith and hope will help you in your life, and also discuss some ways that you can strengthen your faith.
Practice - Practice your faith as you are taught in your home, church, synagogue, mosque, or religious fellowship.
b. Make a list of things you can do this week to practice your religion as you are taught in your home, church, synagogue, mosque, or other religious community. Check them off your list as you complete them.
2. Emblems of Faith
Earn the religious emblem of your faith.
COUNTRY - Do three of the following:
1. What Makes America Special? - Do a, j, and any two other requirements
a. Write or tell what makes America special to you.
b. With the help of your family or den leader, find out about two famous Americans. Tell the things they did or are doing to improve our way of life.
c. Find out something about the old homes near where you live. Go and see two of them.
d. Find out where places of historical interest are located in or near your town or city. Go and visit one of them with your family or den.
e. Choose a state; it can be your favorite one or your home state. Name its state bird, tree, and flower. Describe its flag. Give the date it was admitted to the Union.
f. Be a member of the color guard in a flag ceremony for your den or pack.
g. Display the U.S. flag in your home or fly it on three national holidays.
h. Learn how to raise and lower a U.S. flag properly for an outdoor ceremony.
i. Participate in an outdoor flag ceremony.
j. Complete the Character for Citizenship.
Know - Tell ways some people in the past have served our country. Tell about some people who serve our country today. Don't forget about "ordinary" people who serve our country.
Commit - Tell something that might happen to you and your family if other people were not responsible citizens. Tell one thing you will do to be a good citizen.
Practice - Tell three things you did in one week that show you are a good citizen.
2. Tall Tales
a. Tell in your own words what folklore is. List some folklore stories, folk songs, or historical legends from your own state or part of the country. Play the Folklore Match Game.
b. Name at least five stories about American folklore. Point out on a United States map where they happened.
c. Read two folklore stories and tell your favorite one to your den
3. Sharing Your World with Wildlife - Do four of the requirements.
a. Choose a bird or animal that you like and find out how it lives. Make a poster showing what you have learned.
b. Build or make a bird feeder or birdhouse and hang it in a place where birds can visit safely.
c. Explain what a wildlife conservation officer does.
d. Visit one of the following: Zoo, Nature Center, Aviary, reguge, Game preserve.
e. Name one animal that has become extinct in the last 100 years. Tell why animals become extinct. Name one animal that is on the endangered species list.
4. Take Care of Your Planet - Do three requirements
a. Save five pounds of glass or aluminum, or one month of daily newspapers. Turn them in at a recycling center or use your community's recycling service.
b. Plant a tree in your yard, or on the grounds of the group that operates your Cub Scout pack, or in a park or other public place. Be sure to get permission first.
c. Call city or county officials or your trash hauling company and find out what happens to your trash after it is hauled away.
d. List all the ways water is used in your home. Search for dripping faucets or other ways water might be wasted. With an adult, repair or correct those problems.
e. Discuss with an adult in your family the kinds of energy your family uses.
f. Find out more about your family's use of electricity.
g. Take part in a den or pack neighborhood clean-up project.
5. Law Enforcement is a Big Job - Do all six requirements
a. Practice one way police gather evidence: by taking fingerprints, taking shoeprints, or taking tire track casts.
b. Visit your local sheriff's office or police station or talk with a law enforcement officer visiting your den or pack to discuss crime prevention.
c. Help with crime prevention for your home.
d. Be sure you know where to get help in your neighborhood.
e. Learn the phone numbers to use in an emergency and post them by each phone in your home.
f. Know what you can do to help law enforcement.
FAMILY - Do four of the following:
1. The Past is Exciting and Important - Do g and two other requirements
a. Visit your library or newspapaer office. Ask to see back issues of newspapers or an almanac.
b. Find someone who was a Cub Scout a long time ago. Talk with him about what Cub Scouting was like then.
c. Start or add to an existing den or pack scrapbook.
d. Trace your family back through your grandparents or great-grandparents; or talk to a grandparent about what it was like when he or she was younger.
e. Find out some history about your community.
f. Start your own history: keep a journal for 2 weeks.
g. Complete the Character Connection for Respect.
Know - As you learn about how Cub Scout-age life was like for adults you know, does what you learn change what you think about them. Tell how it might help you respect or value them more.
Commit - Can you think of reasons others might be disrespectful to people or things you value? Name one new way you will show respect for a person or thing someone else values.
Practice - List some ways you can show respect for people and events in the past.
2. What's Cooking - Do four requirements
a. With an adult, bake cookies.
b. With an adult, make snacks for the next den meeting.
c. With an adult, prepare one part of your breakfast, one part of your lunch, and one part of your supprt.
d. Make a list of the "junk foods" you eat. Discuss "junk food" with a parent or teacher.
e. Make some trail food for a hike.
f. With an adult, make a desert for your family.
g. With an adult, cook something outdoors.
3. Family Fun - Do both requirements
a. Go on a day trip or evening out with members of your family.
b. Have a family fun night at home.
4. Be Ready - Do a through e, and g. Requirement f is recommended, but not required.
a. Tell what to do in case of an accident in the home. A family member needs help. Someone's closthes catch on fire.
b. Tell what to do in case of a water accident.
c. Tell what to do in case of a school bus accident.
d. Tell what to do in case of a car accident.
e. With your family, plan escape routes from your home adn have a practice drill.
f. Have a health checkup by a physician (optional).
g. Complete the Character Connection for Courage.
Know - Memorize the courage steps: Be brave, be calm, be clear, and be careful. Tell why each courage step is important. How will memorizing the courage steps help you to be ready?
Commit - Tell why it might be difficult to follow courage steps in an emergency situation. Think of other times you can use the courage steps. (Standing up to a bully is one example).
Practice - Act out one of the requirements using these courage steps: Be brave, be calm, be clear, and be careful.
5. Family Outdoor Adventure - Do three requirements
a. Go camping with your family.
b. go on a hike with your family.
c. Have a picnic with your family.
d. Attend an outdoor event with your family.
e. Plan your outdoor family day.
6. Saving Well, Spending Well - Do four requirements
a. Go grocery shopping with a parent or other adult member of your family.
b. Set up a savings account.
c. Keep a record of how you spend money for two weeks.
d. Pretend you are shopping for a car for your family.
e. Discuss family finances with a parent or guardian.
f. Play a board game with your family that invovles the use of play money.
g. With an adult, figure out how much it costs for each person in your home to eat one meal.
SELF - Do four of the following:
1. Ride Right - Do a and three other requirements
a. Know the rules for bike safety. If your town requires a bicycle license, be sure to get one.
b. Learn to ride a boke, if you haven't by now. Show that you can follow a winding course for 60 feet doing sharp left and right turns, a U-turn, and an emergency stop.
c. Keep your bike in good shape. Identify the parts of a bike that should be checked often.
d. Change a tire on a bicycle.
e. Protect your bike from theft. Use a bicycle lock.
f. Ride a bike for 1 mile without rest. Be sure to obey all traffic rules.
g. Plan and take a family bike hike.
2. Games, Games, Games - Do two requirements
a. Set up the equipment and play any two of these outdoor games with your family or friends: Backyard golf, Badminton, Croquet, Sidewalk shuffleboard, Kickball, Softball, Tetherball, Horseshoes, Volleyball.
b. Play two organized games with your den.
c. Select a game that your den has never played. Explain the rules. Tell them how to play it, and then play it with them.
3. Buiding Muscles - Do all three requirements
a. Do physical fitness stretching exercises. Then do curl-ups, push-ups, the standing long jump, and the softball throw.
b. With a friend about your size, compete in at least six different two-person contests.
c. Compete with your den in the crab relay, gorilla relay, 30-yard dash, and kangaroo relay.
4. Information, Please - Do a and three other requirements
a. With an adult in your family, choose a TV show. Watch it together.
b. Play a game of charades at your den meeting or with your family at home.
c. Visit a newspaper office, or a TV or radio station and talk to a news reporter.
d. Use a computer to get information. Write, spell-check, and print out a report on what you learned.
e. Write a letter to a company that makes something you use. Use e-mail or the U.S. Postal Service.
f. Talk with a parent or other family member about how getting and giving facts fits into his or her job.
5. Jot It Down - Do h and four other requirements
a. Make a list of the things you want to do today. Check them off when you have done them.
b. Write two letters to relatives or friends.
c. Keep a daily record of your activities for two weeks.
d. Write an invitation to someone.
e. Write a thank-you note.
f. Write a story about something you have done with your family.
g. Write about the activities of your den.
h. Complete the Character Connection for Honesty.
Know - Tell what made it difficult to be clear and accurate as you wrote details and kept records, and tell what could tempt you to write something that was not exactly true. Define honesty.
Commit - Tell why it is important to be honest and trustworthy with yourself and with others. Imagine you had reported something inaccurately and tell how you could set the record straight. Give reasons that honest reporting will earn the trust of others.
Practice - While doing the requirement for this achievement, be honest when you are writing about real events.
6. Shavings and Chips - Do all four requirements
a. Know the safety rules for handling a knife.
b. Show that you know how to take care of and use a pocketknife.
c. Make a carving with a pocketknife. Work with your den leader or other adult when doing this.
d. Earn the Whittling Chip card.
7. Sawdust and Nails - Do all three requirements
a. Show how to use and take care of four of these tools: hammer, hand saw, hand drill, c-clamp, wood plane, pliers, crescent wrench, screwdriver, bench vise, coping saw, drill bit.
b. Build your own tool box.
c. Use at least two toold listed in (a) to fix something.
8. Build a Model - Do g and two other requirements
a. Build a model from a kit.
b. Build a display for one of your models.
c. Pretend you are planning to change the furniture layout in one of the rooms in your home.
d. Make a model of a mountain, a meadow, a canyon, or a river.
e. Go and see a model of a shipping center or new building that is on display somewhere.
f. Make a model of a rocket, boat, car, or a plane.
g. Complete the Character Connection for Resourcefulness.
Know - Review the requirements for this achievement and list the reources you would need to complete them. Then list the materials you could substitute for items that you do not already have. Tell what it means to be resourceful.
Commit - After you complete the requirements for this achievements, list any changes that would make the results better if you did these projects again. Tell why it is important to consider all available resources for a project.
Practice - While you complete the requirements for this achievement, make notes on which materials worked well in your projects and why.
9. Tying It All Up - Do five requirements
a. Whip the ends of a rope.
b. Tie a square knot, bowline, sheet bend, two half hitches, and slip knot. Tell how each knot is used.
c. Learn how to keep a rope from tangling.
d. Coil a rope. Throw it, hitting a two-foot square marker 20 feet away.
e. Learn a magic rope trick.
f. Make your own rope.
10. Sports, Sports, Sports - Do all five requirements
a. Learn the rules of and how to play three team sports.
b. Learn the rules of and how to play two sports in which only one person is on each side.
c. Take part in one team and one individual sport.
d. Watch a sport on TV with a parent or some other adult member of your family.
e. Attend a high school, college, or professional sporting event with your family or your den.
11. Be a Leader - Do f and any two other requirements
a. Help a boy join Cub Scouting, or help a new Cub Scout through the Bobcat trail.
b. Serve as a denner or assistant denner.
c. Plan and conduct a den activity with the approval of your den leader.
d. Tell two people they have done a good job.
e. Leadership means choosing a way even when not everybody likes your choice.
f. Copmlete the Character Connection for Compassion.
Know - Tell why, as a leader, it is important to show kindness and concern for other people. List ways leadres show they care about the thoughts and feelings of others.
Commit - Tell why a good leader must consider the ideas, abilities, and feelings of others. Tell why it might be hard for a leader to protect another person's well-being. Tell ways you can be kind and compassionate.
Practice - While you complete the requirements for this achievement, find ways to be kind and considerate of others.

Electives

Once a Bear Cub earns his Bear Rank Badge, he may begin earning arrow points for completed Electives. He may work on Electives at any time; however, he cannot receive the Arrow Points until after earning the Bear Rank Badge. A Gold Arrow Point will be awarded for the first ten completed electives. For each additional ten completed electives, a Silver Arrow Point will be awarded. Unused parts of achievements that were used for the Bear badge may NOT be counted toward Arrow Points.
1. Space
a. Identify two constellations and the North Star in the night sky.
b. Make a pinhole planetarium and show three constellations.
c. Visit a planetarium.
d. Build a model of a rocket or space sattelite.
e. Read and talk about at least one man-made satellite and one natural one.
f. Find a picture of another planet in our solar system. Explain how it is different from Earth.
2. Weather
a. Learn how to read an outdoor thermometer. Put one outdoors and read it at the same time every day for two weeks. Keep a record of each day's temperature and a decsription of the weather each day (fair skies, rain, fog, snow, etc.).
b. Build a weather vane. Record wind direction every day at the same hour for two weeks.
c. Make a rain gauge.
d. Find out what a barometer is and how it works. Tell your den about it. Tell what "relative humidity" means.
e. Learn to identify three different kinds of clouds. Estimate their heights.
f. Watch the weather forecast on TV every day for two weeks. Describe three different symbols used on weather maps. Keep a record of how many times the weather forecase is correct.
3. Radio
a. Build a crystal or diode radio. Check with your local craft or hobby shop or the nearest Scout shop that carries a crystal radio kit. It is all right to use a kit.
b. Make and operate a battery powered radio, following the directions with the kit.
4. Electricity
a. Wire a buzzer or doorbell.
b. Make an electric buzzer game.
c. Make a simple bar or horseshoe electromagnet.
d. Use a simple electric motor.
e. Make a crane with an electromagnetic lift.
5. Boats
a. Help an adult rig and sail a real boat (Wear your PFD).
b. Help an adult repair a real boat or canoe.
c. Know the flag signals for storm warnings.
d. Help an adult repair a boat dock.
e. With an adult on board, and both wearing PFD's, row a boat around a 100-yard course that has two turns. Demonstrate forward strokes, turn to both sides, and backstrokes.
6. Aircraft
a. Identify five different kinds of aircraft, in flight if possible, or from models or photos.
b. Ride in a commercial airplane.
c. Explain how a hot air balloon works.
d. Build and fly a model airplace. You may use a kit. Every time you do this differently, it counts as a completed project.
e. Sketch and label an airplane showing the direction of forces acting on it (lift, drag, and load).
f. Make a list of some of the things a helicopter can do that other kinds of airplances can't. Draw or cut out a picture of a helicopter and label the parts.
g. Build and display a scale airplane model. You may use a kit or build it from plans.
7. Things that Go
a. With an adult's help, make a scooter or a Cubmobile. Know the safety rules.
b. With an adult's help, make a windmill.
c. With an adult's help, make a waterwheel.
d. Make an invention of your own design that goes.
8. Cub Scout Band
a. Make and play a homemade musical instrument - cigar-box banjo, washtub bull fiddle, a drum or rhythm set, tambourine, etc.
b. Learn to play two familiar tunes on any musical instrument.
c. Play in a den band using homemade or regular musical instruments. Play at a pack meeting.
d. Play two tunes on any recognized band or orchestra instrument.
9. Art
a. Do an original art project and show it at a pack meeting. Every project you do counts as one requirement.
b. Visit an art museum or picture gallery with your den or family.
c. Find a favorite outdoor location and draw or paint it.
10. Masks
a. Make a simple papier-mache mask.
b. Make an animal mask.
c. Make a clown mask.
11. Photography
a. Practice holding a camera still in one position. Learn to push the shutter button without moving the camera. Do this without film in the camera until you have learned how. Look through the viewfinder and see what your picture will look like. Make sure that everything you want in your picture is in the frame of your viewfinder.
b. Take five pictures of the same subject in different kinds of light.
   1. Subject in direct sun with direct light.
   2. Subject in direct sun with side light.
   3. Subject in direct sun with back light.
   4. Subject in shade on a sunny day.
   5. Subject on a cloudy day.
c. Put your pictures to use.
   1. Mount a pictuer on cardboard for display.
   2. Mount on cardboard and give it to a friend.
   3. Make three pictures that show how something happened (tell a story) and write a one sentence explanation for each.
d. Take a picture in your house.
   1. With available light.
   2. Using a flash attachment or photoflood (bright light).
12. Nature Crafts
a. Make solar prints of three kinds of leaves
b. Make a display of eight different animal tracks with an eraser print.
c. Collect, press, and label ten kinds of leaves.
d. Build a waterscope and identify five types of water life.
e. Collect eight kinds of plant seeds and label them.
f. Collect, mount, and label ten kinds of rocks or minerals.
g. Collect, mount, and label five kinds of shells.
h. Build and use a bird caller.
13. Magic
a. Learn and show three magic tricks
b. With your den, put on a magic show for someone else.
c. Learn and show four puzzles.
d. Learn and show three rope tricks.
14. Landscaping
a. With an adult, help take care of your lawn or flower bed or help take care of the lawn or flower beds of a public building, school, or church. Seed bare spots. Get rid of weeds. Pick up litter. Agree ahead of time on what you will do.
b. Make a sketch of a landscape plan for the area right around your home. Talk it over with a parent or den leader. Show which trees, shrubs and flowers you could plant to make the area look better.
c. Take part in a project with your family, den, or pack to make your neighborhood or community more beautiful. These might be having a cleanup party, painting, cleaning and painting trash barrels, and removing weeds. (Each time you do this differently, it counts as a completed project).
d. Build a greenhouse and grow twenty plants from seed. You can use a package of garden seeds, or use beans, pumpkin seeds, or watermelon seeds.
15. Water and Soil Conservation
a. Dig a hole or find an excavation project and describe the different layers of soil you see and feel. (Do not enter an excavation area alone or without permission).
b. Explore three kinds of earth by conducting a soil experiment.
c. Visit a burned-out forest or prairie area, or a slide area, with your den or your family. Talk to a soil and water conservation officer or forest ranger about how the area will be planted and cared for so that it will grow to be the way it was before the fire or slide.
d. What is erosion? Find out the kinds of grasses, trees, or ground cover you should plant in your area to help limit erosion.
e. As a den, visit a lake, stream, river, or ocean (whichever is nearest where you live). Plan and do a den project to help clean up this important source of water. Name four kinds of water pollution.
16. Farm Animals
a. Take care of a farm animal. Decide with your parent the things you will do and how long you will do them.
b. Name and describe six kinds of farm animals and tell their common uses.
c. Read a book about farm animals and tell your den about it.
d. With your family or den, visit a livestock exhibit at a county or state fair.
17. Repairs
a. With the help of an adult, fix an electric plug or appliance.
b. Use glue or epoxy to repair something.
c. Remove and clean a drain trap.
d. Refinish or repaint something.
e. Agree with an adult in your family on some repair job to be done and do it. (Each time you do this differently, it counts as a completed project).
18. Backyard Gym
a. Build and use an outdoor gym with at least three items from this list: balance board, trapeze, tire walk, tire swing, tetherball, climbing rope, running long jump ara.
b. Build three outdoor toss games.
c. Plan an outdoor game or dym day with your den. This can be part of a pack activity. Put your plans on paper.
d. Hold an open house for your backyard gym.
19. Swimming - You must have an adult with you that can swim
a. Jump feetfirst into water over your head, swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, and swim back.
b. Swim on your back, the elementary backstroke, for 30 feet.
c. Rest by floating on your back, using as little motion as possible for at least one minute.
d. Tell what is meant by the buddy system. Know the basic rules of safe swimming.
e. Do a racing dive from edge of pool and swim 60 feet, using a racing stroke. You might need to make a turn.
20. Sports
a. In archery, know the safety rules and how to shoot correctly. Put six arrows into a 4-foot target at a distance of 15 feet. Make an arrow holder. This can be done only at a district/council day or resident or family camp.
b. In skiing, know the Skier's Safety and Courtesy Code. Demonstrate walking and kick turn, climbing with a side step or herringbone, a snowplow stop, a stem turn, four linked snowplow or stem turns, straight running in a downhill position or cross-country position, and how to recover from a fall.
c. In ice skating, know the safety rules. From a standing start, skate forward 150 feet, and come to a complete stop within 20 feet. Skate around a corner clockwise and counterclockwise without coasting. Show a turn from forward to backward. Skate backward 50 feet.
d. In track, show how to make a spring start. Run the 50-yard dash in 10 seconds or less. Show how to do the standing long jump, the running long jump, or high jump. Be sure to have a soft landing area.
e. In roller skating (with conventional or in-line skates), know the safety rules. From a standing start, skate forward 150 feet, and come to a complete stop within 20 feet. Skate around a corner clockwise and counterclockwise without coasting and show a turn from forward to backward. Skate backward 50 feet. Wear the proper protective clothing.
f. Earn a new Cub Scout Sports pin. Repeat three times with different sports to earn up to three Arrow Points.
21. Sales
a. Take part in a council or pack sponsored event, money-earning sales program. Keep track of the sales you make yourself. When the program is over, add up the sales you have made.
b. Help with a garage sale or rummage sale. This can be with your family or a neighbor, or it can be a church, school, or pack event.
22. Collecting Things
a. Start a stamp collection. You can get information about stamp collecting at any U.S. post office.
b. Mount and display a collection of emblems, coins, or other items to show at a pack meeting. This can be any kind of collection. Every time you show a different kind of collection, it counts as one requirement.
c. Start your own library. Keep your own books and pamphlets in order by subject. List the title, author, and subject of each on an index card and keep the cards in a file box, or use a computer program to store the information.
23. Maps
a. Look up your state on a U.S. map. What other states touch its borders?
b. Find your city or town on a map of your state. How far do you live from the state capital?
c. In which time zone do you live? How many time zones are there in teh U.S.?
d. Make a map showing the route from your home to your school or den meeting place.
e. Mark a map showing the way to a place you would like to visit that is at least 50 miles from your home.
24. American Indian Life
a. American Indian people live in every part of what is now the continental Unted States. Find teh name of the American Indian nation that lives or has lived where you live now. Learn about these people.
b. Learn, make equipment for, and play two American Indian or other native American games with members of your den. Be able to tell the rules, who won, and what the score was.
c. Learn what the American Indian people in your area (or another area) used for shelter before contact with the Europeans. Learn what American Indian people in that area used for shelter today. Make a model of one of these shelters, historic or modern. Compare the kind of shelter you made with the others made in your den.
25. Let's Go Camping
a. Learn about the ten essential items you need for a hike or campout. Assemble your own kit of essential items. Explain why each item is "essential."
b. Go on a short hike with your den, following the buddy system. Explain how the buddy system works and why it is important to you to follow it. Tell what to do if you are lost.
c. Participate with your den in front of the pack at a campfire.
d. Participate with your pack on an overnight campout. Help put up your tent and help set up the campsite.
e. Participate with your den in a religious service during an overnight campout or other Cub Scouting event.
f. Attend a day camp in your area.
g. Attend resident camp in your area.
h. Earn the Cub Scout Leave No Trace Award.

Awards

In addition the Bear Rank Badge and Electives, Cub Scouts can also receive awards for participating in certain activities. See the Awards page for more details.
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