Achievements & Awards

On the advancement trail, Cub Scouts progress from rank to rank, learning new skills as they go. 

Each of the ranks and awards in Cub Scouting has its own requirements. As you advance through the ranks, the requirements get more challenging, to match the new skills and abilities you learn as you get older.

Lion, Tiger, Wolf, and Bear Scouts earn adventure loops to be worn on their belt, and Webelos Scouts earn pins they can wear on their Webelos colors or Webelos cap.

Awards for Individual Scouts

Just as Cub Scouts can earn individual awards for themselves, they can also work together to earn these awards.

Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award

Tiger through Webelos can earn the Cub Scout Outdoor Activity Award in each program year as long as the requirements are completed each year. The first time the award is earned, the Cub Scout will receive the pocket flap award, which is to be worn on the right pocket flap of the uniform shirt.

Each successive time the award is earned, a Wolf Track pin is added to the flap. Cub Scouts build on skills and experiences from previous years when working on the award for a successive year!

Cub Scout World Conservation Award

Wolf, Bear, and Webelos who have participated in either a den or pack conservation project and have completed certain requirements can earn the World Conservation Award.

This award encourages all youth members to think globally and act locally to preserve and improve our environment.

Conservation Good Turn Award

The Conservation Good Turn Award is an opportunity for Scout units to join with conservation or environmental organizations (federal, state, local, or private) to carry out a conservation Good Turn in their home communities. 

Working together in the local community, the unit and the agency plan the details and establish the date, time and location for carrying out the project.

International Spirit Award

The International Spirit Award is a temporary emblem that is awarded to registered Scouts and Scouters who have completed the necessary requirements, have gained a greater knowledge of international Scouting, and have developed a greater appreciation and awareness of different cultures and countries. 

Interpreter Strip

Scouting is a worldwide organization and  encourages youth and adults to share their culture and heritage with others.

 Youth and adults may wear this strip if they show their knowledge of a foreign language or the sign language for the hearing impaired by carrying on a five-minute conversation in this language, translating a two-minute speech or address, writing a letter in the language (does not apply for sign language) and translating 200 words from the written word.

Messengers of Peace

Today, Scouts in dozens of countries are working for peace by solving conflicts in their schools, building links between divided communities, teaching their peers about health and wellness, and repairing environmental damage. 

To recognize their efforts, the World Scout Committee has launched the Messengers of Peace initiative. To participate all Cub Scouts have to do is go online and register the Messengers of Peace related community service projects they undertake.

Protect Yourself Rules

Protect Yourself Rules is a new Preview Adventure that help children recognize, respond to, and report abuse.

The Protect Yourself Rules may be used as an elective adventure or they may be earned in place of the Cyber Chip requirement for the Tiger, Wolf, Bear, Webelos, and Arrow of Light badges of rank. If used in place of the Cyber Chip requirement for a rank, it may not be used as an elective adventure for that rank.

Recruiter Strip

When Scouts are having a great time they naturally want to invite friends who are not involved to join. To recognize those Cub Scouts who recruit a friend to join the pack, there is the recruiter strip.

This patch is worn on the bottom left pocket of the uniform. When a Cub Scout invites friends to join the pack, once one of those friends has joined, they earn the patch.

Religious Emblems Programs

A Scout is reverent. To encourage members to grow stronger in their faith, the Boy Scouts of America has approved of these programs and allows the emblems to be worn on the official uniform. 

The various religious groups administer the programs. Religious Emblem, typically a medal, are not a Scouting award; however, they may be worn on the upper left pocket of the Cub Scout uniform.

Resource Stewardship Scout Ranger

The Resource Stewardship Scout Ranger program is a partnership between the National Park Service and the BSA. 

The program invites Scouts and Cub Scouts to participate in educational and/or volunteer service projects at national park sites. Scouts are awarded certificates and/or patches after meeting certain requirements of the program. Please read on to learn more.

Shooting Sports Awards

Tigers through Webelos can earn awards for learning the safety rules and participating in three different disciplines of shooting sports: Archery, BB gun, and slingshot. Shooting sports may only be conducted on a district or council level such as council-organized family camps, resident camp, or day camp. 

These activities require BSA trained adult leaders who have learned the specific rules and regulations around shooting sports with Cub Scout–aged children. Lions are not eligible.

STEM Nova Awards

Cub Scout Nova Awards may be earned by Wolves, Bears, Webelos, and Arrow Of Light Scouts. The NOVA Awards program incorporates learning with cool activities and exposure to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics for Cub Scouts. 

For their first Nova award, Scouts earn the distinctive Nova award patch. After that, a Scout can earn three more Nova awards, each one recognized with a separate pi (π) pin-on device that attaches to the patch.

Support Our Military Program

Suffolk County Council is a proud supporter of the men and women who serve in our country's military services. A special program has been developed to recognize those scouts and units that take the extra step and raise the level of awareness of their sacrifices in our community.

Scouts can earn this patch to wear proudly on their uniform pockets or brag jackets. Just complete any four of the requirements and then have your Den Leader and Advancement Chair sign off.

Whittling Chip

Beginning at the Bear rank (third grade), Cub Scouts may earn the Whittling Chip. This is a required training for Scouts in order to use and carry a pocketknife during Scouting activities. 

The Scout must demonstrate to their adult leader the safe way to use a knife as a tool. In addition to a pocket card, a patch may also be presented but is not to be worn on the uniform.

Awards for Dens and the Pack

Cub Scouts can also earn awards for their whole den or their pack. Getting together to work on these awards is a great way to practice teamwork and to show every Cub Scout how important they are as a member of their den or pack.

National Den Award

The National Den Award recognizes dens that have a quality, year-round program. The award goes to dens that do service and conservation projects, field trips, character building, and camping. 

Dens earn the award as a team, not as individual den members. The recognition is a ribbon for the den flag or den doodle. 

National Summertime Pack Award

The pack can qualify for the National Summertime Pack Award certificate and streamer by planning and conducting three pack activities—one each in June, July, and August.

Dens with an average attendance of at least half their members at the three summer pack events are eligible for a colorful den participation ribbon. Cub Scouts who participate in all three pack events are eligible to receive the National Summertime Pack Award pin. (Adults and Lions are not eligible.)

ScoutStrong Awards

SCOUTStrong Healthy Unit Award: Commit to three healthy practices at your regular unit meetings – fruit & veggie snacks, water, physical activity – and everyone earns a patch!

Presidential Active Lifestyle Award: Open to all members of all BSA programs. Meet a daily activity goal of 30 min / day (adults) and 60 min / day (under 18 yrs) for 5 days / week for 6 out of 8 weeks.

Awards for Leaders and Volunteers

Cub Scouts can also earn awards for their whole den or their pack. Getting together to work on these awards is a great way to practice teamwork and to show every Cub Scout how important they are as a member of their den or pack.

Service Stars

This award is for Cub Scout adult leaders with three years’ tenure—including at least two years as Cubmaster—who have completed training and other performance Just as you recognize Cub Scouts with service stars, adult leaders are also eligible to receive these pins. After one year of service an adult may be presented with a one-year service star. An adult who has been involved in Scouting as a youth or has been involved for more than five years is also eligible for the Veteran Award.

Den Leader Training Award

This award recognizes den leaders who have completed training, tenure, and performance requirements.

It is available for Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos den leaders and can be earned in each position, but tenure must be completed separately for each award. In addition to a certificate and a medal, a yellow square knot on a blue background is available to wear on the uniform.

Scouter’s Training Award

This award can be presented to registered Cub Scout adult leaders who have two years’ tenure in the pack and have completed position-specific training and other performance requirements designed to encourage and recognize those who give of their resources to make the pack successful. Tenure does not need to be in the same position. In addition to a certificate and medal, a green square knot on a khaki background is available to wear on the uniform.

Cubmaster's Key

This award is for Cub Scout adult leaders with three years’ tenure—including at least two years as Cubmaster—who have completed training and other performance requirements. The Cubmaster’s Key is also a great way to incorporate a succession plan for Cubmaster. In addition to a certificate and medal, a green-and-white square knot on a khaki background is available to wear on the uniform.