
A boy who is 9 years old or is in the third grade is a Bear, and his adventures are found in the Bear Handbook.
Like all other new Cub Scouts, a Bear must first earn his Bobcat rank. After completing the requirements for Bobcat he may go on to complete the requirements for the Wolf rank and the many electives that are offered for his rank.
The den meeting plans for the Bear rank adventures are found in the Bear Den Leader Guide along with other tips and hints for running a fun Cub Scout Program.
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Bear Rank Requirements
For boys who are in third grade and/or are 9 years old.
If the Cub Scout has not previously earned the Bobcat Badge, it must be earned first.

b. Bear Necessities
c. Fellowship and Duty to God
d. Fur, Feathers, and Ferns
e. Grin and Bear It
f. Paws for Action
2. Complete one Bear elective adventure of your den or family’s choosing.
3. With your parent or adult partner, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A
Parent’s Guide, and earn the Cyber Chip award for your age.*
*If your family does not have Internet access at home AND you do not have ready Internet access at school or another public
place or via a mobile device, the Cyber Chip portion of this requirement may be waived by your parent or guardian.
For each adventure, the Bear Scout must complete the requirements as outlined in the Bear Cub Scout Handbook. Requirement 7 of Bobcat and requirement 3 of Bear are identical. If a Cub Scout earns his Bobcat rank during the same year that he begins working on his Bear rank, he needs to complete the requirement only one time.

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 REQUIRED ADVENTURES
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.
*One of the items carved for Bear Claws requirement 3 may be used to fulfill Whittling Chip requirement 3
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.
Bear Adventure: Bear Necessities

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 they are 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.
a. 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.
b. Identify a person whose faith and duty to God you admire, and discuss this person with your family.
c. 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.
d. Attend a religious service, den or pack meeting worship service, or time of family reflection and discussion about your
family’s beliefs.
b. Identify a person whose faith and duty to God you admire, and discuss this person with your family.
c. 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.
d. 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 mammals, 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 and one animal that is currently
endangered. Explain what caused their declines.
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.
2. Name one animal that has become extinct in the last 100 years and one animal that is currently
endangered. Explain what caused their declines.
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 a special event.
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.
a. Find out about two famous Americans. Share what you learned.
b. 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.
c. Learn about our flag. Display it at home for one month. Say the Pledge of Allegiance and learn its
meaning.
2. Do the following:
a. 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.
b. During or after your visit with a law enforcement officer, do at least two of the following:
i. Practice one way police gather evidence by taking fingerprints, taking a shoe print, or taking tire track casts.
ii. Make a list of emergency numbers to post in your home, and keep a copy with you in your backpack or wallet.
iii. 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.
iv. Discuss with your parent or another adult you trust any worries you have about your safety or a friend’s safety.
v. If you have younger brothers and sisters, make sure they know how to call for help in an emergency.
3. Do the following:
a. Learn about the energy your family uses and how you can help your family decrease its energy use.
b. Do a cleanup project that benefits your community
2. Working with the members of your den, organize a Cub Scout carnival and lead it at a special event.
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:
a. Find out about two famous Americans. Share what you learned.
b. 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.
c. Learn about our flag. Display it at home for one month. Say the Pledge of Allegiance and learn its
meaning.
2. Do the following:
a. 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.
b. During or after your visit with a law enforcement officer, do at least two of the following:
i. Practice one way police gather evidence by taking fingerprints, taking a shoe print, or taking tire track casts.
ii. Make a list of emergency numbers to post in your home, and keep a copy with you in your backpack or wallet.
iii. 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.
iv. Discuss with your parent or another adult you trust any worries you have about your safety or a friend’s safety.
v. If you have younger brothers and sisters, make sure they know how to call for help in an emergency.
3. Do the following:
a. Learn about the energy your family uses and how you can help your family decrease its energy use.
b. Do a cleanup project that benefits your community