Lone Star District

Cub Scout Program Changes Coming June 1, 2024 

SUMMARY:

1. Goal was to make program SIMPLE, FUN, EASY (think from perspective of busy leaders).
2. All ranks, LION – ARROW OF LIGHT, will be standardized with a consistent number of adventures to achieve rank: 6 “core” and 2 “elective”
3. The distinction between Webelos Program (4th and 5th grade) and the Webelos RANK (4th grade) and Arrow of Light Rank (5th grade) was a source of confusion to many. This will be rectified by having separate handbooks, just like there is for the other ranks.
4. BOBCAT will NO LONGER be a RANK. It becomes the first adventure in EACH grade level rank. The requirements will be different at each rank.
5. All “core” adventures are now standardized into 6 categories across each rank: CHARACTER/LEADERSHIP (this is the BOBCAT at each rank); OUTDOORS, PERSONAL FITNESS, CITIZENSHIP, PERSONAL SAFETY (OR SAFETY/FIRST AID FOR THE 4TH/5TH GRADERS), AND FAMILY/REVERENCE. This will make it easier for leaders planning pack outings or using mixed age dens, to plan meetings across a topic.
6. SUPPLEMENTAL AWARDS (not achievements) were not seeing much use/awareness; many of these are NOW reconfigured into an ELECTIVE which should increase their visibility.
7. Electives have been “repopulated” … lots of them; 16 in total for Lions and AOL; 20 for each of the other ranks. Some popular electives, such as FISHING, show up IN EVERY RANK (presumably with some variation of requirements – bet all include going fishing!). In the slide below, the “lightest” color in each rank at top are electives continuing from the current program. The “mid-tone” colored ones are NEW, including ones that used to be stand alone awards/patches, and the darkest tones at bottom (BB’s/Archery/Slingshot) are ones that must be done in a district/council setting.
8. They published a schedule of when information will be released; handbooks in March/April. More information coming out each month in another CUBCHATLIVE (dates and TOPICS are INDICATED in the chart below: 12/1/23; 1/12/24; 2/2/24; 3/1/24/ 4/5/24; 4/5/24; 5/10/24; 6/7/24)
9. Changes effective 6/1/2024 (i.e., for NEXT Cub Scout year) -- ALL RANKS continue as current for the spring semester.

If you have already watched/listened to the CubChatLive, great. If not, you can use this link: https://youtu.be/0Orm_Gz8hrg -- about 35 minutes, worth listening to.

Also, all the information this is currently in PRINT is available on the Program Updates Page: https://www.scouting.org/program-updates/cub-scout-program-updates-announced/

Order of the Arrow Unit Elections - December 1st through March 31st

Has your unit scheduled an OA election with the Order of the Arrow yet?  We hope to be done by March 1st.  However, we can still have them before March 31st.  Have your OA Representative or Senior Patrol Leader sign up here.