Tiger Cubs, BSA, was developed in 1982 to meet the needs and desires of a 7-year-old boy and his family. Over the years, parts of the program's structure have evolved with our changing society, but the basic elements have remained the same. Tiger Cubs is a simple, fun program for first-grade boys and their families.
Tiger Cubs introduces boys and their adult partners to the excitement of Cub Scouting as they live the Tiger Cub motto together: Search, Discover, Share. Tiger Cubs is designed to build stronger families through involvement in a simple, low-cost program that is flexible and fun for boys and adults. A shared leadership component, where a den leader works with boy-adult partner teams, gives everyone input into the planning and carrying out of activities.
Who Can Join Tiger Cubs?
Tiger Cubs is for boys who are in the first grade (or are 7 years old) and their adult partners. The basic element of Tiger Cubs is the Tiger Cub-adult partner team. The adult may be a parent, brother, sister, aunt, uncle, or even a neighbor. The requirements are that the adult partner be 18 years of age or older, care about the boy, and be strongly committed to his well-being. The boy and his adult partner join Tiger Cubs together. They do all the family, den, and Go See It activities together. The adult partner is responsible for seeing that the boy is successful with his advancement in Tiger Cubs.
Advancement
Although participation with an adult partner is required for all Tiger Cub awards, adult partners do not earn these awards. Recognition items are for boys only.
Tiger Cub Belt Totem
To begin his path to the Tiger Cub rank, the Tiger Cub must learn the Tiger Cub motto (Search, Discover, Share), the Cub Scout sign, and the Cub Scout salute. When he has accomplished these tasks, he will be awarded his Tiger Cub belt totem. This is a tiger paw with four strands for totem beads that he wears on his belt. A boy earns totem beads by working on the five Tiger Cub achievements.
As a boy completes each part of the achievements, he will be awarded either an orange, white, or black totem bead at den meetings:
He earns a white bead for each required family activity part he completes.
He earns an orange bead for each required den activity part he completes.
He earns a black bead for each required Go See It part he completes.
When the boy has earned all five white beads, all five orange beads, and all five black beads, he is eligible to receive his Tiger Cub badge.
Tiger Cub Badge
The Tiger Cub badge is for boys who complete all parts of the five achievements and earn their 15 totem beads. The five achievements are
Let's Go Outdoors
Where I Live
How I Tell It
Making My Family Special
Keeping Myself Healthy and Safe
For each achievement, the Tiger Cub - adult partner team must complete a den activity, a family activity, and a Go See It.
The adult partner approves the completion of each achievement part by signing the boy's handbook. The Tiger Cub, under the guidance of the den leader, keeps a record of his individual progress on the Tiger Cub Den Wall Chart. The den leader awards him totem beads at a den meeting as recognition for successful completion of each requirement.
The Tiger Cub badge is presented to the adult partner at the next pack meeting.
Boys wear the Tiger Cub badge by placing it in the recessed area of the Tiger Cub belt totem. When they transition into a Wolf Cub Scout den, they wear the badge on the blue uniform shirt on the left pocket in the bottom position.
