Connections in the Cub Scout Rank Requirements

Want to find out what requirements you can cover during that activity at your next pack meeting? This “Cub Scout Connections” resource identifies common themes and shows the requirements for each rank that fit each theme. Great tool for planning multi-rank events and activities!

Back in the “olden” days, Cub Scouts had something called the Academic and Sports program (aka belt loops). The program offered belt loops for everything from soccer to science and from golf to good manners. Boys from all ranks were eligible to earn these.

Day camp had sessions that helped the boys from Tigers through Webelos earn the loops. Pack meetings could center around a particular belt loop, and everyone could participate.

When the Boy Scouts of America made their major change to the program in 2015, the Academic and Sports program was discontinued, and a lot of the activities were incorporated into the new adventures.

Many of us are concerned about program planning for multiple ranks. We couldn't just offer one program for all ranks because the new adventure program wasn't set up that way.

Dr. Nisha Zoeller, who attended one of the Philmont Training Center classes prior to the introduction of the new program, identified that need and created a program planning resource.  She wanted “to show the connections and common themes among Adventures across ranks to encourage the continuation of pack-level and multi-age programming.”

Her Cub Scout Connections guide groups cross-rank adventures into 15 themes such as Cooking & Nutrition, Plants & Wildlife, STEM, and Camping.  For example, you can see all rank requirements related to health, safety, and first aid.  So, if you're having a first responder at a pack meeting, you'll know what to include for each rank's requirements.

Nisha's document was updated and modified by Jack Mitchell to reflect the program updates that were effective in December 2016.

Nisha and Jack kindly agreed to allow me to share this helpful guide with you. Click the link below to download the guide.

Cub Scout Connections

One thing to note: This is not an official Boy Scouts of America document. A concern about the document was that packs using it may plan activities that don't reflect the skill level of all boys. For example, a Webelos may be able to easily hike 3 miles, but a Tiger may not. Please consult the Guide to Safe Scouting and the Age-Appropriate Guidelines for Scouting Activities to ensure the safety of our boys.

If you're planning a hike or campout, check out my Hiking for Cub Scouts and Completing Cub Scout Rank Requirements While Camping documents. They may be of use to you too.

I would love to hear about the connections you find.  Share them in a comment below.

Yours in Scouting,
Sherry

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