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What are the Cub Scout Whittling Chip Requirements?

Earning the Cub Scout Whittling Chip is a rite of passage for Bear Scouts as they learn pocketknife safety! See all the Whittling Chip requirements here.

Cub Scout Whittling Chip Requirements

While the Cub Scout Whittling Chip is required for Bear and Arrow of Light Scouts, Webelos Scouts can also earn it!

If you've looked for the Cub Scout Whittling Chip requirements in the Bear handbook or Scout leader's guide, you know they aren't there! That's frustrating since our Bear Cub Scouts have to earn the Whittling Chip for the Bear Claws required adventure.

The Arrows of Light who haven't earned it yet must do so for their required Scouting Adventure. Their handbook does have a list of requirements, but there are discrepancies between it and other sources.

I've given this feedback to the Boy Scouts of America, so hopefully, we'll see changes in future editions of the handbooks including official BSA Whittling Chip requirements.

Cub Scout Whittling Chip Requirements

These Whittling Chip requirements are found on the Whittling Chip certification. I've listed them below for your convenience.

  1. Know the safety rules for handling a knife and show, using these rules, that you know how to care for and use your pocketknife safely.
  2. Make a carving with a pocketknife. Work with your den leader or other adult when doing this. (One of the items carved for Bear Claws requirement 3 may be used to fulfill Whittling Chip requirement 2.)
  3. Read, understand and promise to abide by the “Pocketknife Pledge.”
cub scout soap carving
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These Whittling Chip requirements are from the Webelos and Arrow of Light handbook.

  1. Know the safety rules for handling a knife.
  2. Show that you know how to take care of and use a pocketknife.
  3. Make a carving with a pocketknife. Work with your den leader or other adult when doing this.
  4. Read, understand, and promise to abide by the “Pocketknife Pledge.”

Knife Safety Rules

I wrote about pocket knife safety, so read that post for some detailed safety information I've collected.

Below you'll find the Safety Rules that are in the Webelos and Arrow of Light handbook.

  • A knife is a tool, not a toy.
  • Know how to sharpen a knife. A sharp knife is safer because it is less likely to slip and cut you.
  • Keep the blade clean.
  • Never carry an open pocketknife.
  • When you are not using your knife, close it and put it away.
  • Keep your knife dry.
  • When you are using the cutting blade, do not try to make big shavings or chips. Easy does it.
  • Make a safety circle: Before you pick up your knife to use it, stretch your arm out and turn in a circle. If you can't touch anyone else, it is safe to use your knife.

You might also want to check out this cool comic put together by Victorinox, the company that makes Swiss Army Knives. It's a great visual for our Scouts!

One of the Cub Scout Whittling Chip requirements rules is to make a safety circle before you begin using your knife. But I've always heard it called something else–the blood circle! I'm sure some people wouldn't use that term with children, but I think it helps them remember to be aware of their surroundings.

cub scout whittling

After your Cub Scouts have learned the safety rules, test them with this online knife safety quiz that's on the Boys' Life website.

Important note:  Please, please make sure the Scouts know that they are to NEVER take their pocketknife to school. They shouldn't even put it in their school backpack. So many schools have a zero tolerance policy for items that can be considered weapons, and I would hate for a Cub Scout to be suspended from school (or worse) for taking his or her pocketknife.

How to Care for Your Pocketknife

One of the primary tasks the Scouts will need to do to care for their pocket knives is to sharpen them. Scouting Magazine has a good article sharing tips on how to teach this skill to Scouts.

Pocketknives need to be kept clean and lubricated.  Here's a great article from Instructables detailing the proper way to do just that.

How to Use Your Pocketknife

I really like the changes that were made to the Bear Claws requirements when the Cub Scout program was modified in late 2016.  Now, Cub Scouts need to demonstrate that they know how to use a pocketknife for various tasks like cutting rope, opening a sealed box and using the can opener tool to open a can.

This site has some other pocketknife skills to practice. Scroll about half way down the page to the “Basic Skills to Master” section. They suggest things like using your pocketknife to sharpen a pencil.

Are you teaching your kiddos how to whittle? Maybe working on earning the Whittling Chip?

Then you need this Soap Carving guide!

In addition to helpful information, you'll find 10 super easy patterns.

These templates will help even the most inexperienced whittler create a cool carving.

Pocketknife Pledge

The Pocketknife Pledge can be found in the Bear and Webelos/Arrow of Light handbooks and on the back of the Cub Scout Whittling Chip card.  Here is the text:

  1. I will treat my pocketknife with the respect due a useful tool.
  2. I will always close my pocketknife and put it away when not in use.
  3. I will not use my pocketknife when it might injure someone near me.
  4. I promise never to throw my pocketknife for any reason.
  5. I will use my pocketknife in a safe manner at all times.

After Earning the Whittling Chip

After they complete requirements for the Whittling Chip, Scouts may use their pocketknife at Cub Scout functions depending on your pack and BSA Council's local guidelines.

Scouts are awarded a Whittling Chip patch that is worn on the pocket flap of the right pocket of the Cub Scout uniform. It is considered a temporary patch.

boy on barrel whittling

Do Scouts Need a Cub Scout Knife?

When my sons earned their Whittling Chip, we gave them their first pocketknife.  My husband and I felt like they were mature enough to use them safely–especially after the Whittling Chip training.  Only you as a parent can decide if your Scout is ready for one.  If he or she is, click on the image to check out the Swiss Army knives available from REI.

Swiss Army Knife

Has your den completed the Whittling Chip requirements? I would love to hear about your experience in the comments!

Yours in Scouting,
Sherry

P.S. You can find more ideas for your Bear adventures here!

Whittling Chip Requirements

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Monday 11th of March 2024

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Friday 1st of March 2024

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Saturday 13th of January 2024

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Norman Kasser

Sunday 5th of June 2022

Spell check within Whittling Chip requirements: Read, undersand, and promise to abide by the “Pocketknife Pledge.” Fix to "understand".

Sherry Smothermon-Short

Wednesday 8th of June 2022

Thanks for the catch!

Cyber Chip: Pack Technology Policy | Cub Scout Ideas

Saturday 23rd of February 2019

[…] Cyber Chip is the Boy Scouts of America’s online internet safety program. Just like the Whittling Chip teaches the boys how to safely use a pocketknife, the Cyber Chip teaches them how to safely use the […]