Cub Scouting is organized by grade, and each grade has its own den with its own flavor of adventure. Kids move up a rank every year, picking up new skills and a little more independence each time. Here is what each year looks like.
Lion is Cub Scouting’s introduction, built for kindergartners and the adult who comes along with them. Every activity is done together as a scout-and-adult pair, with a heavy focus on play, exploring outdoors, and simple hands-on projects. There is no pressure and no gear to master; it is about making scouting feel fun and familiar from the very first meeting.
Tigers keep the adult partner model from Lion but start layering in real Cub Scout adventures, badges, and a bit more structure. First-grade scouts try new things almost every meeting, from simple crafts to their first short hikes, always with their adult partner close by. It is a year of firsts, and that is the whole point.
Wolf is where scouts start doing more on their own. The year builds toward Council Fire, Wolf’s culminating adventure around citizenship and community, alongside plenty of outdoor basics like knot-tying, simple navigation, and campfire safety. Adult partners are still welcome and encouraged, but Wolf scouts are expected to carry a bit more of the responsibility themselves.
Bear scouts step into tools and craft work in a way earlier dens do not, including safe use of a pocketknife and basic whittling, alongside cooking, engineering, and nature projects. It is a favorite year for a lot of kids because they finally get to use real tools under supervision and see what they can build with them.
Webelos marks a shift toward troop-style scouting. Scouts build real camping skills, and Webelos dens are allowed to run their own den campouts separate from pack-wide trips, which gives 4th graders a taste of more independent outdoor time. The year leans into preparation for what comes next in the program.
Arrow of Light is the bridge year between Cub Scouts and a Scouts BSA troop. Scouts take on more challenging outdoor adventures, visit troops to see what older-youth scouting looks like, and finish the year ready to cross over. It is the capstone of the Cub Scout program and a big milestone for both scouts and families.