BEARS
(3RD GRADE)
Children attending 3rd grade are part of the Bear program. To earn the rank as Bear, boys and girls must first earn their Bobcat rank if they are new to the program. This is earned by being able to say the Scout Oath, Law and motto; showing the Cub Scout sign, handshake and salute. Exercises in the How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide—Bobcat Requirements pamphlet must also be completed.
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To complete the Bear rank advancement, all required adventures must be completed and at least one elective. A Bear Cub Scout must also complete all requirements to earn their Cyber Chip. Additional elective adventures may be completed during regular den meetings or at home.
PATH TO ADVANCEMENT
BOBCAT (PREREQUISTE)
No matter the age a boy or girl joins Cub Scouts, the Bobcat badge is the first rank that must be earned in order to advance to Tiger, Wolf, Bear, or Webelos.
Learn and say the Scout Oath, with help if needed.
Learn and say the Scout Law, with help if needed.
Show the Cub Scout sign. Tell what it means.
Show the Cub Scout handshake. Tell what it means.
Say the Cub Scout motto. Tell what it means.
Show the Cub Scout salute. Tell what it means.
With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide—Bobcat Requirements
BEAR CLAWS
1. Learn about three common designs of pocketknives.
2. Learn knife safety and earn your Whittling Chip.*
*One of the items carved for Bear Claws requirement 3 may be used to fulfill Whittling Chip requirement 3.
3. Do one of the following:
(a) Using a pocketknife, carve two items.
(b) With a pocket knife, safely perform each of these tasks:
(1) Demonstrate how to cut a piece of rope, twine or fishing line.
(2) Open a sealed box without damaging the contents.
(3) Open a can with a can opener tool on a pocket knife.
(4) Remove and replace the screws on an object with the screw driver tool on a pocket knife.
(5) Open a letter.
BEAR NECESSITIES
Complete Requirements 1 – 4. Requirements 5 and 6 are optional.
1. While working on your Bear badge, attend one of the following:
– A daytime or overnight campout with your pack or family
– An outdoor activity with your den or pack
– Day camp
– Resident camp
2. Make a list of items you should take along on the activity selected in Requirement 1.
3. Make a list of equipment that the group should bring along in addition to each Scout’s personal gear for the activity selected in Requirement 1.
4. Help set up a tent. Determine a good spot for the tent, and explain to your den leader why you picked it.
5. Demonstrate how to tie two half hitches and explain what the hitch is used for.
6. Learn how to read a thermometer and a barometer. Keep track of the temperature and barometric pressure readings and the actual weather at the same time every day for seven days.
FUR, FEATHERS, AND FERNS
1. While hiking or walking for one mile, identify six signs that any mammals, birds, insects, reptiles, or plants are living near the place where you choose to hike or walk.
2. Visit one of the following: zoo, wildlife refuge, nature center, aviary, game preserve, local conservation area, wildlife rescue group, or fish hatchery. Describe what you learned during your visit.
3. Name one animal that has become extinct in the last 100 years and one animal that is currently endangered. Explain what caused their declines.
4. Observe wildlife from a distance. Describe what you saw.
5. Use a magnifying glass to examine plants more closely. Describe what you saw through the magnifying glass that you could not see without it.
6. Learn about composting and how vegetable waste can be turned into fertilizer for plants.
7. Plant a vegetable or herb garden.​
FELLOWSHIP AND DUTY TO GOD
Complete the following requirements.
1. Discuss with your parent, guardian, den leader, or other caring adult what it means to do your duty to God. Tell how you do your duty to God in your daily life.
2. Complete at least one of the following:
(a) Identify a person whose faith you admire, and discuss this person with your family.
(b) With a family member, provide service to a place of worship or a spiritual community, school, or community organization that puts into practice your ideals of duty to God and strengthens your fellowship with others.
3. Complete at least one of the following:
(a) Earn the religious emblem of your faith that is appropriate for your age, if you have not already done so.
(b) Make a list of things you can do to practice your duty to God as you are taught in your home or place of worship or spiritual community. Select two of the items and practice them for two weeks.
PAWS FOR ACTION (DUTY TO COUNTRY)
Complete Requirement 1 and two others from Requirements 2-4.
1. Learn about our nation’s flag. Display it at home for one month. Say the Pledge of Allegiance and learn its meaning.
2. Do at least one of the following.
(a) Find out about two famous Americans. Share what you learned.
(b) Find out where places of historical interest are located in or near your community, town, or city. Go and visit one of them with your family or den.
3. Do at least two of the following.
(a) With your school or den, visit a local sheriff’s office, police station, or fire department OR talk with a fire safety officer or law enforcement officer visiting your school or den. Find out what skills the officers use to do their jobs. Ask questions that will help you learn how to stay safe.
(b) Make a list of emergency numbers and discuss with your family where the list should be kept. Show your family that you know how to call for help in an emergency. Talk with your family about people who could help you if a parent is not available.
(c) With your family, develop a plan to follow in case of an emergency, and practice the plan at least three times. Your family can determine the emergency, or you can develop several plans.
4. Do at least one of the following.
(a) Do a cleanup project that benefits your community.
(b) Participate in a patriotic community parade or other civic event that honors our country.
BALOO THE BUILDER
Complete all of the following requirements.
1. Discover which hand tools are the best ones to have in your toolbox. Learn the rules for using these tools safely. Practice with at least four of these tools before beginning a project.
2. Select, plan, and define the materials for the projects you will complete in requirement 3.
3. Assemble your materials and build one useful project and one fun project using wood.
(a) Useful Project
(b) Fun Project
4. Apply a finish to one of your wood projects.
ELECTIVE ADVENTURES
To earn the Bear rank, you must complete one elective adventure of your den or family’s choosing. Please refer to your Bear handbook or cubscouts.org for more information.
Grin and Bear It
A Bear Goes Fishing
Bear Picnic Basket
Beat of the Drum
Critter Care
Forensics
Make It Move
Marble Madness
Roaring Laughter
Robotics
Salmon Run
Super Science
A World of Sound
CYBER CHIP
With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children From Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide and earn the Cyber Chip award for your age.*
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* If your family does not have Internet access at home AND you do not have ready Internet access at school or another public place or via a mobile device, the Cyber Chip portion of this requirement may be waived by your parent or guardian.