Tiger Cubs BSA is the part of the program of the Boy Scouts of America that is for boys who are in the first grade and their adult partners. Seven-year-old boys and their partners may also join Tiger Cubs BSA.

The basic element of Tiger Cubs BSA is the boy-adult team. The adult may be a parent, grandparent, adult brother or sister, aunt or uncle, or even a neighbor. The only requirements are that the adult be 18 years of age or older, care about the boy, and have a strong commitment to his well-being. The boy and his adult partner join Tiger Cubs BSA together.

Get Started

• Welcome to Tiger Cubs
• Find a Tiger Cub Den Leader
• Hold your first month of Den Meetings
• Hold a pack meeting with all Dens from the pack

THE TIGER CUB DEN

Normally, five to eight Tiger Cub teams are formed into a Tiger Cub den, which is part of a Cub Scout pack. The Tiger Cub den meets with the pack for as many activities as the pack feels are appropriate prior to the Tiger Cubs' graduation into Cub Scouting. If a pack has more than one Tiger Cub den, each Tiger Cub den has its own meetings. There is no one Tiger Cub den leader. However, each den should select a Tiger Cub Den Coordinator from among the parents in the den.

THE DEN MEETINGS

Tiger Cub dens meet twice a month. Their meetings are based on the Big ideas the den has chosen from the Tiger Cub Family Activity Book. One of these meetings should be an activity or field trip, such as attending a community event or visiting a place of interest. (Your council may have compiled a Tiger Cub "Where to Go" booklet for dens to use in planning these activities.) The second meeting can be another big idea, a pack meeting, or an age-appropriate pack activity.

THE TIGER CUB CYCLE

Tiger Cubs follow a school-year cycle. Boys and their adult partners join Tiger Cubs BSA at the beginning of the first-grade school year and remain in the program until the completion of first grade. At that time, they graduate into Cub Scouting and are eligible to participate in Cub Scout summer activities, including Cub Scout day camp.

Because one of the keys to success of the program is maintaining the "togetherness" of the den, additional Tiger Cub teams are not usually added once the den has established its identity by conducting Big Idea 1, "Getting to Know You." Instead, a new den should be formed. However, after conducting Big Idea 1, the den may decide to add one or two additional teams in order to bring a small den to a more workable size, or to accept a team that wishes to transfer from another den because of a family move. For the same reason, the den should stay together for the entire Tiger Cub experience and by completing Big Idea 17, "Cub Scouting, Here We Come," in May, graduate as a den into the Cub Scout pack.

Big ideas

THE 17 BIG IDEAS

Listed here the seventeen Big Ideas such as "Prepare for Emergencies" and "Making Your Family Special." Just remember though, save Number 17 "Cub Scouting Here We Come" for last!

GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Note to Adults: The purpose of this big idea is to provide a fun time for all Tiger Cubs and adults to get to know one another at the first Tiger Cub group meeting. Also, to provide a meeting format as an example of one way a future meeting can be run. Note to Adults: The purpose of this big idea is to provide a fun time for all Tiger Cubs and adults to get to know one another at the first Tiger Cub group meeting. Also, to provide a meeting format as an example of one way a future meeting can be run.

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT

Note to Adults: The purpose of this big idea is to have fun together and in this way to help bring family closer together. It's as simple as that! Note to Adults: The purpose of this big idea is to have fun together and in this way to help bring family closer together. It's as simple as that!

DISCOVER NATURE AND ENERGY

Note to Adults: The goal of these activities is to develop in your child an appreciation of the world around him, and an awe for its Creator. Also it will provide the basis for several hobbies and interests that may extend into the future. In addition, several of the activities provide an opportunity to explore energy conservation and to interpret the relationship of one energy source to another. Perhaps most important, you are given the opportunity through this big idea to reinforce your own values about environment, energy, and even spirituality.

PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES

Note to Adults: The activities in this big idea are designed to equip your tiger Cub to deal with an emergency when there is no adult present. There are activities that will help him help others. In the expanding world of a first-grade boy, there are times that he is not under the immediate protection of a parent or other trusted adult. His knowledge of emergency procedures will strengthen his self-esteem and self-confidence. Emergencies are not limited to natural disasters. Relationships with other persons can create emergency situations. In this big idea, you can discuss with your Tiger Cub how to react to strangers and persons whose motives are either not known or are unacceptable.

KNOW YOUR FAMILY

Note to Adults: This big idea gives you a chance to explore your family heritage, background, and structure. But it also gives you an opportunity to express to one another what makes you feel good, what makes you feel bad-all of you. A-first-grade boy may need help in his understanding of other family members, especially the feelings of everyone in the family including himself. A first-grader can be somewhat oversensitive in his feelings - he needs to know that others have feelings and that feelings are okay. For those who desire to pursue Activity Suggestion for Families No. 8 (a discussion about your Tiger's birth and your earliest impressions of him), we want to point out that it could lead quite naturally into a home discussion with your Tiger Cub on the subject of sex.

KNOW YOUR COMMUNITY

Note to Adults: One of the underlying purposes of the Boy Scouts of America is to develop responsible citizenship in boys. This begins with an understanding of their community. As you explore your community with your Tiger Cub and your Tiger Cub den, you will be giving him and others a better understanding of the environment in which they live. Boys will develop a deeper appreciation of their community and how it works.

HELPING OTHERS

Note to Adults: Helping others should be part of anyone's life, not only because it makes for a better world, but also because it gives good feelings to both the helper and the one being helped. Giving your Tiger Cub a chance to help others enables him to learn that it is an important part of his life both now and in the future. It also lets him learn that helping others can be fun and rewarding. Helping others as a family or as a den makes the experience all the more fun and rewarding.

GO SEE IT

Note to Adults: This big idea gives you and your Tiger Cub a chance to enjoy all the special places and activities in your area. Seeing these things as a family makes for enjoyable times for all. It allows your family to have fun together, and to grow together as well. Have fun and GO SEE IT!

GETTING THERE

Note to Adults: Transportation is a big part of everyone's lives. We travel to work, we travel on vacations. This big idea lets you and your Tiger Cub explore some of the many ways people travel from one place to another As your Tiger Cub learns about transportation, you can take the opportunity to explain how important it is to be on time, to be courteous to others. You can also plan activities that will help to make your family trips pleasant experiences for everyone.

SOMETHING SPECIAL, ALL YOUR OWN

Note to Adults: This is your own big idea. Pick whatever big idea your den wants. Let the Tiger Cubs play as big a part in this as the adults. Make it fun for everyone. Let your imagination suggest whatever it wants to. Make it the den and family happening of the year What's important is that the Tiger Cubs and adults plan the big idea together. That way it belongs to you and your den.

MAKING YOUR FAMILY SPECIAL

Note to Adults: The purpose of this big idea is to help you and your Tiger Cub explore the things that make your family unique, special, one of a kind. Take the opportunity to let everyone talk about those things that strengthen the family. It will help everyone develop more of a sense of belonging and pride. And the goal of this big idea is to make family bonds stronger.

MAKE YOUR OWN

Note to Adults: The object of this big idea is to help your Tiger Cub develop a sense of pride and satisfaction by making all kinds of things. This big idea also will help him develop patience, perseverance, and initiative.

CARING FOR YOUR HOME AND HOUSEHOLD

Note to Adults: Learning what is required to keep a home neat and clean is important for a first grader Part of the goal of this big idea is to help your Tiger Cub realize that if everyone does his part to keep the home clean, neat, and fixed up, it will be a happier place to live. In addition, some of the activities in this big idea are designed to give your Tiger Cub a greater appreciation of all things that others do to keep the home in good shape. Lastly, an objective of this big idea is to help your Tiger Cub learn to follow directions.

FAMILY GAMES, TRICKS, PUZZLES

Note to Adults: Part of the goal of this big idea is to have Tiger Cubs learn to become both good winners and good losers as well. In addition, this big idea will teach them how to play by the rules and how to follow instructions. It also provides the opportunity for them to develop patience as they work to solve a puzzle or invent a new game.

FITNESS AND SPORTS

Note to Adults: Sports and physical fitness activities can be fun. Naturally, though, these activities do more than just provide fun. They can make family members healthier as well as bring families closer together Learning new sports can help give a Tiger Cub more self-confidence and self-esteem. And if good sportsmanship and teamwork are emphasized, he will learn some important things that extend far beyond sports. More than anything else sports and other physical fitness activities can spell fun for the whole family.

TELL IT LIKE IT IS

Note to Adults: Communication is a big word to a first-grade boy, but it is an important one. This big idea lets your Tiger Cub learn some of the many ways people communicate with each other. It also has the goal of letting him learn how to communicate better with those around him. The activities here are designed to make it fun and interesting.

CUB SCOUTING, HERE WE COME

Note to Adults: Tiger Cub dens are part of a Cub Scout pack, and both the Cub Scouts and the adults who run the Cub Scout pack are looking forward to having your tiger Cubs become Cub Scouts after their time as Tiger Cubs. Cub Scouting will build on what your tiger Cub has learned and discovered as a Tiger Cub. This big idea will be carried out by you and your den and by your Tiger Cub coach. Unlike the other big ideas in your Family Activity Book, this big idea is set up on an organized basis and is designed to be held at specified times of the year. Your coach will contact you with details at the proper times. We would ask that as you take part in the various activities in the big idea, look over Cub Scouting. Me program can do wonderful things for your Tiger Cub and you.

TIGER CUB RECOGNITION

Tiger Cubs BSA is planned so that it can be operated on a casual, success-filled basis. Child development professionals involved in the ongoing evaluation of the program believe that a structured advancement program with requirements and badges is not appropriate for first graders.

The Tiger Cub recognition is simple. It is hoped that partic­ipation and activity remain the core of the Tiger Cub program and that incentives are motivators rather than the final goal.

Tiger Cub recognition consists of a wall chart, stickers, iron-on Tiger Tracks and activity beads that can be used to keep track of family and den activities completed by the Tiger Cub. Tiger Tracks, stickers, and beads should be awarded as soon after the activity as possible. The stickers and activity beads may be awarded for whatever activity the den desires. The Tiger Tracks are awarded for each big idea completed by the den.

Tiger Cubs do not work on Cub Scout advancement requirements until after they become Cub Scouts, although they may study the Bobcat requirements in preparation for graduation into Cub Scouting.

INSTANT RECOGNITION

Tiger Cub dens may adopt this simple scheme to recognize boys for their participation in den and family activities. Each Tiger Cub den administers the plan for the boys in their den. The Tiger Cub den coordinator should maintain the recognition items for his or her den. As soon as a boy learns the Tiger Cub Promise and motto, he may receive the belt totem.

A Tiger Cub receives one white bead for every five family activities completed from the “Activity Suggestions for Families” sections of the Tiger Cub Family Activity Book and one orange bead for each den activity completed. Den activities can consist of pack meetings, “Go See it” activities, or what­ever activity the den desires.

The Tiger Cub beads should be presented in an appropriate ceremony at a Tiger Cub den meeting, pack meeting, etc. As the beads are earned and received, a Tiger Cub will feel pride in accomplishment, and his self-esteem will develop. During participation in active games, the belt totem with beads should be taken off. The Tiger Cub Instant Recognition Kit contains enough recognition materials for five boys.

DEN DOODLES

A den doodle is a clever way of recording advancement progress of the boys in a Cub Scout or Webelos den. Each boy can add to his string on the den doodle as he completes advancement requirements. The den doodle can proudly take its place beside the den flag at pack meetings.

The den doodle’s ancestry is the American Indian coup stick and totem pole. Cub Scouts love to help make these doodles. They like to see their string of achievements grow. Let them help decide what type of den doodle fits their own den best and what kind of trophy will mark their triumphs.

No two den doodles are alike. Each one is distinctive and has the den’s number, a place for each boy’s name, and a cord or thong for each boy’s advancement record. Spools, bottle tops, colored beads, pinecones, and shells are a few of the more common items used as symbols of progress. Doodles can be either table or floor models.