 
Cub Scout
Academics and Sports Program (Belt Loops)
The Cub Scouts
Academics and Sports Program (Belt Loops) is one method of addressing
the third aim of Scouting: the development of physical,
mental and emotional fitness. Fitness includes the body
(well-tuned and healthy), the mind (able to think and
solve problems), and the emotions (self-control,
courage, and self-respect). As in most activities in Cub
Scouting, this is not meant to be a highly competitive
program, instead, the boys are encouraged to DO THEIR
BEST.
The Academic and Sports
Program is an optional program for all Cub Scouts. It is
not part of the normal requirements towards ranks,
except where used in obtaining various Webelos activity
badges and Wolf Elective 20 (Sports). Its purpose is to
assist the Scouts in learning a new skill, or improving
one they already posses.
A variety of
recognition items are available for the boys (Tiger
Cubs, Cub Scouts, or Webelos Scouts) who participate in
the program. (Adults are NOT awarded with belt loops or
pins.)
- Belt loops are
awarded to boys who complete the three belt loop
requirements in an academic subject or sport.
Academic belt loops are gold, and Sports belt loops
are silver (except for the Archery and BB-gun
Shooting belt loops, which are brass colored)
- Pins are awarded
to boys who choose to continue their involvement in
an Academics or Sports area and earn the pin by
meeting the appropriate requirements. Pins are worn
on the Cub Scout Academic and Sports letter
- The Academic and
Sports letter (pictured above) is available to boys
for displaying Academics and Sports pins that Tiger
Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts earn. The
letter, a large Blue and Gold "C", representing Cub
Scouts can be worn on a sweater or jacket, or
displayed or framed. It does NOT go on the uniform.
There are NO specific requirements for earning the
letter, as it is designed merely to display the
pins.
- There are also
Pocket Certificates, Activity Medals, and Trophies,
and the Participation Emblem (pictured above), which
can be awarded as the Pack decides.
The Cub Scout Academics
and Sports program is a supplemental enrichment program
that complements the existing Cub Scout program. The
Academics subjects and, Sports activities allow boys to
learn new techniques, increase scholarship skills,
develop sportsmanship - and have fun. Boys participating
in the program will be recognized for enjoying teamwork,
developing physical fitness, and discovering and
building new talents. The Academics and Sports program
encourages a boy to do his best.
Concepts and
Guidelines
The Cub Scout Academics
and Sports program is based on the following concepts
and guidelines
- The program
supplements the existing advancement and recognition
program for Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos
Scouts; it does not replace it. The program is one
element of Cub Scouting, as are den and pack
meetings, day camp, and other activities.
- All registered
Tiger Cubs, Cub Scouts, and Webelos Scouts have an
opportunity to participate in the Academics and
Sports program.
- Participation may
take place at home, with the family, or within a
den, a pack, or the community.
- Adult
participation by a parent or adult relative, if
possible, is strongly recommended for Cub Scouts and
Webelos Scouts and is required for Tiger Cubs.
- Emphasis is placed
on introducing a boy to a sport or academic subject,
allowing him to participate in it and encouraging
him to do his best. The Academics and Sports program
focuses on learning and skill development, not
winning.
- The primary focus
of the program is on scholarship and sportsmanship.
- Each Tiger Cub,
Cub Scout, and Webelos Scout will be presented with
the appropriate recognition item for completing the
requirements, whether he does so as an individual
Scout, with his family, with his den or pack, or in
his school or community.
- The Academics
portion of the program covers a variety of subjects,
including art, chess, citizenship, communicating,
computers, geography, heritages, mathematics, music,
science, weather, and wildlife conservation.
- The Sports portion
of the program includes summer and winter sports,
indoor and outdoor sports, active and less-active
sports, and team and individual sports.
- Cub Scouts who
have disabilities may select their own activities
and design their own fitness or academic program
with the help of a physician, teacher, or parent.
The Purposes of Cub
Scouting
The Cub Scout Academics
and Sports program relates directly to the nine purposes
of Cub Scouting:
- Positively
influencing a boy's character development and
encouraging spiritual growth
- Helping boys
develop habits and attitudes of good citizenship
- Encouraging good
sportsmanship and pride in growing strong in mind
and body
- Improving
understanding within the family
- Strengthening the
ability to get along with other boys and to respect
other people
- Fostering a sense
of personal achievement by helping boys develop new
interests and skills
- Showing how to be
helpful and do one's best
- Providing fun and
exciting new things to do
- Preparing boys to
become Boy Scouts
Currently,
recognition can be earned for the following 17 academic
areas:
Art,
Astronomy,
Chess,
Citizenship,
Collecting,
Communicating,
Computers,
Language and Culture,
Geography,
Geology,
Heritages,
Map and Compass,
Mathematics,
Music,
Science,
Weather, and
Wildlife Conservation.
In September, 2002,
the awards for
Astronomy,
Collecting,
Language and Culture,
Geology, and
Map and Compass, were added.
Most of the Academic
belt loops (except Collecting) can be used by Webelos
Scouts when working on various Activity Badges. To be
used for Webelos Activity Badges, the belt loops must be
earned WHILE a Webelos Scout, even if they had already
been earned by the Cub Scout while a Tiger Cub, Wolf, or
Bear. The
Science belt loop is required for the
Scientist Activity Badge, and the
Citizenship belt loop is required for the
Citizen Activity Badge, which is required for the
Webelos Badge.. The others are options for other pins,
as follows:
Currently, recognition can be earned for the following 23 sports:
Archery,
BB-Gun,
Badminton,
Baseball.
Basketball,
Bicycling,
Bowling,
Fishing,
Flag Football,
Golf,
Gymnastics,
Ice Skating,
Marbles,
Physical Fitness,
Roller Skating,
Snow Ski and Board Sports,
Soccer,
Softball,
Swimming,
Table Tennis,
Tennis,
Ultimate,
Volleyball
In September, 2002, awards for Flag Football
were added, plus Skating
(roller and ice) was replaced with separate awards for
Ice Skating and
Roller Skating, and
Skiing was replaced with
Snow Ski and Board Sports. In addition,
the requirements for Swimming and
Bicycling were revised.
The Shooting Sports belt loops and pins (Archery
and BB Shooting) can only be earned under BSA
range trained supervision. The BB Shooting loop and pin MUST be earned at a
BSA facility range.
The belt loops for
the Shooting Sports can be used toward Wolf Electives
20c and 20n.
The
Swimming belt loop can be used for the
Aquanaut Activity Badge, the Physical Fitness belt
loop can be used for the
Athlete Activity Badge, and a number of Sports Belt
loops can be used by Webelos Scouts when working on the
Sportsman Activity badge.
In addition to the other
requirements for that pin, a Webelos Scout must earn two
belt loops in individual Sports (Badminton,
Bicycling,
Bowling,
Fishing,
Golf,
Gymnastics,
Ice Skating,
Marbles,
Physical Fitness,
Roller Skating,
Snow Ski and Board Sports,
Swimming,
Table Tennis, and/or
Tennis), and two more in team sports (Baseball.
Basketball,
Flag Football,
Soccer,
Softball,
Ultimate, and/or
Volleyball) to earn that Activity Badge.
To be used
for Webelos Activity Badges, the belt loops must be
earned WHILE a Webelos Scout, even if they had already
been earned by the Cub Scout while a Tiger Cub, Wolf, or
Bear. |
