How Cub Scouting Will Offer More Flexibility for Den Leaders

Busy parents, den leaders and Cubmasters are in for a treat this holiday season that will provide greater flexibility and control over the Cub Scouting program. Effective today, some adventure requirements that were previously mandatory will become optional.

In response to the feedback we’ve heard from den leaders, these modifications were developed to allow Cub Scouters more control over their den program. A national volunteer task force has reviewed the feedback and determined that the best solution is to make more of the adventure requirements optional, providing maximum flexibility and matching the needs of dens. As Bryan on Scouting puts it, the modifications “reflect the BSA’s three-step approach to new programs: Launch. Learn. Modify.”

Approved by the National Executive Committee of the Boy Scouts of America, this fine-tuning is simply part of an ongoing process to develop an impactful, innovative program.

What This Means For Your Unit

For those units who have the capacity to handle a high volume of content (meet more often, for longer periods, etc.), the optional requirements remain a part of the program.  Those dens are encouraged to complete as many of the optional requirements as they can.

For those units who’ve struggled to accomplish the greater number of requirements in the new program, the modifications will allow each adventure to be completed in approximately two den meetings per month. They are designed to make advancement achievable by all Cub Scouts.

The new requirements will be posted in a free addendum available at scouting.org/programupdates. This will supplement the handbooks in current circulation and for sale online and in Scout shops. Units do not need to buy new materials.

For an overview of these modifications, check out the full story from Bryan on Scouting. You can also review the complete list of program adjustments here.