Cubs Badges Explained: A Guide for Parents and Leaders

What Are Cub Scout Badges?

Cub Scouts are generally aged 8 to 10½ and are the third section of the UK Scouts programme.

During their time in Cubs, young people are encouraged to:

Badges are one of the ways that these experiences and achievements can be recognised.

For parents, however, understanding all the different types of Cub badges can sometimes be confusing.

So how does the badge system actually work?

How Do Cubs Earn Badges?

Cubs earn badges by completing the relevant requirements.

These requirements can involve:

Many of these activities can be completed as part of the normal Cub programme.

That means earning badges doesn’t necessarily mean Cubs have to do lots of additional work at home.

🐺 BADGES ARE ABOUT PROGRESS

Cubs don’t all start with the same abilities or interests.

One Cub might already be confident outdoors, while another might be trying camping for the first time.

Progress matters more than comparison.

What Types of Cub Badges Are There?

The Cub programme contains several different types of badges.

These can broadly be grouped into:

Challenge Awards

Challenge badges encourage Cubs to take part in a broad range of activities and experiences.

Rather than concentrating on just one skill, they can cover several areas of the programme.

Activity Badges

Activity badges focus on a particular skill, subject, hobby or experience.

These allow Cubs to explore things they enjoy and discover new interests.

Staged Activity Badges

Some activities can be developed progressively through different stages.

This allows a young person to continue developing a skill as they move through the different Scout sections.

Progression and Other Awards

The programme also recognises different stages and achievements throughout a young person’s Scouting journey.

The exact badge structure can change, so use the current official programme when checking specific requirements.

Cub Challenge Awards

Challenge awards are an important part of the Cub programme.

They encourage Cubs to experience different areas of Scouting, rather than concentrating entirely on one particular skill.

A challenge might involve several activities covering areas such as:

The requirements should always be checked against the current official Cub programme.

Cub Activity Badges

Activity badges allow Cubs to explore individual subjects or skills.

There are lots of different interests that can be explored through the programme.

For example, a Cub might discover an interest in:

• Nature
• Cooking
• Outdoor activities
• Crafts
• Sports
• Science
• Technology
• Practical skills

The beauty of activity badges is that they can introduce Cubs to something they’ve never tried before.

A badge might even introduce them to a hobby that stays with them long after they’ve left Cubs.

💡 FOR PARENTS

If your Cub suddenly becomes fascinated by a particular badge, that’s a good opportunity to encourage them to explore the subject.

However, don’t feel that you need to turn every badge requirement into homework.

Speak to the Cub leader first. Many activities will be covered naturally during Colony meetings, camps and events.

Do Cubs Have to Earn Every Badge?

No.

Cubs don’t need to collect every available badge.

Leaders choose activities that are appropriate for their group and the programme they’re running.

Some Cubs may earn lots of activity badges because they enjoy working towards them.

Others may earn fewer.

That doesn’t mean one Cub is getting more out of Scouting than another.

The programme is about:

Trying.

Learning.

Exploring.

Helping.

Having adventures.

Where Do Cub Badges Go?

Cub badges are sewn onto the Scout uniform in their appropriate positions.

Different badges have different locations.

If you’re unsure where a particular badge belongs, check the latest uniform guidance from The Scouts or ask the Cub leader.

It’s a good idea to check before sewing badges onto the uniform, especially if you’re new to Scouting.

What Are Staged Activity Badges?

Staged activity badges are designed to allow young people to develop particular skills progressively.

Rather than learning something once and then stopping, a staged badge allows the skill to become more advanced as the young person progresses through the Scouts sections.

This is useful because an eight-year-old Cub and a teenager in Explorers obviously won’t have the same level of ability.

The staged approach allows the challenge to increase over time.

🌟 WHY STAGED BADGES MATTER

A young person might start with a very basic skill.

Later, they can revisit that same skill and work towards a more advanced level.

This creates a sense of continuous progression, rather than starting from scratch every time they move sections.

Can Cubs Work Towards Badges at Home?

Some badge requirements may be suitable for completing outside the normal Cub programme.

However, parents shouldn’t assume that an activity automatically counts towards a badge.

If your Cub wants to work on a particular badge at home, speak to their leader.

The leader can explain:

• Which requirements need to be completed
• Whether activities can be done at home
• What evidence might be needed
• Whether the activity is already being covered by the group

This can also prevent children from doing unnecessary work.

Are Cub Badges a Competition?

They shouldn’t be.

It can be tempting for young people to compare their uniforms and count how many badges they’ve collected.

But Scouting isn’t designed around who has the biggest badge collection.

A Cub who earns fewer badges but gains confidence, makes friends and discovers a new interest is still getting enormous value from the programme.

Encourage Cubs to compare themselves with themselves.

Ask:

“What can you do now that you couldn’t do before?”

That’s a much better measure of progress.

Why Are Cub Badges Useful?

Badges can have several benefits.

Recognition

They give Cubs something tangible to show for their achievement.

Motivation

Working towards a badge can encourage a Cub to try something new.

Progress

Badges can demonstrate how skills develop over time.

Memories

A badge can remind someone of a particular camp, activity or experience years later.

Variety

The badge programme encourages young people to experience different areas of Scouting.

Badges and Personal Development

One of the most valuable aspects of the Cub programme is that achievement doesn’t have to mean perfection.

A Cub who has never slept outdoors before might find their first camp challenging.

A Cub who isn’t confident speaking in front of people might find a presentation difficult.

A Cub who isn’t naturally sporty might struggle with a physical activity.

Completing something despite those challenges can be a significant achievement.

That’s why badges can be especially valuable when leaders focus on personal progress.

🏕️ THE REAL ACHIEVEMENT

A badge might say that a Cub completed an activity.

But the story behind that badge might be:

“I was nervous, but I tried.”

“I couldn’t do it at first, but I kept practising.”

“I’d never done that before.”

Those are often the achievements that matter most.

What Happens When Cubs Move to Scouts?

Cubs normally move on to Scouts around their tenth or eleventh birthday, depending on their individual circumstances and local arrangements.

The move introduces a new stage of the programme with:

• More independence
• New challenges
• More advanced skills
• New adventures
• New badges
• Greater responsibility

The skills developed in Cubs provide an excellent foundation for Scouts.

You can read more in our Scouts Progression guide.

What Happens to Cub Badges When They Move to Scouts?

The badges earned during Cubs remain a record of that stage of their Scouting journey.

When a young person moves to Scouts, they begin working through the Scout programme.

Some skills can continue through staged activities, while other badges and awards are specific to the new section.

The important thing is that the journey continues.

How Parents Can Help

Parents can support their Cub by:

• Asking about what they did at Cubs
• Encouraging them to try new things
• Helping them practise appropriate skills
• Celebrating achievements
• Supporting hobbies and interests
• Looking after their uniform
• Speaking to leaders about badge opportunities

You don’t need to become a second Cub leader at home.

Sometimes the best support is simply:

“That sounds interesting. Tell me about it.”

A Note About Current Badge Requirements

The Scouts programme is periodically updated.

That means websites containing old badge lists or requirements can become outdated.

For the latest information, use the official Cub Scout programme from The Scouts.

This is particularly important if you’re checking whether a particular activity counts towards a badge.

Frequently Asked Questions

How old are Cub Scouts?

Cub Scouts are generally 8 to 10½ years old.

Do Cubs get badges?

Yes. Cubs can earn activity badges, challenge awards and other badges through their programme.

Do Cubs have to earn every badge?

No. There is no requirement for Cubs to collect every available badge.

Can Cubs earn badges at home?

Some activities may be suitable for completing at home, but check with the Cub leader first.

Where can I find the latest Cub badge requirements?

The official Cub Scout programme from The Scouts is the best place to check current requirements.

What happens when Cubs move to Scouts?

They move into the Scout section and begin working through the Scout programme, with new activities, challenges and badges.

Are Cub badges carried over to Scouts?

The badges earned as a Cub remain part of their Scouting history. The Scout section then provides new opportunities for progression.

How Many Badges Should a Cub Earn?

There isn’t a magic number.

Some Cubs may have a uniform covered in badges.

Others may have fewer.

What matters is what they’ve experienced while earning them.

If a Cub has discovered a love of camping, learned how to navigate, helped someone else or developed confidence speaking to a group, those experiences are far more important than the number of badges.

🐺 A BETTER QUESTION

Instead of asking:

“How many badges have you got?”

Ask:

“Which badge was the most fun to earn?”

or:

“What did you learn while earning it?”

Final Thoughts

Cub badges are a visible record of the activities, skills and experiences that young people have during their time in Cubs.

They can encourage Cubs to try something new, develop an existing interest or challenge themselves to learn a new skill.

But badges aren’t the destination.

The real value is everything that happens along the way.

The new skill.

The adventure.

The friendship.

The confidence.

The sense of achievement.

Those are the things that stay with a young person long after the badge has been sewn onto their uniform.

🐺 THE BIG IDEA

Cub badges aren’t about building the biggest collection.

They’re about recognising the skills learned, challenges overcome and experiences shared during an important part of a young person’s Scouting journey.