HOME—Troop 97—Scouts BSA vs Cub Scouts BSA

How Troop-level Scouting is Different from Cub Scouts and Webelos

You may be surprised how different troop-level Scouting is from Cub Scouting & Webelos. But then, kids of Scout age are very different from kids of Cub age. Here are some key contrasts:

The Cub Scout program is family-centered. Adults plan all activities, and most activities lend themselves to full family participation.
The Scout troop program is youth-centered. Scouts plan all activities (with adult guidance), and most activities do NOT lend themselves to direct family participation (because Scouts camp and function in patrol groups under their own elected youth leadership).
Adults (usually the Cub Scout's parents) conduct all Cub Scout advancement. Cub Scout camping is extremely limited, even for Webelos.
Scouts and adults other than a Scout's parents conduct most Scout troop advancement. Camping is the very heart of the troop program.

Because Scout troop advancement is so different from Cub Scout and Webelos advancement, few Webelos Scouts are prepared for Scout advancement.

Cub Scout advancement is done mostly with parents. Webelos advancement is done mostly in groups with the Webelos leaders. In either case, adults determine the timing and course of advancement with little input from the Cub Scout or Webelos Scout.
On the other hand, Scouts have almost total control over their own advancement, which they will do mostly on an individual basis with senior Scouts and with a number of different adults.