Cub Scout Uniforms
1st Grade Tigers, 2nd Grade Wolves and 3rd Grade BearsThe distinctive blue Cub Scout uniform is undoubtedly a major incentive for young boys to become Cub Scouts. The Cub Scout uniform will instill a sense of pride and respect in your son. It will identify him as a member of the most successful and enduring youth organization in the world. And face it, it makes our little guys look sharp. The uniform also:
- Reminds him to live up to the Cub Scout Promise, Law of the Pack, and motto - Do Your Best.
- Encourages neat, correct appearance as well as proper behavior (really!).
- Provides the only place for proper display of his badges and awards.
- Reminds him of the steps along the Scouting trail and encourages him to continue into Boy Scouting
- Official blue Cub Scout Uniform Shirt (long or short sleeved),
- Official blue Cub Scout Uniform trousers or shorts, no blue jeans, sweats, or athletic pants please
- Official cap with a rank emblem he is working toward,
- Official neckerchief (orange for Tigers, yellow for Wolves, blue for Bears will be provided by the Pack)
- Official brass or handmade neckerchief slide,
- Official blue socks with orange (Tiger) or yellow (Wolf/Bear) trim, and
- Official blue web belt with Cub Scout brass buckle (Academic and Sports belt loops earned by your son may be worn on his belt).
The short sleeve uniform shirt is recommended for Houston's warm climate. A long sleeve turtleneck shirt can easily be worn under the short-sleeved shirt when extra warmth is needed. The long sleeve uniform shirt may be also be worn. You might wish to purchase a cub scout tee-shirt for rough-and-tumble scout activities when the official uniform is not required.
Neckerchief and Slide An official bright brass Cub Scout neckerchief slide or handmade slide should be worn with the "kerchief." Tigers wear a slide with the orange emblem. Wolves and Bears wear a slide with a blue emblem. A lot of the Scouts will “misplace” the neckerchief slide. It is suggested that you purchase more than one, they aren’t very expensive.
Do not purchase a neckerchief. The appropriate neckerchief will be presented to you and your son at a Pack meeting.
Required Patches and Insignia (Shirt Sleeves):
Left Sleve:Sam Houston Area Council Patch centered and touching seam at top of sleeve. Integrated Pack Numerals (688) and Veteran Unit (45) Bar: (left sleeve) centered and touching Council Patch.
Right Sleeve: Den Numeral Bar with your den's number (patrol patch for Webelos) under and touching the U.S. Flag (Den 3 shown for illustration, use your actual Den number). Quality Unit Patch 4 inches down from inseam. he Quality Unit Pack will be presented by the pack to all registered cubs each year that Pack 688 earns this award. The Quality Unit Award is a symbol of your Pack’s commitment to a high quality Cub Scouting program.
Required Patches and Insignia (Left Pocket):
World Crest, a violet emblem worn above left shirt pocket and centered between the shoulder seam and top of pocket seam.
Tiger Rank Patch: When your son earns the Tiger rank patch in the first grade, it will be presented at a Pack meeting. It is sewn in the 6 o'clock position under and touching the tip of the Bobcat patch on the left shirt pocket.
Bobcat Rank Patch: When your son earns the Bobcat rank patch it will be presented to you and your son at a Pack meeting. It is sewn in the 12 o'clock position on the left shirt pocket.
Wolf Rank Patch: When your son earns the Wolf rank patch in the second grade, it will be presented at a Pack meeting. It is sewn in the 9 o'clock position on the left shirt pocket.
Bear Rank Patch: When your son earns the Bear rank patch in the third grade, it will be presented to you and your son at a Pack meeting. It is sewn in the 3 o'clock position on the left shirt pocket
Arrow Points: Gold embroidered arrow-shaped cloth badges earned during the Wolf and Bear elective program. A Gold Arrow Point is earned by completing the first ten projects in the Wolf or Bear book. Only one gold arrow point may be earned during the Wolf year, and one during the Bear year. Worn 3/4" below and centered under the current rank badge (Wolf and Bear). Each Silver Arrow Point is earned by completing ten additional projects from the Wolf or Bear book (after earning the Gold Arrow Point). A Wolf or Bear Cub Scout may wear as many Silver Arrow Points as he can earn. Worn in rows of two below, centered, and touching the Gold Arrow Point or previously earned Silver Arrow Points for each rank (Wolf and Bear).
Service Stars: They will be presented at a Pack meeting each year after your son has completed a calendar year with Cub Scouts. If you son is new to Cub Scouts this year he will not wear a service pin until next year.
Optional Patches and Insignia (Right Pocket):
Instant Recognition Kits: The instant recognition kit is worn on the right shirt pocket. Beads are earned for achievements and attached to the totem.
Tigers wear the totem with the paw print. Wolves and Bears wear the totem with the Progress Toward Ranks emblem. Please do not purchase an instant recognition kit. Pack 688 will provide the instant recognition kit.
Temporary Insignia: Cubs may wear special patches considered temporary insignia on the right pocket (e.g. World Conservation Award, Winter Camper Patch, Twilight Camp Patch, etc.) Many of these temporary patches now come with small button loops so they may be attached easily to the pocket flap button rather than sewn on. Only one temporary patch may be worn on the uniform shirt. Additional patches may be sewn on a red felt patch vest (available at the Scout Shop) or jacket. You may wish to consider purchasing the optional red felt patch vest for your son to display patches and awards that are not worn on the uniform. The Academic and Sports Letter may also be sewn on this vest to display his pins. Unless your son is very small, we recommend you get the largest youth size vest available.
4th and 5th Grade Webelos
Most 4th and 5th grade boys want to wear the olive and khaki Webelos uniform which reflects the transition Webelos make from Cub Scouting to Boy Scouting. The navy blue Cub Scout uniform and rank patches may also be worn. The new Webelos uniform is similar in appearance to the Boy Scout uniform your son will wear when he joins a Boy Scout Troop near the end of 5th grade. All Webelos in Pack 688 are required to wear the Official Boy Scouts of America Webelos Field Uniform or older style blue Cub Scout uniform to Scout meetings and functions. Your son's Webelos Scout Field Uniform consists of: Webelos Scouts may choose to wear either the blue Webelos uniform based on the Cub Scout uniform or the tan/olive uniform similar to the one that Boy Scouts wear.
For the tan/olive uniform, boys wear the official Boy Scout olive trousers or shorts and official Boy Scout tan long- or short-sleeved shirt with blue shoulder loops.
With either uniform, all Webelos Scouts should wear the Webelos neckerchief (plaid with the Webelos emblem), Webelos neckerchief slide (handmade slides are also acceptable), Webelos cap, and Webelos belt buckle.
Note that the Webelos belt buckle will fit either the blue or olive belt, but the belt loop recognitions for the Cub Scout Academics and Sports program fit only on the blue web belt.
Neckerchief Slide: The official bright brass Webelos neckerchief slide is inexpensive and optional. Many Webelos make their own neckerchief slides. Do not purchase a neckerchief. The tartan Webelos neckerchief will be presented to you and your son at the moving up ceremony in May.
Webelos Rank Badge: When your son earns the Webelos Rank Badge, it will be presented at a Pack ceremony. It is worn on the left shirt pocket
Webelos Colors and Activity Pins: When your son earns activity pins they will be presented at a Pack Meeting or Den ceremony. Activity pins are worn on the Webelos Colors.
Webelos Colors: The Webelos "colors" are woven ribbons worn beneath and touching the U.S. flag emblem on the left sleeve. They are gold, red and green; the colors of Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting and Venturing. Activity pins are displayed on the colors.
Compass Points: After earning the Webelos badge, scouts may earn the compass points emblem. The Compass Points Patch is awarded by Pack 688 after you earn seven activity badges: four more in addition to the three you earned for the Webelos badge. Wear your compass points emblem attached to the button on the right pocket of your Webelos uniform shirt. After earning the compass points emblem, boys will receive a metal compass point for each four additional activity badges you earn. Pin these compass points on the emblem in the "E," "W," or "S" positions, in any order you choose. Boys can earn the emblem and all three compass points by completing 19 activity badges, including the three required for the Webelos badge.
Arrow of Light Award: When earned this patch is worn on the left pocket flap centered over the button. This is the highest award in Cub Scouting and the only Cub Scout badge that may be later worn on the Boy Scout uniform.
Optional Patches and Insignia:
Academic and Sports Belt Loops and Pins (optional for all Tigers, Cubs and Webelos): when earned, Academic & Sports Program belt loops are worn on the belt and pins are worn on the cap or Cub Scout letter. A & S belt loops and pins are presented to cubs and parents at Pack meetings.
Neatness and approximate positioning are more important than precision. Many of the local laundry and dry cleaning establishments will sew these patches on for a reasonable fee. Please print a copy of the "Cub Scout Uniform Inspection Sheet" to use as a guide. The Cub Scout Handbooks also contain illustrations showing the correct position of most patches.
Don't hesitate to contact your den or patrol leader, if you have any questions.
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