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Bear Electives

(ARROW POINT TRAIL)

As revised in the 1998 edition of the Bear Cub Scout Book.

(Revisions to requirements are shown in bold underlined type.
Deletions are shown struck through in red italics, like this text.

To see the current requirements with no highlighting of the changes,
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AFTER a Bear Cub Scout earns his Bear Badge he may begin earning Arrow Points in the Electives section of his book.

He may work on his "Arrow Point Trail" at any time, however he cannot receive Arrow Points until AFTER he has earned the Bear Badge.

There is a big difference in the achievements for arrow points for Bear. In this rank the Cub Scout can go back and do requirements from the ACHIEVEMENTS section of the book and use them as requirements for arrow points, as long as they do not count any requirements that they used to earn the Bear Badge.

The Achievement requirements and the Elective requirements can be freely mixed to count toward earning arrow points. In the following descriptions, we will use the term "Arrow Points" to refer to either type of requirement.

GOLD ARROW POINT:
For the FIRST 10 arrow points completed in his book, the Bear Cub earns his GOLD ARROW POINT.
 
SILVER ARROW POINTS:
For EACH 10 arrow points completed (AFTER HE EARNS THE GOLD ARROW POINT) the Bear Cub earns a SILVER ARROW POINT.

As a BEAR Cub Scout, a boy may earn any number of SILVER ARROW POINTS, but he may only earn ONE GOLD ARROW POINT for the first 10 elective points that he completes.

BEAR ELECTIVES

  1. Space
  2. Weather
  3. Radio
  4. Electricity
  5. Boats
  6. Aircraft
  7. Things That Go
  8. Cub Scout Band
  9. Art
  10. Masks
  11. Photography
  12. Naturecrafts
  13. Magic
  14. Landscaping
  15. Water and Soil Conservation
  16. Farm Animals
  17. Repairs
  18. Backyard Gym
  19. Swimming
  20. Sports
  21. Sales
  22. Collecting Things
  23. Maps
  24. Native American Life

The following is a list of the ELECTIVES for arrow points. To see what is available in the Achievements section - see Bear Badge requirements.

  1. SPACE (Page 160)
    1. Identify two constellations and the North Star.
    2. Make a pinhole planetarium and show three constellations.
    3. Visit a planetarium.
    4. Build a model of a rocket or space satellite.
    5. Read and talk about at least one man-made satellite and one natural one.
    6. Find a picture of another planet in our solar system. Explain how it is different from Earth.

    Back to the Electives List

  2. WEATHER (Page 162)
    This elective is also part of the World Conservation Award.
    1. Learn how to read a thermometer. Put a thermometer outdoors and read it at the same time every day for 2 weeks. Keep a record of each day's temperature and a description of the weather each day (fair skies, rain, fog, snow, etc.).
    2. Build a weather vane. Record wind direction for 2 weeks every day at the same hour for 2 weeks.  Keep a record of the weather for each day.
    3. Make a rain gauge.
    4. Find out what a barometer is and how it works. Tell your den about it. Tell what "relative humidity" means.
    5. Learn to identify three different kinds of clouds. Estimate their heights.
    6. Watch the weather forecast on TV every day for 2 weeks. Describe three different symbols used on weather maps. Keep a record of how many times the weather forecast is correct.

    Back to the Electives List

  3. RADIO (Page 168)
    1. Build a crystal or diode radio. Check with your local craft or hobby shop or in the Boys' Life ads the nearest Scout shop that carries a crystal radio kit.  It is all right to use a kit.
    2. Make and operate a battery powered radio, following the directions with the kit.

    Back to the Electives List

  4. ELECTRICITY (Page  170)
    1. Wire a buzzer or doorbell.
    2. Make an electric buzzer game.
    3. Make a simple bar or horseshoe electromagnet.
    4. Use a simple electric motor.
    5. Make a crane with an electromagnetic lift.

    Back to the Electives List

  5. BOATS (Page  174)
    1. Help your dad or any other an adult rig and sail a real boat.
    2. Help your dad or any other an adult repair a real boat or canoe.
    3. Know the flag signals for storm warnings   warning flag signals.
    4. Help an adult repair a boat dock.
    5. Know the rules of boat safety.
    6. With an adult, demonstrate forward strokes, turns, and backstrokes. Row a boat around a 100-yard course involving two turns.

    Back to the Electives List

  6. AIRCRAFT (Page  180)
    1. Identify five different kinds of aircraft in flight, if possible, or from models or photos.
    2. Ride in an airplane (commercial or private).
    3. Explain how a hot air balloon works.
    4. Build and fly a model airplane. (You can use a kit. Every time you do this differently, it counts as a completed project.)
    5. Sketch and label an airplane showing the direction of forces acting on it (lift, drag, and load).
    6. Make a list of What are some of the things a helicopter can do that other kinds of airplanes can't. Make a list.  Draw or cut out a picture of a helicopter and label the parts.
    7. Build and display a scale airplane model. You may use a kit or build it from plans.

    Back to the Electives List

  7. THINGS THAT GO (Page  184)
    1. Make a scooter or a Cubmobile. Know the safety rules.
    2. Make a windmill.
    3. Make a waterwheel.
    4. Make an invention of your own design that goes.

    Back to the Electives List

  8. CUB SCOUT BAND (Page  188)
    1. Make and play a homemade musical instrument - cigarbox banjo, washtub bull fiddle, a drum or rhythm set, tambourine. etc.
    2. Learn to play two familiar tunes on an ocarina, a harmonica, or a tonette.
    3. Play in a den band using homemade or regular musical instruments. Play at a pack meeting.
    4. Play two tunes on any recognized band or orchestra instrument.

    Back to the Electives List

  9. ART (Page  192)
    1. Do an original art project and show it at a pack meeting. Every project you do counts as one requirement 
      Here are some Some ideas for art projects are:
      Mobile or wire sculpture, Silhouette, Acrylic painting, Watercolor painting, Collage, Mosaic, Clay sculpture, Silk screen picture.
    2. Visit an art museum or picture gallery with your den or family.

    Back to the Electives List

  10. MASKS (Page  196)
    1. Make a simple papier-m�ch� mask.
    2. Make an animal mask.
    3. Make a clown mask.

    Back to the Electives List

  11. PHOTOGRAPHY (Page  200)
    1. Practice holding a camera still in one position. Learn to push the shutter button without moving the camera. Do this without film in the camera until you have learned how. Look through the viewfinder and see what your picture will look like. Make sure that everything you want in your picture is in the frame of your viewfinder.
    2. Take five pictures of the same subject in different kinds of light.
      1. Subject in direct sun with direct light.
      2. Subject in direct sun with side light.
      3. Subject in direct sun with back light.
      4. On a sunny day, Subject in shade on a sunny day.
      5. Subject on a cloudy day.
    3. Put your pictures to use.
      1. Mount a picture on cardboard for display.
      2. Mount on cardboard and give it to a friend.
      3. Make three pictures that show how something happened (tell a story) and write a one sentence explanation for each.
    4. Take Make a picture in your house.
      1. With available light.
      2. Using a flash attachment or photoflood (bright light).

    Back to the Electives List

  12. NATURE CRAFTS (Page  204)
    This elective is also part of the World Conservation Award.
    1. Make shadow prints or blueprints of three kinds of leaves.
    2. Make a display of eight different animal tracks with an eraser print.
    3. Collect, press, and label 10 kinds of leaves.
    4. Build a waterscope and identify five types of water life.
      mount, and label 10 kinds of insects.
    5. Collect eight kinds of plant seeds and label them.
    6. Collect, mount, and label 10 kinds of rocks or minerals.
    7. Collect, mount, and label five kinds of shells.
    8. Build and use a bird caller
      Make a spider web print; mount and display it.

      Back to the Electives List

  13. MAGIC (Page  208)
    1. Learn and show three magic tricks.
    2. With your den, put on a magic show for your pack someone else.
    3. Learn and show four puzzles.
    4. Learn and show three rope tricks. Electives List

    Back to the Electives List

  14. LANDSCAPING (Page  214)
    1. With an adult, help Help your parents take care of your lawn or help take care of the lawn of a public building, school, or church. Seed bare spots. Get rid of weeds. Pick up litter. Agree ahead of time on what you will do.
    2. Make a sketch of a landscape plan for the area right around your house or apartment building home. Talk it over with a parent your parents or den leader. Show what which trees, shrubs and flowers you could plant to make the area look better.
    3. Take part in a project with your family, den, or pack to make your neighborhood or community more beautiful. These might be having a cleanup parties party, painting, cleaning and painting trash barrels, and removing ragweed. (Each time you do this differently, it counts as a completed project.)
    4. Build a greenhouse and grow 20 plants from seed. You can use a package of garden seeds, or use beans, pumpkin seeds, or watermelon seeds.

    Back to the Electives List

  15. WATER AND SOIL CONSERVATION (Page  218)
    This elective is also part of the World Conservation Award.
    1. Dig a hole or find an excavation project and describe the different layers of soil you see and feel. (Do not enter an excavation area alone or without permission.)
    2. Explore three kinds of earth by conducting a soil experiment.
      Take three cans the same size and punch four holes in the bottom of each with a hammer and nail.  Put clay in the first can, soil in the second can, and sand in the third can.  Fill all three cans one-half full of soil.  Pour one-half can of water into each can, one at a time.  Write down the time it takes the water to run through (until dripping stops) each kind of earth.   (The three kinds of earth are not good for growing things alone, but when mixed together they make very good soil.)
    3. Visit a burned-out forest or prairie area, or a slide area, with your den or your family. Talk to a member of the U.S. Forest Service soil and water conservation officer or forest ranger about how the area will be planted and cared for, to grow again so that it will grow to be the way it was before the accident fire or slide
    4. Some people like to use live Christmas trees.   After Christmas, plant the tree in your yard, or at school, your Boy Scout council service center, or a park.  Find out all the things you need to know about how to take care of a live Christmas tree in your home.
    5. e. What is erosion? Find out the kinds of grasses, trees, or ground cover you should plant in your area to help limit erosion.
    6. f. As a den, visit a lake, stream, river, or ocean (whichever is nearest where you live). Plan and do a den project to help clean up this important source of water. Name four kinds of water pollution.

    Back to the Electives List

  16. FARM ANIMALS (Page  222)
    1. Take care of a farm animal. Decide with your parent the things you will do and how long you will do them.
    2. Name and describe six kinds breeds of farm animals and tell their common uses.
    3. Read a book about a farm animals and tell your den about it.
    4. With your family or den, visit a livestock exhibit at a county or state fair.

    Back to the Electives List

  17. REPAIRS (Page  224)
    1. With the help of an adult, fix an electric plug or an electric appliance.
    2. Use glue or epoxy to repair something.
    3. Remove and clean a drain trap.
    4. Refinish or repaint something.
    5. Agree with an adult in your family on some repair job to be done and do it. (Each time you do this differently, it counts as a completed project.)

    Back to the Electives List

  18. BACKYARD GYM (Page  228)
    1. Build and use an outdoor gym with at least three items from this list.
      1. Balance board
      2. Trapeze
      3. Tire walk
      4. Tire swing
      5. Tetherball
      6. Climbing rope
      7. Running long jump area.
    2. Build three outdoor toss games.
    3. Plan an outdoor game or gym day with your den. (This can be part of a pack activity). Put your plans on paper.
    4. Hold an open house for your backyard gym.

    Back to the Electives List

  19. SWIMMING (Page  232)
    1. Jump feetfirst into water over your head, swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, turn around, and swim back.
    2. Swim on your back, using a resting stroke, the elementary backstroke, for 30 feet.
    3. Rest by floating on your back, using as little motion as possible for at least one minute.  Also show the "drown-proof" method of floating face down for 4 minutes. ("Drown-proof" floating or bobbing [jellyfish float] uses a minimum of arm and leg movement to lift the head for breathing.
    4. Tell what is meant by the buddy plan system. Know and the basic rules of safe swimming and simple rescue.
    5. Do a racing dive from edge of pool and swim 60 feet, using a racing stroke. (You may need to make a turn.)

    Back to the Electives List

  20. SPORTS (Page  238)
    1. In archery, know the safety rules. Know how to shoot correctly. Put six arrows into a 4-foot target at a distance of 15 yards feet. Make an arrow holder.
    2. In skiing, know the Skier's Safety and Courtesy Code. Demonstrate walking and kick turn, climbing with a sidestep side step or herringbone, a snowplow stop, a stem turn, four linked snowplow or stem turns, and straight running in a downhill position or a cross-country position, and show how to recover from a fall.
    3. In ice skating, know the safety rules. From a standing start, skate forward 150 feet; and come to a complete stop within 20 feet. Skate around a corner clockwise and counterclockwise without coasting.  Show a turn from forward to backward. Skate backward 50 feet.
    4. In track, show how to make a sprint start. Run the 50-yard dash in 10 seconds or less. Show how to do the standing long jump, the running long jump, or high jump. Be sure to have Land in a soft landing area.
    5. In roller skating (with conventional or in-line skates), know the safety rules. From a standing start, skate forward 150 feet; and come to a complete stop within 20 feet. Skate around a corner clockwise and counterclockwise without coasting and show a turn from forward to backward. Skate backward 50 feet.  Wear the proper protective clothing.

    Back to the Electives List

  21. SALES (Page  246)
    1. Take part in a council- or pack-sponsored, money-earning sales program. Keep track of the sales you make yourself. When the sale program is over, add up the sales you have sold made.
    2. Help with a garage sale or rummage sale. This can be with your family or a neighbor, or it can be a church, school, or pack event.

    Back to the Electives List

  22. COLLECTING THINGS (Page  248)
    1. Start a stamp collection. You can get information about stamp collecting at any U.S. Post Office.
    2. Mount and display a collection of patches, emblems, coins, or other items to show at a pack meeting. This can be any kind of collection. Every time you show a different kind of collection, it counts as one requirement.
    3. Start your own library. Keep your own books and pamphlets in order by subject. List the title, author, and subject of each on an index card and keep the cards in a file box, or use a computer program to store the information.

    Back to the Electives List

  23. MAPS (Page  250)
    1. Look up your state on a U.S. map. What other states touch its borders?
    2. Find your city or town on a map of your state. How far do you live from the state capital?
    3. In which time zone do you live? How many time zones are there in the U.S.?
    4. Make a map showing the way route from your home to your school or den meeting place.
    5. Mark a map showing the way to a place you would like to visit that is at least 50 miles from your home.

    Back to the Electives List

  24. NATIVE AMERICAN LIFE (Page 252)
    1. American Indians once lived all over what is now the United States. Find the name of the tribe who that lived nearest where you live now. What is was this tribe best known for?
    2. Learn, make equipment for, and play two Native American games with members of your den. Be able to tell the rules, who won, and what the score was.
    3. Make a model of an Indian early Native American house.

    Back to the Electives List

Page updated on: August 28, 2022

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