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Advancement – Arrow of Light

The Webelos and Arrow of Light Requirements are current as of December 2016.  The most recent update to the requirements are contained in the following addendum to the Webelos handbook:

WEBELOS and Arrow of Light Addendum

Earning the Arrow of Light Rank


To earn the rank of Arrow of Light (AoL), your Scout will need the Webelos Handbook. All advancement requirements are listed in the Handbook, and are available on our advancement tracking site at http://www.scoutbook.com. Below is an outline of the material covered in the handbook.

Note: While some of these activities may be done at home, unlike in earlier ranks, completion is verified and signed off by the Den Leader, not the parent. Completions will be recorded in the Handbook or on ScoutBook.com after a leader confirms the boy has completed the task.

Note: As with other ranks, participating and doing one’s best in an activity constitutes completion.

Bobcat

To begin his path to the Arrow of Light Rank, a boy must first earn the Bobcat Badge. Other earlier ranks (e.g. Tiger, Wolf, Bear, or Webelos) are not required to earn the Arrow of Light badge. The Bobcat requirements are outlined at the beginning of every handbook in Cub Scouts.

Once completed and recorded by the Den Leader, the Bobcat Badge will be awarded at the next Monthly Pack Meeting.

Note: Once a Bobcat, always a Bobcat… Once he earns his Bobcat Badge he can skip it in other handbooks as he advances through the ranks.


Arrow of Light Rank Requirements

In order to earn the Arrow of Light Rank, the AoL Scout must complete five “Adventures” – four required Adventures, and one elective Adventure. The Scout must also complete child safety exercises and earn his Cyber Chip online safety award.

  • Be active in your Webelos/Arrow of Light den for at least six months. (Being active means having good attendance, paying your den dues, and working on den projects.)
  • Complete each of the following Arrow of Light required adventures with your den or family:
    1. Building a Better World
    2. Duty to God in Action
    3. Outdoorsman
    4. Scouting Adventure
  • Complete one Webelos elective adventure of your den or family’s choosing.
  • With your parent or adult partner, complete the exercises in the pamphlet How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent’s Guide, and earn the Cyber Chip award for your age.

As he completes each Adventure, he is awarded an Adventure Pin which is worn on his left sleeve, pinned to his Webelos colors.


The Required Adventures

  • Building a Better World
    Complete Requirements 1-6.

    1. Explain the history of the United States flag. Show how to properly display the flag in public, and help lead a flag ceremony.
    2. Learn about and describe your rights and duties as a citizen, and explain what it means to be loyal to your country.
    3. Discuss in your Webelos den the term “rule of law,” and talk about how it applies to you in your everyday life.
    4. Meet with a government or community leader, and learn about his or her role in your community. Discuss with the leader an important issue facing your community.
    5. Show that you are an active leader by planning an activity for your den without your den leader’s help. Ask your den leader for approval first.
    6. Do at least one of these:
      1. Learn about Scouting in another part of the world. With the help of your parent, guardian, or den leader, pick one country where Scouting exists, and research its Scouting program.
      2. Set up an exhibit at a pack meeting to share information about the World Friendship Fund.
      3. Under the supervision of your parent, guardian, or den leader, connect with a Scout in another country during an event such as Jamboree on the Air or Jamboree on the Internet or by other means.
      4. Learn about energy use in your community and in other parts of the world.
      5. Identify one energy problem in your community, and find out what has caused it.
  • Duty to God in Action
    Complete Requirements 1 and 2 plus at least two others of your choice.

    1. Discuss with your parent, guardian, den leader, or other caring adult what it means to do your duty to God. Tell how you do your duty to God in your daily life.
    2. Under the direction of your parent, guardian, or religious or spiritual leader, do an act of service for someone in your family, neighborhood, or community. Talk about your service with your family. Tell your family how it related to doing your duty to God.
    3. Earn the religious emblem of your faith that is appropriate for your age, if you have not done so already.
    4. With your parent, guardian, or religious or spiritual leader, discuss and make a plan to do two things you think will help you better do your duty to God. Do these things for a month.
    5. Discuss with your family how the Scout Oath and Scout Law relate to your beliefs about duty to God.
    6. For at least a month, pray or reverently meditate each day as taught by your family or faith community.
  • Outdoorsman
    Complete Option A (campout with a tent) or Option B (outdoor activity).

    1. Option A:
      1. With the help of your den leader or family, plan and participate in a campout.
      2. On arrival at the campout, with your den and den leader or family, determine where to set up your tent. Demonstrate knowledge of what makes a good tent site and what makes a bad one. Set up your tent without help from an adult.
      3. Once your tents are set up, discuss with your den or family what actions you should take in the case of the following extreme weather events which could require you to evacuate:
        1. a. Severe rainstorm causing flooding
        2. b. Severe thunderstorm with lightning or tornadoes
        3. c. Fire, earthquake, or other disaster that will require evacuation. Discuss what you have done to minimize as much danger as possible.
      4. Recite the Outdoor Code and the Leave No Trace Principles for Kids from memory. Talk about how you can demonstrate them while you are working on your Arrow of Light. After one outing, list the things you did to follow the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace.
      5. Show how to tie a bowline. Explain when this knot should be used and why. Teach it to another Scout who is not a Webelos Scout.
    2. Option B:
      1. With the help of your den leader or family, plan and participate in an outdoor activity.
      2. Discuss with your den or family what actions you should take in the case of the following extreme weather events:
        1. a. Severe rainstorm causing flooding
        2. b. Severe thunderstorm with lightning or tornadoes
        3. c. Fire, earthquake, or other disaster that will require evacuation. Discuss what you have done to minimize as much danger as possible.
      3. Show how to tie a bowline. Explain when this knot should be used and why. Teach it to another Scout who is not a Webelos Scout.
      4. Recite the Outdoor Code and the Leave No Trace Principles for Kids from memory. Talk about how you can demonstrate them while you are working on your Arrow of Light. After one outing, list the things you did to follow the Outdoor Code and Leave No Trace.

  • Scouting Adventure
    Complete the following Requirements.

    1. Prepare yourself to become a Boy Scout by completing at least a-c below:
      1. Repeat from memory the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan. In your own words, explain their meanings to your den leader, parent, or guardian.
      2. Explain what Scout spirit is. Describe for your den leader, parent, or guardian some ways you have shown Scout spirit by conducting yourself according to the Scout Oath, Scout Law, Scout motto, and Scout slogan.
      3. Give the Boy Scout sign, salute, and handshake. Explain when to use each.
      4. Describe the First Class Scout badge, and tell what each part stands for. Explain the significance of the First Class Scout badge.
      5. Repeat from memory the Pledge of Allegiance. In your own words, explain its meaning
    2. Visit a Boy Scout troop meeting with your parent or guardian and, if possible, with your den members and leaders. After the meeting, do the following:
      1. Describe how the Scouts in the troop provide its leadership.
      2. Describe the four steps of Boy Scout advancement.
      3. Describe ranks in Boy Scouting and how they are earned.
      4. Describe what merit badges are and how they are earned.
    3. Practice the patrol method in your den for one month by doing the following:
      1. Explain the patrol method. Describe the types of patrols that might be part of a Boy Scout troop.
      2. Hold an election to choose the patrol leader.
      3. Develop a patrol name and emblem (if your den does not already have one), as well as a patrol flag and yell. Explain how a patrol name, emblem, flag, and yell create patrol spirit.
      4. As a patrol, make plans to participate in a Boy Scout troop’s campout or other outdoor activity.
    4. With your Webelos den leader, parent, or guardian, participate in a Boy Scout troop’s campout or other outdoor activity. Use the patrol method while on the outing.
    5. Do the following:
      1. Show how to tie a square knot, two half hitches, and a taut-line hitch. Explain how each knot is used.
      2. Show the proper care of a rope by learning how to whip and fuse the ends of different kinds of rope.
    6. Demonstrate your knowledge of the pocketknife safety rules and the pocketknife pledge. If you have not already done so, earn your Whittling Chip card.

Individual Adventure Pins are awarded to each AoL Scout as they are earned. After completing the four required and one elective Adventures, the AoL Scout is awarded the Arrow of Light rank. Rank awards are presented to the Scout during Pack ceremonies to allow all members of the Pack to recognize your Scout’s achievements.


Note to Parents

  1. Your Den Leader will track the advancement items completed during Den and Pack activities.
  2. You should use the Scout Handbook or ScoutBook website (preferred) to monitor your Scout’s advancement progress. When necessary, encourage your Scout to work on items to keep him on track for the year.
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