The Bear Trail -Electives

Bear Achievements  |  Bear Tracker Spreadsheet

After a Bear Cub Scout earns his Bear Badge he may begin working on earning Arrow Points. Details are found in in the Electives section of his Cub Scout Bear 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. The Achievement requirements and the Elective requirements can be freely mixed to count toward earning arrow points.

Gold Arrow Point

For the first 10 arrow point achievements completed, the Bear Cub earns his Gold Arrow Point. Only one Gold Arrow Point is earned at the Bear level. The Gold Arrow Point is worn below the Bear rank patch.

Silver Arrow Points

For each additional 10 arrow points completed, the Bear Cub earns a Silver Arrow Point. He may earn any number of Silver Arrow Points. Silver Arrow Points are worn below the Gold Arrow Point, in two vertical rows.

Elective 1: Space (p 160)

a. Identify two constellations and the North Star.

b. Make a pinhole planetarium and show three constellations.

c. Visit a planetarium.

d. Build a model of a rocket or space satellite.

e. Read and talk about at least one man-made satellite and one natural one.

f. Find a picture of another planet in our solar system. Explain how it is different from Earth.

a. 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.)

b. Build a weather vane. Record wind direction every day at the same hour for 2 weeks. Keep a record of the weather for each day.

c. Make a rain gauge.

d. Find out what a barometer is and how it works. Tell your den about it. Tell what relative humidity means.

e. Learn to identify three different kinds of clouds. Estimate their heights.

f. 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.

This elective is part of the world conservation award, see p. 260.

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a. Build a crystal or diode radio. Check with your local craft or hobby shop or the nearest Scout shop that carries a crystal radio kit. It is all right to use a kit.

b. Make and operate a battery-powered radio, following the directions with the kit.

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a. Wire a buzzer or doorbell.

b. Make an electric buzzer game.

c. Make a simple bar or horseshoe electromagnet.

d. Use a simple electric motor.

e. Make a crane with an electromagnetic lift.

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a. Help an adult rig and sail a real boat.

b. Help an adult repair a real boat or canoe.

c. Know the flag signals for storm warnings.

d. Help an adult repair a boat dock.

e. Know the rules of boat safety.

f. With an adult, demonstrate forward strokes, turns, and backstrokes. Row a boat around a 100-yard course involving two turns.

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a. Identify five different kinds of aircraft, in flight if possible, or from models or photos.

b. Ride in an airplane (commercial or private).

c. Explain how a hot air balloon works.

d. Build and fly a model airplane. (You can use a kit. Every time you do this differently, it counts as a completed project.)

e. Sketch and label an airplane showing the direction of forces acting on it (lift, drag, and load).

f. Make a list of some of the things a helicopter can do that other kinds of airplanes can't? Draw or cut out a picture of a helicopter and label the parts.

g. Build and display a scale airplane model. You may use a kit or build it from plans.

 

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a. Make a scooter or a Cubmobile. Know the safety rules.

b. Make a windmill.

c. Make a waterwheel.

d. Make an invention of your own design that goes.

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a. Make and play a homemade musical instrument - cigar-box banjo, washtub bull fiddle, a drum or rhythm set, tambourine. etc.

b. Learn to play two familiar tunes on an ocarina, a harmonica, or a tonette.

c. Play in a den band using homemade or regular musical instruments. Play at a pack meeting.

d. Play two tunes on any recognized band or orchestra instrument.

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a. Do an original art project and show it at a pack meeting. Every project you do counts as one requirement.

b. Visit an art museum or picture gallery with your den or family.

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a. Make a simple papier-mâché mask.

b. Make an animal mask.

c. Make a clown mask.

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a. 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.

b. 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. Subject in shade on a sunny day.
5. Subject on a cloudy day.

c. Put your pictures to use.

1. Mount a picture on cardboard for display.
2. Mount a picture 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.

d. Take a picture in your house.

1. With available light.
2. Using a flash attachment or photo flood. (bright light)

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a. Make shadow prints or blueprints of three kinds of leaves.

b. Make a display of eight different animal tracks with an eraser print.

c. Collect, press, and label ten kinds of leaves.

d. Build a waterscope and identify five types of water life.

e. Collect eight kinds of plant seeds and label them.

f. Collect, mount, and label ten kinds of rocks or minerals.

g. Collect, mount, and label five kinds of shells.

h. Build and use a bird caller.

Elective 13: Magic (p 208)

a. Learn and show three magic tricks.

b. With your den, put on a magic show for someone else.

c. Learn and show four puzzles.

d. Learn and show three rope tricks.

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a. With an adult, help 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.

b. Make a sketch of a landscape plan for the area right around your home. Talk it over with your parents or den leader. Show what trees, shrubs and flowers you could plant to make the area look better.

c. Take part in a project with your family, den, or pack to make your neighborhood or community more beautiful. These might be cleanup parties, painting, planting, cleaning and painting trash barrels, and removing ragweed. (Each time you do this differently, it counts as a completed project.)

d. Build a greenhouse and grow twenty plants from seed. You can use a package of garden seeds, or use beans, pumpkin seeds, or watermelon seeds.

Elective 15: Water and Soil Conservation (p 218)

a. 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.)

b. Explore three different kinds of earth by conducting a soil experiment.

c. Visit a burned-out forest or prairie area, or a slide area, with your den or your family. Talk to a soil and conservation officer or forest ranger about how the area will be planted and cared for so that it will grow again the way it was before the fire or slide.

d. What is erosion? Find out the kinds of grass, trees, or ground cover you should plant in your area to help limit erosion.

e. As a den, visit a lake, stream, river, or ocean (whichever is nearest to where you live). Plan and do a den project to help clean up this important source of water. Name four kinds of water pollution.

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a. Take care of a farm animal. Decide with your family the things you will do and how long you will do them.

b. Name and describe six kinds of farm animals and tell their common uses.

c. Read a book about a farm animal and tell your den about it.

d. With your family or den, visit a livestock exhibit at a county or state fair.

Elective 17: Repairs (p 224)

a. With the help of an adult, fix an electric plug or an electric appliance.

b. Use glue or epoxy to repair something.

c. Remove and clean a drain trap.

d. Refinish or repaint something.

e. 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.)

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a. 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. Tether ball
6. Climbing Rope
7. Running Long Jump Area.

b. Build three outdoor toss games.

c. Plan an outdoor game or gym day with your den. (This can be part of a pack activity.) Put your plans on paper.

d. Hold an open house for your backyard gym.

Elective 19: Swimming (p 232)

a. Jump feet first into water over your head, swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, and swim back.

b. Swim on your back, using the elementary backstroke, for 30 feet.

c. Rest by floating on your back, using as little motion as possible, for at least one minute.

d. Tell what is meant by the buddy system. Know the basic rules of safe swimming.

e. Do a racing dive from edge of pool and swim 60 feet, using a racing stroke. (You might need to make a turn.)

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a. In archery, know the safety rules and how to shoot correctly. Put six arrows into a 4-foot target at a distance of 15 yards. Make an arrow holder.

b. In skiing, know the Skier's Safety and Courtesy Code. Demonstrate walking and kick turn, climbing with 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 how to recover from a fall.

c. 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.

d. 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 land in a soft area.)

e. 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.

Elective 21: Sales (p 246)

a. Take part in a council or pack-sponsored money-earning sales program. Keep track of the sales you make yourself. When the program is over, add up the sales you have made.

b. 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.

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a. Start a stamp collection. You can get information about stamp collecting at any U.S. Post Office.

b. Mount and display a collection of emblems, coins, or other things 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.

c. 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.

Elective 23: Maps (p 250)

a. Look up your state on a U.S. map. What other states touch its borders?

b. Find your city or town on a map of your state. How far do you live from the state capital?

c. In which time zone do you live? How many time zones are there in the United States?

d. Make a map showing the route from your home to your school or den meeting place.

e. Mark a map showing the way to a place you would like to visit that is at least 50 miles from your home.

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a. American Indians once lived all over what is now the United States. Find the name of the tribe who lived nearest where you live. What is this tribe best known for?

b. 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.

c. Make a model of an early Native American house.