The first thing we would like to ask of you, the parent or guardian, is to read the PARENT GUIDE chapter,
(pages 1 thru 7) of your scout’s Bear Handbook. Then sign page 8 of the handbook. Then read pages 24 an 25
of the Handbook. These pages will inform you of what your scout will be doing this year and how you can help
guide him along the trail to earning his Bear Badge.

Before a scout can earn his Bear Badge he must earn his Bobcat Badge. If your scout did not earn his Bobcat Badge yet,
please work on Requirement 8 of the Bobcat Trail on page 21 and the “How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse”
booklet in the front of the Bear Handbook. (The other bobcat requirements will be done at Den Meetings).

To earn the Bear Badge, a Cub Scout must complete 12 out of the 24 achievements that are offered in the Handbook.
The achievements are grouped in 4 major areas, GOD, COUNTRY, FAMILY, and SELF. Within each group, a required
number of achievements must be completed, as indicated below. Also, any achievements that they do NOT use to earn
the Bear Badge may be used to earn Arrow Points.

Unlike last year, when we told the scouts which two achievements to work on each month, this year the scouts will have to
choose which two achievements they want to work on at home each month. (Remember, the required number of
achievements in each of the above groups).

There will be some achievements (or achievement parts) that will work on as a den at den meetings. An example is listed below (verify with your den leader which will be complete at this year's den meeting):