Cub Scout Badges of Rank Changes in 2024

Traditionally, the rank of Bobcat was the first rank every scout earned, regardless of age. After completing the requirements, Cub Scouts received the Bobcat patch that went on the front left pocket of the cub scout Class-A uniform. Some of you scouts and parents this year may now be wondering: “Hey, what happened to the Bobcat patch?”

The Cub Scout Program went through a several changes and improvements over the summer, and one of those big changes is to the Bobcat rank, moved from a rank patch to an Adventure belt loop. Now every Cub Scout, from Lion to AOL, will complete a Bobcat adventure belt loop (or pin for Webelos and AOL). This ensures that the Bobcat requirements can scale and adjust with age, and stay relevant for the older scouts.

Another refreshing change is upgrading the Lion Patch from a bar below the other rank patches to a full-fledged diamond patch like the other ranks. The Lion program was re-introduced into the Cub Scout program in 2018, and the bar patch at times felt like an afterthought. This change to a diamond shape was made at the end of last school year, so when we got the patches for our graduating scouts, we made sure to get the newly updated patch for our graduating Lions. I think this is a fantastic change, and will give those new Tigers a sense of pride that they earned their first diamond patch.

Check out this helpful chart below to see the changes to each rank’s adventures to include Bobcat-related adventures for each rank.