The words we say together

Say it with the Cub Scout sign up

The Scout Oath

On my honor I will do my best
To do my duty to God and my country
and to obey the Scout Law;
To help other people at all times;
To keep myself physically strong,
mentally awake, and morally straight.

Cub Scouts, Scouts BSA, and adult leaders all use the same Oath and the same Law. A scout who learns them in a Lion den will still be saying them in high school.

The Scout Law

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent.

1. 1 Trustworthy Tell the truth and keep your promises.
2. 2 Loyal Stick by your family, your friends, and your pack.
3. 3 Helpful Pitch in without being asked.
4. 4 Friendly Be a friend to everyone, especially the new kid.
5. 5 Courteous Use good manners with everybody.
6. 6 Kind Treat people and animals gently.
7. 7 Obedient Follow the rules of your family, school, and pack.
8. 8 Cheerful Look for the bright side and help others find it.
9. 9 Thrifty Take care of what you have and avoid waste.
10. 10 Brave Do the right thing even when it is hard.
11. 11 Clean Keep your body, your words, and your campsite clean.
12. 12 Reverent Respect your own beliefs and those of other people.

Sign, salute, and handshake

All three use the right hand, with the index and middle fingers standing for the two ears of the wolf from the Jungle Book stories that early Cub Scouting borrowed.

The Cub Scout sign

Raise your right hand above your shoulder, palm forward. Hold the index and middle fingers straight up in a V, with the thumb holding down the other two fingers. Use it when a leader raises theirs, which means voices off, and whenever the pack says the Oath or the Law.

The Cub Scout salute

Same two fingers, held together, brought up to touch the eyebrow or the brim of your cap. Use it to salute the flag during a flag ceremony and the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Cub Scout handshake

Shake with the right hand as usual, but lay the index and middle fingers along the inside of the other person's wrist. It is how scouts greet each other and how a leader congratulates a scout at an award presentation.

The Outdoor Code

Said before campouts and outdoor events. It is the promise that keeps the mountains we hike in worth hiking in.

As an American, I will do my best to:

• Be clean in my outdoor manners,
• Be careful with fire,
• Be considerate in the outdoors,
• and Be conservation minded.

Practicing at home