The boy becomes a Webelos Scout upon graduation from the Bear program in the spring of third grade. He has all summer to get started on Webelos activities. Boys new to Cub Scouting can become Webelos if they are 10 years old or have completed third grade, and have earned the Bobcat badge.

The end of the Webelos Scout program is when the Webelos Scouts graduate into a troop, typically in February or March of their fifth grade year for those areas holding early graduations. Other groups may graduate at the end of fifth grade when the school year ends.
 

During these two years, the Webelos Scouts have two badges of rank they can earn and 20 activity badges. These two ranks are: Webelos badge and the Arrow of Light award. Usually the boys earn the Webelos badge during the first year, and the Arrow of Light during the second year. It is possible for a boy who joins scouting at the start of fifth grade to earn both his Webelos badge and his Arrow of Light award before it is time to graduate into a troop, but it takes a lot of planning and effort to accomplish this. The achievements, as were the Bear and Wolf activities, are primarily done at home and signed off by an adult family member after the boy has completed each one. The book is then shown to the Den Leader who records the progress and also signs the boy's book.

Instead of working on achievements and electives, each Webelos Scout works to complete a series of hobby and career Activity Badges. The emphasis shifts from home-centered activities to a series of group-centered activities conducted by the Webelos den.