RANKS/ADVANCEMENT
Advancement. Boy Scouting provides a series of surmountable obstacles and steps in overcoming them through the advancement method. The Boy Scout plans his advancement and progresses at his own pace as he meets each challenge. The Boy Scout is rewarded for each achievement, which helps him gain self-confidence. The steps in the advancement system help a Boy Scout grow in self-reliance and in the ability to help others.
The advancement program for Boy Scouts has two phases. The first phase of Scout to First Class is designed to teach the boy Scoutcraft skills, how to participate in a group and to learn self-reliance. Scout is the joining rank, and is awarded when the Scout demonstrates a rudimentary knowledge of the Scouting ideals. Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class have progressively harder requirements in the areas of Scoutcraft, physical fitness, citizenship, personal growth and Scout Spirit.
.¨ Scout
¨ Tenderfoot
¨ Second Class
¨ First Class
The second phase of Star,[5] Life[6] and Eagle is designed to develop leadership skills and allow the Scout to explore potential vocations and avocations through the merit badge program. The Star and Life ranks require that the boy serve in a position of responsibility and perform community service
¨ Star
¨ Life
¨ Eagle http://www.eaglescout.org/ Eagle Scout rank likewise requires a position of responsibility, as well as a community service project planned and led entirely by the Eagle Scout candidate and the earning of a series of merit badges. After attaining the rank of Eagle, a Scout may earn Palms for additional tenure and merit badges. See below for more Eagle information
Each rank requires demonstration of specific skills outlined in the Boy Scout Handbook. After a skill is demonstrated to a PLC member or the Scout’s patrol leader, the Scoutmaster, and or the Assistant Scout Master or an adult designated by the Scoutmaster (other than the parent) may sign off on requirements. All boys will work towards their next rank during monthly outings and summer camp. Summer camps and the 50-mile backpack trip are very productive opportunities for advancement. It is important that the Scouts participate in as many outings as possible.
Order of the Arrow
The Order of the Arrow (OA) is a program of the Boy Scout division of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA). It is the BSA's national honor society for experienced campers, based on American Indian traditions, and dedicated to the ideal of cheerful service.
Merit Badges
A parent CAN NOT serve as a merit badge counselor for their son.
If a scout wants to work on a merit badge the procedure is as follows: Let the Scoutmaster know that you want to work on a merit badge. If he approves he will then sign a merit badge form (aka "blue card") and you should present that to your counselor. The counselor will use the blue card as a way to track the progress of the scout. For group merit badge sessions that approval is handled by the sign-up process at the troop meetings.
Once the merit badge has been completed the scout should keep the
"applicant record" portion off the blue card for his records (please store in a safe place because if there is a discrepancy later this may be the only proof that exists that a merit badge has been completed), the counselor should keep the "counselor's record" portion of the card, and the "application for merit badge" portion of the card should be given to Mr. Genovese for processing and to keep in the troop files.
Several parents have expressed concern that their son is not moving quickly enough on their merit badges. This should not be a major concern. A scout that attends one summer camp can earn 3-4 merit badges. In the years that they attend both
There is a wide array of merit badge choices from which to pick your optional merit badges. (Please go to http://www.meritbadge.com/mb/ for a complete list).
As a practical matter a scout that goes to summer camp for 3-4 years should have no trouble earning all of their optional merit badges. As a practical matter it will be very difficult for a scout to become Eagle if they do not attend summer camp.
Several of the 12 Eagle Required merit badges can be earned at summer camp as well. The ones that CAN NOT be earned at summer camp are Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Personal Fitness, Personal Management and Family Life. If a scout is not comfortable in the water then the scout will need to earn the Hiking or Cycling in place of Swimming, and the Emergency Preparedness in place of Lifesaving outside of summer camp in order to qualify for Eagle.
The biggest need for merit badge counselors is for the Eagle required merit badges that can-not be earned at summer camp. There is also a need for counselors that have expertise in a unique skill that matches an interest that one of the scouts has. As an example a scout in our troop enjoys making movies and it was very difficult for him to find a counselor for his cinematography merit badge. We can always use merit badge counselors so if you would like to volunteer please let the Advancement Chair, know.
Our advice for parents of the younger scouts in the troop is to focus on
meeting the non merit badge requirements up until the time they earn their First Class rank and then switch the primary focus to earning merit badges. If the scout has gone to summer camp you will they should have met the merit badge requirement for the Star rank and possibly Life not to long after becoming First Class.
Another thing to remember is that it is OK for a scout not to earn their Eagle. We have a program that supports and encourages scouts to earn their Eagle, but our program also offers a number of great experiences not available elsewhere. If a scout has other interests it is OK for them to take part in scouting to enjoy those experiences and not focus on becoming an Eagle. They will still learn much and look back fondly on their time in scouting.
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