The BSA currently has 7 ranks for Boy Scouts. They are:
Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class,
Star, Life and Eagle.
The requirements, as well as workbooks for each rank and merit badge can also be found here.
Something NEW to our advancement
program is the Cyber Chip. It is an
internet safety program that is part of the requirements for each rank. The requirements for the Cyber Chip, as well
as additional information can be found here
or here.
Who keeps track of my advancement? - You do.
You should have your handbook signed and dated after each requirement is
completed. Our troop advancement chairperson
also keeps a record on the troop computer, but ultimately, your handbook should
be the final work.
With merit badges, it is imperative that you
keep the portion of the blue card that is returned to you when you receive the
merit badge. This card is the ultimate
proof that you have earned that badge.
Who can sign off on the rank requirements? - Only the adults leaders can do that. This differs from Cub Scouts, where the
parents can do it. Occasionally we will
authorize the senior scouts to help us with this, in which case they are
working in our behalf.
How do I earn a Merit Badge? - Merit Badges are earned independently by each
scout. They are needed for the ranks of
Star, Life and Eagle. Any Scout can work
on a merit badge. The process of earning
a badge is outlined here.
What is a “blue card”? - A blue card is the merit badge
application. It is filled out by the
scout and his councilor and returned to the troop after the badge is completed.
What is a Scoutmaster Conference? - A Scoutmaster conference is simply a chance
to talk to a Scout about how he is doing, how he feels about the troop and his
role in it, how he is advancing, and how he is striving to live up to
Scouting's ideals. Consequently, a
Scoutmaster conference can take place anytime and for any reason.
The Scoutmaster conference is neither an
interrogation nor a retesting of a Scout's competence. It should be an informal conversation between
Scout and Scoutmaster either toward a certain goal or as a requirement for advancement.
In either case, open-ended questions are
good to prompt the Scout's comments. Encourage
him to come to conclusions on his own; don't simply tell him what you think.
What is a Board of Review? - The board of review occurs after a Scout has
had his Scoutmaster review. It is the
last step towards earning a rank advancement. A board of review consists of at least three
and no more than six registered adults who are not the Scoutmaster or Assistant
Scoutmasters. It is a type of
performance evaluation. It gives the
troop committee a chance to monitor the scouts development within the
troop. It also gives the committee a
chance to review the performance of the troop leaders.
What is the value of a board of review? - The board of review is a wonderful way for
parents to get to know the Scouts in the troop on an individual basis. It's a great opportunity for the Scout to
receive praise and encouragement from adults other than his parents and
scoutmaster and assistant scoutmasters. Ultimately, should the Scout aspire to achieve
his Eagle rank, the board of reviews that he had along the way will strengthen
his performance and preparation for the ultimate board of review, the district
review that finalizes his earning of the Eagle rank.
What
is Scout Spirit?
Scout spirit
applies to how a Scout lives and conducts his 'daily' life.
He shows
Scout spirit by being a role model to his peers, living by the Scout Oath and
Law.
The concept
of Scout spirit is not based on how many Scouting events or outings a Scout
attends, but rather by how he helps bring out the best in others as a
reflection of his own character and attitude in his 'daily' life.
Tenderfoots
through Life define Scout Spirit as "living the Scout Oath
and Scout Law in your everyday life."
"Daily"
life and "everyday" life are the Scout's life outside of
Scouting.
Some
examples of Scout Spirit:
- · telling the truth,
- · sticking up for the kid being picked on,
- · handing out papers for the teacher,
- · letting everyone play a game,
- · saying thank you to the clerk at a store,
- · helping a kid that dropped his books instead of laughing at him,
- · playing fair to have fun rather than to win no matter what.
- · looking for a little fun in every job you have to do,
- · using your boring old cell phone for another year because it still works,
- · asking your buddies to not use bad language around you,
- · listening to music that doesn’t promote hate, violence, and other trash,
- · taking 5 minutes once in a while to just quietly sit outside and think about where you’re heading in life.
(12 examples of the
Scout Law)
What are
the positions of responsibility for Star, Life and Eagle?
Star &
Life
· Patrol
leader,
· assistant
senior patrol leader,
· senior
patrol leader,
· troop
guide,
· Order
of the Arrow troop representative,
· den
chief,
· scribe,
· librarian,
· historian,
· quartermaster,
· bugler,
· junior
assistant Scoutmaster,
· chaplain
aide,
· instructor
,
· Webmaster
· Outdoor
ethics guide.
Eagle
· Patrol
leader,
· assistant
senior patrol leader,
· senior
patrol leader,
· troop
guide,
· Order
of the Arrow troop representative,
· den
chief,
· scribe,
· librarian,
· historian,
· quartermaster,
· junior
assistant Scoutmaster,
· chaplain
aide,
· instructor,
· Webmaster
· Outdoor
ethics guide
