¶ Notes about Advancement for New Scouts and Their Families
- Scouts BSA has 7 ranks - Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class, Star, Life and Eagle.
- The first four ranks focus on camping, citizenship and outdoors skills. The last 3 focus on leadership, merit badges, and community service
- Requirements are signed off by Troop Guides (older scouts) or your Patrol Leader, not by parents.
- Review your progress in a Scoutmaster Conference at the end of each rank.
- After that, you discuss your progress with a group of adult volunteers called a Board of Review.
- The Scouts BSA handbook explains all the skills - knots, lashings, first aid, woods tools, map and compass.
- If you are stuck or don’t know what to do, ask your patrol leader or patrol mentor.
- Advancement is tracked in your BSA Handbook.
- Keep your Scouts BSA Handbook in one of those nice zippered book covers, or a gallon-size bag.
- Periodically take a picture of your progress and send to your patrol mentor so it can be logged electronically.
- You can work on any of the requirements from Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class and First Class right away - no need to wait to earn the previous ranks.
- Parents: periodically look over your scout’s handbook and provide them coaching or encouragement.
- Scouts are expected to complete the requirement as written, no more and no less. If the requirement says “demonstrate”, they have to DO it.
- Merit badges are not needed for ranks below Star rank. They are not a priority for the first year of scouts BSA.
- Merit badge requirements are on the Scouting.org webpage.
- You can earn merit badges in small groups, at camp, at county classes, or individually.
- You can start any merit badge you like any time. Ask your patrol mentor or the scoutmaster for a “blue card” that records your merit badge progress. They will also give you contact information for a merit badge counselor.
- The counselor will sign your blue card when you have completed the merit badge requirements. Bring the card back to the Scoutmaster for signature, and then bring it to the advancement chair.
¶ Receiving Your Awards and Ranks
Scouts receive merit and rank badges as soon as possible after they have earned them and the paperwork has been processed. This usually takes a week, but can take longer.
Scouts are later recognized at a Court of Honor.
- It is a good idea to at least earn First Class because some activities are restricted to Scouts First Class and above.
- Even if you have to stand over your son’s shoulder while they are typing, it is best for scouts rather than parents to email leaders regarding advancement, since that is how they will learn by doing.
ALWAYS CC YOUR PARENT(S) WHEN EMAILING/TEXTING/DISCORD ANY ADULT ABOUT SCOUTING!
NEVER MEET ALONE WITH AN ADULT. Take a parent or a buddy with you. It is best to meet in public, like at the library. Always let your parent(s) know where, when, and with whom you are meeting.