Boy Scout Advancement Program

1
Boy Scout Advancement Program

• BSA Troop 944
• Montgomery District
• National Capital Area Counsel (NCAC)

2
The Scouting Program

• Outdoor activities (1/3)
• Advancement (1/3)
• Character Building (1/3)
• Scout oath and law
• Community Service
• Duty to God and Country

3
Basic Advancement Program

• Complete requirements with a sign-off
• Scoutmaster conference (uniformed leader)
• Board of Review (rank is earned here)
• Court of Honor (recognition)
• No set schedule, Scouts advance at their own pace
• Sign-offs must be done by a uniformed Scout
  leader
• A parent cannot sign off for their son, even if
  they are a uniformed leader

4
Trail to First Class

• Focus on basic scouting skills
• first aid, citizenship, fitness, camping, etc.
• Scout (10)
• Tenderfoot (18)
• Second Class (25)
• First Class (24)
• Sixty-Seven total sign-offs to 1st Class

5
Trail to First Class

• A Scout advances
• When he completes the Board of Review.
• A Court of Honor is intended to recognize
  accomplishment
• Scouts may earn sign-offs on any of the four
  ranks at any time
• Must complete all requirements for a rank before
  advancing
• Scouts often earn two or even three ranks
  together
• Its possible to advance to 1st Class in one year

6
Trail to First Class

• Sign-offs are earned at any scout activity
• troop meetings, campouts and summer camp
• Braddocks Brigade at Summer Camp
• earns 23 sign-offs towards First Class
• Special Signoff for each rank
• Demonstrate Scout spirit
• Toughest requirements
• 1st Class Cooking serve as grub master
• BSA Swim Test
• Orienteering Orienteering Campout

7
Advancement Tips

• The more active the scout, the faster and further
  he will advance
• Scouts typically loose interest in high school
• Show real interest when he completes a rank or
  badge
• Attend the Court of Honor
• Track progress
• Suggest ways to complete requirements
• Troop 944 requires Scouts to schedule an
  appointment for Scoutmaster Conference BOR
• Troop 944 does not give Scoutmaster Conferences
  the same night as a BOR exceptions for younger
  scouts

8
Advancement Tips

• Dont push advancement too much
• Every Scout does this at his own pace
• Present advancement opportunities to your son
• Point out when/how he could earn certain
  sign-offs
• Scouts really like working on advancement
  activities together
• The reward to advancement is knowing he earned it
• Two things show you think scouting is important
  for him
• Your involvement with the troop
• Interest in his advancement

9
Whats a Parent to Do?

• Present advancement opportunities
• Focus on scouting activity participation
• Special campouts for advancement
• Orienteering
• First Aid
• Summer Camp
• Show him how to read the book
• Page references listed next to each requirement
• Encourage him to get sign-offs when he earns them
• Ask the scout leaders about earning specific
  sign-offs
• Follow-up with your son to make sure he doesnt
  forget

10
Whats a Parent to Do?

• Some requirements can be done at home
• Practice knots
• Trees and plants (bring in samples)
• Three Rs, Internet safety, buddy system
• Make a personal first-aid kit
• Earn some money and save half
• Interview someone about citizenship
• Attend a alcohol / drug program at school
• Recruit a scout

11
Important

• Keep a log of the camping and community service
  activities
• How many nights of camping
• How many hours of community service
• Photocopy the scout manual sign-offs
• Keep all MB blue cards he receives

12
Trail to Eagle

• Focus on
• Merit Badges
• More independent study
• 21 total, 11 are Eagle Required
• Leadership Positions in the Troop
• Training other scouts with EDGE method
• Community Service

13
Trail to Eagle

• Star Scout
• Six Merit Badges, four are Eagle Required
• Four months of Leadership
• Six hours community service
• Life Scout
• Eleven total Merit Badges, seven are Eagle
  Required
• Six months of Leadership
• Six hours community service
• Use Edge method to teach skills to younger scouts

14
Eagle

• Must be younger than 18 years old
• Exception for some handicapped individuals
• Twenty-one total Merit Badges
• Eleven Eagle Required
• Six months of Leadership
• Complete an approved Eagle service project
• Plan, develop, fund and give leadership to others
• Approved by District Representative

15
Tips on Merit Badges

• Earning Merit Badges
• Troop has two MB events annually (four MBs)
• Scouts attending summer camp should earn four MBs
• Other special MB opportunities watch for these
• Be present, but dont participate when your son
  is meeting with the Merit Badge Counselor
• Before starting, scouts should
• get a blue card signed by the scout leader and
• meet with the MB counselor
• Keep a record of Camping Nights and Community
  Service
• Camping MB other advancement requirements

16
More Tips on Merit Badges

• A scout may earn merit badges at any time, even
  as a Tenderfoot or Scout
• Some Merit Badges are easier than others
• Use the worksheets on www.meritbadge.org to write
  up / record requirements
• Completed Merit Badge requirements never expire
• Keep the Blue MB Cards for your son

17
About Eagle Projects

• Should start as soon as he earns Life rank
• Scout must contact Mr. Lord for prior approval
• Must be for a Non Profit
• Download the BSA Eagle Project Guide
• Places to go for Eagle projects
• BCC Isaac Walton League
• Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC)
• MNPPC

18
Eagle Palms

• After completing Eagle Rank, earn a palm for each
  five MBs
• Bronze, Gold, Silver Palms
• Eagle Palms are not a rank but an award
• Requirements include
• Must be younger than 18 years old
• earn 5 additional Merit Badges after earning the
  Eagle Scout Rank or last Eagle Palm,
• 3 months tenure, and
• Leadership
• MBs earned any time since becoming a Boy Scout
  may be used to meet this requirement