Boy Scout Troop 31, Rochester NY Advancement Information

GUIDE TO ADVANCEMENT AND MERIT BADGES

Troop 31 is committed to helping scouts successfully advance through the numerous ranks on their road to Eagle.

A number of boys and their families who are new to scouting may no be aware of how advancement and merit badges work. This section is intended to provide guidance in attaining rank advancement and obtaining merit badges.

The advancement program for Boy Scouts has two phases. The first phase encompasses the ranks of Scout, Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class Scout. This phase is designed to teach the boy Scoutcraft skills, how to participate in a group environment, and to learn self-reliance.

The second phase, consisting of the Star, Life, and Eagle ranks, is designed to help scouts develop leadership skills and to explore potential vocations and avocations through the attainment of merit badges.

Phase One

This phase is devoted to teaching the boy Scoutcraft skills that he will use throughout and beyond his scouting career. Each rank has a series of requirements that the scout must complete before he can attend a Scoutmaster’s conference and eventually a Board of Review session. As a scout rises through the ranks, the requirements become more difficult.

Scouts, who have not yet attained the rank of First Class, should concentrate on completing the requirements for the next rank instead of attempting to obtain merit badges, with a few exceptions (see Merit Badge section).

Requirements for each rank can be found in the Scout Handbook. Most requirements also include a reference of the handbook page(s) that contain the information used to satisfy the requirement.

A few pointers about the requirements:

Scouts can work on requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class simultaneously. They do not have to complete all of the requirements for one rank before working on those of a higher rank. This applies only to ranks up to First Class.
Quite a few of the requirements can be completed during weekly meetings or by attending campouts.
The scout’s Patrol Leader, or a member of the troop’s senior leadership, can initial any requirement as having been completed after meeting with the scout and determining that he understands and did complete the requirement.
Parents and family members are encouraged to help the scout to complete any requirement that is not specifically identified as having to be completed with his troop or patrol. A parent and the scout should advise the Patrol Leader that the requirement has been completed and how it was satisfied. A parent or family member should not initial or signoff a requirement in the Scout Handbook.
Patrol Leaders use a portion of their patrol time in weekly meetings on advancement issues.
While a Patrol Leader will guide and help the scout in completing the requirements, the Patrol Leader cannot be expected to remember what requirements each scout needs to complete for their next rank.
It is the responsibility of the scout to make arrangements with the Patrol Leader, if they wish to work on a requirement during a campout. For example, a scout may make arrangements with the Patrol Leader to cook at least one meal if they need to complete that requirement.
It is the responsibility of the scout to schedule time with their Patrol Leader, either during the patrol meeting or otherwise, to review their progress.
Scouts should regularly give their handbook to the Advancement Chairperson so that they can record the progress in the troop’s advancement records. It is very important that all completed requirements be recorded in the troop records, as scout handbooks have a way of getting lost.

After the Advancement Chairperson has logged the completion of all requirements for a particular rank, the scout can schedule a Scoutmaster's Conference with the Scoutmaster. In this conference, the Scoutmaster will speak with the scout, determine if he is ready for the Board of Review and provide pointers on how to conduct himself during the Board of Review. The Scoutmaster usually asks if the scout is enjoying his activities within the troop and his opinion on what activities the scout would like to see added to the program.

The Board of Review consists of two or three members of the Troop Committee. Neither the Scoutmaster nor a parent of the boy who is attending the Board of Review can act as a member of the Board of Review. The review is somewhat like a job interview, where the board members ask questions of the scout to determine his readiness for the rank to be awarded. Quite often, the scout is asked his opinion on how the troop is running, what issues need to be addressed, and what suggestions he may have to improve the troop. The questions at the lower ranks are quite easy, but get progressively more challenging with each rank.

After meeting, the scout will be asked to leave the room. The board then discusses the scout’s performance in the session, and votes on awarding the new rank to the scout.

The scout then returns to the meeting room along with the Scoutmaster and is given the news by the board members.

The Troop Committee conducts Boards of Review for all scout ranks with the exception of Eagle, which is conducted at the Council level Eagle Board of Review. The Eagle Board of Review is comprised of Scoutmasters from different Troops, Scout Council Officials, and past Eagle Scouts.

Phase Two

This phase of scouting is designed to help the scout develop leadership skills and to learn about possible vocations. The actual number of requirements for the Star, Life, and Eagle Scout ranks are fewer, but more difficult. They include actively taking on the responsibility of leadership positions within the troop. Requirements also include attaining a number of merit badges, including some that are on the list of Eagle required badges. For example, the Star rank requires that the scout obtain six merit badges, four of which are from the Eagle list.

Star and Life Ranks:

A Scout must perform six hours of service to others. This may be done as an individual project or as a member of a patrol or troop project. Scoutmaster approval for ALL service hours and projects must be obtained before it is started.

All service hours for a specific rank MUST be completed during the period working for the rank. (Extra hours completed while working for Star cannot be used towards Life. Once Star rank is earned, the six new hours begin.)

Troop sponsored projects (e.g. Eagle Projects, Scouting for Food)
Organizations & Charities that are partners with Troop 31:

Walk4Hearing
Our Lady of Lourdes fall/spring clean-up
Third Presbyterian Church Spring clean-up
East Avenue Grocery Run

Soup Kitchens and Shelter

If service hours are required by your school, hours CANNOT be used for both organizations, generally referred to as “double-counting.” Participation in a Troop Fundraising event (e.g. Christmas Tree Sales) is NOT considered service hours since you directly benefit from working your shifts (in the form of Massawepie and Spring trip subsidies, campouts, program, etc.).

Once completed, all service hours are required to be logged into the Scout’s Handbook and to be signed off by the SM (not an ASM or high Ranking Scout). The Scout must notify the Troop Administrator to have TroopMaster updated accordingly. In order to advance to either Star or Life, scouts must prepare a type written narrative describing their service hours for their SM Conference and BOR. The narrative should simply provide details surrounding when the service occurred, the number of hours, what was the service, how it benefited the community, who was it for and how did it make the scout think or feel.

Eagle Rank:

While a Life Scout, a Scout must plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project to any religious institution, school, or community.
As a demonstration of leadership, the Scout must plan the work, organize the personnel needed, secure building materials and direct the project to its completion.
The Eagle service project is an individual matter; therefore, two Eagle candidates may not receive credit for the same project.
Eagle Scout leadership service projects involving council property or other BSA activities are not acceptable for an Eagle service project.
The service project also may not be performed for a business, be of a commercial nature, or be a fund-raiser.
Routine labor, or a job or service normally rendered, should not be considered.
An Eagle service project should be of significant magnitude to be special and should represent the candidate's best possible effort.

The Scout must submit his proposed project plan and secure the prior approval of his unit leader, unit committee, and district or council advancement committee, and the organization benefiting from the effort, to make sure that it meets the stated standards for Eagle Scout leadership service projects before the project is started. This preapproval of the project does not mean that the board of review will accept the way the project was carried out.

Upon completion of the project, a detailed report must be submitted with the Scout's Eagle application to include the following information:

What was the project?
How did it benefit others?
Who from the group benefiting from the project gave guidance?
Who helped carry out the project?
What materials were used and how were they acquired?

Although the project plan must be approved before work is begun, the Board of Review must determine if the project was successfully carried out. Questions that must be answered are:

Did the candidate demonstrate leadership of others?
Did he indeed direct the project rather than do all of the work himself?
Was the project of real value to the religious institution, school, or community group?
Who from the group benefiting from the project may be contacted to verify the value of the project?
Did the project follow the plan, or were modifications needed to bring it to its completion?

A the work on the project must be done while the candidate is a Life Scout and before the candidate's 18th birthday.

The variety of projects performed throughout the nation by Scouts earning their Eagle Scout Award is staggering. Only those living in an area can determine the greatest value and need for that area. Determine, therefore, whether the project is big enough, appropriate, and worth doing. For ideas and opportunities, the Scout can consult people such as school administrators, religious leaders, local government department directors, or a United Way agency's personnel.

Star and Life Rank Advancement Service Hours Narrative Samples

SAMPLE #1

Boy Scout
Troop 31
Life Service Hours (6hrs)

As a Star Scout I had to acquire six total hours in order to proceed to the Life rank. In 2010 I visited the Ronald McDonald house for a total of two hours. I went there to do service along with my soccer team from McQuaid Jesuit. While we were there we raked leaves, planted flowers, and pulled the weeds surrounding the house. Although the worked seemed a little hard I knew that helping my community out was the right thing to do. I felt as though my team and I were doing a great thing cleaning up the perimeter of the McDonald house. After our hard work the house instantly began to look better on the outside.
For the remainder of my service hours I worked a total of seven hours along with my brother and troop to preform and carry out Stephen Catapano's Eagle Project. We all met at the Turcotte household and began to work on creating birdhouses. These were designed for the blue birds of New York. We all made houses and for a grand total made about twenty houses for the birds. i knew that we were saving a lot of blue birds by making them homes to survive in. We also made sure the birdhouses we high up for protection for the birds to lay eggs.

In reflection on the hours that I served within my community I knew that I was truly being a valued member of Troop 31. Helping people or animals out and making the community look cleaner helps me build character and to become a better Boy Scout of America.

SAMPLE #2

Boy Scout
Troop 31
Life Service Hours (6hrs)

1.     On 10/10 I worked at the Brightonian Nursing home and helped the residents exercise. I did this for 2 hours and it was with some of the players from my freshmen football team. This made the residents there very happy and I also had a lot of fun helping them exercise,
2.     On 10/21 I worked at a Rochester City Schools garden. I did this for 2 ½ hours and it was with some friends. I am glad that I did this because now the students there can look at their garden and admire it.
3.     On 4/11 I worked at the Seton Sports Banquet. I did this for 2 hours and it was with friends. I enjoyed working at this because I love sports and I could watch the students from my old school receive their awards for their great seasons.
4.     Throughout the year I have alter served at my church. This added up to 12 hours. I enjoy alter serving because it gets me closer to God and being on the alter makes me feel more involved In the mass.
5.     I attended Jamie Squilla's Eagle Project in June 2010. I did this for 3 hours. I enjoyed this because it was helping one of my fellow scouts receive his Eagle and I am glad that we could make a nice trail down to the canal.
6.     I attended Pat Spath's Eagle Project in May 2010. I did this for 3 hours, I enjoyed this because it was helping one of my fellow scouts receive his Eagle and it was helping all the cats get shelter,
7.     In August I worked at a drink stand at the Park Avenue Festival for 3 hours. I enjoyed this because got to work with friends and I could sell water to all the thirsty people at the festival.
8.     In May 2010, I worked at the Walk for Hearing for 3 hours. I enjoyed this because I could help people who were walking for a good cause and because myself helped that cause.

SAMPLE #3

Troop 31

November 16, 2010

Star Rank Service Hours

Description of Service	Benefit of Service	Number of Hours
SWEM is a neighborhood food cupboard. Their goal is to provide food for needy families.	SWEM makes me fee; great because I know that I am making a difference In the community because I can help those in need	1-2 hours every month. I have been doing this for about three years.
Patrick Spath's Eagle Scout Project	We worked on Building a peace Garden for the Ronald McDonald House. This benefited me because I got to know the people I was working with	2 and a half hours
Daniel Hack's Eagle Scout Protect	During this Eagle Scout Protect we cleaned up the park and installed a walkway with some benches along the walk way.	3 and a half hours

SAMPLE #4

Troop 31
Rank: Star Rank Service Hours

Service: sophomores of McQuaid Jesuit helped at nursing homes
For: the elderly people who live at the homes
Where: Master Vie and other nursing homes
When: November 30, 2010
It felt great to help the elderly people and bring even more joy to their lives.

Service: raking/blowing leaves out of the way
For: Our Lady of Lourdes and Seton Catholic School
Where: Our Lady of Lourdes and Soon Catholic School
When: Autumn 2010
I felt good to help the church and school clean their yards and get more organized for the people coming there.

Service: helping out at an eagle project
For: Nate Moynihan
Where: the new victory garden
When: Spring 2010
I felt awesome when I was helping to plant a victory garden that was going to be seen by so many people.

SAMPLE #5

Service Hours
Rank: Star
5/9/11

For the rank of Life, I completed a total of 12 service hours. This is a listing of them:

Hours: Three (3)
What: Rochester Childfirst Network
Where: 941 South Avenue, Rochester, NY
When 1/29/11
Service: The Childfirst Network is a group that helps children who need financial help. They usually hold a yard sale to sell donated items cheaply to the kids who can’t normally afford them. These items are stored in a garage that belongs to Childfirst Network. The other scouts and I checked all of the items on tables in the garage for price tags. We also checked the floor of the garage and looked through the boxes to remove the price tags off of the items. We also placed the items in boxes so they could be transported easily. This benefitted the Childfirst Network because they normally have to clean out the garage themselves. Instead, we cleaned out the garage and helped the Childfirst Network. Completing these service hours showed me how lucky I am to have a nice family that cares for me. It also showed me how important it is to be organized.

Hours: One (1)
What: Setup for the St. John Fisher College Merit Badge University
Where: St. John Fisher College
When 2/25/11
Service: A Merit Badge University is a day long event in which scouts can earn a variety of merit badges. Tyler Borrelli and I walked through the college campus to hang up signs the night before the Merit Badge University. We walked through the campus with tape and the signs for the classrooms. We then taped the signs for the merit badge classes on their respective doors. We also hung up directions to certain hallways and other places on the campus. In doing this, the scouts and other merit badge counselors would be able to find their way around the college on the day of the Merit Badge University. This was a benefit to the planners of the MBU because the signs are not usually hung up until the day of the Merit Badge University. With Tyler and I hanging up the signs the night before, this allowed the MBU planners to be able to focus more on the merit badges.

Hours: Two (2)
What: Scouting for Food Pick-up
Where: Third Presbyterian Church Parking Lot and around Rochester
When 3/28/11
Service: I went around with Jack Sisson as my buddy to collect the bags of food and/or clothing that were for Scouting for Food. During the previous weekend, the bags were distributed to ensure that people received the bags early enough to fill them up with food and clothing. After collecting a few bags and searching through our route a few times, we headed back to return the bags we collected. We picked up a total of four filled bags and a single half-filled bag. This benefitted Scouting for Food because Jack Sisson and I collected some of the food and clothing that would be donated to them. The food and clothing would be given to the poor. These service hours taught me that you have to be very patient in order to succeed because each time we went through our route we would find another bag or two. I personally benefitted because I felt that I was helping a good cause.

Hours: Three (3)
What: Clean-up of St. Anne’s Church
Where: Clean-up of St. Anne’s Church, Rochester, NY
When 4/9/11
Service: I helped by raking up dead grass and leaves on the church grounds. I would then rake the grass and leaves into a large pile. I would bring the wheelbarrow over to the pile and shoved the grass and leaves into the wheelbarrow. I would push the wheelbarrow over to the dumpster with a buddy. After doing that a few times, we all raked up the leaves and grass into a very large pile. We shoveled and raked the leaves onto a tarp and carried it over to the dumpster for the last time. St. Anne’s benefitted from this service project because our raking was a first step of cleaning the church grounds. I learned from this project that in order to accomplish something big; you need to take it a step at a time. This relates to the service project because we only did the first of many steps for cleaning up St. Anne’s Church. After this, I decided to clean up my yard at home, too.

Hours: Three (3)
What: Clean-up of Fayette County Park, WV
Where: Fayette County Park, WV
When 4/20/11
Service: The troop went to West Virginia for our Spring Trip this year. While down there, the troop completed a service project for the Fayette County Park. The troop raked up leaves at a fire circle. The fire circle was at the top of a hill located near our cabin. We raked up leaves that were under the seats of the fire circle. We also raked up leaves that were around the fire circle into large piles. A tractor came up the hill so we could dump the leaves into a flatbed trailer. We also raked leaves near a lean-to which was located at the fire circle. The lean-to was filled with firewood. We organized and stacked the wood in the lean-to. In another section of the park, we raked along a stairway that ran up a hill and we raked along the main road. We piled the leaves along the main road and shoveled them into the same flatbed trailer. The county workers then hauled the leaves away. The troop’s action benefitted the Fayette County Park because we assisted with the clean-up of their park which allowed their workers to concentrate on clean-up in other parts of the park. This service project was payment to the country for the free use of their nice cabin we stayed in and to thank them for their hospitality. I learned to work as a team with my fellow scouts and I also learned how to rake better.

SAMPLE #6

Troop 31
Life Rank
Community Service Hours

Date: August 7, 2010
Time: 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Total # Hours: 4
Service Activity: I worked with four Troop 31 new scouts who couldn’t attend Massawepie to learn rank advancement requirements for Tenderfoot. We collected tinder, kindling and firewood, built a fire, set up a Troop 31 tent, learned how to properly display, raise, lower, and fold the American flag, whipped and fused the ends of a rope, tied square knots, two half hitches and the taut-line hitch, discussed the rules of safe hiking, the importance of the buddy system, completed the initial fitness test, and more. They also completed requirements for Second Class - 7a and 7c (First Aid). I enjoyed working with these scouts because they started to understand how scouting works. It felt good helping younger scouts begin their journey.

Date: September 26, 2010
Time: 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Total # Hours: 4.5
Service Activity: I volunteered at Flower City Down Syndrome Network “Buddy Walk” at Webster Park. I helped the coordinators set up tables and chairs, carried boxes, took photos of walkers next to sponsor signs. I enjoyed working with the organization because it was for a close family friend and I felt that the money they raised is put into research for Down Syndrome programs to help the kids get a full academic and social life.

Date: November 6, 2010
Time: 7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Total # Hours: 1.5
Service Activity: I volunteered at The Third Presbyterian Church East Avenue Grocery Run. We provided cups of water for runners participating in the race. I enjoyed working at the race because a lot of the runners were really tired and thirsty when they came by. Everyone appreciated what we were doing for them. It also helped our Troop sponsor with an activity.

Date: November 6, 2010
Time: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Total # Hours: 4
Service Activity: I participated in Pack 65 Fall Clean-Up Service Project @ Our Lady Of Lourdes Parish & Seton Catholic School (we raked and transported leaves and branches to the curb for pick-up). I enjoyed working at the clean-up because Our Lady Of Lourdes and Seton allowed Troop 31 to use their building while Third Presbyterian was undergoing construction. I felt that it helped us thank them for letting us use their space and helped keep their grounds nice.

SAMPLE #7

Advancing to Star
5/16/2011
For my Star scout rank, I was required to complete 6 hours of service.

For 4 hours of service, I was an alter server for St. Anne. I alter served with my 5 brothers and sisters. I have served for many hours and masses. I really like alter serving because it’s a great opportunity for me to serve God in a great way. When I alter serve, I am filled with the presence and happiness of God.

I also completed 2 hours of service by participating in Scouting for Food bag drop off. I did this with my fellow Troop 31 scouts and Troop leaders. I have done this project Scouting for Food many times before. I learned that while doing this many people in my local community need food, shelter, supplies, water. I also learn how important it is to help people around me in our own community with their needs, and worries. I enjoyed doing this very much because I knew I was helping people less fortunate then me.

SAMPLE #8

Star Rank Advancement
Troop 31
Service Hours

Service Place: Jamie Squilla’s Eagle Project
Hours Worked: 4
Date: Early Summer 2010
During the early summer of 2010 I volunteered and helped Jamie Squilla with his Eagle Project. I and several other scouts helped Jamie improve foot paths between the Erie Canal path and the back of the Ronald McDonald House on the corner of Kendrick Road near the University of Rochester campus. We worked on two trails. One going between the back of the house and the Gazebo. The other going from the Gazebo to the canal path. We laid mulch on the first trail to cover up the ingrown plants and dirt. On the second trail we had to trim several bushes so that they did not grow over on to the trail. There was also two tree’s in the middle of the trail that were severely trimmed. Once the pathway was clear we laid mulch on that part as well. At the end of the path we put in stair’s going down to the canal path.
The Ronald McDonald House is almost like a charity. It provides a place for the families who have a patient at Strong Hospital a place to stay during the operations or whatever it may be. The Eagle Project I think has given the family members a place of reflection during their tough times and provides and outlet from the stress that they are being put under.

Service Place: Mt. Hope Cemetery
Hours Worked: 2
Date: October 23, 26 2010
During the late days of October my brother and I went and assisted with the Friends of Mt. Hope annual Torch Light tours. These tours were not ghost tours however they were at night. My brother and I assisted in setting up and taking down the torches that lit the pathway that the tour groups were going to follow. During the tours we assisted in helping people find their way from the gatehouse where the tickets were sold to their tour group meeting stations so that they could leave with their designated tour. This service helped an organization called the Friends of Mt. Hope. It is an organization that takes donation money and fundraiser money to help with the up keep of the cemetery so that it may remain a structurally safe place. The cemetery is also partially runned by the city of Rochester who will do the plowing an grounds up keep but the friends will do the community sort of stuff.

Service Place: St. Anne Church
Hours Worked: 2
Date: Early April 2011
This event was set up by a Troop leader. During this event I and about ten other scouts cleaned up the grounds around St. Ann church on Mt. Hope Avenue. We raked pine needles into piles so that they could be picked up by a wheel barrel and taken to a dumpster. We also picked up any random trash and took that to a proper place. This benefited the church because no other crews could find a time to do this because the winter went on so late. By the end of this project the church was looking pretty good. I live one block from the church so I have to see it whenever I go home. When the church looks good I think it makes the rest of the neighborhood look good.

SAMPLE #9

Boy Scout
Troop 31
Service Hour Accounting for advancement from the rank Star Scout to Life Scout (7.5 hrs)

March 17, 2012
1 Hour
Supervisor: Paul Hill
I participated in dropping off donation bags for the Boy Scouts of America’s “Scouting for Food” program. The three bags this year were individually labeled for food, electronics and clothing donations. My team was assigned a route in the area of Monroe Avenue and Goodman Street. A parent drove us to the area and our group of three scouts delivered the three bags to each house/apartment on the route as we were instructed to do. This annual Project has made me realize that Boy Scouts and the community can work together.

March17, 2012
4.5 hours
Supervisors: Mike Sisson/Jack Sisson

I was involved in an Eagle Scout Project being led by a scout in our Troop. Jack Sisson organized his Eagle project at St. Martin’s Place at 55 Ontario Street in Rochester, NY. St. Martin’s Place had recently expanded their ministry to the poor to include giving away household items to individuals who had fallen on tugh times. Their warehouse space needed a fresh new look and lots more shelving to accommodate the many items people could choose from.

Jack Sisson’s project was conducted over a two week period. It involved cleaning, removal of old shelving and painting during one week and the assembly of shelving units and their organization the second weekend. On this particular day, I arrived after finishing my hour of “Scouting for Food” donation bag drop off, so I didn’t do any of the cleaning of shelving removal. I did, however, paint walls and trim areas.

Painting this particular day made me feel happy that I was helping my friend get his Eagle Award, and the project was also being done for a good cause of the Sisters of Saint Joseph.

April 7, 2012
2 hours
Supervisor: Roland Osterwinter

Our Boy Scout Troop 31 is sponsored by Third Presbyterian Church, which is located at 4 Meigs Street in Rochester, NY. Third Presbyterian Church also participates in a biweekly ministry where they conduct a Saturday soup kitchen for poor and/or homeless adults. Our Boy Scout Troop has begun to assist regularly in this “Dining Ministry“ event. My first Job entailed assisted in handing out full plates of food to the ministry’s guests in the dining area. I estimate that there were about 30/40 adults served during the time period. Following this, our four scouts also did some cleaning up after the lunchtime meals were finished. It made me feel good that we were helping these people, who depended on this service from the Church. One other comment I have is that the people who came to eat these meals seemed to be extremely grateful for them. One man even stayed after eating to help clean up.

BOY SCOUT RANK REQUIRMENTS (linked to National BSA Website)

Boy Scout Joining Requirements (Scout Badge)
Tenderfoot Rank Requirements
Second Class Rank Requirements
First Class Rank Requirements
Star Rank Requirements
Life Rank Requirements
Eagle Rank Requirements
Eagle Palm Requirements

BOY SCOUT RANK

Meet age requirements: Be a boy who is 11 years old, or one who has completed the fifth grade or earned the Arrow of Light Award and is at least 10 years old, but is not yet 18 years old.
Complete a Boy Scout application and health history signed by your parent or guardian.
Find a Scout troop near your home.
Repeat the Pledge of Allegiance.
Demonstrate the Scout Sign, Salute, and Handshake.
Demonstrate tying the square knot (a "joining" knot).
Understand and agree to live by the Scout Oath or Promise, Law, Motto, and Slogan, and the Outdoor Code.
Describe the Scout badge.
Complete the Pamphlet Exercises. With your parent or guardian, complete the exercises in the pamphlet "How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse: A Parent's Guide".
Participate in a Scoutmaster Conference. Turn in your Boy Scout application and health history form signed by your parent or guardian, then participate in a Scoutmaster Conference.

TENDERFOOT RANK REQUIREMENTS

Click here to watch a video about Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class Rank Advancement

NOTE: These requirements may be worked on simultaneously with those for Second Class and First Class; however these ranks must be earned in sequence.

Present yourself to your leader, properly dressed, before going on an overnight camping trip. Show the camping gear you will use. Show the right way to pack and carry it.
Spend at least one night on a patrol or troop campout. Sleep in a tent you have helped pitch.
On the campout, assist in preparing and cooking one of your patrol's meals. Tell why it is important for each patrol member to share in meal preparation and cleanup, and explain the importance of eating together.
1. Demonstrate how to whip and fuse the ends of a rope.
2. Demonstrate that you know how to tie the following knots and tell what their uses are: two half hitches and the taut-line hitch.
3. Using the EDGE method teach another person how to tie the square knot.
Explain the rules of safe hiking, both on the highway and cross-country, during the day and at night. Explain what to do if you are lost.
Demonstrate how to display, raise, lower, and fold the American flag.
Repeat from memory and explain in your own words the Scout Oath, Law, motto, and slogan.
Know your patrol name, give the patrol yell, and describe your patrol flag.
Explain the importance of the buddy system as it relates to your personal safety on outings and in your neighborhood. Describe what a bully is and how you should respond to one.
1. Record your best in the following tests:
  - Push-ups
  - Pull-ups
  - Sit-ups
  - Standing long jump
  - 1/4 mile walk/run
2. Show improvement in the activities listed in requirement 10a after practicing for 30 days.
Identify local poisonous plants; tell how to treat for exposure to them.

Demonstrate how to care for someone who is choking.
Show first aid for the following:
- Simple cuts and scrapes
- Blisters on the hand and foot
- Minor (thermal/heat) burns or scalds (superficial, or first degree)
- Bites and stings of insects and ticks
- Venomous snakebite
- Nosebleed
- Frostbite and sunburn

Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
Discuss four specific examples of how you have lived the points of the Scout Law in your daily life.
Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
Complete your board of review

SECOND CLASS RANK REQUIREMENTS

Click here to watch a video about Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class Rank Advancement

NOTE: These requirements may be worked on simultaneously with those for Tenderfoot and First Class; however these ranks must be earned in sequence.

Do the following:

Demonstrate how a compass works and how to orient a map. Explain what map symbols mean.
Using a compass and a map together, take a 5-mile hike (or 10 miles by bike) approved by your adult leader and your parent or guardian.*

Discuss the principles of "Leave No Trace."
1. Since joining, have participated in five separate troop/patrol activities (other than troop/patrol meetings), two of which included camping overnight.
2. On one of these campouts, select your patrol site and sleep in a tent that you pitched. Explain what factors you should consider when choosing a patrol site and where to pitch a tent.
3. Demonstrate proper care, sharpening, and use of the knife, saw, and ax, and describe when they should be used.
4. Use the tools listed in requirement 3c to prepare tinder, kindling, and fuel for a cooking fire.
5. Discuss when it is appropriate to use a cooking fire and a lightweight stove. Discuss the safety procedures for using both..
6. In an approved place and at an approved time, demonstrate how to build a fire and set up a lightweight stove. Note: Lighting the fire is not required.
7. On one campout, plan and cook one hot breakfast or lunch, selecting foods from the food pyramid. Explain the importance of good nutrition. Tell how to transport, store, and prepare the foods you selected.
Participate in a flag ceremony for your school, religious institution, chartered organization, community, or troop activity. Explain to your leader what respect is due the flag of the United States.
Participate in an approved (minimum of one hour) service project.
Identify or show evidence of at least ten kinds of wild animals (birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, and mollusks) found in your community.
1. Show what to do for "hurry" cases of stopped breathing, serious bleeding, and ingested poisoning.
2. Prepare a personal first aid kit to take with you on a hike.
3. Demonstrate first aid for the following:
  - Object in the eye
  - Bite of a suspected rabid animal
  - Puncture wounds from a splinter, nail, and fishhook
  - Serious burns (partial thickness, or second degree)
  - Heat exhaustion
  - Shock
  - Heatstroke, dehydration, hypothermia, and hyperventilation
1. Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe swim.
2. Demonstrate your ability to jump feet first into water over your head in depth, level off and swim 25 feet on the surface, stop, turn sharply, resume swimming, then return to your starting place.
3. Demonstrate water rescue methods by reaching with your arm or leg, by reaching with a suitable object, and by throwing lines and objects. Explain why swimming rescues should not be attempted when a reaching or throwing rescue is possible, and explain why and how a rescue swimmer should avoid contact with the victim.
1. Participate in a school, community, or troop program on the dangers of using drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, and other practices that could be harmful to your health. Discuss your participation in the program with your family, and explain the dangers of substance addictions.
2. Explain the three R's of personal safety and protection.
Earn an amount of money agreed upon by you and your parent, then save at least 50 percent of that money.
Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life. Discuss four specific examples (different from those used for Tenderfoot requirement 13) of how you have lived the points of the Scout Law in your daily life.
Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
Complete your board of review.

FIRST CLASS RANK REQUIREMENTS

Click here to watch a video about Tenderfoot, Second Class, First Class Rank Advancement

NOTE: These requirements and those for Tenderfoot and Second Class may be worked on simultaneously; however these ranks must be earned in sequence.

Demonstrate how to find directions during the day and at night without using a compass.
Using a map and compass, complete an orienteering course that covers at least one mile and requires measuring the height and/or width of designated items (tree, tower, canyon, ditch, etc.)
Since joining, have participated in ten separate troop/patrol activities (other than troop/patrol meetings), three of which included camping overnight. Demonstrate the principles of Leave No Trace on these outings.
1. Help plan a patrol menu for one campout that includes at least one breakfast, one lunch, and one dinner and that requires cooking at least two of the meals. Tell how the menu includes the foods from the food pyramid and meets nutritional needs.
2. Using the menu planned in requirement 4a, make a list showing the cost and food amounts needed to feed three or more boys and secure the ingredients.
3. Tell which pans, utensils, and other gear will be needed to cook and serve these meals.
4. Explain the procedures to follow in the safe handling and storage of fresh meats, dairy products, eggs, vegetables, and other perishable food products. Tell how to properly dispose of camp garbage, cans, plastic containers, and other rubbish.
5. On one campout, serve as your patrol's cook. Supervise your assistant(s) in using a stove or building a cooking fire. Prepare the breakfast, lunch, and dinner planned in requirement 4a. Lead your patrol in saying grace at the meals and supervise cleanup.
Visit and discuss with a selected individual approved by your leader (elected official, judge, attorney, civil servant, principal, teacher) your constitutional rights and obligations as a U.S. citizen.
Identify or show evidence of at least ten kinds of native plants found in your community.
1. Discuss when you should and should not use lashings. Then demonstrate tying the timber hitch and clove hitch and their use in square, shear, and diagonal lashings by joining two or more poles or staves together.
2. Use lashing to make a useful camp gadget.
3. 1. Demonstrate tying the bowline knot and describe several ways it can be used.
  2. Demonstrate bandages for a sprained ankle. and for injuries on the head, the upper arm, and the collarbone.
  3. Show how to transport by yourself, and with one other person, a person:
    from a smoke-filled room
    with a sprained ankle, for at least 25 yards.
  4. Tell the five most common signals of a heart attack. Explain the steps (procedures) in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
4. 1. Tell what precautions must be taken for a safe trip afloat.
  2. Successfully complete the BSA swimmer test.
  3. With a helper and a practice victim, show a line rescue both as tender and rescuer. (The practice victim should be approximately 30 feet from shore in deep water.)
5. Tell someone who is eligible to join Boy Scouts, or an inactive Boy Scout, about your troop's activities. Invite him to a troop outing, activity, service project or meeting. Tell him how to join, or encourage the inactive Boy Scout to become active.
6. Describe the three things you should avoid doing related to use of the Internet. Describe a cyberbully and how you should respond to one.
7. Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life. Discuss four specific examples (different from those used for Tenderfoot requirement 13 and Second Class requirement 11) of how you have lived the points of the Scout Law in your daily life.
8. Participate in a Scoutmaster conference.
9. Complete your board of review.

STAR RANK REQUIREMENTS

Be active in your troop and patrol for at least 4 months as a First Class Scout.
Demonstrate scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
Earn 6 merit badges, including 4 from the required list for Eagle.*
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
While a First Class Scout, take part in service projects totaling at least 6 hours of work. These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster.
While a First Class Scout, serve actively 4 months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility (or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop):

Boy Scout troop.

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 ,
troop Webmaster, or
Leave No Trace trainer.

Take part in a Scoutmaster conference
Complete your board of review.

* Choose any of the 15 required merit badges in the 12 categories to fulfill requirement 3. See requirement 3 in the Eagle Scout requirements for a list of badges required for Eagle.

LIFE RANK REQUIREMENTS

Be active in your troop and patrol for at least 6 months as a Star Scout.
Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
Earn 5 more merit badges (so that you have 11 in all), including any 3 more from the required list for Eagle.
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
___________________________________(required for Eagle)*
____________________________________________________
____________________________________________________
While a Star Scout, take part in service projects totaling at least 6 hours of work. These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster.
While a Star Scout, serve actively 6 months in one or more of the positions of responsibility listed in requirement 5 for Star Scout: Positions of Responsiblity (or carry out a Scoutmaster-assigned leadership project to help the troop).
While a Star Scout, use the EDGE method to teach a younger Scout the skills from ONE of the following six choices, so that he is prepared to pass those requirements to his unit leader's satisfaction.
1. Second Class - 7a and 7c (first aid)
2. Second Class - 1a (outdoor skills)
3. Second Class - 3c, 3d, 3e, and 3f (cooking/camping)
4. First Class - 8a, 8b, 8c, and 8d (first aid)
5. First Class - 1, 7a, and 7b (outdoor skills)
6. First Class - 4a, 4b, and 4d (cooking/camping)
Take part in a Scoutmaster conference
Complete your board of review.

* Choose any of the 15 required merit badges in the 12 categories to fulfill requirement 3. See requirement 3 in the Eagle Scout requirements for a list of badges required for Eagle.

EAGLE RANK REQUIREMENTS

Be active in your troop, team, crew, or ship for a period of at least 6 months after you have achieved the rank of Life Scout.
Demonstrate that you live by the principles of the Scout Oath and Law in your daily life. List the names of individuals who know you personally and would be willing to provide a recommendation on your behalf, including parents/guardians, religious, educational, and employer references.
Earn a total of 21 merit badges (10 more than you already have), including the following:

While a Life Scout, serve actively for a period of 6 months in one or more of the following positions of responsibility:

Boy Scout troop.

Patrol leader,
assistant senior patrol leader,
senior patrol leader,
Venture patrol leader,
troop guide,
Order of the Arrow troop representative,
den chief,
scribe,
librarian,
historian,
quartermaster,
junior assistant Scoutmaster,
chaplain aide,
instructor,
Webmaster, or
Leave No Trace trainer

While a Life Scout, plan, develop, and give leadership to others in a service project helpful to any religious institution, any school, or your community. (The project should benefit an organization other than Boy Scouting.) The project plan must be approved by the organization benefiting from the effort, your Scoutmaster and troop committee and the council or district before you start. You must use the Eagle Scout Leadership Service Project Workbook, No. 521-927, in meeting this requirement.
Take part in a Scoutmaster conference.
Successfully complete an Eagle Scout board of review.

* You must choose only one merit badge listed in items (g) and (j). If you have earned more than one of the badges listed in items (g) and (j), choose one and list the remaining badges to make your total of 21.

Note: All requirements must be completed before a candidate's 18th birthday, however the Eagle Scout board of review can be held after the candidate's 18th birthday.

These are Forms and Link that will assist you in making Eagle Rank and after:

Eagle Rank Application

Eagle Scout Application Guidelines

Eagle Service Project Workbook

National Eagle Scout Association Membership Application

National Eagle Scout Scholarship Application

EAGLE PALM REQUIREMENTS

After becoming an Eagle Scout, you may earn Palms by completing the following requirements: palm

Be active in your troop and patrol for at least 3 months after becoming an Eagle Scout or after the award of last Palm.*
Demonstrate Scout spirit by living the Scout Oath (Promise) and Scout Law in your everyday life.
Make a satisfactory effort to develop and demonstrate leadership ability.
Earn five additional merit badges beyond those required for Eagle or last Palm.**.
Take Part in a Scoutmaster conference.
Complete your board of review.

You may wear only the proper combination of Palms for the number of merit badges you earned beyond the rank of Eagle. The Bronze Palm represents 5 merit badges, the Gold Palm 10, and the Silver Palm 15.

* Eagle Palms must be earned in sequence, and the three-month tenure requirement must be observed for each Palm.

**Merit Badges earned any time since becoming a Boy Scout may be used to meet this requirement.