Boy Scout Handbook

The Boy Scout Handbook is a must for all Scouts.  It is full of information on all aspects of Scouting.  Parents should become familiar with the contents of the Handbook, since it contains the answers to many questions.  In the front of the Handbook there is an insert titled, “How to Protect Your Children from Child Abuse and Drug Abuse: A Parent’s Guide.”  This booklet must be read by the parent (guardian) with the boy before the boy joins the Troop.   

In the Handbook the Scout will keep his Advancement record.  These record pages, located near the front and rear of the Handbook, are important because the Scout may not progress to the next rank without these pages being signed off.  It is advisable for parents to periodically check the progress of their Scout’s sign-off pages and Merit Badge cards.  It could prove invaluable in the future.  To ensure the durability of the Handbook, protective plastic covers are available at the Scout Store. 

Advancement in Scouting is designed to let a boy move ahead at his own pace.  Rather than competing against others, he challenges himself to reach goals.  The rate of advancement depends on the Scout.  There are seven ranks from Boy Scout through Eagle Scout.  The specific requirements for each rank can be found in the Boy Scout Handbook.  Once all of the requirements for a new rank have been accomplished and signed off in the Scout’s Handbook by the Assistant Scoutmaster designated as his Patrol Advisor, the Scout needs to meet with the Scoutmaster for a Scoutmaster’s Conference, which will determine Scout Spirit.

Scout Spirit and the Scoutmaster’s Conference

Scout Spirit means living up to the Oath and the Law of Scouting.  It also includes doing your fair share of the work on outings, being courteous and attentive to leaders and other Scouts when they are speaking, wearing the appropriate uniform at the proper time. In order to show proper Scout Spirit a scout should attend 60% of the Troop meetings and at least 6 outdoor activities each year.  You will be asked about these things at the Scoutmaster’s Conference and at your Board of Review.  The Troop Committee may address problems with Scout Spirit before a Scout advances in rank.

Board of Review

When the Scoutmaster’s Conference is completed, the Scout notifies the Advancement Chairperson and he/she will make arrangements for a Board of Review.  The Board of Review consists of an adult panel of Troop Committee Members and/or parents.  A Board of Review may require the Scout to talk in some detail about what he did to earn the rank; it is not a retest of his skills.  Samples of the type of questions the Scout might be asked at a Board of Review are available from the Scoutmaster.  The sample sheets are arranged by rank so be sure to pick up the correct one for the rank the Scout is attempting to earn.  The Scout uniform must be worn at the Board of Review.   The Board of Review team should also check the participation of the scout.  Boys may not advance unless this requirement is met.

Star, Life, and Eagle Ranks - A Service Project

What is it?  Service project work is going outside of your daily routine to provide assistance to an individual, a group, or a community in need.  You are never compensated for service work.  You must always have your service project approved by the Scoutmaster before you start the work.  If no adult Troop leader is present during the project, you must provide written acknowledgement from the benefiting party that the necessary hours were spent on the project.  The number of service hours required varies with each rank.  Consult the Boy Scout Handbook.

Leadership

Leadership is required for the Star, Life, and Eagle ranks. As soon as you advance to First Class and each subsequent rank, immediately contact your Patrol Advisor or Scoutmaster.  Let them know that you are ready for a leadership position.

Letters of Recommendation

Eagle ranks have a requirement for Letters of Recommendation.  For Eagle, you must provide five.  References should be from people who know you outside of scouting.  They cannot be relatives. Names and addresses need to be given or emailed to the troop activities secretary. These Letters of Recommendation must be sent directly to the Scoutmaster in a sealed envelope.  The Scout should not see his Letters of Recommendation.

Eagle Scout

After a Scout has earned the Life rank where he receives the Troop 1200-Life to Eagle Check Off Sheet, he may begin specific work toward Eagle.  Of course, as Scouting involves a progression through ranks, a boy begins working toward Eagle when he earns his first rank.  The requirements for Eagle are set forth in the Boy Scout Handbook, but a few additional words seem necessary.  The required Merit Badges must be earned.  It does not matter how many merit badges a Scout has earned above the total of twenty-one, no one receives Eagle unless all of the required merit badges are earned.  Many Scouts may feel intimidated by the required Service project.  A Scout has participated in service projects many times before reaching this point.  The difference here is that an Eagle candidate must propose, plan, and lead the project through its completion.  The object is for the Scout to demonstrate leadership ability.  The project does not have to be original, nor does it have to consume a specific number of man-hours.

The first step after consulting with the Scoutmaster is to meet with the Eagle Scout Service Project Advisor, who is a member of the Troop Committee.  The Eagle Scout Service Project Advisor will provide the Service Project workbook along with advice on how to complete the paperwork.  This workbook is available at the troop website. The Troop Committee Chairperson, Scoutmaster, and the District Representative must approve the project before work is begun.  Once completed, the project must be written up in a detailed description and include a written statement about the leadership skills learned.  An Eagle application (available at our website) is completed and reviewed by the Troop Committee and District Representative.  Once approved the District Representative informs the Troop Advancement Chairman to set up a Board of Review, which he will be an active member of that Board.  After the review, the Scout’s Eagle application is submitted to the National Scout Headquarters via the local Council for review by the National Board of Review.  After the National Board of Review, the Eagle Award is given by the National Office.  No plans are to be made for recognition ceremony until the Eagle Notebook has returned from the National Office in Texas.  The most important thing to remember about the Eagle requirements are that they are to be done entirely by the boy.

Court of Honor

Rank patches will be given to Scouts at Troop Boards of Review.  Approximately three times a year the Troop holds a special Court of Honor to publicly recognize the Scouts’ achievements over the previous months.  All parents and family are highly encouraged to attend.  All Scouts are expected to attend unless there is a serious conflict.  It is important to be there, not only to support and congratulate fellow Scouts but also to help your patrol with its duties for the evening.   The scout class “A” uniform must be worn at the Court of Honor.  Special Courts of Honor are held for achieving the Eagle Rank.

Advancement in Scouting is COMPLETELY under the control of the Scout himself.

As fast as he can learn the skills, he can get credit for them towards rank advancement.

TYPICALLY, it will take more than 1 year for him to make it from Scout, to Tenderfoot, to 2nd Class, and then to 1st class.  We do use a "1st Class in the 1st Year" agenda to keep newer boys focused (and soften the "culture shock" from coming from a Cub Pack to a Troop).    A Scout can work on the requirements for rank IN ANY ORDER, but his actual progression through the ranks must be sequential.

Some of the rank requirements have SET TIMES that must be met before he can get credit for them and advance.  These are clearly outlined in the back pages of his Scout Handbook.

A boy has until his 18th birthday to reach Eagle and/or be a Boy Scout, but the typical age of an Eagle in the BSA is a surprisingly young 15 years of age.  

Reaching Eagle is NOT an easy task and requires an abundance of effort and self-motivation.  Encouragement at home is CRUCIAL to a boy's success towards his Eagle Rank.

What if my son is not advancing?

We have to keep in mind that Scouting is a "character development program".   One of the primary ways to create responsible young adults is to give them "responsibility".  One way to do that is to make advancement in scouting the responsibility of each individual Scout.

Through his Patrol Leader, he should voice his desire for trip destinations, activities, and opportunities to complete the various rank requirements and attend trips that he finds exciting and thrilling.

HE is responsible for informing the Scoutmaster (in advance) of his choice to begin working on a Merit Badge; the completion of which is up to HIM and his Merit Badge Counselor.  Through INDEPENDENT work (with a friend or family member - to comply with Youth Protection) he will work with his Merit Badge Counselor to complete Merit Badge requirements at his own pace.

At meetings and on camping trips, AMPLE opportunity is made to complete work and FREQUENT reminders are made to encourage boys to "step up" to make the most of their opportunities.  Monthly camping trips ALWAYS geared towards a merit badge, though our weekly agenda rarely covers the entire badge requirements...and this is not by mistake.  The "program" will offer OPPORTUNITIES for advancement, but we look to the Scout to "meet us half way" by stepping up to complete the rest of his requirements as a sign of his own initiative and work ethic.

Periodically, all boys will attend a Board of Review (BOR).   Boys advancing to their next rank MUST attend the BOR as a requirement, but the Advancement Chair is also responsible for scheduling periodic BORs for boys who are NOT advancing to inquire as to the reason they are not progressing, or finding out what is "missing" in the Program.

AT ANY TIME, Scouts (with/without their parents) are free to inquire about advancement to the Scoutmaster or his Assistant Scoutmasters.

The SCOUT is ultimately responsible..... That's what makes the "Eagle" rank so significant and valuable.  Attaining "Eagle" tells the world, that this is a young man who is responsible, motivated and a leader.

Can I Work Closely With My Son

If you mean "work with your son" like you did in Cub Scouts, the answer is NO.   There is little 1-on-1 work as a Boy Scout.

Make no mistake... You are welcome, but Boy Scouting is a new phase of his personal development. 

"Parents & Lads" was the Cub Scout model.  Your presence helped to guide him, keep him under control, and reinforce the importance of "family", but as a Boy Scout, he needs to focus more on himself, and on working with peers. 

He's becoming a young man and needs to start interacting with other adults like the Scoutmaster, Assistant Scoutmasters, Committee Members, and various Merit Badge Counselors.  He also needs to become comfortable with working without adults hovering over him as he works with his patrol.