Advancement

Podcast Episode (00:28:17): Download MP3 Listen to Scoutmaster Podcast 230 | Sponsored By ScoutmasterCG.com Backers What kind of an internal standard is the aim of our work? We want our Scouts to form resilient character that they can call on as they move forward in life, we have some ofttimes overlooked opportunities to build an internal standard that will be a valuable asset. I’ll share how you can take advantage of these opportunities and I answer an email question regarding patrols, and (of course) your messages in the mailbag!...

Here’s an idea of what can be said at an Eagle Court of Honor to help parents understand their role in Scouting. This is a big day, and it all goes by fast. Before we go any further; mom and dad, take a moment to look at your Scout. A Scout goes through uncertain times to get to a day like today. Take a moment to think about every boy who becomes a Scout....

Scout service projects are a basic element of any solid program, and participation in them is a requirement for advancement in rank. What service projects qualify for rank requirements? Let’s begin by looking at the requirements themselves: Second Class requirement: Participate in an approved (minimum of one hour) service project. Star and Life requirement: … take part in service project(s) totaling at least six hours of work. These projects must be approved by your Scoutmaster....

Sir Ernest Shackleton’s board of review for the rank of World Explorer assembled one evening and began reading over his application and supporting documentation. He earned all of his merit badges on Captain Scott’s Antarctic Discovery Expedition in 1901–04, and clocked his leadership tenure as the leader of British Antarctic Expedition in 1907–09. For his World Explorer project Shackleton had proposed “The Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition”. The project was enthusiastically approved, and it’s progress carefully followed....

The B.S.A. has published a helpful guide – Navigating the Eagle Scout Service Project Information for Project Beneficiaries – that defines the way an Eagle Project works from the perspective of the benefiting organization. Key elements of the process are explained : The Eagle Scout Rank and the Service Project Typical Projects Project Restrictions and Limitations Approving the Project Proposal and Project Scheduling Approving Final Plans Permits, Permissions, and Authorizations Supervision Project Completion and Approval Much needless confusion and difficulty over the Eagle project can be avoided if everyone involved takes the time to read and understand resources about the whole process of proposing, approving and reviewing an Eagle project....

Here’s a Cooking Merit Badge infographic that you may find helpful: Download a printable PDF of the Cooking Merit Badge Infographic The Facts: As of January 1, 2014 Cooking Merit badge is required for Eagle. A new set of requirements have been published and new book will be available in January. During 2014 Scouts working on Cooking Merit badge may choose to use the new requirements or the old requirements. After January 1 2015 anyone Scouts Starting Cooking merit badge must use the new requirements The official Scouting Magazine Blog has announced the new Cooking Merit Badge requirements....

Every Scouter has been there. You’ve been there, and so have I. Your fellow Scouter, a parent, or Scout has a question. You think you know the answer. After telling them what you think there’s a little shadow of doubt in your mind;”did I get that right?”. That shadow grows, and you go looking for some resource that backs you up. You try the Scoutmaster Handbook, you look over your training notes (you do have training notes, don’t you?...

Guardian of the Gate by F. Darnall Daley Jr. (advancement chair for Area 6 of the Northeast Region). Some of you appear to be standing guard at the gate. Like good guards you are not letting anyone pass who does not have the correct password. When someone appears at the gate who does not have the correct password, you send them away. The treasure that you believe you are guarding is the SACRED ADVANCEMENT REQUIREMENTS....

Scout advancement is a natural result of applying the patrol system. Requirements without the patrol experience are a lifeless checklist. Tenderfoot2. Spend at least one night on a patrol or troop campout… 3. 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. 7. Know your patrol name, give the patrol yell, and describe your patrol flag....

Someone asked me how long, on average, does it take to be a First Class Scout? We know statistically Scouts who become First Class within the first year tend to stay in Scouting longer. I am pleased when Scouts advance because that’s one indicator that we are delivering on the promise, but it’s only one indicator. In my experience Scouts take anywhere from six months to five years to reach First Class....

Reading the requirements for sustainability merit badge got me to thinking about merit badges as tools to achieve the aims of Scouting in general and Eagle required merit badges in particular. Faithful readers will understand that I like to think about these things and write about possibilities, take it all with a grain of salt. Before diving in I’d also like to reiterate that I am not an official of the BSA, just a Scoutmaster with a blog....

Before long (January 1, 2014) the list of Eagle required merit badges will change slightly with the addition of cooking as a required merit badge and the new sustainability merit badge as an alternative to environmental science. Here’s an overview of the current and new lists: Current list of Eagle-required merit badges Earn a total of 21 merit badges, including the following: First Aid Citizenship in the Community Citizenship in the Nation Citizenship in the World Communication Personal Fitness Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving Environmental Science Personal Management Swimming OR Hiking OR Cycling Camping Family Life List of Eagle-required merit badges, effective Jan....

What are your expectations for summer camp merit badges? To most of us and to nearly all of our Scouts the central feature of the week at camp is earning merit badges. But what if it wasn’t? What if Scouts exchanged earning summer camp merit badges for learning and doing the things that actually interest them, the kind of things that Scouts do, instead ? Want to take your patrol on an overnight hike in some remote part of camp?...

David from Hawaii writes: I am a fairly new Scoutmaster and I asked the committee to present merit badges and rank patches in troop meetings and present the certificates for those badges at the court of honor. They declined out of fear that no one would attend the court of honor. Next thing you know they are handing out the Eagle award to a scout who was not not in 100% uniform!...

How effectively you apply the Scouting advancement method hinges on how well you understand the subject. The National Advancement Team has released a bunch of new educational resources that you ought to check out. While Scouting advancement is at least some part of leadership training I think we owe it to our Scouts to take a couple of hours to sit down with our fellow Scouters and go over these resources to get everyone on the same page and avoid many common misunderstandings....

A new edition of Boy Scout Requirementswas released in mid January, 2013. Paul Wolf at the US Scouting Service Project Inc. has published his annual review of Boy Scout requirement changes, a tremendous resource and a great service to us all, thank you Paul! The online version of the report is here and a PDF version is available here Here’s some key points that we should all know: A new edition of Boy Scout Requirements(BSA Publication No....

The merit badge blue card serves many purposes: Certifying the unit leader has helped the Scout locate an approved counselor. Tracking requirements completed Checking that the badge was recorded and presented Serving as a record for the Scout, counselor and unit that the badge has been earned Here’s a basic look at the process of earning a merit badge and how the blue card is used along the way. The official name for the blue card is “Application for Merit Badge” and it consists of three parts....

The old merit badge blue card; The new merit badge blue card; This announcement from the latest Advancement News is self explanatory: Merit Badge Blue Card Revised A new version of the “Application for Merit Badge,” No. 34124, commonly referred to as the “blue card,” is being released later in January 2013. The availability of the new card will vary locally, and the old cards are still acceptable as councils exhaust their inventories....

There are times that what I assume or the way I feel Scout requirements are fulfilled does not jibe with the actual wording of the requirement. I don’t sign off many requirements. Requirements for ranks up to First Class are almost exclusively signed off by our older Scouts. I do sign off requirements in the if I am functioning as a merit badge counselor, but not too much in my role as a Scoutmaster....

Here’s some court of honor ideas we use that you may find helpful: Some court of honor ideas can enhance the central theme (recognizing Scout advancement) and some detract from it; Ideas that Enhance: Recognition of Scout achievement in Scouting and outside of Scouting (If we know about a special accomplishment or award a Scout has received outside of Scouting we’ll mention it at the court of honor) 3. Ceremony and decorum....