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Advancement | From Life to Eagle | Merit Badges | T445 Merit Badge Counselors

When Baden-Powell founded the Scout movement, he felt that any boy who took the time and the trouble to master certain Scoutcraft skills should be rewarded for his effort.  And so he came up with this idea:  He gave each Scout who passed certain tests a badge to wear on his uniform.
It showed other people what the Scout had done.

...from the Boy Scout Handbook, 9th edition

Scout Advancement

Eagle Scout Life Scout Star Scout First Class Scout Second Class Scout Tenderfoot Scout Scout

The rank patches above are listed in reverse order, based on the amount of work required to earn them.  The Eagle Scout patch is listed first, simply because it deserves to be.

The requirements to join the Boy Scouts and to earn the first rank, Scout, are covered in our Join Up page.

The requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class provide a Scout with a solid grounding in the skills that will allow him to take full advantage of Scouting adventures.  The requirements cover basic first aid, camping skills, cooking skills, map & compass skills, and other skills needed to be an active participant in the Scouting outdoor program.  Each rank's requirements are more challenging than the previous rank.  A Scout may pass any of the requirements for Tenderfoot, Second Class, or First Class at any time.  This allows a Scout to advance at his own pace.  The skills learned will enable the Scout to enjoy the Scouting program to its fullest.  That success can solidify the Scout's commitment to Scouting, and help him set his sights on further advancement - Star, Life, and Eagle Scout.  A boy who advances to First Class within his first year in Scouting has a better-than-average chance  at eventually becoming an Eagle Scout.

Once a Scout has reached the rank of First Class, he has mastered the basic skills needed to be an active part of an active Troop, and it is time to begin to "give back" to the program by becoming a leader and teacher in the Troop by action and example.

The requirements for Star, Life, and Eagle provide the Scout with many learning opportunities and a chance to give back to the Scouting program.  There are five requirements for each of these ranks:  Be active in the Troop (for a specified time period for each rank); Demonstrate Scout spirit; Earn merit badges (a specific number for each rank); Service to others; and, Troop leadership.

There are four steps to advancement:

1.  A Scout learns.  Learning is a natural outcome of Scouting activities.

2.  A Scout is tested.  A Scout wanting to complete an advancement requirement must demonstrate to his leader that he has fully mastered a skill at the level expected.  When the Scout has successfully demonstrated that he has completed the requirement, his leader acknowledges the fact, and records the achievement in the Scout's handbook and with the Troop scribe.

3.  A Scout is reviewed.  After a Scout has completed all of the requirements for any rank from Tenderfoot to Eagle, his progress is reviewed in 2 stages:  a Scoutmaster conference,  and a Board of Review.

The Scoutmaster Conference is a visit between the Scoutmaster and a Scout each time the boy completes the requirements for a rank.  Beyond making sure the Scout is ready for his Board of Review, the Scoutmaster conference is a chance for the Scout and his Scoutmaster to reflect on the progress of the Scout, and discuss where the Scout wants to go from there.

The Board of Review is conducted by 3 to 6 members of the Troop committee.  The purpose of the Board of Review is to ensure that he has completed all of the requirements, to determine the quality of his Troop experience, and to encourage him to advance toward the next rank.  The Board of Review for the rank of Eagle Scout is composed of District and Council level leaders instead of Troop committee members.

4.  A Scout is recognized.  As soon as possible after a successful Board of Review is conducted, the Scout is recognized in front of the Troop with his new rank badge.  The Scout is also recognized at Troop Courts of Honor, held periodically throughout the year.

     

Merit Badges

"Many men who were once Scouts feel that their entire lives were influenced by their merit badge work. . . .
Hundreds of doctors, engineers, forest rangers, and naturalists had their ambitions kindled while earning merit badges as Scouts.  You, too, may start on your lifework by working on a merit badge."

Boy Scout Handbook, 6th edition, 1959

A merit badge is an invitation to explore a new, exciting subject.  There are more than 100 merit badges to choose from.  Some will increase a Scout's skill in subjects he already knows and likes.  Others will challenge the Scout to learn about new areas of knowledge and interest.  They are designed to increase the Scout's ability to be of service to others, to take part in outdoor adventures, to better understand the environment, and to play a valuable part in the Scout's family and community.

To earn the rank of Eagle Scout, a Scout must earn at least 21 merit badges.  Of those, there are 12 merit badges that are required for Eagle:  Camping, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communications, Environmental Science, Family Life, First Aid, Personal Fitness, Personal Management, Emergency Preparedness OR Lifesaving, Cycling OR Hiking OR Swimming.  A specific number of Eagle required merit badges must be earned for the ranks of Star and Life.

There are 3 steps to earning a merit badge:

1.  Obtain from your Scoutmaster a signed merit badge application and the name of a qualified merit badge counselor for that merit badge.

2.  Along with another Scout, a relative, or a friend, set up and attend your first appointment with the merit badge counselor.  The counselor will explain the requirements for the badge and help you plan ways to fulfill them.  It is helpful to obtain the merit badge pamphlet for the badge you are working on either from the Troop library or local Scout shop.  IT IS THE SCOUT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO DO THE MERIT BADGE WORK AND CONTACT THE MERIT BADGE COUNSELOR FOR ADDITIONAL MEETINGS.  The counselor will not contact the Scout to check on progress.

3.  Complete the requirements, meeting with your counselor whenever necessary until you have finished working on the badge.

A Scout is recognized for merit badge completion at the next available Troop meeting, and again at the Troop's Courts of Honor.

information for this web page was taken from The Boy Scout Handbook, 11th edition, 1998
The Boy Scout Handbook, 9th edition, 1984
The Scoutmaster Handbook, 1998 edition
The Scoutmaster Handbook, 1981 edition

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