RANKS AND ADVANCEMENT:
Boy Scouting is made up of 7 different ranks, Scout, tenderfoot, 2nd Class, 1st Class, Star, Life and Eagle.
Each Rank has a series of requirements, starting with easy things the scouts learned during their AOL year. For those of you who were not in Cub Scouts, you will learn these things also. You should equate this to the Bobcat rank in Cub scouts
The second three ranks have 5 similar elements; Camping, Cooking, First-aid, Knots and Duty to God, there are of course other things that the scouts will have to do to earn the ranks, however those carry through each one.
There are 4 steps involved in advancement: A Scout Learns, A scout is tested, A scout is reviewed, and A scout is awarded. You MUST also fulfil all the requirements as stated in the handbook. If the book says demonstrate, then you must demonstrate. If the book says explain, then you must explain. You can learn the skills anywhere, patrol leaders, adult leaders, you tube, etc. Parents are also welcomed to teach the materials as well. Once you know the materials, you will be tested by patrol leadership at a campout. Patrol leaders are only testing Scout Skills, not on everything. The patrol leadership will let the adult leadership when the scout is ready to be reviewed. Once you have passed their review they will be awarded.
In addition to scout skills there are other requirements you must complete to earn your ranks; these include: swimming, budgeting, service hours, citizenship, etc. When you complete any of these requirements, you must obtain documentation and turn it into your patrol leader. Your Patrol Leader will hand them to the adult leadership.
Service Hours are required at every rank, all the way from Tenderfoot to Eagle. Service hours can be earned at any non-profit, govt agency, church, scouting service projects, Eagle Projects, Armadillo Army days (Council led work at camp) or any of the cleanup Oxford days. To get credit for your service hours, take pictures of the work you are doing, and have the person you are working for write down what work you did and how many hours you worked. For service hours to count for rank, they must be completed from the time you complete your last BOR and before the next rank BOR, you cannot bank service hours. For example, if you are a 2nd class scout working on your 1st class rank, for service hours to count, you must complete them after completing your 2nd class BOR. Even if you do more than required during that time period, you cannot use them for Star Rank. Once you complete your BOR for 1st class then you can work on service hours for Star Rank.
In addition to these requirements, you will have to earn 21 merit badges to earn their Eagle Rank. Of the 21 Merit Badges 14 are required leaving 7 you may choose from. The required Merit Badges are:
Camping; citizenship in the community; citizenship of society; Citizenship of the Nation; Citizenship of the word; communication; Cooking, Hiking, or Swimming or Cycling; Emergency Preparedness or Lifesaving; Environmental Science or Sustainability; Family Life; First Aid; Personal Fitness; and Personal Management.
You will have to Camp under the stars (Tent, Hammock or just under the stars) with the troop for at least 20 nights and 21 days.
You will have to prepare about 20 meals and cook 15 meals to get their eagle. Meals cooked only count for either rank advancement or the MB, not for both.
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